Visit us
Our London headquarters
We are proud of our new global headquarters which gives us better education and training facilities for our members, students, teachers, examiners, and staff.
These include seven brand new studios, the Aud Jebsen Studio Theatre, the Wolfson Library, and an archive housing and displaying our collection of over 75,000 dance and RAD-related objects.
The building also houses a brand new RAD shop, and a café offering somewhere to meet before or after a class – or just because you fancy popping for a coffee with a friend!
We are committed to making our new headquarters a home not just for our members, but also for our partners and our local community – in fact, for everyone.
Opening Hours
Some of our venues open at different times. This table will help you plan your visit.
- Main Building
- Café
- RAD Shop
- Library
Monday
8:00am – 10:00pm
Tuesday
8:00am – 10:00pm
Wednesday
8:00am – 10:00pm
Thursday
8:00am – 10:00pm
Friday
8:00am – 10:00pm
Saturday
8:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday
8:00am – 6:00pm
Monday
9:00am – 5:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday
9:00am – 5:00pm
Friday
9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday
9:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday
9:00am – 5:00pm
Monday
10:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday
10:00am – 6:00pm
Wednesday
10:00am – 6:00pm
Thursday
10:00am – 6:00pm
Friday
10:00am – 5:30pm
Saturday
9:00am – 3:30pm
Sunday
Closed
Monday
9:30am – 6pm
Tuesday
9:30am – 6pm
Wednesday
9:30am – 6pm
Thursday
9:30am – 6:30pm
Friday
9:30am – 5pm
Travel Guide
However you like to travel, here are some of our recommended routes to get to the RAD.
We welcome visitors from around the world. Please book an appointment to visit.
- Train
- Bus
- Bicycle
- River
- Car
Via Clapham Junction
The closest mainline station is Clapham Junction and is approximately 800 metres away (8 mins walk or 3 mins cycling). Take the Grant Road exit for a short walk or bus ride.
Clapham Junction is managed by Southwestern Trains and provides connections north-east bound to London Waterloo via Vauxhall (10-minute journey approximately) and southbound to various locations including Brighton and Southampton. It is also served by London Overground, which calls at stations including West Brompton, Kensington (Olympia), Shepherds Bush, and Willesden Junction.
Bus 44
Every 7-11 mins
Victoria Station – Battersea – Tooting Station
Bus 295
Every 8-12 mins
Ladbroke Grove – Fulham – Clapham Junction
Bus C3
Every 9-11 mins
Clapham Junction – Imperial Wharf – Earls Court
Bus 170
Every 6-10 mins
Victoria Station – Minstead Gardens
Cycle Superhighway 8 (CS8) passes in front of the building with designated on-street cycle lanes provided on York Road and there are bike locks available on both sides of the building.
There is also a Santander Cycle Hire docking station approximately 250 metres away on Hibbert Street, and a second 400 metres away on Usk Road.
Plantation Wharf Pier is 200 metres away, offering regular services (River Bus RB6) to and from Embankment, London Bridge, and Canary Wharf. This runs every 30 minutes during peak morning and evening periods.
There are no private parking spaces available, only controlled street parking (CPZ) nearby. For more information on CPZ, check the Wandsworth Council website.
We encourage people to use public transport. Several bus routes run past the building and Clapham Junction train station is nearby.
Things to do at RAD headquarters
The Wolfson Library and Archive
The Wolfson Library houses one of the largest specialist dance collections in the UK.
The Aud Jebsen Studio Theatre
Whether you are looking for the perfect stage for your next performance or hosting a corporate function, hire us for your next event.
RAD Dance shop
Our RAD-approved clothing is created for this purpose, meaning that whoever wears it can feel confident and free to express themselves through dance.
Tour our London headquarters
We offer tours of our London headquarters every month. Tours are free for RAD members, and as a member, you get even more when visiting!
- 20% discount in the RAD Café.
- 20% discount on room or studio bookings at RAD headquarters.
- Access to the Wolfson Library and its specialist dance collection.
Not a member yet? You can still tour our building for a small fee.
What’s on nearby?
Our headquarters is close to the Thames and is a short walk (or an even shorter bus ride) from Clapham Junction with its shops, restaurants, bars and local theatre.
The station is also just a couple of train stops from London Victoria, with easy transport access to the West End, the Royal Parks, and some of the capital’s best-loved tourist spots.
Sustainability at the RAD
Leading by example
As a global organisation, we have a responsibility to lead by example and work towards a sustainable future by reducing our environmental footprint. To achieve this, we are developing a sustainability strategy to reduce energy and water usage across all our facilities, promote environmentally friendly travel, and use recycled/recyclable materials.
Sustainable practices
We will also promote sustainable practices to our members, encouraging them to adopt an environmentally friendly approach to their own dance classes and events. Additionally, we will reduce waste by incorporating recycling and composting where possible into our events and facilities, offering alternatives to single-use plastics and non-recyclable materials.
Our commitment
Overall, our commitment to sustainability is a vital part of our identity and we want to instil this value in all our members, stakeholders, and partners to achieve a more sustainable, just, and equitable future for everyone.
Our goals
Our environmental and sustainability initiatives and goals at our London headquarters include:
- waste recycling and waste reduction,
- eliminating single-use plastic,
- use of reusable products rather than disposable items,
- conserving water with low-flow taps and showers, and dual-flush toilets,
- motion-sensing LED lights in all areas of the building, which automatically turn off to conserve energy,
- energy-saving initiatives (e.g. introducing zonal heating, ventilation, and air conditioning control in line with occupancy),
- use of renewable resources,
- a cycle-to-work scheme with safe storage on site for 30 cycles,
- electric vehicle charging facility, reduced parking, and
- fostering bio-diversity our new build design features include large green planting spaces surrounding the building.
Accessibility at the RAD
Our building is designed to welcome everyone, with full accessibility and modern amenities to ensure a comfortable, productive visit. You’ll enjoy high-quality audiovisual systems, fast WiFi, air conditioning, and bright, open spaces flooded with natural light that create an inspiring environment for learning and creativity.
At the Royal Academy of Dance, we are committed to inclusivity, featuring DDA-compliant facilities with step-free access and dedicated wheelchair spaces for ease of movement throughout the building. Our experienced facilities team is always on hand, ready to provide assistance and cater to any special requirements, ensuring that each visitor feels supported and accommodated from the moment they arrive.
We welcome assistance dogs at RAD headquarters as part of our commitment to accessibility. Please help us to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of all our users, by not bringing other dogs or pets into the building.
Visit the RAD shop
From books to keepsakes, uniforms to
bags, we’ve got everything you need.
All created for dancing and
designed for life. RAD Members
also receive a 10% discount.