To make sure everyone enjoys a comfortable visit to Stories – Brought to Life, access is by timed entry. So we strongly recommend you book your tickets online in advance. You can save money by buying adult or child tickets in advance online. There is a handling fee per transaction (not per ticket). While it will be possible to buy a ticket ‘on the door’, these cannot be guaranteed and are subject to availability. It is our recommendation that you pre-order your tickets.

Our official ticketing partner is Universe and Ticketmaster. Tickets are available through the npgunframed.com website, Ticketmaster, and our officially appointed Travel & Tour partners. Tickets purchased from unofficial sellers are not valid and will not be accepted for entry.

Regular tickets when purchased online in advance are cheaper than buying on the door. They permit entry on a chosen day and at a specific time. The options are:

Adult
Child (5 years to 15 years)

Child under 5 (including babies in arms) can enter free but will still require a ticket. Free Carer when accompanying an eligible visitor. (Maximum one carer permitted. Proof of eligibility is required)

Tickets can be purchased directly through our website.

Our Flexi ticket option for adults and children provides a flexible time slot.

Essential carers tickets are free. Groups and schools ticket rates are also available. All prices are subject to change depending on availability and demand.

Family tickets are only available online and offer considerable savings. Up to 2 adults and 2 children can visit on a chosen day at booked time.

When you purchase your tickets for Stories – Brought to Life, you must also select a preferred time slot to arrive. This is to ensure we manage the number of visitors within the venue and make the experience as enjoyable and comfortable as possible by regulating the flow of guests at any one time.

The time slot you select in your booking is your arrival time to the attraction, however you can enjoy Stories – Brought to Life at your leisure, and we suggest allowing 60-75 minutes to view all the Experience. You can arrive any time within 15-minutes of your time slot. If you arrive very early for your booked time slot you may not be given entry. If you arrive late, our admissions team will do their best to fit you into the next time slot available.

Concessions are currently available for students (via Students Beans), Blue Light card holders, Pension Credit and Benefits claimants, Essential carers and National Portrait Gallery Members.

Special rates are available for school and University groups.

We are also pleased to offer a range of ticket types and pricing subject to availability.

£10 affordable tickets are available for those who need them.

To check availability and ticket prices, please click here.

For each eligible paying visitor, one complimentary carer’s ticket is available. To book, select the ‘Essential Carer’ ticket during the normal booking process. Please note that you may be required to show proof of eligibility upon entry.

Please contact  should you require any additional support.

We have a school programme with special rates available. For more information, please visit our Schools page.

We consider all bookings to be confirmed and final at the time they are made. Tickets are exchangeable up to 48 hours in advance of the entry date and time, but subject to any excess charges applicable for a new booking and time slot. Transaction fees are non-refundable. Tickets are non-refundable but you can transfer your tickets to other recipients in your Universe account. Exchanges to other dates are on a case-by-case basis.

For any other ticketing enquiries please email .

Because general admission tickets are purchased for a specific day and time slot, they will not be valid for entry on another day or time. This is to ensure we manage the number of visitors within the venue and to make the experience as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. We cannot guarantee access to the experience outside the entry time indicated on your ticket, however Flexi Tickets are available, and these enable you to visit at any time on a specific day, should you want more flexibility in your schedule.

Your Official Guide can be collected upon arrival, from the Welcome Desk. You will receive a barcode or QR code when booking, which you will need to show to receive your guide.

Stories – Brought to Life will be located in the Piazza at MediaCity, Salford Quays.

ADDRESS:
The Piazza, MediaCity, Salford Quays, M50 2EQ

View in Google Maps

That’s really up to you, but most people will spend about 60-75 minutes in the Experience. The Immersive experience itself lasts 45 minutes, and you may wish to explore the other rooms at your leisure.

The Experience is conceived for people to walk freely in the Immersive room, however some seating is available. Additionally, folding seats are available free of charge, and can be obtained upon request to any member of staff or from the welcome desk.

Food cannot be consumed anywhere in the Experience (except personal water bottles and baby food). No outside food or beverage will be allowed inside the venue.

Parental guidance is advised and children must be accompanied by an adult during their visit. For the enjoyment of everyone, we ask that you always supervise your children to ensure that their behaviour is considerate of other visitors.

Due to the content of some of the life stories covered, the Experience includes subject matter and imagery that could be unsettling, including representations of violence and substance abuse. Our advice is that the Experience is suitable for general viewing with parental guidance comparable to the PG rating for film and video content, but parents/caregivers should be aware and consider that some content may be unsuitable for younger or more sensitive children.

Please contact or ask a member of staff if you would like more information about the content.

Due to the stories of some of the sitters featured in the Experience some of the content features subject matter and imagery, including themes of violence and substance abuse, that some individuals may find sensitive. 

Please contact or ask a member of staff if you would like more information about the content.

Yes – it is located ground level. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and you can find step free disabled toilets at in the café opposite the main entrance at Hot House and there is a Changing Places toilet at Salford University, 5 mins away. We are centrally located with step free transport links close by.

 Please email  if you have any specific queries or concerns on accessibility.

There will be music and sound playing in the Experience.

If you are sensitive to sound, you may like to borrow our ear defenders while in the gallery to help with the change in music styles and / or take a break during the Experience.

Lighting in the immersive room will change depending on the different projections and will vary, however the area leading into the gallery will be well lit.

Please be aware that there are areas of the experience that will be dark. This affects visual communication and for some people could affect your balance. Please inform a member of staff if you need support or assistance.

As long as you don’t intend to use them for commercial use, you’re welcome to take photos and videos inside the Stories – Brought to Life experience. We do ask, however, that you show consideration for other visitors when you’re taking them and refrain from using a flash. The use of selfie sticks is not permitted. If you’re posting images and comments on social media, please tag us @npgunframedtour or use the hashtag #NPGStories.

There is no dedicated cloak room and visitors will not be allowed with large bags.

Only food and drink purchased on the premises may be consumed inside the venue (except personal water bottles and baby food). No dogs or pets are allowed (except guide dogs). Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, etc are not permitted inside the building. No smoking or vaping anywhere on the premises. No knives or weapons of any kind are permitted.

Unfortunately, we don’t allow dogs or any other pets into the venue. We do, however, allow assistance dogs including guide dogs, seeing eye dogs and hearing dogs.

Yes – it is located ground level. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and you can find step free disabled toilets at in the café opposite the main entrance at Hot House and there is a Changing Places toilet at Salford University, 5 mins away. We are centrally located with step free transport links close by.

 Please email  if you have any specific queries or concerns on accessibility.

Accessible Toilets – Fully accessible toilets are located within the MediaCity café, located opposite the main entrance to the Experience.

Baby Changing Facilities – Baby care rooms with changing facilities, all accessible with a pushchair or stroller, are located within the MediaCity café, located opposite the main entrance to the Experience

We do have a limited number of wheelchairs which are free for visitors to borrow. Just ask a member of staff on arrival; they are available on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

Quayside MediaCity has 80 designated accessible parking bays available on every level of the car park.

During trading hours parking for Blue Badge holders is free of charge for the first four hours. To utilise the 4 free hours parking please visit the Customer Service Lounge on the first floor with your Blue Badge, leaving the clock part visible in your vehicle, you will receive a code to use at the pay station. Any additional time will be charged at the regular rate.

Customer Service Lounge Trading Hours

Monday 10am-6pm
Tuesday 10am-6pm
Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-8pm
Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 10am-7pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

For each eligible paying visitor, one complimentary carer’s ticket is available. To book, select the ‘Essential Carer’ ticket during the normal booking process. Please note that you may be required to show proof of eligibility upon entry.

Please contact  should you require any additional support.

Whilst we want people of all ages to come and enjoy their Stories – Brough to Life experience, it is a requirement that for any visitors who are coming to the venue that are under the age of 16, that at least one of their group be an adult aged 18 or over.

Unfortunately, we don’t allow dogs or any other pets into the venue. We do, however, allow assistance dogs including guide dogs, seeing eye dogs and hearing dogs.

Yes, you can enter and leave the Immersive room as you please. There is a continuous loop in the room, so you don’t have to wait for the next session to end before you go back in again if you need to leave.

Weekdays in particular, the later entry times during the week are likely to be the quietest, but can still get quite busy, especially during the holiday periods.

We do offer dedicated relaxed sessions where there will be fewer people visiting at any once time, and experienced staff to assist. Click here to find out more about these sessions.

Our ticketing portal will also show which sessions are busy and quiet via a colour-coded ‘red/amber/green’ system. Although please note these colours are subject to change as more people book tickets.

To help you plan your visit, an Easy Read Guide and Visual Story will be available to download from our Accessibility page. These resources will give details on how to get to the venue and provide information and photographs on what you will see and experience whilst visiting with us.

Please email  for more information or to raise any other queries or concerns about the experience.

Parental guidance is advised and children must be accompanied by an adult during their visit. For the enjoyment of everyone, we ask that you always supervise your children to ensure that their behaviour is considerate of other visitors.

Due to the content of some of the life stories covered, the Experience includes subject matter and imagery that could be unsettling, including representations of violence and substance abuse. Our advice is that the Experience is suitable for general viewing with parental guidance comparable to the PG rating for film and video content, but parents/caregivers should be aware and consider that some content may be unsuitable for younger or more sensitive children.

Please contact or ask a member of staff if you would like more information about the content.

Due to the stories of some of the sitters featured in the Experience some of the content features subject matter and imagery, including themes of violence and substance abuse, that some individuals may find sensitive. 

Please contact or ask a member of staff if you would like more information about the content.

Family tickets are only available online and offer considerable savings. Up to 2 adults and 2 children can visit on a chosen day at booked time.

Yes – it is located ground level. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and you can find step free disabled toilets at in the café opposite the main entrance at Hot House and there is a Changing Places toilet at Salford University, 5 mins away. We are centrally located with step free transport links close by.

 Please email  if you have any specific queries or concerns on accessibility.

Baby care rooms with changing facilities, all accessible with a pushchair or stroller, are located within the MediaCity café, located opposite the main entrance to the Experience

The learning programme is open to all schools and education groups which includes nurseries, primary schools, secondary schools, SEND settings, Post 16 settings, universities and alternative education settings.

We believe that this experience is suitable for a wide range of learners, and it is particularly suited to learners from KS2 to Post 16.

You should plan to arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to your booking time. You will be welcomed by a member of our team at the ground floor entrance.

Yes, you and your students are encouraged to take photographs and footage of the experience. We ask that you refrain from using a flash and please note the use of selfie sticks is not permitted.

Yes, our downloadable teaching resources help your students reflect on their experience, engage in meaningful discussion, and develop their critical thinking skills. These will be  available to download on our Schools Programme page.

If attending one of our Private Views for schools or a Relaxed school session it will, be possible to pre-book a space to eat packed lunches, if booked in advance.

Schools visiting for self-led tours cannot eat packed lunches on site.

Please be aware that food and drink are not allowed in the gallery, unless for medical reasons

There is no dedicated cloak room but pupils will be seated for the majority of the experience.

In the event that your school is going to be late for your time slot, please email . If possible, we will do our best to make arrangements for you to enter the experience at a later time. Please note, in some instances this may not be possible due to maximum capacity being reached.

Private View school tours will be led by the Learning Team who will meet you when you arrive and support your engagement within the experience.  Self-led tours will be self-directed, but school group will be briefed by a member of our Front of House team beforehand.

During your visit you will share the galleries with other schools and educational groups. Self-Led tours will also share the gallery with members of the public.

If this was to happen, all FOH staff and Duty Managers have been briefed that two members of staff will accompany the individual at all times. They will wait with the pupil  in the location they were found for a further 5 minutes, before taking them to the entrance, which is the  designated meeting point, to be reunited.

Please contact  for any help or feedback relating to your visit to Stories – Brought to Life.

Please contact  for any media enquiries.