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Thames Barrier Information Centre

Unity Way, Woolwich, London, SE18 5NJ

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Access Guide

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Location

  • The venue is situated outside the centre of the area.
  • This venue is situated in Woolwich.
  • There is not a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest mainline station is Woolwich Docklands.

Opening Times

  • The Thames Barrier Information Centre offers only pre-booked group talks, available 7 days a week.
  • Please contact the venue with your preferred time and date and they will check availability.
  • Telephone 020 8305 4188 or email [email protected].

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders cannot booked in advance.
    • There are 3 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 350cm x 600cm (11ft 6in x 19ft 8in).
    • The nearest designated bay is 15m (16yd 1ft) from the exhibition direct entrance.
    • The furthest designated bay is 20m (21yd 2ft) from the exhibition direct entrance.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is / are slopes/ramps.
    • The car park surface is block paving.
    • There is a dropped kerb / non stepped access from the car park to the venue.
    • The patron does not have to cross a road.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • The car park is open 7 days a week.

Outside Access (Exhibition Direct Entrance)

  • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building at ground level.
  • There is level access into the venue.
  • The main doors open automatically.
  • The doors are double width.
  • The door opening is 140cm (4ft 7in) wide.
  • Comments View
    • Inside the entrance there is an automatic ticket machine.
    • After the machine there are security barriers.
    • The wide gate is 99cm.
    • The standard gate is 55cm.
    • On the day of our visit this entrance was closed as the ticket machine was temporarily out of order.

Outside Access (Cafe Entrance)

  • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building at flood wall level.
  • There is not level access into the venue.
  • The main doors open automatically.
  • The doors are double width.
  • The door opening is 110cm (3ft 7in) wide.
  • Comments View
    • An additional entrance direct to the exhibition is available on the ground floor.
    • Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased in the cafe.
    • From the cafe there is access to the internal stairs down to the exhibition.

Level Change (Cafe Entrance)

  • There is a ramp or slope to access this service.
  • The ramp or slope is located on the river side of the building, leading to the entrance from the lift.
  • The ramp or slope is permanent.
  • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.
  • The ramp does have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.
  • There are steps to access this area / service.
  • The steps are located leading to the entrance to the left of the building from the car park.
  • There is / are 15+ step(s) to the area / service.
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The steps are medium.
  • The steps do have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.
  • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located at the right side of the building.
  • The lift is a platform lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G-1.
  • The lift is 19m (20yd 2ft) from the cafe entance.
  • Staff do need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 130cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 3in).
  • There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • The lift does not have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does not have an audible announcer.
  • The controls for the lift are within reach for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does not have tactile markings.
  • The lighting level in the lift is medium.
  • Comments View
    • On leaving the lift there is a ramp to the cafe level.
    • The lift was out of order on the day of our visit (May 2014).

Inside Access (Exhibition)

  • There is level access to the service.
  • There is a hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing system is available only on request.
  • The system is a portable loop.
  • Staff are trained to use the system.
  • This venue does play background music.
  • Music is played on the ground floor exhibition space.
  • Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
  • The lighting levels are medium.

Restaurant Bar Internal (Cafe)

  • The following information is for the cafe.
  • Once inside, there is level access to the service.
  • Food or drinks are ordered from the counter.
  • Food or drinks can be brought to the table.
  • There is not a lowered section at the service counter.
  • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
  • No tables are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs are permanently fixed.
  • No chairs have armrests.
  • The nearest table is 3m (3yd 10in) from the cafe entrance.
  • The distance between the floor and the lowest table is 75cm (2ft 6in).
  • The distance between the floor and the highest table is 75cm (2ft 6in).
  • Menus are hand held and wall.
  • Menus are not available in Braille.
  • Menus are not available in large print.
  • Picture menus are not available.
  • 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
    • There are also picnic benches on the terrace outside the cafe.

Level Change (Access To Thames Path)

  • There are steps to access this area / service.
  • The steps are located from cafĂ© terrace to the riverside path.
  • There is / are 15+ step(s) to the area / service.
  • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
  • The steps are medium.
  • The steps do have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.
  • Comments View
    • There is a play area and further picnic benches at the level of the riverside path.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G-1.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are deep.
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
  • Comments View
    • These stairs link the cafe and the exhibition space.
    • The external lift overcomes the stairs.

Accessible Toilet

  • There are accessible toilet facilities within this venue.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 11m (12yd 1in) from the lift.
    • This accessible toilet is located outside, on the ground floor to the right of the building.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a unisex toilet.
    • A key is required for the accessible toilet.
    • The key is a radar key.
    • The key can be obtained from cafe staff.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 98cm (3ft 3in).
    • The door is light.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 117cm x 215cm (3ft 10in x 7ft 1in).
    • There is not 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 left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 60cm (1ft 12in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is sensor.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are not available in the cubicle.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall-mounted grab rails are available.
    • 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 not a mirror.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer can 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 can 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 poor.
    • There is a low 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 fair.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located in the first aid room on the ground floor.

Standard Toilet(s)

Additional Info

  • Staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Documents are not available in Braille.
  • Documents can be requested in large print.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not generally on duty.
  • This service cannot be requested.
  • Staff are Text Relay aware.