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Museums

Dulwich Picture Gallery

📍 London, Greater London

4.5(612 Google reviews)💰£10👶All ages

Dulwich Picture Gallery holds works by Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Rubens and Poussin, plus the ArtPlay Pavilion — a sensory-rich play space for under-8s with dedicated SEN-friendly after-school sessions. Free parking directly outside.

ArtPlay PavilionSEN-friendly sessionsUnder-8s sensory playRembrandt and GainsboroughFree parkingSoane building
★★★★★Featured review by Farah Mjd

What a wonderful new ArtPlay centre for children 😍 It was our first visit & I'd booked the after school SEN session for my autistic son which he really enjoyed. It wasn't very busy so he comfortably explored the space, particularly liked the slide and swing area. The subtle tones & soft textures create a cosy & relaxing atmosphere. Frequency sounds were played in the background too. I personally love the design concept & features of this unique, creative space. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. It was nice socialising with other parents too. I've yet to visit the gallery and it's gardens- no doubt they're just as great. We'll definitely be coming here again soon. Thank you for your service 😊

🏆 Family Action Verdict

Best for families with children under 8, especially those with sensory sensitivities or autism, who can use the ArtPlay Pavilion's structured SEN sessions. The permanent collection works best as a short cultural stop for older children or adults. The grounds and Soane building are worth seeing in their own right.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

💡Book ArtPlay SEN sessions in advance — they run at low capacity by design
Free parking is available directly in front of the gallery
🎟️The cafe gets busy at lunchtime — plan for a queue or visit off-peak
🚗A full visit to the permanent collection and ArtPlay typically takes under two hours

💬 What Families Are Saying

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4.5

612 Google reviews

ArtPlay and SEN sessions40%
Permanent collection and building30%
Grounds and cafe20%
Ticket value notes10%
F

Farah Mjd

6 months ago

What a wonderful new ArtPlay centre for children 😍 It was our first visit & I'd booked the after school SEN session for my autistic son which he really enjoyed. It wasn't very busy so he comfortably explored the space, particularly liked the slide and swing area. The subtle tones & soft textures create a cosy & relaxing atmosphere. Frequency sounds were played in the background too. I personally love the design concept & features of this unique, creative space. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. It was nice socialising with other parents too. I've yet to visit the gallery and it's gardens- no doubt they're just as great. We'll definitely be coming here again soon. Thank you for your service 😊

S

Susan Zoe Felix

3 months ago

We had an 11.30 booked slot for the Anna Ancher exhibition. We parked right outside the gallery for free. The exhibition was wonderful and we are so happy we went. The permanent collection is great too with quite a few famous paintings. The cafe is very nice and very busy. 15 minutes wait for a table at lunch time. We had the smoked mackerel open sandwich and the Aubergine rolls which were both so tasty. I recommend this gallery.

陳北辰 Артур

7 months ago

It has long been on my list of art museums in London. The collection, to be honest, is not really exciting. In my opinion, its value lies rather in the fact that it reflects the taste of the early 19th century than in the works in it. They do hold a few good works by Rembrandt, Poussin, Murillo, etc, but the scale of the gallery is not big, even less impressive than a grand country houseand, and it will not hold you for long; the visit is usually under 2 hours. The staff member was neither cold nor warm; they were busy talking to each other. I felt a larger context of the collection was needed, rather than just individual labels next to the works, as the works individually are really not that interesting, and if people want to see good, inspiring artworks they sure will go to the National Gallery and other museums in central London. An introduction to Soane or a general overview of the taste of the 19th century Britain would be helpful. But they have audioguide recordings on Bloomsbury connect, which was helpful. Art Fund members go for free. Otherwise the ticket price can be considered as pricey regarding the size of the gallery. Also, they were having some construction going on so it was not possible to go to the back of the gallery to see the mausoleum.

J

John Ryan

a month ago

Really enjoyed the exhibition of work by Anna Ancher: Painting Light. A Danish artist I’d heard never heard of. Plus couple of images of details from main collection.

Reviews from Google

Overview

The gallery's permanent collection spans 17th and 18th century European masters including Rembrandt, Poussin, Murillo and Gainsborough in a purpose-built 1817 Soane building. The ArtPlay Pavilion is a separate immersive sensory space for under-8s with elements exploring sunlight, water and earth, plus a slide and swing area. SEN-friendly sessions run after school with low visitor numbers for comfort. Regular programming includes Mini Masterpieces painting sessions and free Art Sundays.

🕐 Opening Hours

Monday10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday10:00 – 17:00
Thursday10:00 – 17:00
Friday10:00 – 17:00
Saturday10:00 – 17:00
Sunday10:00 – 17:00

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