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The Queen's Walk - between Golden Jubilee Bridges and Waterloo Bridge

Golden Jubilee Bridges, London, SE1 7PB

Access Guide

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Introduction - The Queen's Walk - between Golden Jubilee Bridges and Waterloo Bridge

  • This guide gives access information for the section of the South Bank between the Golden Jubilee Bridges and Waterloo Bridge along the Queen's Walk.
  • The walkway between the two bridges forms part of the Western Loop of the Jubilee Walkway.
  • The Jubilee Walkway is an official walking route in London and the Western Loop is the longest part of it.
  • The distance of the section of the walkway between the Golden Jubilee Bridges and Waterloo Bridge is approximately 350 metres.
  • This section of the Jubilee Walkway is called The Queen's Walk.
  • The walkway has a mainly flagstone paving surface and runs parallel to the River Thames, past the Royal Festival Hall and the other venues of the South Bank Centre.
  • Access to the walkway from the Golden Jubilee Bridges is via lift or steps.
  • Access to the walkway from Waterloo Bridge is stepped.
  • There are also several step-free access points to the walkway from Belvedere Road and Upper Ground.
  • The potential hazards along the walkway include; busy pathways, trees, bollards, cyclists, temporary kiosks and street furniture.
  • To view the TFL Map for the Western Loop of the Jubilee Walkway please click here (opens in new tab).

Getting Here

Related London South Bank Venues (BFI Southbank)

Related London South Bank Venues (South Bank Centre)

Access From (Golden Jubilee Bridges and South Bank Riverside Terrace)

  • Description View
    • Access down to The Queen's Walk from the Golden Jubilee Bridge north east side is via steps (shown in photographs 3 and 4) or lift (shown in photographs 5-8).
      At time of survey (August 2022) the lift was working but had signage indicating it was not. The lift on the other side of the Jubilee Bridge was not working.
      The South Bank Riverside Terrace connects the bridge and The Queen's Walk with Belvedere Road.
      Its level midway between The Queen's Walk and the bridge level and is served by the same lift.
      There are no steps directly from the terrace level down to The Queen's Walk.
      There are steps up from the terrace level to the bridge (shown in photograph 9).
      There is also a long ramp from the terrace level down to The Queen's Walk, which passes under the bridge (shown in photographs 10 and 11).
      The Queen's Walk also continues under the Golden Jubilee Bridges, so it is possible to access this section of the walkway from the Westminster Bridge side to the south (shown in photographs 12 and 13).
      There are food/drink kiosks to the side, reducing the walkways width meaning it becomes congested at certain times.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The long, steep ramp connects the South Bank Riverside Terrace to The Queen's Walk, near to the Golden Jubilee Bridges.
      The ramp does not have level resting places along its length.
      The ramp can be bypassed using the Golden Jubilee Bridge lift.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Stairs View
    • The stairs lead down to The Queen's Walk from Golden Jubilee Bridge.
      There are 42 steps (3 sets of 14 each with a landing between).
      There is a similar flight of 24 steps (2 sets of 12 each, with a landing between) from the bridge down to the South Bank Riverside Terrace.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps have tactile paving at the top and bottom.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
  • Lift View
    • There is a lift for public use.
    • The lift is located on the Golden Jubilee Bridges north east side and the Queen's Walk below the bridge.
    • The lift is a standard lift.
    • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G (Queen's Walk), 1 (South Bank Riverside Terrace) and 2 (Golden Jubilee Bridge Level).
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on lift lobby landings.
    • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
    • Lift doors do not contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
    • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
    • The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is good.
    • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is poor.
    • The clear door width of the lift is 110cm (3ft 7in).
    • The dimensions of the lift are 175cm x 127cm (5ft 9in x 4ft 2in).
    • There are no separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
    • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
    • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
    • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
    • The lift does not have an audible announcer.
    • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hearing loop system.
    • The lift does not have Braille markings.
    • The lift does have tactile markings.
    • The lighting levels in the lift are good.

Access From (Belvedere Road to South Bank Centre Riverside Terrace)

  • Description View
    • There are large concrete blocks, with an average gap between of 120cm, on the approach to the South Bank Centre Riverside Terrace from Concert Hall Approach and Belvedere Road via South Bank Square (shown in photograph 1).
      Access to the terrace is by steps (shown in photographs 2-4).
      The steps can be bypassed by a lift (shown in photographs 5-8).
      From the terrace there is level access into the Royal Festival Hall and to the shops and restaurants facing it (shown in photographs 9-13 ).
      At the end of the terrace there are lifts, steps or a ramp to connect to the Golden Jubilee Bridge and to The Queen's Walk.
      Please see the section on access from Golden Jubilee Bridge to The Queen's Walk for details.
  • Stairs View
    • The steps are to the left of the Royal Festival Hall from Belvedere Road (shown in photographs 1-4).
      There are 30 steps (in two sets of 15 with a landing between).
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps have tactile paving at the top and bottom.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
  • Lift View
    • There is a lift for public use.
    • The lift is located at the rear of the Royal Festival Hall, to the right of the stairs from Belvedere Road.
    • The lift is approximately 15m (16yd 1ft) from the stairs. There is directional signage to the right of the stairs.
    • The lift is a standard lift.
    • The floors which are accessible by this lift are street level (known as Centenary Square) to Festival Terrace (level 2 of the Festival Hall).
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on lift lobby landings.
    • There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
    • Lift doors do not contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
    • The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
    • The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is good.
    • The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is poor.
    • The clear door width of the lift is 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The dimensions of the lift are 130cm x 165cm (4ft 3in x 5ft 5in).
    • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
    • There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
    • There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
    • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
    • The lift does have an audible announcer.
    • The internal controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
    • There is a hearing loop system.
    • The lift does not have Braille markings.
    • The lift does have tactile markings.
    • The lighting levels in the lift are good.
  • Comments View
    • South Bank Centre Riverside Terrace has a level surface mostly of stone slabs and block paving.
    • There is a large area near to the statue of Nelson Mandela which is a metal grid to ventilate the space below.
    • There are some concrete bench seats without armrests and other brightly coloured metal benches, some of which are mainly sculptural or for fun (shown in photographs 11-15).
    • There is a TFL signpost near to the access point with the Golden Jubilee Bridges and The Queen's Walk.
    • cafes, bars and restaurants on the South Bank Centre Riverside Terrace include Honest Burgers, Cote Brasserie, Southbank Centre Shop, Le Pain Quotidien, Las Iguanas and Skylon.
    • There is also a food kiosk near to the bridge.

Access From (Waterloo Bridge)

  • Description View
    • There are steps to access The Queen's Walk from both the west and east sides of Waterloo Bridge.
      Please note that there are barriers between the footpath and the road on Waterloo Bridge which prevent pedestrians from crossing the road on the bridge.
  • Stairs View
    • There are 69 steps (in sets of 10, 17, 17 and 15 with landings between) to access The Queen's Walk from the west side of Waterloo Bridge (shown in photographs 1-4).
      There is access from the midway landing of these stairs to the Royal Festival Hall Terrace level.
      There are clearly marked bollards at the foot of the stairs with a central gap of 110cm (shown in photograph 5).
      There are similar steps down from the east side of Waterloo Bridge (shown in photographs 6-8).
      There are 70 steps in total (in sets of 11, 17, 17 and 15 with landings between).
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are not clearly marked.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
  • Comments View
    • From Waterloo Bridge level, the step-free route to The Queen's Walk is to continue along the bridge towards the traffic roundabout with the IMAX Cinema at its centre.
    • On the east side of the bridge, an access road connects the roundabout with Belvedere Road and Upper Ground from where there are routes through to The Queen's Walk.

Access Point (The Queen's Walk from Belvedere Road)

  • Access Point View
    • This access point is located between the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward Gallery of the Southbank Centre.
      It links Belvedere Road with Festival Riverside Restaurants in front of the Royal Festival Hall.
      From this level there are steps or a ramp up to The Queen's Walk.
      The area at the rear of the Royal Festival Hall on Belvedere Road is level with block paving.
      There is sometimes a food market in this location.
      There are large concrete blocks between the pedestrian area and the service vehicle access road (shown in photographs 1 and 2).
      The gaps between these blocks varies, but is around 95cm.
      As the route passes under the South Bank Centre Riverside Terrace, the surface changes to smooth paving slabs (shown in photographs 3 and 4).
      There are some concrete bench seats against the walls to both sides of the walkway in this area (shown in photograph 5).
      There are bollards across the footpath and service vehicle access road (shown in photographs 6 and 7).
    • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this access point.
    • There is open access.
    • The bollards have visual identification bands.
    • The minimum width between the bollards is 115cm.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is a Southbank Centre information post on the footpath next to the access road (shown in photograph 8).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located at the end of the covered section of the walkway, next to The Queen Elizabeth Hall (shown in photographs 9 and 10).
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The handrail(s) is/are on the left going up.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located ahead and to the left at the end of the walkway (shown in photographs 10 and 11).
    • There is/are two sets of 4 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • The step(s) has/have tactile paving at the top and bottom.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The going of the step(s) is/are between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The handrail(s) is/are in the centre.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
  • Comments View
    • These steps are part of the continuous line of steps between The Queen's Walk and the Festival Riverside Restaurants.
    • There are several large blue-painted concrete drums in this area which have wooden tops and serve as informal tables or seating.

The Queen's Walk - General Access

  • The Queen's Walk between the Golden Jubilee Bridges and Waterloo Bridge is level and wide.
  • The walkway predominantly has a smooth flagstone paving surface.
  • There are large trees in a line parallel with the river front (shown in photographs 1-3).
  • At Christmas, and for some festivals, there are likely to be stalls and kiosks in this area.
  • During the summer there are a few food kiosks along this stretch of the walk
  • (shown in photograph 11).
  • There is access to Festival Pier, which is used for pleasure boat cruises, opposite the South Bank Centre (shown in photograph 10).
  • The area under Waterloo Bridge is often used for a second-hand book market (shown in photographs 12-16).
  • The stalls stretch almost the full width of the main paved area, and the area may be congested.
  • Pedestrians may have to use the walkway immediately in front of the BFI Southbank.
  • The cobbled block paving in this area may be harder to walk on for some people.
  • There is a row of bollards between the area of paving slabs and the cobbled area.
  • The bollards are not clearly marked and have an average gap between them of 135cm.

The Queen's Walk - Seating and Information/Map Boards

  • There is no standard bench seating on the section of the walkway between Golden Jubilee Bridges and Waterloo Bridge.
  • There are a small number of brightly coloured 'bench' sculptures which may provide limited seating in some areas (shown in photographs 1-3).
  • There are some concrete drums with wooden tops near to the access point to Belvedere Road some of which may provide informal seating (shown in photograph 4).
  • There are concrete benches on the section to the west of the Golden Jubilee Bridges, at the bottom of the ramp down from Festival Terrace.
  • The benches do not have armrests and do not contrast with the surrounding paving (shown in photograph 5).
  • There are TFL 'Legible London' wayfinding posts along the route and also Southbank Centre 'What's on' pillars (shown in photographs 6-9).

The Queen's Walk - Additional Information

  • There are several sets of steps which give access from The Queen's Walk to the terrace level of the Royal Festival Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall (shown in photographs 1-4).
  • Please see the guides to those building for details of alternative step-free routes.
  • The undercroft of the Queen Elizabeth Hall terrace is famous for its graffiti and attracts spectators to watch the skateboarders there (shown in photographs 5 and 6).
  • There are no public toilets in this section of The Queen's Walk.
  • There is free access to the public areas of the Southbank Centre buildings, where there are accessible and standard toilets available.

Access To (Festival Riverside Restaurants from The Queen's Walk)

  • Description View
    • From The Queen's Walk, there is access by steps or ramp to the lower terrace Festival Riverside Restaurants.
      In this area there are shops and restaurants and a direct entrance to the lower level of the Royal Festival Hall.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp runs diagonally across the steps down to the lower terrace (shown in photographs 2 and 3).
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the ramp.
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • Stairs View
    • The steps run the full width of the Royal Festival Hall frontage, to access the lower terrace.
      There are 8 steps in two groups of 4, with a landing between (shown in photographs 4-7).
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps have tactile paving at the top and bottom.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail in the centre.
    • Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
  • Comments View
    • Some of the steps are tapered, where the ramp crosses the steps.
    • At the end of the building, near to the Queen Elizabeth Hall, there is an alternative ramp which has a handrail to one side.
    • The venues in this area include Wagamama, EAT, Yo Sushi and Giraffe restaurants and Foyles book shop.
    • There is some bench seating outside the Royal Festival Hall entrance (shown in photograph 10).