Visitor Information
Paul Mellon Centre
16 Bedford Square
London, WC1B 3JA
United Kingdom
T: 020 7580 0311
F: 020 7636 6730
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday |
10:00–17:00 |
Closed |
|
Public Study Room |
Closed 10 July 2023 |
Details of Public Study Room opening hours are available on our Visiting the Public Study Room page. All readers need to book their visits in advance.
Transport
Nearest tube |
Tottenham Court Road on the Central Line and the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line. |
Nearby buses |
14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390 |
By Car |
There is no parking at the Paul Mellon Centre, however there are three Blue Badge parking spaces on Store Street, which runs parallel directly behind Bedford Square. There are also pay & display parking bays on Bedford Square, subject to local parking restrictions.
Additionally, the following car parks are nearby: Adeline Place, WC1B 3AJ (0.2 miles/0.32 km) – 140 spaces, 2 of which are disabled bays Bloomsbury Square, WC1A 2RJ (0.4 miles/0.64 km) – 300 spaces, 2 of which are disabled bays |
Cycling |
There are railings on the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Bayley Street that can be used to lock up a standard push bike. |
More information on transport can be found in the Building Access Guide document below.
Building Access
We warmly welcome all visitors to the Paul Mellon Centre. For information on accessibility at the Centre, please refer to our Accessibility Film below, as well as our Accessibility Guide and diagrams showing public areas of the building, in the downloads section beneath it.
We are happy to offer assistance to visitors wherever possible and if you have any further queries please contact us.
Guidance for Events
We are delighted to welcome you back to the Paul Mellon Centre in London for in-person events. We would like to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible and have put in place several measures to protect you and our staff.
If You’re Feeling Unwell
If you or anyone you live with displays symptoms associated with COVID-19, please stay at home even if you have made a booking for one of our events.
Face Coverings
We encourage all event attendees (other than those who are exempt from wearing face coverings) to wear a face mask. If you have forgotten yours, please ask our Reception staff and we will provide you with one. We will not ask speakers to wear a mask and you may take off your mask while asking a question.
Ventilation
We have installed air purifiers in event spaces, to enhance ventilation.
Social Distancing
We will offer a reduced seating capacity to ensure space between seats so that event attendees can feel safe and comfortable. All our events will be hybrid and there will be a live-stream option available for those who cannot be in the building.
Eating and Drinking
Drinks and, in some instances, snacks will be served in a separate space after an event. We will ensure that these spaces are particularly well ventilated by using air purifiers and by keeping doors and windows open if needed.
Hygiene Stations
Motion-sensor hand sanitiser stations have been installed in key areas of the building, as well as motion-sensor soap dispensers in toilets. Please clean your hands regularly and follow our hygiene guidance signs.
Cleaning
We will continue to invest in the extra cleaning services that we have introduced since our reopening, until further notice.
Assisting the Test and Trace Scheme
In order to be able to contact anyone who may have been exposed to someone presenting with Covid-19 symptoms since being at the Centre, we will ask all visitors for their contact details on arrival. This data will be kept for twenty-one days and then permanently deleted.
Facilities
The ground floor toilets will be dedicated for visitor use only. Lockers will be available to store your belongings, but we ask that you do not bring any bulky items with you.
Guidance for Visitors to the Centre
Welcome Back
We would like to make your visit to the Centre as safe and enjoyable as possible, and have put in place several measures to protect you and our staff.
We have summarised the key points of our planning below, but please feel free to call 020 7580 0311 or email info@paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk if you have any questions or concerns.
These guidelines will be subject to continual review and revision, so make sure to check before your visit. We look forward to welcoming you when you are ready to join us.
What’s Open?
Our Public Study Room is open on Tuesday to Friday. Details of Public Study Room opening hours are available on our Visiting the Public Study Room page. All readers need to book their visits in advance.
If You’re Feeling Unwell
If you or anyone you live with displays symptoms associated with COVID-19, please stay at home.
Face Coverings
We encourage the wearing of face masks when moving through the building (this guidance does not apply to those visitors who are exempt from wearing face coverings).
Social Distancing
We ask that, where possible, visitors continue to allow plenty of space between themselves and other people so that everyone can feel comfortable.
Ventilation
We are keeping doors and windows open where possible, to increase ventilation throughout the building. We have installed air purifiers in high-use areas. In other areas, we are keeping doors and windows open as much as possible, to increase ventilation throughout the building.
Cleaning
We will continue to invest in the extra cleaning services that we have introduced since our reopening, until further notice.
Hygiene Stations
Motion-sensor hand sanitiser stations have been installed in key areas of the building, as well as motion-sensor soap dispensers in toilets. Please clean your hands regularly and follow our hygiene guidance signs.
Assisting the Test and Trace Scheme
In order to be able to contact anyone who may have been exposed to someone presenting with Covid-19 symptoms since being at the Centre, we will ask all visitors for their contact details on arrival. This data will be kept for twenty-one days and then permanently deleted.
Facilities
The ground floor toilets will be dedicated for visitor use only. Lockers will be available to store your belongings, but we ask that you do not bring any bulky items with you.
Storing Your Belongings
Public Study Room users will still be able to bring laptops, pencils and study materials into the library, in clear plastic bags. There are lockers for all visitors in the ground floor facilities, opposite Reception.

Figure 1.
Jonathan Law, Building Accessibility, a video introduction to the facilities at 16 and 15 Bedford Square.