The British Museum asks Class 3 scooter users to set the speed limiter to 4mph. The National Gallery says visitors should not charge any form of electronic item inside. The Science Museum says electric mobility scooters may not be charged without the Duty Manager’s permission. Six London museums and galleries publish something on mobility scooters or on scooters and batteries, and the wording differs between them. This article reports what each page says, all read on 8 November 2026, for venues in London, England. The pages are the venues’ own statements and mostly undated, so the current page decides what applies.
The pages side by side
| Venue | Mobility scooters | Charging |
|---|---|---|
| British Museum | Class 3 vehicles: speed limiter set to 4mph; step-free route at the Great Russell Street main entrance | Cannot charge on the premises |
| Science Museum | Welcome | Electric mobility scooters may not be charged in power points without the Duty Manager’s permission |
| National Gallery | Welcome, with other mobility aids | Policy says do not charge any form of electronic item in the Gallery |
| Tate Britain and Tate Modern | Mobility scooters and walkers that can be booked | Not mentioned on the page read |
| Queen’s House, Greenwich | Welcome; some models do not fit the lift | Not mentioned on the page read |
| V&A South Kensington | Not mentioned on the pages read | E-bikes, e-scooters and similar rechargeable-battery devices not permitted; mobility scooters not addressed |
Charging: three answers and two silences
The British Museum says that, for safety reasons, a visitor cannot charge a vehicle on its premises. The Science Museum is less absolute: its mobility scooter entry says electric mobility scooters may not be charged in any of the museum power points without the Duty Manager’s permission. The National Gallery’s visitor admissions policy, which shows an update date of 27 April 2026, lists charging any form of electronic item within the Gallery among the things visitors are asked not to do for health and safety reasons. It does not mention mobility scooters in that list. The Tate and Queen’s House pages read say nothing about charging, and none of the pages read describes a scooter charging service.
How fast, and who answers for damage?
The British Museum’s speed rule applies to Class 3 vehicles, whose users are asked to set the limiter to 4mph (6.44 km/hour). The page also asks users to slow down in busy areas and be mindful of others who may not be able to move out of the way quickly. The National Gallery’s policy takes a different line, stating that the Gallery accepts no responsibility for any damage to the building, collection or property caused by mobility aids used on the premises. The other pages read give no speed or damage rule.
Lifts, routes and loans
The National Gallery says mobility scooters, wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs and all other mobility aids are welcome and points to its Access page for the size of its lifts; that page was not read for this article. The Royal Museums Greenwich page for the Queen’s House says visitors are welcome with a mobility scooter but that some models do not fit the lift and ramps will be required for the Great Hall and the Orangery, and it asks visitors to email before visiting to check the details. The British Museum describes a step-free easy access route at its Great Russell Street main entrance.
On loans, Tate’s FAQ says Tate Britain and Tate Modern have mobility scooters and walkers, and asks visitors to contact Tate by telephone or email to book, giving at least 24 hours’ notice if possible. The page read does not say whether the loan scooters can be charged or taken outside.
What the V&A pages leave unsaid
The V&A South Kensington visit page says e-bikes, e-scooters or similar devices containing rechargeable batteries are not permitted in its cloakroom or anywhere on its premises, citing the potential fire hazard. Its visiting FAQs say a wheelchair or mobility aid can be booked using the accessibility aid form, with at least 24 hours’ notice recommended. Neither page mentions mobility scooters, so neither says whether the battery rule applies to them.
The Science Museum’s two headings
The Science Museum page has one entry headed mobility scooters, which says they are welcome, and a separate entry headed bicycles and scooters, which says no electric scooters are allowed in the museum and that scooters may not be ridden anywhere inside. The page does not say how the two interact, and this article does not either.
The bottom line
At the British Museum, Class 3 users are asked to set the limiter to 4mph and cannot charge; at the Science Museum, mobility scooters are welcome and charging needs the Duty Manager’s permission; the National Gallery welcomes them and asks visitors not to charge electronic items; Tate Britain and Tate Modern list mobility scooters for booking; the Queen’s House warns that some models do not fit its lift; the V&A pages read do not mention mobility scooters. The Queen’s House asks visitors to email before visiting to check the details and Tate asks them to contact it to book; the pages are mostly undated and the wording differs, so the current page decides what applies.
Sources
- Accessibility at the Museum, British Museum, page undated, read 8 November 2026 (britishmuseum.org)
- Visit faqs, Science Museum, page undated, read 8 November 2026 (sciencemuseum.org.uk)
- Visitor Admissions Policy, National Gallery, policy updated 27 April 2026, read 8 November 2026 (nationalgallery.org.uk)
- Frequently asked questions, Tate, page undated, read 8 November 2026 (tate.org.uk)
- Accessibility at the Queen’s House, Royal Museums Greenwich, page undated, read 8 November 2026 (rmg.co.uk)
- Visit V&A South Kensington, V&A, page undated, read 8 November 2026 (vam.ac.uk)
- Visiting FAQs, V&A, page undated, read 8 November 2026 (vam.ac.uk)