Accessibility Guide for Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Travel by public transport

You can get to Scottish National Portrait Gallery by bus, train and tram.

The nearest bus stop is on North St David Street (Stop YC) . This is 0.08 miles from the gallery. Bus numbers 10, 11, 12, 16, 26 and 44 stop at this stop. There is also a bus stop on St Andrew Square (Stop YD). Bus numbers 43 and X43 stop here. This bus stop is 0.1 miles from the gallery. Alternatively, take any Princes Street or city centre bus, to the East end of Princes Street, opposite Waverley steps and go through St Andrew Square, turning left onto Queen Street. The bus stop is 0.1 miles / 0.2 km from Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley Station. The train station is 0.3 miles / 0.5 km from Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The nearest tram station is St Andrew Square. The tram station is 0.1 miles / 0.2 km from Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with City Cabs (Edinburgh) by calling 0131 228 1211. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Our Gallery Bus takes visitors to all three of the National Gallery venues. The timetable is published in the visit section of the website.

Starting at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art the bus runs a circular route to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Scottish National Gallery. A voluntary donation of £1 is requested. The bus drops off, but does not pick up at the Portrait Gallery, the drop off point is the North side of St Andrew Square. This is 0.1 miles from the Portrait Gallery.

Parking

The drop off point for disabled visitors is in the one-way back lane behind the Portrait Gallery. This is accessed from North St David Street. Visitors are requested to press the buzzer on the second door along the back of the building (labelled Groups Entrance) and a member of staff will come and greet them. Cars (but not larger vehicles) with blue badges are permitted to park in the back lane as long as they avoid access points and fire exits (which are marked with double yellow lines). The Highway Code applies. The nearest designated parking bays for blue badge holders are on West Register Street and St James Place. These are a 5-8 min walk to the Portrait Gallery.

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

A member of front of house staff is permanently stationed at the entrance to welcome and open the doors for all visitors.

Visual Impairment - General Information

We have contrast markings on all glass doors, contrast markings on all full-height windows and high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Lift

We have 1 lift.

You can get a lift to all floors.

Lift to all floors

The lift door is 2000mm wide.

The lift is 3270mm wide. The lift is 1770mm deep.

The lift shows the floor number, at each floor.

The lift is large, it provides access to all floors and has a maximum capacity of 48 people. It has glass sides and ceiling with a dark floor . The lighting is spotlights in the floor. There is no music playing. There is a handle round three sides . There are two control panels on either side to operate the lift.

Ticket/ information desk

Information Desk

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 1740mm wide, or more.

The desk has a low section.

There is bench seating near this area. The area is well and evenly lit. Staff are ready to assist and answer enquiries.

Pen, paper and magnifying glass are provided at the desk

Things to See and Do

We have a concessionary rate for disabled visitors.

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

We have performances with: audio-described, British Sign Language interpreted and relaxed.

We have display information in: large print.

We have a designated quiet space.

Contemporary Gallery

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1740mm wide, or more. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Videos have subtitles.

There is a changing programme of exhibitions and displays in this area. There are occassionally films displayed in this area with sound and captions.There is seating in this area. This area has low lighting.

Great Hall

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1140mm wide, or more. The door is 1140mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

The Great Hall is on the ground floor at the centre of the gallery. It comprises a large open area in the centre with stone pillars round the outside. Flooring in this area is stone. Seating is available in this area. Light levels can be low depending on the time of day and the weather.

There are entrances to the Great Hall on three sides. The entrance to the Great Hall leading directly from the front door is via double doors, staff are available to assist with opening these, doorways on East and West sides are kept open.  

Overlooking the Great Hall, there is an ambulatory (walk-way) running round all four sides which is accessed from the first floor.

Public toilet

Ground Floor Accessible Toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 1270mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 900mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the front only.

There is 1860mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 460mm high. The toilets have handrails.

There are horizontal grab rails located to the left and right of the toilet. There is a vertical grab rail located to the left of the toilet. There is a sink with grab rails on either side. Different areas and facilities in the space are painted in contrasting colours to differentiate between them and make them more visible. There are baby changing facilities within this toilet.

Shop

Gallery Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 1400mm wide, or more.

The Gallery Shop occupies a small space on the ground floor. Merchandise is displayed on shelves up to a height of 1800mm. Staff are available to customers who require assistance to navigate between fixtures throughout the shop. There is no background music playing.

There is also a Balcony Bookshop on the ambulatory on the first floor. Access to the ambulatory is via the lift, the narrowest part of the route from the lift is 840mm. The occupies a larger space than the ground floor shop and has an unobstructed route at least 800mm wide for wheelchair users to move around. The area is well-lit by large windows. Merchandise is displayed on shelves up to a height of 1800mm. Staff are available to to assist customers. There is no background music playing.

Place to eat and drink

Cafe Portrait

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 1200mm wide, or more. The door is 1200mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

The dining area is self-service. The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is no background music.

We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free), nut free, low fat, high fibre and vegan specific diets.

Cafe Portrait comprises a large, open main seating area and a smaller, more enclosed area called 'The Snug' which may be quieter. There are two entrances to the cafe, one entrance leads from the front door, past the shop and into the seating area, this is 1400mm wide. The other entrance is from the Great Hall leading straight to the food counter, the door is 1200mm.

The nearest accessible toilet is the ground floor accessible toilet located on the oposite side of the Great Hall.

While table service is not available, staff are happy to carry trays on request.

The Farmer Education Suite (for pre-booked groups)

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1740mm wide, or more.

The door is 1480mm wide.

The Farmer Education Suite is for the use of groups who have pre-booked a visit. It is a large, flexible learning space. The space is well-lit throughout by spotlights in the ceiling and large windows. There are two lower sink areas. There are tea and coffee-making facilities. The room has wifi and there is a projector and screen. The space is furnished with tables and chairs (with no arms). When booking in advance, groups may request the use of portable hearing loops, wheelchair loans, and a limited number of portable chairs with arms. The nearest accessible toilet is located next door.

A K Bell Room (for pre-booked groups)

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1200mm wide, or more.

The door is 1480mm wide.

The A K Bell room is available for hire and occassionally for the use of groups who have pre-booked a guided visit. It is lit by ceiling spotlights. It is a flexible space furnished with tables and chairs (no arms). It has an interactive whiteboard.

Level 1 (East Side) - Rooms 11 and 12

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to this area, the route is 1230mm wide, or more. The door is 1300mm wide.

Rooms 11 and 12 are large, well-lit spaces with permanent seating at intervals. The flooring in this area is wood. The narrowest point in these rooms is 1700mm. There are changing displays of work in this area.

Level 1 - Ambulatory

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to this area, the route is 840mm wide, or more. The door is 840mm wide.

The ambulatory is a walkway that runs round the upper part of the Great Hall on all four sides. There is a metal and wood railing on the sides that overlook the Great Hall. The flooring in this area is stone. Seating is available throughout this area. Light levels can be low depending on the time of day and the weather.

There is a second shop on the ambulatory. This occupies a larger space than the ground floor shop and has an unobstructed route at least 800mm wide for wheelchair users to move around. The area is well-lit by large windows. Merchandise is displayed on shelves up to a height of 1800mm. Staff are available to to assist customers. There is no background music playing.

Level 1 (West Side) - Library & Print Room and The Robert Mapplethorpe Photography Gallery

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 840mm wide, or more.

The door is 1170mm wide.

Access from the lift to the West side of the gallery on level 1 is via the Ambulatory. The door to the Library is 1220mm and the door to the Photography Gallery is 1230mm.

The Library is well-lit and has a wooden floor. There is seating and a wooden table with display materials in the centre of the room. There are books, display cabinets and drawers around the walls. The drawers are low and can be opened by visitors.

The Photography Gallery is well-lit. It has a wooden floor and has seating throughout.

Level 2 (East Side) - Rooms 1 -4

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to this area, the route is 1260mm wide, or more. The door is 1260mm wide.

The door to Room 1 is 1260mm. The room is well-lit and there is seating throughout. The flooring is wood.

The door to Room 2 is 1230mm. The room has low lighting, there is no seating. The flooring is wood.

There are two entrances to Room 3. One entrance is from Room 2, the door is 830mm.  The other entrance is from Room 4, the door is 1230mm. The room has low lighting, there is no seating. The flooring is wood.

The entrance to Room 4 is from the lift. The room is well-lit and there is seating throughout. The flooring is wood.

Level 2 (centre) - Rooms 5 and 6

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to this area, the route is 1270mm wide, or more. The door is 1270mm wide.

There are two entrances to Galleries 5 and 6. One entrance is from lift area/Gallery 4, the door is 1270mm. The other entrance is from Gallery 1/ staircase landing, the door is 1260mm. This area is large, open and well-lit. There is seating in this area. The flooring is wood.

Level 2 (West Side) - Rooms 7-10

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to this area, the route is 1220mm wide, or more. The door is 1340mm wide.

There are two entrances to Room 7. The door leading from Room 6 is 1340mm. The door leading from Room 5/ stairway landing is 1270mm. The room is well-lit and there is seating throughout. The flooring is wood.

The door to Room 8 is 1280mm. There is a slight ramp at the doorway. The room has low lighting, there is no seating. The flooring is wood.

There are two entrances to Room 9. One entrance is from Room 8, the entrance is 1050mm.  The other entrance is from Room 10, the door is 1230mm. The room has low lighting, there is no seating. The flooring is wood.

The entrance to Room 10 is from Gallery 5/ stairway landing. The door is 1310mm. The room is well-lit and there is seating throughout. The flooring is wood.

Mezzanine Level - Education Groups Lunchroom (pre-booked groups)

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to this area, the route is 1060mm wide, or more. The door is 1500mm wide.

The Education Groups Lunchroom is for the use of groups who have pre-booked a visit and are bringing a packed lunch. It is accessed via a lift and an accompanying member of gallery staff must be present. It is a long narrow space with benches and tables - gallery staff can assist to move these as necessary. There are no sinks and no access to drinking water. The space is well-lit throughout by strip lights. The nearest accessible toilet is located on the ground floor next to the lift.

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

There is permanent seating throughout the gallery. We also provide portable stools which are situated on racks on every floor of the gallery.

Portable hearing loops are available at all public talks and lectures and for booked group visits. We also have monthly amplified tours for visitors with hearing loss.

We welcome assistance dogs and can provide water bowls for them. Please ask staff for assistance.

We can provide pen, paper and a magnifying glass at the information desk.

 

 

The nearest toilet area for assistance dogs is located in a small courtyard, Finlay Court, 41 metres from the main entrance.

We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.

The area outside the Farmer Education Suite can be used for charging a mobility scooter or battery powered wheelchair. Please ask staff for assistance.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

The fire alarm has flashing lights.

In case of an evacuation, gallery staff will assist all visitors. There are dedicated temporary waiting areas within each gallery. Gallery staff will assist those who require help to those areas, and wait with them until the emergency services arrive. Gallery staff are trained in the use of Evac chairs which can be used for evacuation of upper floors to assist those who cannot use the stairs.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have information in large print.

The Portrait Gallery received special recognition from Alzheimer Scotland as a dementia friendly venue. The majority of front of house staff have recieved training in dementia awareness. Most front of house staff have recieved training in visual impairment awareness from RNIB Scotland.

We have other services for people with accessibility requirements.

All events can be found in the What's On section of our website: www.nationalgalleries.org/whats-on

Information on group visits can be found in the Visit section of our website: www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/groups-tours-workshops

We have regular amplified tours using portable hearing loops for visitors with hearing loss. Portable hearing loops are available for all talks and tours, simply ask member of staff on arrival. 

We have regular Deaf-led tours in British Sign Language (BSL) and regular family tours with British Sign Language interpretation.

We have regular tour and workshop sessions for visitors with visual impairments.

We run early-openings featuring creative, sensory activities at the Portrait Gallery for families affected by autism spectrum disorder.

We have a regular programme of tours, concerts and special events for visitors living with dementia.

Community and access groups are invited to book free guided or self-guided visits all year round. This includes free entry to all paying exhibitions. We also offer a free programme of dementia-friendly workshops.