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Cowdray House

6 Portugal Street, London, WC2A 2HJ

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Ground Floor: Department of Health Policy, LSE Health, Medical Technology Research Group
    First Floor: Department of Health Policy, LSE Health
    Second Floor: Department of Health Policy, LSE Health
    Third Floor: Department of Health Policy, LSE Health
    Fourth Floor: African Health Observatory Platform on Health Systems and Policies, European Observatory Platform on Health Systems and Policies, Department of Health Policy PhD Study Space.

Getting Here

  • By Road View
    • The LSE campus is located in central London, off Kingsway (A4200) and the Aldwych (A4).
    • This campus does not have its own car park, but Blue Badge and standard on-street parking is available nearby.
  • By Bus View
    • The campus can be accessed via a number of London Bus routes, including bus 1 (New Oxford Street to Canada Water Bus Station), 59 (Streatham Hill to Kings Cross Station), 68 (West Norwood to Euston Bus Station), X68 (Croydon to Russell Square), 91 (Crouch End to Trafalgar Square), 168 (Royal Free Hospital to Old Kent Road), 171 (Catford to Holborn Station), 188 (North Greenwich Station to Russell Square Station) 243 (Wood Green to Waterloo Station) and 521 (Waterloo Station to London Bridge Station).
  • By Train View
    • The nearest railway station is Charing Cross. However, all of the London Terminal stations are within reach of the campus using public transport.
  • By Underground View
    • The nearest tube stations are Holborn on the Central and Piccadilly lines, Temple on the District and Circle lines, and Charing Cross on the Northern and Bakerloo lines.
  • Useful Links View

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building on Portugal Street.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are double (with one leaf locked).
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 73cm (2ft 5in).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 140cm (4ft 7in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is / are 3 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the step(s).
    • The step(s) is / are not clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do not have handrails.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is clearly written directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • The manual doors in the corridors are 69 cm wide , meaning that only the rooms leading off the lift lobby may be accessible to some wheelchair users.

Other Floors (Main Stairs)

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
    • The stairs are located toward the end of the corridor as you enter, to the right of the lift.
    • The stairs are approximately 20m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, double doors which may be difficult to open to access the stairwell on all floors.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.
  • Comments View
    • There are 7 medium steps which are clearly marked and have a different colour to the rest of the steps leading up from the ground floor before going through the doors to the stairwell (shown in photographs 5 and 6).

Other Floors (Front Stairs)

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 1.
    • The stairs are located to the right as you enter through the main entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 10m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, single doors which may be difficult to open to access the stairwell on the ground floor.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is not a landing.
  • Comments View
    • There are 7 medium steps which are clearly marked and have a different colour to the rest of the steps before going through the single heavy door to the stairwell.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located directly ahead as you enter the building.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
  • Wall mounted information boards are provided at lift landings.
  • There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the lift lobby from the first floor upwards.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 630kg.
  • The lift is approximately 15m (16yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 71cm (2ft 4in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 85cm x 128cm (2ft 9in x 4ft 2in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The lift has a hearing enhancement system.
  • The lift does have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is bright.

Standard Shower

  • Shower facilities are available.
  • The shower(s) surveyed is/are located on the ground floor, within the male and also the female toilets.
  • There is level access to the services from the shower facilities.
  • Comments View
    • There is a deep step to enter the shower cubicle. There is also a full body length mirror behind the door and coat hooks with heights of 164cm and 171cm.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on the first floor corridor, to the left as you exit the lift.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 8m (8yd 2ft) from the lift.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is tactile, Braille and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
    • The door opens by sliding (Bi-Fold).
    • The door may be difficult to open.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 92cm (3ft).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is poor.
    • The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 155cm x 220cm (5ft 1in x 7ft 3in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 91cm (2ft 12in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a sensor flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is fair.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are sanitary disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a backrest.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • 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).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 75cm (2ft 6in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is good.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 70cm (2ft 4in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the right hand side of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 80cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 102cm (3ft 4in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is good.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Location of Standard Toilet(s) View
    • There are male and female standard toilets facilities on the ground floor, the first floor, the second floor, the third floor and the fourth floor.
  • Standard Toilet Surveyed View
    • A male standard toilet was surveyed.
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the second floor corridor.
    • There is a female standard toilet in the same location.
    • There is step free access to the standard toilet(s) surveyed from the entrance.
    • The standard toilet surveyed is approximately 10m from the second floor lift lobby.
    • There is not a/are not cubicle(s) suitable for ambulant disabled people in the standard toilet(s) surveyed.
    • Lighting levels in the standard toilet surveyed are good.