Access Guide
Opening Times
- The venue is open 24hrs.
Getting Here
- Bluewater is located to the south west of Greenhithe, off the B255, which is accessed via the A2 at Bean Interchange. Follow the signs for Bluewater from the A2.
- There are six car parks surrounding the shopping centre. There are four multi-storey car parks - Guildhall Car Park, Plaza Car Park, Rose Gallery Car Park, and Thames Walk Car Park. There are two open air car parks - Village Car Park and Winter Garden Car Park.
- There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the shopping centre.
- There is an onsite bus station and transit hub.
- For more information on Bluewater Bus Station and Transit Hub please click here (opens new tab).
- The nearest railway station is Greenhithe.
- Bluewater is a 25 minute bus ride away from Greenhithe Railway Station, which connects you to all major cities in the UK.
- For more information on Greenhithe Station - National Rail please click here (opens new tab).
Getting Help and Assistance
- Guest services associates, Security officers, Cleaning operatives and Car park attendants receive Autism Awareness training.
- There is not a member of staff trained in British Sign Language. Please phone the venue in advance for more information
- Guest Services Associates do receive training in escorting visually impaired people.
- Alternative formats of the shopping centre map are available in large print.
- There is an assistance dog toilet or toileting area at the venue/nearby.
- The assistance dog toilet or toileting area is located on the grassed areas around the site.
- There is a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
- The place of safety is located on Lower Rose Gallery, in The Quiet Place.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are not available.
- There are mobility aids available.
- The mobility aids available include mobility scooters and wheelchairs.
- To obtain mobility aids please contact Ability Plus.
Multi-Storey Car Park
- The shopping centre does have its own parking facilities.
- The car park is located on the south west side of the shopping centre.
- The car park type is multi-storey.
- The car park does have a height restriction barrier.
- The maximum height of the restriction barrier is 220cm (7ft 3in).
- The car park does not have a barrier control system.
- The car park surface is concrete.
- There is a/are Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
- Blue Badge bays are available on all levels.
- 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.
- There is not a/are not clearly marked drop-off point(s).
Multi-Storey Designated Parking Level (Lower Level)
- There is/are 48 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) on this level.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked and signposted.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 386cm x 505cm (12ft 8in x 16ft 7in).
- There is not a 120cm marked zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
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Blue Badge Parking
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- The dimensions of other designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) vary in size.
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Parent and Child Parking
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- Clearly marked/signposted parent and child parking bays are available on this level.
- There is/are 15 designated Parent and Child bays parking bay(s) on this level.
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Paying
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- Payment signs are not provided.
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Access from the Car Park
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- The pedestrian exit on this level gives access to Lower Thames Walk Yellow and Shopmobility.
- The route to the pedestrian exit is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
- Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.
- It may be necessary to cross the path of moving vehicles between some of the Blue Badge parking bays and the pedestrian exit on this level.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly visible from the car park.
- There are marked walkways on this level to make routes safer for pedestrians.
- The surface on the approach to the pedestrian exit is concrete tiles and concrete.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 10m from the Lower Exit.
- Digital wayfinders are not available.
Other Floors
- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located to the centre of the car park.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are Lower, Middle and Upper.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The going of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are clearly marked.
- 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.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
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Comments
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- The stairs are not covered.
- There are similar stairs throughout the car park.
- There are similar covered stairs opposite the lifts.
Lift
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located in the car park, next to House of Fraser.
- Signs indicating the location of the lift are not available from the entrance.
- There is 1 other lift in this location.
- The other lift has very similar/identical specifications.
- The lift is a standard lift.
- A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are Lower, Middle and Upper.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on lift lobby landings.
- There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
- Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
- The external controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
- The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is high.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is high.
- The clear door width is 138cm (4ft 6in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 226cm x 178cm (7ft 5in x 5ft 10in).
- There are no separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
- There is 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 controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
- There is not a hearing loop system.
- The lift does have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The lighting levels in the lift are low.
Multi-Storey Designated Parking Level (Middle Level)
- There is/are 39 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) on this level.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked and signposted.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 385cm x 504cm (12ft 8in x 16ft 6in).
- There is not a 120cm marked zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
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Blue Badge Parking
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- The dimensions of other designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) vary in size.
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Parent and Child Parking
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- Clearly marked/signposted parent and child parking bays are not available on this level.
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Access from the Car Park
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- The pedestrian exit on this level gives access to Upper Thames Walk Yellow.
- The route to the pedestrian exit is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
- Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.
- It may be necessary to cross the path of moving vehicles between some of the Blue Badge parking bays and the pedestrian exit on this level.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly visible from the car park.
- There are marked walkways on this level to make routes safer for pedestrians.
- The surface on the approach to the pedestrian exit is concrete tiles and concrete.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 10m from the Middle Exit.
- Digital wayfinders are not available.
Multi-Storey Designated Parking Level (Upper Level)
- There is/are 46 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) on this level.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked and signposted.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 394cm x 500cm (12ft 11in x 16ft 5in).
- There is not a 120cm marked zone around the Blue Badge parking bay(s).
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Blue Badge Parking
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- The dimensions of other designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) vary in size.
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Parent and Child Parking
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- Clearly marked/signposted parent and child parking bays are not available on this level.
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Paying
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- Payment signs are not provided.
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Access from the Car Park
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- The pedestrian exit on this level gives access to Upper Thames Walk Yellow.
- The route to the pedestrian exit is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
- Assistance may be required because there is/are slopes/ramps.
- It may be necessary to cross the path of moving vehicles between some of the Blue Badge parking bays and the pedestrian exit on this level.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly visible from the car park.
- There are marked walkways on this level to make routes safer for pedestrians.
- The surface on the approach to the pedestrian exit is concrete tiles and concrete.
- The nearest designated Blue Badge parking bay is approximately 14m from the Upper Exit.
- Digital wayfinders are not available.
Car Park Pedestrian Exit (Plaza Car Park Lower Level Exit)
- This information is for the pedestrian exit located on the lower level of the car park.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly signed.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly signed with 'Bluewater Plaza Lower Level'.
- There is step-free access at this exit.
- There is a dark mat or floor marking at this exit that might be perceived as a hole.
- The exit door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 207cm.
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Pedestrian Exit
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- Digital wayfinders are not available.
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Ramp/Slope
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- The ramp/slope is located immediately beyond the exit.
- There is a ramp with a very slight incline.
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Comments
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- There is a similar additional set of doors at this exit.
Car Park Pedestrian Exit (Plaza Car Park Middle Level Exit)
- This information is for the pedestrian exit located on the middle level of the car park.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly signed.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly signed with 'Bluewater Plaza Middle Level'.
- There is ramped/sloped access at this exit.
- There is a dark mat or floor marking at this exit that might be perceived as a hole.
- The exit door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 211cm.
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Pedestrian Exit
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- Digital wayfinders are not available.
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Ramp/Slope
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- The ramp/slope is located immediately beyond the exit.
- 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 right going up.
- The lighting levels at the ramp/slope are good.
Car Park Pedestrian Exit (Plaza Car Park Upper Level Exit)
- This information is for the pedestrian exit located on the upper level of the car park.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly signed.
- The pedestrian exit is clearly signed with 'Plaza Upper Level'.
- There is ramped/sloped access at this exit.
- The exit door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- The main door(s) open(s) automatically.
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The width of the door opening is 204cm.
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Pedestrian Exit
View
- Digital wayfinders are not available.
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Ramp/Slope
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- The ramp/slope is located immediately beyond the exit.
- The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
- The ramp/slope is permanent.
- There is not 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.
- The lighting levels at the ramp/slope are good.
Related Access Guides (Bluewater)
- Bluewater - Customer Services link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Guildhall link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Management Suite link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Moon Court link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Rose Gallery link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Shopmobility link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Star Court link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Sun Court link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Thames Walk Blue link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - Thames Walk Yellow link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - The Plaza link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - The Village link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater - The Winter Garden link (new tab) - click here
- Bluewater Nature Trail link (new tab) - click here