Wheelchair Accessible Southbank Centre London
Accessibility :
Step-Free Access,
Wheelchair Accessible Throughout,
Wheelchair Accessible Lifts,
Wheelchair Accessible Toilets,
Changing Places Toilet,
Wheelchair Accessible Cafes,
Wheelchair Accessible Restaurant
More....
For details of other wheelchair accessible hotels, wheelchair-friendly eating and drinking options and wheelchair accessible attractions in central London, see the Wheelchair Accessible London Guide
The Southbank Centre in central London is comprised of the Queen Elizabeth Hall & the Purcell Room, the Royal Festival Hall, and the Hayward Gallery – all of which are accessible.
Arrival at the Southbank Centre by Car
There are four Blue Badge parking spaces on the Queen Elizabeth Hall slip road off Belvedere Road (the road between the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery). Spaces are allocated on a “first-come, first-served” basis, and use of them is free. You are required to display your Blue Badge as you enter the site.
Alternative parking for Blue Badge holders is available in the nearby National Theatre car park (just 330 metres away). Please note: there is no step-free access from this car park on Sundays (the lift between the National Theatre car park and the main foyer is open from 10am, Monday to Saturday only).
Further alternative parking for Blue Badge holders, which is step-free every day of the week, is available in the APCOA Cornwall Road Car Park. Take your badge and car park ticket to the parking attendant office at the car park entrance for validation before you leave.
Drop-off Point:
Blue Badge holders/others with access requirements can be dropped off on the Queen Elizabeth Hall slip road off Belvedere Road (the road between the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery).
Arrival at the Southbank Centre by Public Transport
Tube (Underground):
The nearest completely step-free Tube station is “Waterloo” (but only if arriving on the Jubilee Line).
Bus:
A number of different buses run near the Southbank Centre. And all buses in central London are wheelchair accessible – and are equipped with a retractable ramp (automatically controlled by the bus driver). Bus travel is also free for wheelchair users (your companion has to pay the correct fare though). I recommend that you use the official TfL Journey Planner to find the best route for yourself.
Taxi:
By far the easiest way to arrive at the Southbank Centre, in a wheelchair, and by using public transport, is in one of London’s famous black cabs (taxis). It’s also the most expensive way to reach the Southbank Centre. All London taxis are equipped with a retractable ramp.
My recommendation though:
Get there on foot/by wheelchair!
The riverside footpath (part of the Thames Walk as it passes through central London) is, without question, THE best walking route in central London. And because it is level (although there are a couple of detours which make it completely step-free), it is very wheelchair accessible.
This walk (the London Thames DIY Walking Tour) includes completely wheelchair accessible visits to: Westminster Abbey > the Houses of Parliament (and Big Ben) > the London Eye > the Southbank Centre > Tate Modern > a wee sidetrip across the Millennium Bridge to St.Paul’s Cathedral and back > Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre > The View From The Shard > HMS Belfast > Tower Bridge > and finally the Tower of London.
Entrance - Access to the Southbank Centre
For step-free access to the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer and the Purcell Room, take the Royal Festival Hall JCB glass lift to Level 2 and enter via Riverside Terrace.
For step-free access to the Queen Elizabeth Hall auditorium seating row A, and all wheelchair spaces, enter via the Artist Entrance (in the Queen Elizabeth Hall slip road – Level 1).
For lift access to the Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, use the Roof Garden Lift on the Queen Elizabeth Hall slip road (Level 1).
For level access to the Hayward Gallery from the Queen Elizabeth Hall Slip Road, use the car park lift to the Hayward Gallery Foyer. All floors are then accessible from the main foyer.
Southbank Centre Building Accessibility
All buildings in the Southbank Centre are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessible lifts will take you between floors where required.
Wheelchair Accessible Toilets at the Southbank Centre
Wheelchair accessible toilets are available on every floor of the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and in the Hayward Gallery foyer.
A Changing Places toilet can be found on Level 1 of the Royal Festival Hall next to the JCB glass lift.
Wheelchair Accessible Cafe/Restaurant at the Southbank Centre
There are a myriad of eating & drinking options in the Southbank Centre (and many “pop-up” options throughout the year too). And all are wheelchair accessible.
You’ll never go hungry, or thirsty, when visiting the Southbank Centre in your wheelchair.
Photo: The Royal Festival Hall at night – part of the Southbank Centre in central London, by TheOtherKev from Pixabay.
See the Wheelchair Accessible London Guide for details of other wheelchair accessible attractions, restaurants and hotels in central London.
If this information has assisted you in planning your travels with your wheelchair, please consider making a donation to my Virtual Kiltwalk appeal for 2022 – in aid of FareShare. And thanks to an ADDITIONAL donation of 50% by Sir Tom Hunter, FareShare will actually receive 150% of the amount that you donate!
Thanks, Iain.
London Southbank Centre News
Get the latest accessibility news from the Southbank Centre in central London, on their Facebook, Twitter and YouTube social media channels.
This weekend has seen a wonderful celebration of the 10th anniversary of @southbankcentre and @PRSFoundation's New Music Biennial with a packed programme of free concerts showcasing composers and creators pushing the boundaries of music in the UK Photos: https://t.co/mqgHjs82P1
Read MoreRT @nathanjdearden: So inspiring to see so much youth-music-meets-NewMu at the 2022 NMB at @southbankcentre today, with @nycgb @NYO_GB @Ann…
Read MoreRT @derri_lewis: LOVED hearing SHE WHO by Jessica Curry, performed by @nycgb and @joannaconductor at @southbankcentre for @PRSFoundation 🔥🔥…
Read MoreA highlight for many at this year's New Music Biennial with @PRSFoundation was @YazzAhmed1's spellbinding The Moon Has Become. The work took listeners in a packed Queen Elizabeth Hall on a captivating journey through ambient, jazz, electronic and dance textures. https://t.co/qwvjvVugys
Read MoreOn Saturday James Robertson and @KitDownes valiantly performed One Story: 365 Words without Aidan O'Rourke @obanfiddle due to covid and preserved much of its magic They also spoke to @southbankcentre's Head of Music @GillianMoore10 about the inception and development of the piece https://t.co/QTsMdAOkIo
Read MoreElectronic musician @PaulPurgas performed Tape Music at New Music Biennial 2022 with @PRSFoundation, manipulating analogue tape sources including tape loops to dramatic effect. https://t.co/ovy9GRBYMZ
Read MoreThe @NYO_GB came together in the name of #socialjustice with brilliant performances of @ErrollynWallen's Mighty River in our Queen Elizabeth Hall for New Music Biennial with @PRSFoundation today. https://t.co/YJ2xFD64db
Read MoreIt's been another fabulous day of free performances at New Musical Biennial 2022 with @PRSFoundation at Southbank Centre. We began the day with the beautiful transcendental sounds of @RoopaPanesar's collaboration with jazz pianist @Al_MacSween and sound designer @camilo_tirado https://t.co/Q01ZUeDXJG
Read MoreSuch joyous scenes at our #Pride party yesterday. HUGE thanks to everyone who came along and made it so special and to @RyanLanji and #DrewDemetry, and all their amazing DJs and acts, for creating one of the best #PrideLondon parties ever! It was certainly a late one. Ouch! https://t.co/JfzgDgKoYW
Read MoreWe begin the final day of the 10th anniversary New Music Biennial festival with Indian classical raga inspired work from sitarist @RoopaPanesar and pianist @Al_MacSween. Free tickets and returns are available for the shows today. More: https://t.co/qSfGSgRKRh
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