Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Search for accessible places to go

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Bristol Cathedral

College Green, ., Bristol, BS1 5TJ

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

About this venue

Originally founded as a 12th-century monastery church, Bristol Cathedral was heavily remodelled during the 19th century. It's one of Britain's best examples of a 'Hall Church' (meaning the nave, chapels and choir are the same height). Although the nave and west towers are Victorian, parts of the choir are medieval, and the south transept contains a rare Saxon carving of the Harrowing of Hell, discovered under the chapter-house floor after a 19th-century fire.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include the Cathedral, Chapter House, Cloisters, men’s/women’s bathrooms, and accessible bathroom. There are steps into the Elder Lady Chapel, the Newton Chapel, and the Berkeley Chapel. There are 12 steps with a single handrail into the Cloister, and ramps to the Chapter House, and the female and accessible bathrooms. There is a single step to the garden and to the men’s bathroom.

Location

  • The nearest National Rail station is Bristol Temple Meads.
  • Comments View
    • There is a bus stop with level access to the Cathedral within 150m (164 yards) of the venue.

Opening Hours

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • The car park is located in the Cloister Courtyard. It can be used by Blue Badge holders and authorised personnel only, whilst visiting the Cathedral. The car park gives access to the accessible toilet, the cafe and the Chapter House.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • Public Car Parks :
    • College Street Car Park is available for public use within 200m (approx.) of the venue.
    • On Street Standard Parking:
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are available.
    • The dimension of the standard marked parking bays are 250cmx450cm (8ft2inx14ft9in)
    • Other local public car parks include College Street Car Park, Millennium Square Car Park, and Trenchard Street Car Park.
    • The private car park at the Cathedral is for Blue Badge Holders and authorised use only.

Outside Access (Front Entrance)

  • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building on College Green.
  • There is level access into the venue.
  • There is not a bell/buzzer.
  • There is not an intercom.
  • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
  • Second set of doors View
    • The automatic doors are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are permanently held open.
    • The width of the door opening is 360cm (11ft 10in).
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) automatically (away from you).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The width of the door opening is 92cm (3ft).
  • Comments View
    • The automatic door into the Cathedral (described above) is the single door to the left as you face the entrance.
    • The manual door into the Cathedral is the single door to the right as you face the entrance.
    • The door is 92cm (3ft) wide.
    • There are double doors which are opened for events and can be opened if required for access.
    • They are 240cm wide.

Outside Access (Cloister Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located in the far right corner of the Cloister Yard.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The main automatic door(s) is/are push pad or push button activated.
    • The push pad or push button is 100cm from floor level.
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The width of the door opening is 300cm.
  • Comments View
    • There is a very slight slope approaching the entrance from the Cloister Yard.

Other Floors (Cloister to Cathedral)

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are -1 and G.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail in the centre.
    • There is not a landing.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
  • Comments View
    • The steps can be avoided by exiting at the cloister entrance and following the sloping pathway to the main cathedral entrance.

Inside Access

  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The system is a fixed loop.
  • Staff are trained to use the system.
  • Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
  • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • There is level access to Seafarers’ Chapel for some midday services and to the Nave for Evensong.
    • The floor throughout the Cathedral is uneven, particularly in the Seafarers Chapel.
    • Care should be taken by all visitors and sensible footwear is advised.
    • Visitors who use hearing loops are encouraged to sit as close to the front of the Nave as possible for the best sound quality during events.
    • Visitors who use wheelchairs are advised to contact the Cathedral in advance of events to ensure that appropriate seating is made available.

Level Change (East End of the Cathedral)

  • There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
  • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • The ramp does have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.
  • The width of the ramp/slope is 100cm (3ft 3in).
  • There is a/are step(s) to access this area/service.
  • There is/are 1 step(s) to the area/service.
  • The lighting levels at the step(s) are medium.
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The step(s) is/are shallow (2cm - 10cm).
  • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Comments View
    • At the East end of the Cathedral there are a number of areas with a single step access.
    • Each of these has either a permanent ramp or a temporary ramp permanently in place.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are Cloister, Chapter House and Cafe areas.
    • There are 12 steps between floors.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail in the centre.
    • There is a landing.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Other View
    • The area(s)/service(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are the Cloister, the Chapter House and toilet facilities.
  • Comments View
    • The steps between the Nave and the Cloister are uneven and of varying height.
    • There is a central handrail to part of the flight.
    • There are plans to improve access to this area which will be described on the Cathedral website when available.
    • There is an alternative route from outside the Cathedral, through the arch, into the cloister yard and through the doors in the far right hand corner (Cloister Entrance).

Eating and Drinking (Closed For Renovation Until 2024)

  • The following information is for the café.
  • Full table service is not available.
  • Food or drinks are ordered from the service counter.
  • Food or drinks can be brought to the table.
  • There is not a lowered section at the counter.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs have armrests.
  • The nearest table is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the Cloister entrance.
  • The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 70cm (2ft 4in).
  • The distance between the floor and the highest table is 98cm (3ft 3in).
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • Takeaway cutlery is not available.
  • Drinking straws are available.
  • Menus are wall only.
  • Menus are clearly written.
  • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
  • The type of food served here is hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • Comments View
    • The Cathedral café is closed for renovation and expected to re-open in 2024. The work being undertaken will make the café step-free and will provide level access to the Cathedral garden.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • Accessible toilet facilities are available.
  • Location and Access View
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 7m (7yd 1ft) from the Cloister entrance.
    • The accessible toilet is located to the right as you enter.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 155cm x 220cm (5ft 1in x 7ft 3in).
    • There is sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 90cm (2ft 11in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is sensor.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are sanitary and non-infectious waste disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall mounted grab rails are available for the toilet.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is fair.
    • There is a medium colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • The height of the baby change table once extended is 93cm (3ft 1in).

Standard Toilet(s)

Level Change (Standard Male Toilets)

  • There is a / are step(s) to access this area / service.
  • The step(s) is/are located to the left as you face the entrance.
  • There is / are 1 step(s) to the area / service.
  • The lighting levels at the steps are bright.
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The step(s) is / are shallow.
  • The steps do not have handrails.

Additional Info

  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents are available in large print.
  • A bowl of water can be provided for an assistance dog.
  • An assistance dog toilet area can be provided onsite.
  • The assistance dog toilet area is located in rear courtyard.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not normally on duty.
  • This service cannot be requested.