Stanley Picker Gallery
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Kingston upon Thames
What it’s like
Free gallery shows by the river in Kingston, with a riverside terrace, baby changing and step-free access throughout. Open Tue to Sat, 11am to 5pm, during exhibitions.
You go for the exhibition, and you stay for the terrace. The Gallery runs a programme of shows through the year, with creative activities and shared learning sessions aimed at all ages, and organised visits for schools, colleges and community groups. There's a riverside terrace with outdoor seating, which on a bright afternoon is the bit everyone remembers.
Entry is free, which takes the sting out of a wet Saturday, and the whole place is ground-floor and step-free with accessible parking right outside. You don't need to commit to a long visit: it's a gallery, so an hour or so covers it, and it's about a 10-minute walk from Kingston railway station if you're coming by train.
Do check the dates before you set off, because it only opens during exhibitions, Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. The current show runs from 19 September to 19 December 2026, and Picker House opens for limited pre-arranged group visits between April and October.
There's no cafe in the Gallery itself, which is a small shame when you've got a toddler and a coffee habit. The site points you to a small independent cafe and two pubs very nearby, plus the university canteen and the library cafe, both open to the public. If you're driving, parking is free on site off Portland Road, but you have to collect a permit from Middle Mill Reception and display it. They're clear that cars without one get fined, and the access rules along Portland Road East tighten on weekday mornings and at school run times. Sat navs sometimes route you through Mill Street, where there's no vehicle access at all, so it's worth following the directions on the site. Well behaved dogs are welcome, and there are bike racks if you're cycling.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free on site off Portland Road, but collect a permit from Middle Mill Reception
- Food
- No cafe on site. Small independent cafe and two pubs very nearby, university canteen and library cafe open to public
- Wheelchairs
- Ground-floor and step-free throughout
- Dogs
- Well behaved dogs welcome
- Getting there by bus or train
- About a 10-minute walk from Kingston Railway Station
- Parties
- No birthday party package stated
- Open only during exhibitions, so check the show dates before travelling
- You must pick up a parking permit from Middle Mill Reception; fines are issued without one
- Picker House opens for limited pre-arranged group visits between April and October
- Nearest food is a small independent cafe and two pubs, no cafe inside the Gallery
Plan your visit
How much is it to get in?
Free. The Gallery doesn't charge for entry.
When is it open?
Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and only while an exhibition is on. The current show runs from 19 September to 19 December 2026.
Do we need to book?
Not for a normal visit. Group visits for schools, colleges and community groups are arranged in advance by email or phone, and Picker House visits are pre-arranged only.
Is there parking?
Free on-site parking off Portland Road, with two blue-badge spaces. Collect a permit from Middle Mill Reception and display it in your car, as fines are issued without one.
How do we find the entrance?
Vehicle access is off Portland Road via the Middle Mill site. Sat navs sometimes send people through Mill Street, which has no vehicle access, and access along Portland Road East is restricted on weekday mornings and at school run times.
Is there anywhere to eat?
No cafe in the Gallery. There's a small independent cafe and two pubs very close by, and the university canteen and library cafe are both open to the public.
Is there a baby change?
There's an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities, plus seating inside and a riverside terrace with seating outside.
Can we bring a buggy or wheelchair?
The Gallery is ground-floor and step-free throughout, with accessible parking right outside, so pushchairs and wheelchairs are fine.
How long does a visit take?
An hour or so covers the exhibition and a sit down on the terrace. It's a gallery rather than a full day out.
Are dogs allowed?
Well behaved dogs are welcome. There are also bike racks at the Gallery to use while you visit.
How do we get there without a car?
It's about a 10-minute walk from Kingston railway station.
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