Access Information
Access Information for the Laing Art Gallery
You can download access information for the Laing Art Gallery here.
Parking
There are two spaces for blue badge holders in Higham Place.
The nearest drop-off point by taxi, dial-a-ride, car or coach is on John Dobson Street alongside the Gallery. There is another drop-off point on Oxford Street.
Entrance
There is one level access entrance on New Bridge Street. Two sets of automatic doors lead to the front desk and shop area.
Getting around
There are lifts and stairs providing access to all floors. All lifts have voice announcers, Braille indicators and visual floor numbers. There are four floors Lower Ground, Ground, Mezzanine and First Floor. All floors have level access.
A touch talking plan of the Gallery is located on the Ground Floor to help you find your way around.
Seating
There are sofas, bench seating and chairs with and without arms in the galleries. There are lightweight portable stools available for use from the racks on the Ground Floor.
Borrowing a wheelchair
Two wheelchairs are available for use. They can be found in the main entrance. It is recommended that you book these in advance.
Gallery plans
Large print and Braille plans are available from the information desk on the Ground Floor.
Pre-visit information
Pre-visit information packs are available to borrow for free for blind and partially sighted people to plan a visit. The packs include:
- Large print gallery leaflet
- Braille gallery leaflet
- Large print detailed guide to the gallery and its facilities
- Braille detailed guide to the gallery and its facilities
- Audio CD detailed guide to the gallery and its facilities
- Audio tape detailed guide to the gallery and its facilities
- Large print maps of the gallery floors
- Braille and tactile (touch) maps of the gallery floors
Dogs
We welcome assistance dogs. The front desk just inside the entrance on the Lower Ground Floor can provide a bowl of water.
Induction loops
There is an induction loop at the reception desk in the shop area on the Lower Ground Floor and in the function room on the Mezzanine Level.
The displays
Large print labels are available for all temporary exhibitions and most of the permanent displays. They can be found in racks in the galleries.
The Touch Trail consists of seven tactile artworks:
- The touch talking ground plan in the Marble Hall to help you find your way around
- A tactile reproduction of the bust of the Gallery's founder Alexander Laing, in the All About Art resource area
- A bronze and marble tactile piece which explains the Frosterley Marble tiles in the Marble Hall
- A tactile piece to help explain the stained glass window in the Rotunda
- An oak seat with six carved tactile panels in the 18th & 19th Century Gallery
- A bronze relief sculpture depicting John Martin's painting 'The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah' in the 18th & 19th Century Gallery
Gallery tours
Free lunch time talks take place on seasonal Wednesdays. Talks last between ten and forty five minutes. BSL interpretation is available for some talks. Please contact the Laing Art Gallery for more details.
The Friends of the Laing give tours every Saturday at 11am and guided tours are also available on request.
Fire alarms
The fire alarms only give an audible bell warning. The lifts cannot be used in the event of a fire. There are evac-chairs to assist disabled people to exit the building and safe fire refuge points to await evacuation. These are clearly signposted. If you are likely to be unable to hear the alarms or will need assistance to exit the building in the event of a fire alarm please tell a member of staff.
Toilets
There are accessible toilets on the Lower Ground and First Floors. There is a unisex toilet on the Lower Ground Floor in the shop area and male and female toilets on the Ground Floor. All toilets have baby changing facilities.
Eating at Café Laing
The café is on the Ground Floor. Hot and cold drinks and meals are available. Large print menus, large handled cutlery and open ended handled mugs are available on request.
If there is anything that we can do to make your visit more enjoyable please contact us, we will be happy to assist you.