A red-brick building with arched windows and a triangular roof stands on a quiet street. Signs on the building read “Studio Voltaire” in blue letters, indicating it is an art gallery. There are modern and historic buildings visible in the background.

Visual Story and Sensory Information

A visual story uses photos and simple text to show what you can expect during your visit.
It helps you:

See what key areas of the building look like
Understand what you will encounter when you arrive
Feel more confident and prepared for your visit

Sensory information aims to help visitors sensitive to sound, light, smell, or touch feel more at ease.

This guide explains what you might experience through your senses. It tells you:

What you might hear
What you might see
What you might smell
What you might feel

Studio Voltaire is a large brick building on Nelson's Row in Clapham.

Our address is:

Studio Voltaire
1A Nelsons Row
London SW4 7JR

This is what the building looks like:

A brick building with a sloped grey roof and arched windows stands on a quiet street. A brick wall with a black gate encloses part of the property. Blue signs are displayed on the building and wall. Modern buildings and trees are in the background.

Getting to Studio Voltaire

There are different ways you can travel to visit us.

Getting here by car

Taxis can drop you off directly outside the main entrance to Studio Voltaire.

There is no parking, including accessible parking, available on-site.

Blue badge holders can park on Nelsons Row, where Studio Voltaire is located. Two accessible parking spaces are 30 metres from the entrance.

Getting here by Tube

The closest station is Clapham Common Underground, 500 metres from Studio Voltaire, which serves the Northern line.

This station does not have step-free access.

This is what the station looks like:

Circular stone entrance to a London Underground station, with a domed roof and four red-blue Underground signs. Several people stand outside, some looking at a map. Trees and shops are visible in the background on a bright day.

Clapham South Underground is 1600m from Studio Voltaire and serves the Northern line.

This station has escalator access to the platform.

This is what the station looks like:

The image shows the entrance to Clapham South Station, a London Underground station. The building has a stone façade with two round red and blue Underground signs, and there is a person with a suitcase near the entrance on a sunny day. Trees are visible to the right.

By Overground

The nearest Overground station is Clapham High Street, 600 metres from Studio Voltaire, which serves the Windrush line. This station does not have step-free access.

This is what the station looks like:

Exterior view of a London Underground station with a brick façade. Signs read “Clapham High Street Station.” Ticket machines, an information board, and a map are visible outside. The entrance has an orange sign, and the pavement is empty.

By Bus

The nearest bus routes are the 50, 88, 155, 322, 345 and N155.

These buses stop at 'Nelsons Row' on Clapham High Street, 97m from Studio Voltaire.

By Bike

There are bike racks to lock your bike on Nelson's Row, 64m from Studio Voltaire.

When You Arrive: The Entrance and Garden

You enter the building via The Garden designed by artist Anthea Hamilton. There are two entrances to the garden. Both are open from 11 am to 6 pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

The ground is paved and sloped towards the Entrance.

It has step-free paths and places to sit.

You might hear sounds from the fountain, people talking and eating or sounds from the road beyond the garden wall.

The garden has many plants that change with the seasons.

You might find staff members carrying out garden maintenance and watering plants.

Smoking is not allowed in the garden.

The entrance is step-free, and the automatic sensor-operated doors swing outwards towards the garden. In warmer months, the doors may be left open.

This is what the entrance and garden looks like.

A modern courtyard with brick walls, black stone path, raised planters, bare trees, decorative metal panels, and globe wall lights. The space blends rustic brick with sleek, contemporary design elements under soft, natural daylight.

Welcome Desk and Restaurant

Inside the entrance to the right is the Welcome Desk, where you will find our Visitor Experience team.

Our Visitor Experience team wear blue T-shirts with STUDIO VOLTAIRE written in large white font on the front.

On arrival, our staff will greet you and give you an introduction to the building and what is currently on display.

Please ask a staff member if you need help, directions, or support. We’re here to assist you.

The entrance also houses our café and restaurant, Crispin at Studio Voltaire.

Here is what Crispin at Studio Voltaire looks like.

A warmly lit, modern restaurant with wooden tables and chairs arranged neatly. Tables are set with glasses, plates, and cutlery. In the background, there’s a bar with shelves holding bottles and glasses, and minimalist pendant lights hang above.

Our café and restaurant are open to everyone. You do not need to reserve a table, but it is advised during busy lunchtime and evening services. You can book a table through the website and view a sample menu here.

The restaurant is quietest during the day on weekdays, and can be busy on weekends, especially in the afternoons.

The space is brightly lit during the day. On sunny days there is natural light throughout.

You may hear people talking, doors opening and closing or the sounds of people sharing meals at the restaurant.

At certain times of the day, you will hear music playing in the restaurant area.

You may also be able to smell food or coffee being prepared.

Restaurant staff can answer your questions and can be contacted before your visit on +44 (0) 208 050 0372 or email us at crispin@studiovoltaire.org.

The Gallery

The Gallery is a large space with a vaulted ceiling.

Three arched windows look out onto Nelsons Row, and there are skylights in the ceiling and overhead lighting. Depending on the artwork on show, the gallery can be bright or dimly lit.

The Gallery is on the ground floor. It is step-free and wheelchair accessible. The dimensions of the door to the gallery are 227 x 138 cm.

Additional seating is available from the Welcome Desk.

This is what the entrance looks like. Sometimes there is a curtain hanging inside the doors.

A white-walled gallery entrance with “GALLERY” and “EXHIBITIONS” signs in blue above doorways. A wall-mounted text panel is visible. Inside the gallery, there are paintings, tables, chairs, and equipment on a polished concrete floor.

Exhibitions in the Gallery change three times a year, typically in January, May and September.

The Gallery will look different depending on what is being exhibited. You may find paintings, sculptures, installations, videos and sound works.

You can find images of the current exhibition on our What’s On page. If you would like an audio description of the current exhibition, please contact us.

Some exhibitions include dim lighting or loud sounds. We have ear defenders, earplugs and torches available. Please ask a staff member if you would like to use them.

While visiting an exhibition, you might hear other visitors speaking quietly or hear sounds from the restaurant.

This is what the gallery looks like:

A bright, empty gallery room with white walls, a polished concrete floor, and a vaulted black ceiling. Three tall, arched windows line the far wall, letting in natural light and revealing a building outside. The space feels open and modern.

House of Voltaire

House of Voltaire is the name of our shop where you can look at or buy artworks, clothing and homewares. All sales from House of Voltaire support our charity’s work.

The dimensions of the entrance to House of Voltaire are 110 x 233 cm.

In House of Voltaire, you will find a staff member behind the counter.

Some artworks and objects are of an adult nature, and we recommend that children and young people be accompanied by an adult.

House of Voltaire has lower light levels than other spaces in the building.

You might hear people talking while buying items, as well as background noise from other spaces in the building.

Some items for sale have smells, such as perfumes and candles.

You can only pay by card in our shop.

You can visit our website here for more information about what is available at House of Voltaire.

This is what House of Voltaire looks like:

A modern shop features framed colourful artwork on dark green walls and wooden shelves. A black reception desk with “House of Voltaire” signage stands in the foreground. Spotlights and potted plants add warmth to the stylish, contemporary space.

Project Studio

Following the corridor to the left of the restaurant is the Project Studio, where you will find smaller exhibitions and displays.

This is what the entrance looks like:

A white corridor with a doorway labelled “PROJECT STUDIO.” Inside the doorway, a projection of a black-and-white image is displayed on the interior wall, showing people gathered outdoors. The wall outside has a white device and a black panel mounted on it.

It is a small space. The lighting levels vary depending on the work on display.

The entrance is 114 x 236 cm. The dimensions of the space are 370 x 280 x 285 cm.

Depending on the project on view, you will find different types of artwork. Sometimes, video and sound works are on display.

Events Studio

The Events Studio is used for public events, including talks and screenings.

The dimensions of the entrance are 2.33 x 1.62m.

The space is usually closed to visitors when not in use. The doors may be covered.

If an event is taking place, you may hear sounds such as audio from films, people speaking, or background noise from the rest of the building.

Depending on the type of event, it may be dimly or brightly lit.

Toilets

Accessible, all-gender, self-contained toilets and baby care facilities

All of our toilets are self-contained with a sink and are all-gender. There are accessible toilets on both floors of our building with tactile signage and raised lettering.

The toilets on the ground floor are located at the back of the restaurant, through the door directly opposite the main entrance and on the left.

The accessible toilet on the ground floor is the first door on the left-hand side, and the accessible toilet on the first floor is on the right-hand side.

Both accessible toilets are larger to accommodate wheelchairs or pushchairs. They each have support rails and an emergency alarm cord hanging from the ceiling to the right of the toilet. Both have baby changing facilities.

The toilets on the ground floor include permanent artworks by artists Joanne Tatham and Tom O’Sullivan. The walls are covered with brightly coloured, patterned tiles, which may affect visually sensitive people.

This is what the accessible toilet on the ground floor looks like:

Accessible bathroom with blue and purple tiled walls, white toilet and basin. Red and yellow grab rails are next to the toilet and basin for support. Black toilet roll dispenser and waste bin are mounted on the wall. Floor is white and grey marble.

The first-floor toilets are accessible by stairs or via the lift. They have plain white walls.

The enclosed platform lift has a glass door and is opened using a handle. The lift is operated by holding down the button on the inside of the lift.

The lift dimensions are 150 x 108 x 213 cm, and the lift door dimensions are 90 x 200 cm.

The nearest Changing Places toilet is located in Lambeth Town Hall.

Fire Exit and Emergency Procedures

Fire exits are marked with a sign. In the event of an emergency, alarms will sound throughout the building. Staff will guide you to the safest exit.

Studio Voltaire’s staff are trained to support visitors who need help evacuating.

After Your Visit

After your visit, you will be able to share feedback. You can speak to a staff member or complete a short feedback form via our iPad at the Welcome Desk, or anonymously via our website here.

To stay in touch, sign up to our mailing list or visit our website for updates on exhibitions, events and opportunities. You can also follow us on social media:

Contact Us

Studio Voltaire is open Wednesday–Sunday, 11 am–6 pm

Admission is free.

Our address is Studio Voltaire, 1A Nelsons Row, London SW4 7JR

Find out more about visiting Studio Voltaire here.

Get in touch with us at info@studiovoltaire.org or +44 (0) 207 622 1294

Click here to sign up for our mailing list and get all our latest updates.

For current jobs and opportunities, please see our Opportunities Page.

For Crispin at Studio Voltaire please email crispin@studiovoltaire.org or call +44 (0) 208 050 0372