You are on Summary. Skip to the next section.

Summary

• Amenities at this site include: a reception, a restaurant and a shop.
• There is not onsite parking available here and there is designated Blue Badge on street parking nearby.
• The most accessible entrance has a slight ramp/slope and automatic doors.
• There is 1 step-free entrance.
• This does include the main entrance.
• The entrance surveyed is the main entrance on Castlehill.
• The building has 5 floors once inside.
• There is step free access once inside with lift access to other floors.
• There is ramped access to the accessible toilets on floor -1 and the tour rooms on floor 1.
• There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
• This venue also has the following available: seating, audio format information, a handheld device with sign language, a hearing assistance system which is not signed, a companion/carer discount, audio guides and BSL guides.
• At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
• Toilet and changing facilities available include: a toilet with some adaptations for disabled people and step free standard toilets.
• There is/are 2 toilet(s) designated as accessible.
• The accessible toilet surveyed can be found on floor -1.
• This accessible toilet surveyed is approximately 8m from the lift.
• The standard toilets can be found on floor -1 and floor 1.
• The standard toilets surveyed can be found on floor -1.

You are on Parking. Skip to the next section.

Parking

• This venue does not have a car park.
• Nearby parking includes: Blue Badge on-street parking (within 50m) and standard on-street parking.
• There is not a designated drop-off point.

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

Public Transport

• There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
• The nearest bus stop is on George IV Bridge and is 300 metres from the venue.
• The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
• The nearest tram station is St Andrew Square.

You are on Entrance. Skip to the next section.

Entrance

• The entrance surveyed is located on Castlehill (Royal Mile).
• There is step-free access at this entrance, via ramp/slope.
• The ramp has a width of at least 150cm and a slight gradient .
• The ramp does not have handrails.
• There are double automatic doors which open by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 126cm.
• There is a second set of doors.
• There are double automatic doors which open by sliding.
• The width of the opening is 126cm.

You are on Reception (Reception). Skip to the next section.

Reception (Reception)

• There is step-free level access to this reception.
• The height of the reception counter is 102cm.
• There is a low level desk or counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users (between 76cm - 86cm).
• Lighting levels are good at this reception.
• There is background noise here which varies, depending on the time of day.
• The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
• There are bench seats available in the reception area.
• All of the seating is fixed.

You are on Shop. Skip to the next section.

Shop

• There is a manual door which is permanently held open and has a high colour contrast.
• The width of the door opening is 106cm.
• The majority of aisle widths are 150cm+.
• Some flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
• Where the flooring is not smooth or even, it is due to carpet.
• Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
• Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.
• There is step-free level access to the till(s).
• The height of the counter is 90cm.
• There is not a low level till at the recommended height for seated users (between 76cm - 86cm).
• The checkout area is placed in front of a patterned background.
• The till has a hearing assistance loop which is not signed.
• Services/facilities available in the shop include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
• There is background noise here.
• Lighting levels are good in the shop.

You are on Tour (Floor 0). Skip to the next section.

Tour (Floor 0)

• The tour is guided.
• The tour takes approximately 15 minutes.
• There is step-free level access throughout the tour.
• The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
• There is background noise along the tour route.
• The following may be experienced on the tour: water effects, smoke, fog, or misting effects, strobe or flashing lights, sudden loud noises, lighting effects and 3D visual effects on screen.
• Tour information includes the following formats: pictorial, information board, television/screen, audio description, audio guides, multi-language audio, BSL and subtitles.
• The tour has a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
• There are bench seats and stools at regular intervals along the tour.
• All of the seating is fixed.
• All flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
• The majority of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.
• Lighting levels are low along parts of the tour route.

You are on Lift. Skip to the next section.

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 -2, -1, 0, 1, 2.
• Externally the lift has: tactile markings, a door with a high visual contrast to the surroundings, buttons with a low visual contrast to the surroundings and controls at a recommended height range (between 90cm - 110cm).
• The lift door opening width is 80cm.
• The dimensions of the lift are 106cm x 140cm.
• Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, a visual floor indicator, tactile markings, buttons with a low visual contrast to the surroundings, controls at a recommended height range (between 90cm - 110cm) and an audible announcer.

You are on Stairs. Skip to the next section.

Stairs

• The floors which are accessible by stairs are -1, 0, 1.
• There are 15+ steps between floors.
• The steps are not clearly marked but there are handrails on both sides.
• There are two identical sets of stairs used in the tour. One set of stairs is used for entry, the other is used for exit.

You are on Tour (Floor 1). Skip to the next section.

Tour (Floor 1)

• The tour is guided.
• The tour takes approximately 35 minutes.
• There is step-free access along the tour route, via ramp/slope.
• The majority of walkways are 150cm+ wide.
• There is background noise along the tour route.
• The following may be experienced on the tour: sudden loud noises, lighting effects and 3D visual effects on screen.
• Tour information includes the following formats: pictorial, information board, television/screen, audio description, audio guides, multi-language audio, BSL and subtitles.
• The tour has a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
• There are bench seats, stools, high stools and chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
• All of the seating is fixed.
• There are folding seats/stools available to take around the tour.
• All flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
• The majority of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.
• Lighting levels are low along parts of the tour route.
• The tour includes scratch and sniff cards, nosing and tasting experiences and cards explaining the aromas and tastes of the whiskeys.
  There are different tour types and the maximum time for a tour is 1.5 hours.
  All rooms with fixed seating have designated seating areas for wheelchair users.

You are on Eating and Drinking (Amber). Skip to the next section.

Eating and Drinking (Amber)

• This is a restaurant which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
• There is step-free access to this area, via ramp/slope.
• There is a bar where drinks can be ordered and full table service.
• Menu types include; handheld menus.
• Menus are easy to read.
• The following are available here: a portable card machine for payment.
• There is background noise here.
• There is a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
• There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users (between 76cm - 86cm).
• The seating area has: tables which are accessible to wheelchair users, high stools, chairs without armrests, room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) and bench seats.
• The seating area does not have: a priority table and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
• Tables are at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 70cm - 80cm).
• The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the chairs.
• All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
• Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.

You are on Ramp or Slope (Amber). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope (Amber)

• A width between 75cm and 150cm and There is a ramp with a slight gradient .
• The ramp does not have handrails.

You are on Ramp or Slope (Level -1 Toilets). Skip to the next section.

Ramp or Slope (Level -1 Toilets)

• There is a ramp with a slight gradient and a width of at least 150cm .
• The ramp does not have handrails.

You are on Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer). Skip to the next section.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

• This accessible toilet is located on floor -1.
• There is step-free access into the accessible toilet, via ramp/slope.
• This accessible toilet is approximately 10m from the lift.
• There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
• There is a manual door which opens outwards and has a good colour contrast.
• The door has a twist lock.
• The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 77cm.
• The dimensions of the cubicle are 144cm x 205cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
• There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the toilet seat.
• The lateral transfer space is 77cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
• There is a push button flush on the wall above the toilet.
• There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
• The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder.
• The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: the wash basin and hand dryer.
• The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
• The height of the toilet roll holder is 80cm.
• The wash basin tap type is sensor.
• The height of the wash basin is 82cm.
• The height of the hand dryer is 82cm.
• There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height for seated users (within 10cm from the floor).
• There is not a shelf.
• The cubicle does not have a full length mirror.
• The cubicle also has: a waste bin without lid, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
• The following have a good colour contrast with their surroundings: the dropdown rail.
• The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door, the floor and the toilet seat.
• There is a 2cm lip on the threshold of the door.

You are on Standard Toilet(s). Skip to the next section.

Standard Toilet(s)

• There is step-free access to the toilet(s), via ramp/slope.
• There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a high colour contrast.
• The male standard toilet was surveyed.
• There is also a female toilet in the same location.
• The wash basin tap type is sensor.
• There is a 2cm lip on the threshold of the door. There are additional standard toilets on level 1 at the end of the tour.

You are on User Reviews. Skip to the next section.

User Reviews

• Check out reviews of this venue from disabled people on Euan’s Guide, the disabled access review website (opens new tab).