Accessibility

MK Gallery is based in the heart of Milton Keynes at the junction of Midsummer Boulevard and Marlborough Gate, beside Milton Keynes Theatre on Margaret Powell Square. 

By car

From M1: Exit at Jct 14 & follow signs for central MK. 

From the A5: Exit at A509 Portway Jct and follow signs for Central Milton Keynes. 

Train

MK Central Station is 30 minutes from London Euston on the Birmingham / Manchester / Glasgow main line served by Virgin and London Midland services. Allow c.25 mins to walk to the Gallery from MK rail station. 

Local buses

Regular services (routes 1-8 & 300) run from Milton Keynes Central rail station. You can catch these from stops Y1/Y2/Y3/Y5, ask for the Theatre District stop on Midsummer Boulevard.  

Bus timetables and maps can be found here. 

Parking

There are a few disabled parking spaces at the entrance to Margaret Powell Square serving Milton Keynes Theatre and MK Gallery visitors.

In Central Milton Keynes, disabled drivers may park free of charge in Council Pay and Display bays or reserved Disabled bays for an unlimited period of time provided that a valid Blue Badge is clearly displayed. 

You can find out which bays are closest to the gallery by viewing the Central Milton Keynes Parking Guide here (Disabled bays denoted by yellow). 

Our what3words address is ///trespass.abruptly.hurtles

On arrival

We offer step free access to our main reception, café, shop, galleries, learning studios and Changing Places Toilet, with accessible toilets on the first and second floor which can be reached via our lifts. You can download an easy read guide to our Changing Places Toilet here, including images.

The building is wheelchair friendly, and we welcome accredited assistance dogs, with water bowls available on request.

For specific queries about the accessibility of our buildings, please contact access@mkgallery.org

Main help desk

The main entrance is located on ground floor with street level access. The lowered help desk can be found through the automatic double doors where there is always a friendly member of the MK Gallery team to assist you. Our staff receive regular training to ensure they’re confident in welcoming all visitors and are readily available for any questions you might have. 

We have 1 wheelchair for use onsite. You can request a wheelchair at the help desk, or email/call to book in advance. If you might like someone to lend a supportive arm during your visit, please contact the access team at access@mkgallery.org in advance and we will do our best to find a volunteer who can assist. Portable chairs are available to borrow during your visit to our gallery spaces.  

At the desk, visitors can pick up printed information about our exhibitions, events and facilities, including Large Print, easy read guides and a sensory map. 

Sensory scout kits are available at the main entrance subject to availability. These contain a range of sensory aids including ear defenders and are available for anyone who may benefit from this equipment. 

We currently have a counter loop system at the main desk as you enter the gallery. We also have a portable induction hearing loop which is bookable in advance for events.  

Personal Assistant/carer tickets can be requested at no extra cost for all ticketed events by visiting our main reception or contacting us on 01908 676900.

Our gallery spaces are fully accessible on the ground floor of the building and are staffed by our team of experienced volunteers.   

Doors are power assisted.  

Exhibitions may contain sound, film, flashing lights or other sensory experiences which may not be suitable for all visitors. Please speak to a member of our team on the day or call/email us for any queries you may have about an exhibition. The gallery will always provide signage and warning should there be any flashing lights used. 

All exhibition guides and floor maps are available in large print format at the front desk. As our exhibitions are continually changing, certain gallery spaces may have low lighting or different environments. Please speak to a member of the front desk team if you have any queries before entering. 

Large print exhibition texts are available at the front desk. For exhibitions that are accompanied by an audio guide, transcripts are available upon request in advance of your visit. We can also provide social stories for any exhibition, please contact access@mkgallery.org for more information.  

We offer a number of Sensory Venue tours, Audio-described tours and BSL (British Sign Language) led tours of our current exhibitions. Please check the What’s On section of the website for more information.

Our Sky Room Auditorium is on the second floor and can be accessed via our flight of stairs (66), with a mezzanine landing on the first floor (44), or via our lift. This lift can accommodate two wheelchairs.

For seated performances

There are spaces for 2 wheelchair users in the front row (row A), with companion seats. 

Due to fire regulations our Skyroom auditorium can currently only accommodate two wheelchairs. Front row seats are also suited to people with limited mobility. Please book in advance to reserve these seats. All other seats lead off stepped aisles.

For non-seated performances

There are no fixed seats for non-seated performances however chairs will be made available for those who request them. Please ask a member of staff.  

We have a room loop hearing system in the Sky Room auditorium. Where available (dependant on film), a separate independent listening device is available for listening to either the Hearing Impaired audio or Visually Impaired audio that accompanies a film. This is also available as a neck loop for use with hearing aids.

Film Programme

We have a regular programme of relaxed cinema screenings for family films.  These screenings provide sensory friendly adjustments which aim to reduce over stimulation and create a relaxed and welcoming environment.  They are particularly suited to families with children with sensory sensitivities, and others who may benefit from this environment. These adjustments include: 

• Reduced sound and lighting 
• No trailers
• Freedom to move around
• Take your own food and drink
• Personal assistant / carer tickets available
• Social Story document downloads 

We also have several captioned screenings on offer throughout the film programme. Please check out our What’s On section of the website for more details and dates.

Our Learning Studio is next door to our outdoor Playscape and adjacent to our Changing Places Toilet. It can be accessed from outside on the right-hand side of the building, or step free through the galleries.  

We have a room loop hearing system in the learning studio.  

We offer break out spaces here for all those who benefit from a quiet area with soft furnishings and sensory aids. This can be arranged in advance of your visit, please call us or email for more information.  

For families with children with complex needs, our Art and Us programme offers year-round art and play-based workshops, which enable families to work directly with an artist in sessions that are tailored to meet the needs of participants.

Event Space

The step-free entrance to the event space is directly opposite the main gallery and is 35 steps in distance.  

Accessible toilets are reachable via lift through the entrance of the main building, opposite the event space and are 58 steps in distance.

Project Space

The Project Space is an additional exhibition space opposite the main gallery building which has step free access. 

Accessible toilets are reachable via lift through the entrance of the main building (35 steps), opposite the event space and are 58 steps in distance.

Café

The café is located through the main entrance to the left of the front desk. It offers indoor and outdoor seating. Our café is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am.

Shop

The shop is located to your left as you enter the main gallery and is open from 10am Tuesday – Sunday.  

The shop has a fitted hearing loop system in place. The counter has been lowered for greater access.

We offer BSL at all our openings and caption and BSL interpretation for all our Zoom events. 

Several of our events and performances are audio described, captioned, signed or relaxed and we are working towards improving this offer moving forward.  Please contact us before an event by telephone or email to enquire about booking one of these services for your visit.