Accessibility at Laing Art Gallery

Moving around the venue • Accessible toilet • Assistance dogs • Sensory maps • Contact

Entry is free to the gallery, shop, and café but an admission charge applies to some exhibitions. Tickets can be purchased at the shop on the lower ground floor and ground floor. 

Our free displays include: 

Northern Spirit 

100 Years of Collecting 

Sublime Landscapes

The Pursuit of Beauty 

Chris Killip: The Last Ships

Our address is Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle, NE1 8AG

The nearest Metro Station to the Gallery is Monument, which is approximately 5 minutes walk away.

All buses stopping at the Haymarket are approximately 10 minutes walk away; buses stopping at Pilgrim Street are approximately 3 minutes walk away. 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.

There are parking meters to the side of the Gallery, including two disabled parking bays for blue badge permit holders. There is also an NCP car park under The New Bridge Hotel to the right of the building and one on Saville Row which has stepped access to the gallery.

There is level access entry to the gallery on New Bridge Street from the Blue Carpet. Two sets of automatic doors lead to the reception desk and shop area. To access the gallery from the shop area, there are stairs and a lift.

We welcome all visitors and strive to make the gallery as accessible as possible, within the context of a grade 2 listed historical building. There are lifts and stairs providing access to the ground and first floors. The lift has voice announcer and tactile buttons. All floors have level access.

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 and first floor. 

There are some things that may make access challenging including:

• Throughout the gallery there are barriers to protect the artwork. These barriers are placed 1 metre away from the art works in order to protect and prevent damage.
• The original gallery doors on the first floor are large and heavy, these doors have to remain closed to maintain the correct environmental conditions in the gallery to protect art works. Staff will be happy to help you with the doors if needed.
• Our public passenger lift measures 120cm in length by 170cm width and has a turn on the exit to upper levels. If you use a mobility aid larger than this, self-propelling wheelchairs are available to use. These can be booked in advance of your visit by emailing info@laingartgallery.org.uk or calling our gallery reception on 0191 278 1611.
• The main entrance to the Barbour Watercolour Gallery is via the flight of stairs near the café/play area, but alternative access by lift can be arranged. Please speak to a member of staff.

The fire alarm will sound a siren and visual 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 need assistance to leave the building if a fire alarm sounds please inform the reception desk on your arrival.

There are accessible toilets on the ground and first floors. There is a toilet on lower ground floor in shop area and male and female toilets on the ground floor. All accessible toilets also contain baby changing facilities.

The nearest Changing Places toilet is across the street at the Newcastle City Library, New Bridge Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AX.

Breastfeeding is welcomed throughout the gallery.

There is a painting which is brought to life in a sound and light display in Northern Spirit gallery - 'The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah', by the artist John Martin.

Please see our sensory maps below for more information. 

Captions/subtitles are available on all screens throughout the gallery.

The Laing has a number of tactile artworks:

• A tactile reinterpretation of the Gerrard Robinson woodcarving is available in the Northern Spirit gallery.
• A tactile interactive explaining the different textures within a portrait of Thomas Bewick.
• A bronze and marble tactile piece which explains the Frosterley Marble tiles in the Marble Hall.

Large print guides are available in our temporary exhibitions.

Assistance dogs are welcome, but must be clearly identifiable with a labelled harness/collar. The reception desk just inside the entrance on the lower ground floor can provide a bowl of water.

Light levels are usually good, but some areas may have low light levels in order to avoid damage to the objects on display.

The Laing is usually quieter from 2.30-4.30pm.

Please see our sensory maps below for more information.

The Café is on the ground floor. Hot and cold drinks and meals are available. 

The Laing Shop is situated over the lower ground and ground floors. The shop offers a range of inexpensive but inspiring ideas to suit all tastes, including postcards and prints from the collection, fun gifts, and a wide range of books.

Both the café and shop are accessible by lift for step free access. 

We invite any feedback and improvements. You can find our contact details here:

Telephone: (0191) 278 1611 

Email: info@laingartgallery.org.uk 

We have two sensory maps available for download, one in black and white and one in colour. The sensory maps indicate stimulus like light levels, noises, smells, and temperature changes, and other important information like seating and toilets. 

Sensory map in black and white

Sensory map in colour