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

Westminster Bridge, London, SE1 7GA

Access Guide

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

  • This guide gives access information for the section of the South Bank between Westminster Bridge and the Golden Jubilee Bridges.
  • 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 approximate distance of the section of the walkway between Westminster Bridge and the Golden Jubilee Bridges is 500 metres.
  • This section of Jubilee Walkway is called The Queen's Walk.
  • This is one of the most congested sections of The Queen's Walk due to the London Eye and various other venues along the walkway.
  • The walkway has a mainly flagstone paving surface and runs parallel to the River Thames, past the London Eye.
  • Access to the walkway from Westminster Bridge is stepped.
  • Access to the walkway from the Golden Jubilee Bridges is via lift or steps.
  • There is also step free access to the walkway from Belvedere Road via Jubilee Gardens.
  • The potential hazards along the walkway include; busy pathways, trees, bollards, cyclists, and street furniture.
  • Please click here if you would like to view the TFL Map for the Western Loop of the Jubilee Walkway (opens in new tab).

Getting Here

Related London South Bank Venues (London County Hall Venues)

  • This section provides links to detailed Access Guides surveyed within London County Hall.

Related London South Bank Venues (Jubilee Gardens and London Eye Waterloo Pier)

  • This section provides links to additional detailed access guides along this section of the Queen's Walk.

Related London South Bank Venues (London Marriott County Hall)

Related London South Bank Venues (Merlin Tourist Attractions)

South Bank Public Car Parks

  • This section provides information about a number of public cars parks around South Bank.
    For more information about access and parking charges please visit the individual car parks.
    South Bank is located in the congestion charging zone.

Access From (Westminster Bridge)

  • Description View
    • Access down to The Queen's Walk from Westminster Bridge is via steps (shown in photographs 6-8).
      There are bollards at the top of the steps (shown in photographs 2 and 3).
      The gap between the bollards is 120cm.
      The bollards have a clear visual contrast with the paving.
      There is also an underpass so it is possible to access this section of the walkway from the Lambeth Bridge side to the south (shown in photographs 8 and 9).
      The underpass is dark and there are barriers when exiting (shown in photograph 11).
      The gap between the barriers is 110cm.
  • Stairs View
    • The steps lead down to The Queen's Walk from Westminster Bridge.
      There are 23 steps (3 sets of 7, 8 and 9).
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are not 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.

Access From (Golden Jubilee Bridges)

  • Description View
    • Access down to The Queen's Walk from the Golden Jubilee Bridges is via steps (shown in photographs 3-5) or lift (shown in photographs 6-11).
      There is also an underpass, so it is possible to access this section of the walkway from the Waterloo Bridge side to the north (shown in photograph 12-14).
      There are various kiosks set up to the side of the underpass during events or summer months.
  • Stairs View
    • There are 43 steps .
    • 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 along The Queen's Walk, below the Golden Jubilee Bridges.
    • The lift is a standard lift.
    • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G and 1.
    • 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 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 195cm x 127cm (6ft 5in 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.
    • 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 moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • The lift was out of order in August 2022.
    • The lift on eastern side of the Golden Jubilee Bridges was working at time of survey.

Queen's Walk - General Access

  • The Queen's Walk between Westminster Bridge and the Golden Jubilee Bridges is level and wide.
  • The walkway predominantly has a smooth flagstone paving surface.
  • The section past the London Eye has a block paving surface.
  • There are some bollards across the walkway on the section between the London Eye and Jubilee Gardens (shown in photographs 8 and 9).
  • The minimum gap between bollards is 100cm.
  • The bollards do not have a clear visual contrast with the block paving surface, but the 2 central bollards have visual identification bands.
  • The bollards also vary in shape and size.
  • The section of the walkway outside Jubilee Gardens has a number of large trees across it and some bins and benches (shown in photographs 10-20).
  • There is also the Jubilee Oracle Sculpture on this section (shown in photograph 11).
  • There is a carousel on the walkway between Jubilee Gardens and the Golden Jubilee Bridges (shown in photograph 20).
  • There is a walkway is narrowed past the carousel and there are various kiosks such as the Sundowner Bar close to the Golden Jubilee bridges.
  • This area and the space around the London Eye can become congested.

Queen's Walk - Seating and Information/Map Boards

  • There is no bench seating on the section of the walkway between Westminster Bridge and the London Eye.
  • There are some seats and tables outside one of the food and drink kiosks (shown in photograph 1).
  • There are benches on the section outside Jubilee Gardens (shown in photographs 2 and 3) and also behind the Golden Jubilee Bridge steps (shown in photograph 4).
  • The benches do not have armrests.
  • The benches outside Jubilee Gardens are wooden and the ones beneath the Jubilee Bridges are concrete.
  • There is also some seating outside another one of the food and drink kiosks between Jubilee Gardens and the Golden Jubilee Bridges (shown in photographs 5 and 6). There is also bench seating along the side of the walkway.
  • There are TFL 'Legible London' wayfinding posts and London South Bank maps/information boards along the section of the walkway past Jubilee Gardens (shown in photographs 7 and 8).

Queen's Walk - Additional Information

  • There is access to Jubilee Gardens from The Queen's Walk (shown in photographs 1 and 2).
  • The walkways slope upwards into the gardens with a slight gradient.
  • The access point in photograph 1 has a more cobbled surface than the one in photograph 2, which has a smooth block paving path.
  • There is a toilet block outside Jubilee Gardens (shown in photograph 4).
  • These toilets are detailed in the sections below.
  • There are some buildings which have stepped access from The Queen's Walk which include; Pret A Manger, County Hall, Namco Funscape / McDonald's, Sea Life Centre and The London Dungeon (shown in photographs 5-9).

Access To (Toilet Block)

  • Description View
    • There is a very slight upwards slope on the block paved surface in front of the toilet block.
      There is also a cable cover strip (from a food and drink van) between the toilet block and the access point to the gardens.
      The accessible toilet cubicle is accessed from the outer wall of the toilet block at the opposite end to the Jubilee Gardens.
      The standard toilets are all located inside and accessed via security barriers.
      There is a 50p charge for access to the toilets but the accessible cubicle can also be accessed via RADAR key.
      The gap between security barriers at the entrances is 58cm.

Accessible Toilet(s) (Toilet Block)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) for public use.
  • Location and Access View
    • The accessible toilet surveyed is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • This accessible toilet is located next to Jubilee Gardens.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is required for the accessible toilet.
    • The key is a radar key.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The door opens by sliding (automatically).
    • The door is locked by a push button or pad.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 96cm.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 145cm x 220cm (4ft 9in x 7ft 3in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The toilet has not got a non-slip floor.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 80cm.
    • There is no flush.
    • There is no dropdown rail.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • There is a push button alarm in the toilet.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are general domestic waste disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 140cm from the floor.
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • 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.
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • There is not a shelf next to the toilet.
    • The toilet has a fixed horizontal rail without a padded backrest.
    • 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).
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin tap type is sensor.
    • There is a soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 94cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • 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).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 94cm (3ft 1in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is poor.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Baby Changing Facilities View
    • Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
    • The baby change table is set against the wall, permanently fixed at 75cm from the floor.
    • The baby change table is not height adjustable.
  • Comments View
    • There is a 50p charge for access to the accessible toilet if you do not have a RADAR key.
    • The height of the coin slot next to the door is 108cm.

Standard Toilet(s) (Toilet Block)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Access to Standard Shared Toilet(s) View
    • The shared toilets that were surveyed are located in a toilet block, next to the gardens, in Queen's Walk.
    • The shared toilet(s) is/are approximately 15m (16yd 1ft) from the nearest access point (Queen's Walk 1).
    • There is step-free access into the shared toilet(s).
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • There is not a lowered urinal.
    • An ambulant toilet with wall-mounted grab rails is not available.
    • There is not a lowered wash basin.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is sensor.
    • Lighting levels are good.
    • There is a/are similar standard toilet(s) available.
  • Baby Change Facilities View
    • Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
    • Baby change facilities are located next to the standard toilet cubicles in the toilet block.
    • There is step-free access into the baby change facilities.
    • The baby change table is not set against the wall, permanently fixed at 75cm from the floor.
    • The baby change table is not height adjustable.
    • The height of the baby change table once extended is 94cm (3ft 1in).
  • Comments View
    • The parent and baby cubicles were out of service at the time of the survey.