Frequently Asked Questions

Tuesday to Friday: 9am-6pm (exhibitions open at 9.30am). 
Saturday and Sunday: 10am-5pm. 
We are closed on Mondays, including bank holidays. 
Any alterations to these hours will be posted on our website and socials.

No. Tickets do not need to be pre-booked. On arrival, make your way to the front desk to get your Universal Ticket, which is issued to every visitor and gives you entry to the entire museum, including the Permanent Collection and all special exhibitions. You do not need a ticket to visit the Sculpture Park.

We are the first museum in the UK to offer a Pay If and What you Want ticketing system. Entry is free for everyone and those giving us money are giving us a donation. 

On arrival, make your way to the front desk to get your Universal Ticket. The price of that ticket is up to you. When obtaining your ticket, you will be offered a selection of prices, from Free Entry up to £20. We encourage you to contribute whichever amount you feel able to, knowing that it supports our mission to provide access to the arts for everyone.

The best ways to travel to the Sainsbury Centre are by bus, bicycle, car, taxi, or on foot. The nearest train station is Norwich Station, approximately a 25 minute taxi ride away, or connected via the bus routes 25 and 26. Coaches can only be accommodated by pre-arrangement. For more information, go to our Visit us page.

Yes. Parking is free for all visitors to the Sainsbury Centre. A dedicated car park is located directly opposite the Centre. Simply register your vehicle at reception within 20 minutes of arrival. More information is on our parking page here.

Yes. Both are available by the museum entrance. Lockers require a £1 coin, which is returned, or you can borrow tokens from the front desk. Pushchairs can be left in the cloakroom.

Yes. We have lifts to acces both the lower galleries and Mezzanine. Alternative access to the lower galleries is also available via a ramp. Please ask at the front desk for assistance.

Yes. We produce large print guides for all special exhibitions. Please ask at our information desk for a copy.

Yes. Both are available by the main gallery entrance. Please ask at the front desk for assistance.

The Sculpture Park walking routes are mainly gravel paths, with some slopes. It is still fairly accessible, including the walk around the lake, although some areas may be slippery during wet weather.

Yes. There is a Changing Places toilet less than 5 minutes away from the Centre in the New UEA Science Building, one of our Visitor Experience team will be happy to direct you. This is open Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm. Visitors wanting to use the facility at the weekend will need to collect and return the access card from our gallery reception.

If you wish to bring a group of more than 10 people, please fill in a Group Visit Enquiries form here. If you have any questions about visiting as a group, please contact scva@uea.ac.uk

If you would like to enquire about an educational visit please use the Educational Group Visit Booking Enquiry Form here. If you have any questions about visiting with an educational group, please email scvagroupvisits@uea.ac.uk

No. The Sainsbury Centre’s founders Robert and Lisa Sainsbury used to display the collection in their home and wanted visitors to feel comfortable viewing these objects in the same way they did. Feel free to explore our galleries following any route you wish.

Yes. Multiple tours are available, from our Free Daily Tours of the Living Area at 11am and 2pm, through to our popular Spotlight Tours and Family Friendly Sculpture Park Tours. Self-guided audio tours can also be accessed via the Smartify app. All tours are listed in What’s On.

Yes, without flash. We permit photography and filming of yourself, friends and family during your visit, as well as displayed objects in most parts of the museum, using handheld cameras and phones. Please do not touch objects, plinths or cases while taking photographs or film.

To photograph or film for commercial purposes, please contact the marketing team.

Yes. Baby changing facilities are available in the toilets by the Modern Life Cafe on the Ground Floor.

In the Living Area we have a kids table with family sculpture park maps, explorer tool belts, clipboards, paper, pencils and sensory objects. Trails are also available for the temporary exhibitions. You can find up to date events and workshop listings for families, children and young people in What’s On, including our monthly Big Sunday.

We have two cafes on site, serving a range of hot and cold food and drinks: The Terrace Café and Modern Life Cafe. For more information and menus please visit our Eating & Drinking page.

Dogs are not allowed inside the Sainsbury Centre, except for assistance and emotional support dogs, provided they are identifiable and are appropriately trained and supervised. Dogs are permitted in the Sculpture Park.

The Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park is open during daylight hours. 

No food or drink can be consumed inside the galleries and only items purchased on site may be consumed in the cafes. Outdoors throughout the Sculpture Park there are picnic benches, seats and grass areas that are perfect for a picnic.