Ferens Art Gallery

Is it right for my child?

• Under 5s: Explore Art (Gallery 10) is a ground floor gallery designed for children aged 0 to 5. Hull Museums describes interactive displays, toys, a drawing corner and books to share.
• Real paintings in the play space: the visual story asks children to be sensible and keep Explore Art tidy, because its real paintings could get damaged.
• Older children: the families page invites you to discover lions, mermaids and more. Gallery 5 has Rosa Bonheur’s The Lion at Home.
• Art by children: the 2026 Young Artist Open Exhibition shows work by young people aged 15 and under. It runs from 16 October 2026 to 10 January 2027.
• Look, do not touch: the visual story says only one artwork may be touched, a sculpture called Large Frog.
• Sensory notes: Gallery 1 and the Studio are darker. Films with speech or music sometimes play in the centre court or Galleries 4, 7 and 8. Voices echo, and metal floor grates can be noisy underfoot.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Entry is free and there is no need to book. Groups of 15 or more are asked to book through the Self-directed visits page.
• Head to Explore Art first with under 5s. It is on the ground floor, with level access.
• Download the visual story and floor plan from the access page.
• Check café hours on the day, because the official pages give two different closing times.
• Photos: personal, non-commercial photos are welcome, with occasional exceptions such as a touring artwork. Look out for signs.

Prices and tickets

Admission is free for everyone, so carers are welcome to join the people they support.

• Exhibitions: the 2026 Open Exhibition and the 2026 Young Artist Open Exhibition are free and drop-in, from 16 October 2026 to 10 January 2027. Both are marked suitable for all ages.
• Family events: the families page says free family events run through the year. Mini Masterpieces, a morning of art activities for under 5s, takes place during holiday periods. Check the what’s on page for dates.
• Guided tours: a free, hour-long tour is listed as ticketed, on selected dates from 15 November 2026 to 23 March 2027. The listing marks it for adults.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Getting in: the access page describes a ramp entrance with a shallow incline. The guides disagree on which side the ramp is, so look for it on arrival.
• Inside: there is level access to Galleries 1 to 9 and Explore Art. A lift goes to the first floor for Galleries 11 and 12.
• Heavy doors: most internal doors are manual and can be heavy to open.
• Pushchairs: the official pages do not mention pushchair rules or a buggy park.
• Toilets: one set is off Gallery 2, near the Studio, and another is behind the café. Each set includes an accessible toilet.
• Baby changing: the access page’s toilet section and the Easy Read guide list it in both sets of toilets. The access page’s baby change section mentions only the accessible toilets at the rear.
• Noise: the visual story warns that the hand driers can be quite noisy.

Food and drink

There is a café at the back of the gallery. The visual story says it sells hot meals, drinks, sandwiches and cakes, and can be busy at lunchtime.

• For children: the Little Artists Menu, dated January 2026, costs £7.00 for a main, a drink and a sweet treat.
• Café hours: the eat and drink page lists Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 11.15am to 3.30pm. The gallery home page says the café closes an hour before the gallery.
• Packed lunches: the official pages do not say whether you can eat your own food inside. There are plenty of places to eat nearby in the city centre.

Getting there and parking

The address is Ferens Art Gallery, Queen Victoria Square, Carr Lane, Hull HU1 3RA. It is a stone’s throw from the Maritime Museum and Hull City Hall.

• Train and bus station: the plan your visit page says Paragon Interchange is a 6-minute walk. The Easy Read guide says 7 minutes.
• Buses: the plan your visit page names Alfred Gelder Street as the nearest stop. The Quick Access Guide lists Monument Bridge and Carr Lane stops, both 85m away.
• Parking: Hull Museums mentions Lowgate Car Park, Saville Street and Paragon Street, all within 5 minutes. The access guides name Princes Quay as the nearest multi-storey. No prices are given.
• Blue Badge: there are nine disabled parking spaces on Paragon Street, behind City Hall.

When to visit

Hours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm. The gallery opens on bank holidays except Good Friday. It is closed 24 to 28 December and on 1 January.

The visual story says it is usually quite quiet from 10am to 11am, unless a school is in, and from 2pm to 4.30pm. Sunday is usually quieter unless an event is on.

Additional needs and disability support

Hull Museums publishes access guides for the Ferens, and you can email the team before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ferens Art Gallery free?

Yes. Entry is free for everyone and you do not need to book. The café and gift shop cost extra.

Is Ferens Art Gallery good for toddlers?

The official pages give no minimum age. Explore Art on the ground floor is designed for children aged 0 to 5. It also holds real paintings, so stay close.

Can you take a pushchair to Ferens Art Gallery?

The official pages do not mention pushchairs directly. There is a ramp at the entrance, level access to Galleries 1 to 9 and Explore Art, and a lift to the first floor.

Is there a café at Ferens Art Gallery?

Yes, at the back of the gallery, with a £7.00 Little Artists Menu. The official pages give two different café closing times.

Is Ferens Art Gallery good for autistic children?

Hull Museums offers a visual story, borrowable ear defenders, a Calm Gallery and free Flourish with Ferens sessions. Gallery 1 and the Studio are darker, and family events can be noisy.

Is Ferens Art Gallery open at Christmas?

It is closed from 24 to 28 December and on 1 January. The official pages do not list special hours for other days around Christmas, so check before you travel.

Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official Hull Museums pages for Ferens Art Gallery, plan your visit, access, families and under 5s, what to see, eat and drink and what’s on, plus the gallery’s visual story and access guides. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.