Visual story
This visual story will help prepare you for your visit to the Royal Academy of Arts.
The RA
The RA is a gallery and art school in London. It was founded in 1768. You can come here to experience a wide range of visual art exhibitions and displays, from performance art to painting, group shows to solo shows, and more.
Planning your trip
Before you visit the RA, find out about entry times, quiet times, and where you can store small belongings.
A member of staff, wearing an RA -shirt, welcomes you to the RA.
Entry
Entry to the RA is free. You don’t need to book before you visit. We recommend that you book for exhibitions.
The RA is closed on Mondays.
It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm.
On Fridays, it is open from 10am until 9pm.
Weekday mornings are the quietest times to visit.
Looking into the Burlington House Cloakroom, with its self-service lockers and low, black desk.
Coats, jackets, and bags
There are cloakrooms on both sides of the building, Burlington House and Burlington Gardens.
The cloakroom is Burlington House has self-service lockers. There are also self-service lockers outside the Benjamin West lecture theatre in Burlington Gardens.
You can store your belongings in the cloakroom or lockers whilst you visit the Academy. There are instructions on the doors on how to use the lockers.
There are members of staff in the cloakroom to assist you.
Getting to the RA
The Royal Academy has two entrances, Burlington House and Burlington Gardens. You can use either entrance.
Burlington House from Piccadilly, with big red flags flying.
Burlington House
The Burlington House entrance is on Piccadilly in Mayfair, London.
Burlington House as seen from the Piccadilly end of the Annenberg Courtyard.
The Annenberg Courtyard
You will pass under an archway to enter the Annenberg Courtyard. There are sometimes large works of art in this courtyard, usually to coincide with the Summer Exhibition.
The Burlington House ramp entrance, leading from the courtyard into the building.
Using the ramp
There is a ramp on the left hand side of the main entrance. Ring the bell and a Red Collar will open the central doors.
Archway at Burlington House, where steps lead to the entrance.
Using the steps
The entrance is up four steps. At the top, enter the building through revolving doors.
The flags flying outside the Burlington Gardens entrance
Burlington Gardens
The Burlington Gardens entrance is along a street called Burlington Gardens in Mayfair, London.
The ramp leading up to Burlington Gardens and the accessible entrance.
Using the ramp
Using the ramp
There is a ramp on the left hand side of the main entrance. Press the push pad to open the door.
Steps up to Burlington Gardens
Using the steps
The entrance is up eight steps. At the top, enter the building through this set of double doors. You will enter the Wohl Entrance Hall.
At the RA
When you arrive at the RA, members of our Visitor Friends Experience team and the Red Collars will welcome you to the Academy. Any of the uniformed team members on site are there to help you. They work in various places around the building and you can ask them for directions or help.
A member of staff, wearing an RA jacket, welcomes you to the RA.
A member of the Red Collars, wearing a jacket with a red collar and an RA lanyard, welcomes you to the RA.
Burlington House entrance with people using the revolving doors and people gathering in groups to talk.
Entrance hall
Whichever entrance you come through, there is an entrance hall.
These are usually busy spaces where people meet their friends, buy tickets, put their things in the cloakroom, and sit down. They can be quite noisy.
There is seating in these areas.
Looking into the ticket desk, where people at the black desk will help you book or collect tickets, and help with inquiries.
Ticket desk
You will see the ticket and information desk.
There are ticket desks at both entrances.
You can buy or collect your tickets here.
Our team can also answer questions you may have.
The toilets at Burlington House, including two accessible toilets.
Toilets
There are toilets, accessible toilets, and baby changing facilities in Burlington Gardens and Burlington House.
The hand dryers in our toilets operate automatically using motion sensors.
Visitors with noise sensitivity may wish to use the accessible toilets, which have paper towels instead of hand dryers.
The main shop in Burlington House, full of gifts, books, cards, and jewellery.
Shops
There are three shops at the RA.
The RA Shop in Burlington House is the biggest shop. It has cards, jewellery, books, prints, and products associated with exhibitions.
The Newsstand is in Burlington Gardens. It has magazines, stationery, and cards.
The Shop in Burlington Gardens has cards, works of art, and products associated with exhibitions.
The savoury, grill, and sweet stands in the Grand Cafe.
Cafés
There are two cafés at the RA where you can:
• buy a hot and cold drinks
• buy hot and cold food
• ask to fill up your water bottle
There is also a restaurant in Burlington Gardens. In the summer, there is a coffee kiosk in the Annenberg Courtyard, outside of Burlington House.
You can eat your own food on the benches in the Annenberg Courtyard and under the portico in Burlington Gardens.
People admire the art in the Collections Gallery.
Displays and exhibitions
Displays and exhibitions
At the RA, there are free displays and paid exhibitions.
There are free displays in the Collections Gallery, The McAulay Gallery, and in other locations around the gallery. You do not have to book for these.
The paid exhibitions take place in the Main Galleries in Burlington House and The Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries in Burlington Gardens. We recommend you book tickets for these.
These exhibitions change every few months and show different kinds of art.
Getting around
The RA is two old buildings joined together. Sometimes it can be difficult to know how to find different spaces.
Maps
There are maps you can download or pick up at the ticket desks.
We also have a sensory map, which shows places at the RA that are:
• bright
• dark
• quiet
• noisy
One of the map display units at the RA
A member of staff, wearing an RA jacket, welcomes you to the RA.
Welcome team
This is a member of our Welcome team.
You can ask them for help or information about the RA.
They can give you directions, answer your questions and help you find different spaces or works of art.
Stairs and lifts
There are stairs and lifts to take you to different spaces around the RA.
A flight of stairs leading to Burlington Gardens.
Glass lift in Burlington House.
Inside exhibitions and displays
There are some rules and guidelines in the exhibition and display spaces.
You cannot:
• touch the art
• eat
• or drink in the galleries
You can usually take photographs and draw in the galleries.
Photographing an artwork with a smartphone.
Taking photographs
You can usually photograph the art if you don't use flash. If you cannot photograph a piece of art, there will be a 'no photography' sign.
A person sketching with pencil in the galleries.
Drawing in the galleries
Drawing in the galleries
You can draw in the galleries using pencil. If you need to sharpen your pencils, use a sharpener with a receptacle to collect the shavings.
Except during special events, you cannot usually use pens, coloured pencils, or paints in the galleries.
Burlington Gardens automated door and ramp entrance, leading into the entrance hall
Leaving the RA
When you are ready to leave you can exit using the doors on either side of the building, Burlington House and Burlington Gardens.
We hope you enjoy your visit.
Plan your visit
Plan your visit to our exhibitions, collection gallery, and other free displays.