Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration

Over het museum

The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration grew out of a campaign by the illustrator Quentin Blake, who became the first Children's Laureate in 1999 and used the role to argue that illustration deserved more attention. In 2002 he founded a charity to create the first public place in Britain devoted to the art form. For its first decade it worked through touring exhibitions and learning projects, and in 2014 it opened a gallery called House of Illustration in King's Cross, which closed in 2020.

The charity then bought New River Head in Clerkenwell, a derelict waterworks, in 2019. The site was the end point of the New River, a channel that brought drinking water to London from 1613, and over the centuries it gained a windmill, horse-powered and steam-powered pumping engines, an engine house and coal stores. Tim Ronalds Architects were appointed in 2020 to convert the buildings while keeping their industrial character.

The Centre opened in June 2026. It has three galleries in the former engine house and coal stores, which show ticketed exhibitions, including works from Quentin Blake's archive of about 40,000 pieces. Free spaces include a library with an activity area, gardens, a creative studio, a shop and a café in the former boiler house. It runs courses, workshops and school projects, and it presents itself as the largest space in the world dedicated to illustration.

Hoogtepunten

• Galleries in a restored historic waterworks
• Works from Quentin Blake's archive
• Free library with comics, picturebooks and illustration activities
• Gardens with playable benches and a heritage trail
• Café in the former boiler house with a south-facing terrace

Vaste collectie

• Library – A free reading space with over 1,000 comics, graphic novels, zines and picturebooks, illustration activities, displays and original artworks.

Opgericht

2002

Beheerder

Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration (registered charity)

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The prices are for the ticketed exhibitions, and one ticket covers all three galleries on the day; standard prices exclude a voluntary donation of £1.50 per adult ticket. The library, gardens, shop and café can be entered without a ticket. Evidence of eligibility for concessions may be requested. Memberships start at £45 per year and give unlimited exhibition entry.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal
• Audiodescriptie

Step-free access is available throughout the building, with a lift in the Engine House. There are two entrances, at Myddelton Passage and Amwell Street, and Amwell Street slopes uphill. The site has one accessible toilet and one Changing Places toilet, and all toilets are gender-neutral. Three accessible parking spaces at the Amwell Street gate can be reserved by email or phone at least a day ahead. Two manual wheelchairs can be borrowed, and seating with arms and portable stools are provided. An induction loop is available at the Welcome Desk and café counter, and British Sign Language interpretation, subtitles and transcripts are offered for video content. Large-print and plain-English guides, tactile reproductions and audio description tours are available, along with a sensory trolley, a quiet space, a sensory map, a visual story and an easy-read guide. Assistance dogs are welcome in the galleries and library; other animals may use the outdoor spaces, café and shop on a lead.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

The free library has books, games and drawing activities for children, and the gardens have playable benches, an Outdoor Explorer Pack for families and a gated play and picnic space at weekends. Free family drop-in sessions run at weekends and activities for under fives run on weekdays. Buggies are allowed in the galleries, baby changing is available in the standard and accessible toilets, and a quiet space is available for feeding. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Taxis and private hire vehicles should use the Myddelton Passage entrance, with a distance of about 50 metres to the Welcome Desk. Bike racks are outside near the Myddelton and Amwell gates; bikes cannot be taken into the building and cyclists should dismount on the site.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

The café, run by Deeney's, serves toasties, salads, soups, coffee and licensed drinks, with a south-facing terrace. The shop sells illustration gifts, books and art materials. A small number of lockers are by the toilets, and bags larger than a typical backpack are not allowed in the galleries or library.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 150 personen.

Hireable spaces are the café in the former boiler house (up to 150 for a standing reception or 40 for a seated dinner), the Engine House galleries (up to 100) and the creative studio and windmill base. Uses include receptions, conferences, dinners, launches, talks, filming and photography.

Je bezoek plannen