Access at the Society
We aim to provide a friendly, accessible environment for all our visitors.
We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our visitors. The Society’s building includes a range of features to support individuals with access requirements. If you have specific needs or questions, please contact us in advance so we can help ensure your visit is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Email: access@rgs.org
Phone: +44 (0)20 7591 3100
If you would like to speak to a member of staff during your visit, they can usually be identified by a name badge featuring the Society’s logo or a Society-branded lanyard.
Getting to the Society
The nearest step-free underground station is Knightsbridge (1.0 km). London Victoria station is also step-free (2.6 km).
Taxi ranks are situated on both Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road.
Planning your route to the Society? Use our guidance to plan your journey, or visit Transport for London to plan your trip by public transport.
Parking
Accessible parking at the Society
A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available for Blue Badge holders at our Kensington Gore entrance. These must be reserved in advance.
Please provide your vehicle make, model and registration details.
Drop-off
You may be dropped off near the main entrance on Exhibition Road.
Additional Blue Badge parking spaces in the area
There are 12 Blue Badge parking spaces on Exhibition Road, which are managed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and cannot be booked in advance. You can park there for four hours between 8.30am and 7.30pm.
You can find more information on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's website.
Arriving at the Society
Step-free access to Society entrances
- Exhibition Road entrance: step-free access is available via our main entrance on Exhibition Road.
- Kensington Gore entrance: some events may use our Kensington Gore entrance (opposite Kensington Gardens), which is accessible via a small ramp.
Wayfinding assistance
Our security and front-of-house staff are happy to assist visitors in navigating the building.
Cloakroom
Our cloakroom is located near the Ondaatje Theatre, where you can store coats, bags, and pushchairs during your visit.
Companions and carers
We welcome personal assistants and carers. In most cases, they can attend events free of charge. Please notify the event organiser in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Assistance dogs
Registered assistance dogs are welcome throughout the building.
Virtual tour and building map
A virtual tour of the Society’s main spaces and a building map highlighting lifts and toilets is available on our website and can help you familiarise yourself with the layout before you arrive.
Quieter times to visit
The quietest times to visit the Society are usually earlier in the day, but due to our irregular events programme, we recommend getting in touch in advance if you would prefer to plan your visit for a quieter time.
Please note that for busy events, you may be required to queue, especially if additional security checks are in place. We appreciate your patience and recommend arriving early to allow extra time.
Quiet spaces
The Members' Room and the Foyle Reading Room are generally quiet areas and may be helpful for visitors who prefer quiet environments.
These are open Monday to Friday from 10.00am–5.00pm. Please note that the Foyle Reading Room is closed between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.
Step-free and wheelchair access inside the building
Wheelchair spaces
Designated wheelchair spaces are available in the Ondaatje Theatre. Please let us know in advance if you require one, and if anyone is accompanying you so we can reserve a seat next to you. We can also set-up other rooms with spaces for wheelchair users.
Ondaatje Theatre seating
There are 20 steps to access the balcony in the Ondaatje Theatre and a small number of steps are required in the stalls (ground floor) after row G due to the raked seating.
Platform lift to the Map Room from Exhibition Road
Access from the Exhibition Road entrance to the Map Room and meeting rooms involves nine steps, and a staff-operated platform lift (model: VIMEC V65 stair lift) is available.
This lift has a maximum safe working load of 300 kg, with a seat capacity of up to 115 kg. Wheelchairs exceeding these limits in size or weight cannot safely use this lift.
Lifts to other floors
- A modern lift from our Exhibition Road entrance provides step-free access to the Foyle Reading Room.
- Another lift, located next to the Main Hall, provides access to all other floors. This older lift can be operated independently, but its manual doors may require assistance from our staff as they are heavy.
Access to the Members’ Room
The Members’ Room is located on the first floor, and is accessed via our lift from the Main Hall.
The Oceans Pod is wheelchair accessible as it is slightly larger. You will need to be accompanied by a member of staff as the accessible route goes via some rooms not publicly accessible.
Our Pods may be reserved in advance by emailing reception at foh@rgs.org (£10 per two hours),
Please note there are no toilets on the same floor as the Members’ Room.
Access to the Council Room and Director's Gallery
Please note that the Council Room and Director's Gallery are not accessible via a lift and can only be reached by a staircase with 12 steps.
Accessible toilets
The Society has three accessible and gender-neutral toilets (with sanitary bins) located throughout the building:
- Foyle Reading Room: accessible via the lift from the Exhibition Road entrance.
- Near the Ondaatje Theatre: located opposite the cloakroom, outside the Ondaatje Theatre.
- Drayson Room: located at the back of the room, convenient for those attending events in the Education Centre, Main Hall or our meeting rooms.
Although not accessible, additional gender neutral toilets are available on the gallery in the Main Hall and on the first floor opposite the Lowther Room.
Access at events
Induction loops
Induction loops are available in the Ondaatje Theatre and the Education Centre.
Please turn your hearing aid to the T position in the Ondaatje Theatre.
A portable hearing loop system is also available for use in our meeting rooms. Please let us know in advance if you require this.
Lighting
Unless an event involves a film screening, house lights in the Ondaatje Theatre are typically kept at a low level throughout for comfort and visibility. Our other rooms are otherwise always ambiently lit.
External events
Please note that not all events held at the Society are organised by the Society. For events hosted by external organisers or private hires, accessibility provisions may vary.
Additionally, some Society-organised events take place at external venues, which may have different facilities and access arrangements. Where possible, we provide links to the access information for these venues on our event pages.
If you have specific access requirements, we recommend contacting the event organiser or the Society team in advance to confirm details.
Visiting with children
We welcome visitors with children to the Society.
Baby changing facilities
Baby changing facilities are available in the First aid room, located opposite the cloakroom. The space includes a baby changing mat and a sanitary waste bin. If you need assistance locating or accessing the room, please speak to a member of staff.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is welcome throughout the building. If you would prefer a more private space, our staff are happy to assist with room requests where possible. We recommend contacting us in advance of your visit.
Access to our online resources
Event recordings with captions
Many of our events are recorded and made available online. These recordings include auto-generated captions, which help make the content accessible to D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences.
We are working to improve caption accuracy over time and welcome feedback to help us enhance this service.
To give us your feedback, please reach out to our team at access@rgs.org
Website accessibility
We are committed to making our website accessible to all. In building our current website, we follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.
View our dedicated website accessibility page to learn more about how we make our website more accessible and inclusive to all.
Contact us
If you have any additional access needs or would like to discuss your visit in advance, please contact us:
Email: access@rgs.org
Phone: +44 (0)20 7591 3100
We are happy to provide additional information or support to help make your visit as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Visit us
Planning on visiting the Society? We're based in South Kensington, London. Find out how best to get here.
Plan your journey
Find out how you can reach us via underground, bus, national rail, and other means, and learn about bike and parking facilities at the Society.
Contact us
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