You are on Summary. Skip to the next section.

Summary

• There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
• The most accessible entrance has: level step free access and automatic doors.
• There is step free access once inside via platform or stair lift.
• This venue also has the following available: a companion/carer discount, audio format information and seating.
• The attractions within the Dockyard can only be accessed via the steep ramp at the site entrance.
  Hearts of Oak is part of Command of the Oceans. It is located at the bottom of the ramp from the ticket office, and is the first exhibit on route.
  The Plan Your Visit counter is by the entrance.
  Hearts of Oak has video/audio information via projections and screens.
  There are flashing lights and loud noises at times.
  The area is dark and has various slight and steep ramps. There are two platform lifts to overcome stairs.
  The rest of the Command of the Oceans, which has information boards and video/audio information, can be accessed without going through Hearts of Oak.

You are on Parking (Main Car Park). Skip to the next section.

Parking (Main Car Park)

• This venue has a car park .
• This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and gravel surface.
• Parking is free for all users.
• There is not a designated drop-off point.

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• Comments View
  • Photographs 1-4 show the main car park.
    
  • Photographs 5 and 6 show the step-free or shallow stepped access onto the pavement from the car park.
    
  • Photograph 7 shows a tarmacked car parking section that is used at times, however, it is further from the entrance.
    
  • There are Blue Badge bays and electrical vehicle charging bays in the No.5 Slip, to the right of the site entrance and main car park.

You are on Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays). Skip to the next section.

Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays)

• This venue has a car park .
• This is a sheltered car park with a tarmac and concrete surface.
• Parking is free for all users.
• There are 5 Blue Badge parking bays.
• The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 225cm x 470cm.
• There is a hatched zone on both sides and to the rear.
• The nearest Blue Badge bay is 127m from the site entrance.
• Potential obstacles between the Blue Badge parking and the entrance include uneven surfaces, dropped kerbs and a road crossing.
• There is not a designated drop-off point.

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• Comments View
  • Photograph 1 shows the No.5 slip which has the Blue Badge bays and 6 electrical vehicle charging bays within it. This is to the right-hand side from the main car park and site entrance.
    
  • Access does not have to be pre-arranged.
    
  • A security barrier and intercom 120cm high are used to access the car park. Staff will open the barriers when requested via this intercom.
    
  • Photograph 4 shows one of the Blue Badge Bays and photograph 5 shows the electrical vehicle charging bays.
    
  • Photographs 6-8 show the route to the site entrance.
    
  • There is a pedestrian crossing which is level with the road one side, with a dropped kerb and tactile paving on the other side.
    
  • The route consists of tarmac and block paving.

You are on Public Transport. Skip to the next section.

Public Transport

• There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
• There is a designated drop-off area for coach tours within 150 metres of the site entrance.
• The nearest train station is Gillingham.
• Gillingham Station is approximately 1.9 miles away.

You are on Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance)

• There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
• There is a ramp with a steep gradient and a width of at least 150cm.
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 151cm.
• There is a second set of doors.
• There is a single automatic door which open by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 173cm.

You are on Entrance (Security Barriers / Entrance onto Site via Command of the Oceans). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Security Barriers / Entrance onto Site via Command of the Oceans)

• There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
• There is a slope with a slight gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm.
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• There are no doors at this entrance.
• The width of the opening is 125cm.

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• Comments View
  • The security barriers, shown in photograph 1, have a ticket bar code reader that is 92cm high. The barriers automatically open away from you.
    
  • The ramp and corridor, shown in photographs 2-5, lead towards the Command of the Oceans gallery space and the two exit doors that lead outside.

You are on Counter (Plan Your Visit - Tour Tickets). Skip to the next section.

Counter (Plan Your Visit - Tour Tickets)

• There is step-free access to this counter.
• There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users.
• There is background noise here.

You are on Entrance (Hearts of Oak). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Hearts of Oak)

• There is step-free access at this entrance.
• There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
• The door is activated by a push pad at a suitable height for seated users.
• The width of the opening is 154cm.

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• Comments View
  • There is a very slight slope by the entrance doors (photograph 2).
  • There are set times to follow the projections/videos through Hearts of Oak.
    
  • There are benches and audio and visual information on screen by the entrance with information about Command of the Oceans (photograph 3 and 4). This can be viewed whilst waiting for the timed tour.

You are on Inside Access. Skip to the next section.

Inside Access

• There is step-free access, via ramps, throughout the majority of the venue.
• Some of the corridors are narrow.
• There are bench seats throughout the building.
• Lighting levels are low in some areas.
• There is background noise here.
• The route has various different surfaces such as wood, cobbles, concrete and stone. There are some areas which are uneven.
  There are various doorways to pass through that vary from 99cm-130cm wide. Doors are kept permanently open.
  The minimum width along the route is 121cm.
  The route is lit when the projections/videos/audio have finished, giving a visual clue and indicator that it is time to continue on the tour. They are dimmed/ turned off whilst they are ongoing in most sections of the tour.

You are on Attraction / Exhibit (Information Boards). Skip to the next section.

Attraction / Exhibit (Information Boards)

• There is step-free access to and throughout this area.
• The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
• There is no (or very little) background noise here.
• Exhibit information includes the following formats: information board.
• There are bench seats in this area.
• All of the seating is fixed.
• All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
• There is an area with various information boards and bench seats 45cm high before the entrance through to the exhibit with projections/videos.
  There are set times to follow the projections/videos through Hearts of Oak, so this area can be used whilst waiting.

You are on Entrance (Video and Projection Attraction). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Video and Projection Attraction)

• There is step-free access at this entrance.
• There are double automatic doors which open away from you.
• The door is activated by a push pad at a suitable height for seated users.
• The width of the opening is 159cm.

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• Comments View
  • The doors have poor colour contrast with the wall.

You are on Attraction / Exhibit (Video and Projection). Skip to the next section.

Attraction / Exhibit (Video and Projection)

• There is ramped/sloped access to or in this area.
• The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
• There is background noise here.
• The following may be experienced here: strobe or flashing lights, strong smells and sudden loud noises.
• Exhibit information includes the following formats: information board and television/screen.
• There are bench seats in this area.
• All of the seating is fixed.
• Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
• The flooring surface is not smooth and even due to uneven paving/tiles.
• Lighting levels are low here.
• The area is dark due to the ongoing video/audio via screens and projections.
  The attraction involves an 8 minute animated film with life-sized characters and projections (photographs 3-5). The animated sequences show reconstructions or video/audio information explaining the process of ship making or battles.
  Photographs 10-12 show the gun deck of HMS Victory.

You are on Stairs (Mould Loft). Skip to the next section.

Stairs (Mould Loft)

• The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
• There are 15+ steps between floors.
• The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.
• Lighting levels are low at these stairs.

You are on Lift (Platform - Mould Loft). Skip to the next section.

Lift (Platform - Mould Loft)

• This lift is a platform 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 G, 1.
• Externally the lift has: a door with a good colour contrast to the surroundings, buttons with a good colour contrast to the surroundings and controls at a recommended height range.
• The lift door opening width is 87cm.
• The dimensions of the lift are 102cm x 151cm.
• Internally the lift has: controls at a recommended height range, Braille markings, tactile markings, buttons with a good colour contrast to the surroundings, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
• Lighting levels are low here.

You are on Ramp or Slope (Mould Loft Projection / Video Viewing Area - Two Ramps: Up and Down). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope (Mould Loft Projection / Video Viewing Area - Two Ramps: Up and Down)

• There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm.
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• Lighting levels are low here.

You are on Stairs (Saw Pit). Skip to the next section.

Stairs (Saw Pit)

• The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
• There are 15+ steps between floors.
• The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.
• Lighting levels are low at these stairs.

You are on Lift (Saw Pit). Skip to the next section.

Lift (Saw Pit)

• This lift is a platform 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 G, 1.
• Externally the lift has: a door with a good colour contrast to the surroundings, buttons with a good colour contrast to the surroundings and controls at a recommended height range.
• The lift door opening width is 86cm.
• The dimensions of the lift are 102cm x 152cm.
• Internally the lift has: controls at a recommended height range, Braille markings, tactile markings, buttons with a good colour contrast to the surroundings, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
• There is a maximum weight of 410kg.

You are on Ramp or Slope (Saw Pit - Downward Ramp). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope (Saw Pit - Downward Ramp)

• There is a ramp with a steep gradient and a width of at least 150cm.
• Lighting levels are low here.

You are on Ramp or Slope (Ship in Frame - Upward Ramp). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope (Ship in Frame - Upward Ramp)

• There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm.
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• Lighting levels are low here.

You are on Ramp or Slope (Wood Carving Projection - Downward Ramp). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope (Wood Carving Projection - Downward Ramp)

• There is a ramp with a steep gradient and a width of at least 150cm.
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• Lighting levels are low here.

You are on Ramp or Slope (HMS Victory Gun Deck - Upwards Ramp). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope (HMS Victory Gun Deck - Upwards Ramp)

• There is a ramp with a steep gradient and a width between 75cm and 150cm.
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.
• Lighting levels are low here.

You are on Entrance (Exit into Command of the Oceans: People, Tools and Trades). Skip to the next section.

Entrance (Exit into Command of the Oceans: People, Tools and Trades)

• There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
• There is a ramp with a steep gradient and a width of at least 150cm.
• The ramp has handrails on both sides.

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• Comments View
  • The gates at the bottom of the ramp are 203cm wide.
  • This exit leads into the People, Tools and Trades section of Command of the Oceans.
  • The gallery can then be followed around to the exit to the external part of the site.

You are on Related Access Guides. Skip to the next section.

Related Access Guides

• To view other AccessAble access guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Command of the Oceans link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Parking, Entrance, Ticket Office and Shop link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Changing Places and Accessible Toilets link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Getting Around link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Mess Deck Restaurant link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Wagon Stop Canteen link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: The Big Space link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: No.1 The Smithery link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: RNLI Historic Lifeboats Collection link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Victorian Ropery link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Steam, Steel and Submarines link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: HM Submarine Ocelot link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: HMS Cavalier link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: HMS Gannet link (new tab) - click here.
• Historic Chatham Dockyard: Commissioner's Garden link (new tab) - click here.