Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences- Booking FAQs

Due to the nature of the exhibition and the viewing space available, there is a maximum number of visitors who can view the exhibition at one time. 

Timed entry tickets are available to view the exhibition for 30 minutes. This will allow us to safely manage entry into the gallery in order to give all visitors the best possible experience whilst viewing the work. 

Please note that only visitors who have pre-booked a slot will be granted access to the exhibition. 

We understand that plans may change and you may not be able to visit us on your booked day. If this is the case, we request that you contact us to cancel your booking.  

High numbers of no shows to our bookable events can prevent others who wish to see the show from  being able to get tickets. The last couple of years have been challenging for the cultural sector and we ask for your support by letting us know if you can’t attend for any reason. 

If you can no longer make the date or time you have booked for, please contact us to cancel your booking so that we can free up your allocated slot for others. If you wish to rearrange your visit, we will assist you in booking a new slot for a desired date and time if available.  

To cancel and/or rebook your tickets please contact us via email at museums@sunderland.gov.uk or call us on 0191 561 2323. 

We recommend you check your journey before you set out to avoid any unnecessary delays. There will be plenty to see and do around Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens if you arrive earlier than your allotted time. 

We understand that delays can happen. If you do arrive late for your slot, we will do our very best to accommodate you, but cannot guarantee entry if the next timeslot is full. 

We recommend you pre-book in advance to guarantee that there is a time slot available on the day you wish to visit. 

If there are available tickets on the day of your visit, our Visitor Services team will be able to assist you in booking, however this may not be possible if all pre-bookable slots are taken. 

Please be aware that we will be following all social distancing and Covid-secure measures that are set out by the government.  

If the guidance changes before and/or during the exhibition, we will review the necessary restrictions and if needed, contact those who have booked to update them.  

Current safety measures in place can be found online – view Keeping you Safe to find out more.  

On the day, we ask you to head upstairs to the Special Exhibitions Gallery 5 minutes before your allocated time, where your tickets will be checked and you will gain entry to the exhibition.  

If you arrive early, please take the opportunity to watch the Grayson Perry Channel 4 films which we will have running in the Museum. Alternatively, you can take a look around the rest of the building. We ask that you don’t head to the gallery until, at earliest, 5 minutes prior to your allocated slot. 

You can either print your tickets at home before visiting or show your tickets on your mobile device.

No, you will not be allowed to touch the artworks. 

The space will be accessible to wheelchair users and there will be seats available for those who have difficulty in standing for the 30-minute slots.  

You can find out about Sunderland Musuem & Winter Gardens Access and Facilities. 

If you have any other questions regarding accessibility, please get in touch with our Visitor Services team via email at museums@sunderland.gov.uk or call us on 0191 561 2323. 

Yes, children are allowed to visit the exhibition. Under 16’s should always be supervised by an adult throughout the whole building.   

One of the tapestries shows a scene of a car accident with the character Tim being treated by paramedics. This image could be distressing for younger or vulnerable visitors.  

We believe 1 slot of up to 30 minutes is the right amount of time needed to view the exhibition.  

If you would like to discuss this, please contact our Visitor Services team who will be able to help. You can email via museums@sunderland.gov.uk or call us on 0191 561 2323. 

Photography is permitted for personal use only. All photography for commercial use is prohibited unless pre-authorised by us. If you would like to enquire about using photography for commercial use please contact us at museums@sunderland.gov.uk 

Yes, once the exhibition is open, our shop will stock a wonderful range of items relating to the exhibition.  

There are lots of other interesting and exciting things around the building you can do on the day of your visit including visiting Sunderland Museum’s additional exhibitions, browsing our shop or enjoying a lunch or a light refreshment at our café, Bennelli’s. 

There will also be a range of workshops and events linked to the exhibition to enjoy. Find out more: 

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens What’s On. 

We hope visiting Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences will be a memorable experience. 

You can support us by making a small donation during the booking process, or you may wish to consider making a donation when you leave the exhibition on the day. If you would like to make a donation on the day of your visit, please speak to our Visitor Services Team. 

Every penny you spend or donate makes a huge difference to supporting our work to improve life for everyone in Sunderland through culture! 

A programme of relaxed and quiet exhibition visits has been planned to support visitors with disabilities and/or additional needs.

To find out more about our Relaxed Exhibition Visits.

To find out more about our Quiet Exhibition Visits.

You can find further details and book these visits on our website. Please don’t book these sessions if you don’t need them.  

A programme of volunteer-led guided tours has been planned to support the exhibition.  Spaces are limited and must be pre-booked. Please visit our website for dates, times and booking information. If you are interested in booking a guided tour for a school or community group please contact Jennie Lambert, Public Engagement & Learning Manager via email for a chat: jennie.lambert@sunderland.gov.uk.