Visitor Guide | Contact Us | Find Us
Visitor Guide
The Royal Photographic Society Gallery in Bristol is now open. In order to ensure that everyone shares a safe and enjoyable experience, please take time to plan your visit in advance by reading the information below.
Opening times
RPS Gallery is open Thursday to Sunday (and Bank Holiday Mondays), 10 am–5 pm
Please note that RPS House is now closed until it reopens for Generations on 27 January 2022.
Safety Information
We are continuing to review and update our approach to the Covid-19 pandemic. To ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience, we kindly ask you to:
- Wear a face covering unless otherwise exempt
- Sanitise your hands on arrival
- Check-in with the Track & Trace app
- Follow the directional signage where appropriate
- Support our Front of House team, who are monitoring visitor numbers each day
Our building regularly undergoes thorough cleaning and sanitisation. Hand sanitiser is distributed throughout the building and windows and doors are open, creating a well-ventilated environment.
Please do not enter the building if you show any symptoms associated with Covid-19.
Find us
The Royal Photographic Society, 337 Paintworks, Arnos Vale, Bristol, BS4 3AR
We are located at the "Photo Hub" inside Paintworks creative quarter on the A4, Bath Road across from Arnos Vale Cemetery. Our building is beside The Martin Parr Foundation.
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Getting here:
Car
Sat nav (BS4 3AR), or follow signs for Temple Meads Railway Station. Continue along the A4/Bath Road towards Bath bearing left at the Three Lamps junction. After one mile, Paintworks is on the left-hand side.
Parking
Paintworks has signposted free visitor parking. This is 200 metres from RPS House and limited to 3 hours.
Alternatively, there is parking within a 5-10 minute walk at the local Sainsbury's. This is bookable at https://www.yourparkingspace.co.uk/locations/show/4294938009.
Park and Ride
The Brislington Park and Ride operates from Monday to Saturday, every 15 minutes. You should get off at Bristol Temple Meads. The journey duration is approximately 11 minutes.
You can walk (25 minutes), cycle, take a bus or get a taxi to RPS House from Bristol Temple Meads.
Train
Bristol Temple Meads is the nearest railway station. You can walk (25 minutes), cycle, take a bus or get a taxi to RPS House from Temple Meads. For tickets and live departure boards visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Bus
Buses run from the centre of Bristol, from Temple Meads and Bristol Coach Station and between Bristol and Bath. 1, 57, 349 and X39 stop at the Paintworks bus stop. For bus times please visit: https://www.traveline.info/.
Coach
Visit www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/coach-stations/bristol.
You can walk (45 minutes), take a bus or taxi from Bristol Coach Station.
Walking
When leaving Bristol Temple Meads train station complex, turn left and follow the road for a short way until you get to a large roundabout. Continue straight ahead (over the bridge with metal arches) and follow the road (A4 Bath) until you get to a fork in the road with a post with three lamps on it. Take the left fork and continue walking for about half a mile until you get to Paintworks on your left.
It takes around 25 minutes to walk from Temple Meads.
Bike
We are located across the river Avon from the national cycle path West Country Way, Route 3.
Air
The nearest airport is Bristol Airport (BRS). The postcode is BS48 3DY. It is 7 miles away. There is a regular shuttle bus to Bristol which stops at Bristol Temple Meads train station.
You can walk (25 minutes), take a bus or get a taxi to RPS House from Temple Meads.
Accessibility:
Within RPS House, all areas are fully accessible with a lift, ramps and restrooms on each floor.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact us on RPSHouse@rps.org in advance so we can assist you in your visit.
Though there is some accessibility parking in Paintworks, we also have some private parking spaces we can reserve for those with accessibility requirements. Please contact us in advance if you would like a space reserved.
From street level car parking there are lifts available to reach RPS House on the raised ground floor.
Contact us
RPS House business hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
Please note: RPS offices are closed from 24 December - 4 January.
Main switchboard 0117 3164450 info@rps.org
Building & Operations 0117 316 4452 operations@rps.org
Finance 0117 316 4459 finance@rps.org
Media, PR 0117 316 4466 07936 362364 media@rps.org
Events:
For any questions about events, please contact the event organiser. You will find their details on the event page. Please click here for a full list of events.
Websites:
Exposure Competition: 0117 316 4461 nathan@rps.org
International Photography Exhibition 0117 316 4476 exhibitions@rps.org
Bursaries 0117 316 4480 learning@rps.org
rps.org login/password/membership/renewal issues 0117 316 4462 (Mon-Thurs) or 0117 316 4461 (Mon-Fri) membership@rps.org. Other queries webadmin@rps.org
Awards 0117 316 4475 awards@rps.org
Distinctions 0117 316 4470 distinctions@rps.org
Education 0117 316 4480 learning@rps.org
Education, Public Affairs, History 0117 3164474 director@rps.org
Exhibitions 0117 316 4476 exhibitions@rps.org
Volunteers 0117 316 4484 07936 362365 volunteers@rps.org