Visitor Information

For current opening hours please see our museums and galleries page. A copy of the current Arts and Heritage brochure is now available for you to download.

Essential maintenance works

Sunday, 8 January 2012

Please note that because of essential maintenance to the City Art Gallery roof, the main entrance will be closed for one day on Sunday, 8 January 2012. Please use the alternative entrance provided.

On-going maintenance works

Because of essential maintenance works to the City Art Gallery roof, one wing of the Gallery will be closed until December 2011. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

By foot
The gallery is housed within the Civic Centre on Commercial Road. There is a large round fountain on the forecourt and the entrance faces Watts Park. Please go up the steps in front of you and you'll be inside the entrance foyer. The flight of stairs directly opposite leads up to the art gallery.

By car
Follow signs to the city centre from the M3/ A33 from the north, A3024 and A33 from the west, and M27/ A335 from the east. The nearest multi-storey car parks are West Park, Grosvenor Square, the Marlands and West Quay.

Due to work on the Civic building and Sea City road priorities have changed; Commercial Road is now a one-way road and exit of this is by way of Above Bar Street. The only route for car users to gain parking/access to the entrance of the art gallery is by way of West Park Road into Commercial Road. This is by heading east from the station, and crossing the junction with Havelock road onto Commercial Road.

Drivers of PSV's and coaches can approach from Above Bar Street and use the bus lane.

Public transport
The gallery is close to city centre bus stops (two minutes on foot). By train, the gallery is only five minutes walk from Southampton Central Station. Turn right out of the platform one main exit and follow West Park Road up the hill to the traffic lights. The Civic Centre is opposite and the gallery entrance faces the park. There are three trains an hour from Waterloo. For more information see our public transport web page.

Wheelchair access throughout the gallery. There are ramps at all entrances, accessible toilets and a lift. Guide dogs are welcome. There are regular British sign language (BSL) interpreted tours of the gallery and also 'touch tours' for visually impaired visitors; contact the gallery for more information on art.gallery@southampton.gov.uk or telephone 023 8083 4563. Toilets, including disabled facilities, are situated on the ground floor in the gallery foyer. Baby changing facilities are also sited within the ground floor gallery foyer.

Whilst visiting the Art Gallery, why not take a break and enjoy some refreshments. As it is located in the Art Gallery and Library foyer it's the perfect choice for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or just a quick cuppa.

The Café is open Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm and Saturday 9pm - 5pm. Telephone 023 8023 4905 for more details.

Fountains Café is leased to Alfresco Services to run on behalf of Southampton City Council. Alfresco aim to develop the café as a destination for great British Food, using fresh and locally sourced products.