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Accessibility

Somerset House strives to be open and accessible to all. We are working to remove barriers for visitors with disabilities and to ensure our events and exhibitions are accessible.

Getting Here
London Underground
Temple (Circle & District lines)

Distance to Embankment entrance approx. 200m, 5 min travel time

Distance to Strand Entrance approx. 400m, 10 min travel time

Station is not step free for further information please see tfl
 


Blackfriars (Circle and District lines)

Distance to Embankment entrance approx. 1.1km, 13min travel time

Step Free Station for further information please see tfl

 

Covent Garden (Piccadilly line)

Distance to Strand entrance approx. 650m, 8 min travel time

Station is not step free for further information please see tfl

 

Embankment (Circle & District lines)

Distance to Embankment entrance Embankment entrance approx. 500m, 7 travel time

Station is not step free for further information please see tfl

 

 

National Rail

Charing Cross (including Bakerloo and Northern line)

Distance to the Strand entrance approx. 700m 10min

Station is not step free for further information please see tfl

http://content.tfl.gov.uk/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdf)
 

Blackfriars (including Circle and District lines)

Distance to Embankment entrance approx. 1.1km, 13min travel time

Step Free Station

 

Waterloo (including Jubilee line)

Distance to embankment entrance 1km, 13 min travel time

Step Free Station

(Buses 76 bus or 26 bus or 341 bus can be taken directly to Aldwych approx. 350m from Strand entrance)

 

 

Buses

Stopping along the Strand and/or Aldwych,  within 100-200 metres of Somerset House.

1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 59, 68, 76, 87, 91, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, RV1 and X68

 

 

 

 

By River

River Bus Services RB1, RB2 and RB6 all stop at Embankment Pier, roughly 600 metres from Somerset House.

 

 

 

 

Accessible Parking

Our closest Disabled Badge parking spaces;

  • Wellington Street WC2E 7BB (159.85 METERS). For visiting via the Strand Entrance or New Wing Entrance.
     
  • Temple Place WC2R 2PH (266.53 METERS). For visiting the Embankment Entrance.

For more Disabled Badge parking nearby please visit

www.westminster.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/find-travel-support/disabled-parking

Getting Around

All areas of Somerset House area are accessible via certain routes. Please note there is cobble stone paving’s from the Strand into and in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court with a flat pavement around the edges.

Please see full details for visiting all our spaces below.

 

Visiting the South Wing
including Seamen’s Hall, Terrace Rooms, Portico Rooms, Navy Boardrooms

We are pleased to confirm that we have commenced a phased reopening of Somerset House, following the fire on 17 August.

Unfortunately step free access to the South Wing is currently not possible via the Embankment Entrance, step-free access to the South Wing is only possible via the Strand Entrance

Distances to the South Wing Seamen’s Hall Reception from our entrances

Embankment entrance: 76m* via lifts or 98m and two flights of stairs

Strand entrance: 175m*

Lancaster Place New Wing: 340m* via the Strand entrance or 230m with 11 steps.

Waterloo Bridge: 430m* via the Strand or 25m with 4 steps.)

*Level Access

 

 

Visiting the River Terrace
via Waterloo Bridge entrance including; the River Terrace Bar

This is the only step free way to access the terrace bar.

Please note there is no step free access to the wings of the Somerset House or Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court from here.

*Level Access

 

 

Visiting the North Wing
including The Courtauld Gallery, Courtauld Institute of Art; Kenneth Clarke Lecture Theatre

The Strand entrance is the accessible route.

Distances to the Courtauld Gallery from our entrances

Strand entrance: 60m* or 20m with 4 steps

Embankment entrance: 219m* or 240m and two flights of stairs

Lancaster Place, New Wing: 206m* via the Strand or 161m and 11 steps

Waterloo Bridge: 300m* via the Strand or 155m with 4 steps

*Level Access

 

 

Visiting the Embankment Galleries
& Screening Room

The Embankment entrance is the accessible route.

Distances to the Embankment Galleries from our entrances

Strand entrance: 220m* or 240m and two flights of stairs

Lancaster Place: 420m* or 330 with two flights of stairs

Waterloo Bridge: 500m*via the Strand or 130m with two flights of stairs

*Level Access

 

 

Visiting the East Wing
including East Wing Galleries; Somerset House Shop; WatchHouse & King’s College Inigo Rooms

The Strand entrance is the accessible route.

Wheelchair access to the entire East Wing is through WatchHouse. A ramp at East Wing Gallery entrance is available on request.

Distances to the East Wing from our entrances

Strand entrance: 110m* (via WatchHouse or a ramp at East Wing Gallery entrance is available on request)

Embankment entrance: 160m* (via WatchHouse or a ramp at East Wing Gallery entrance is available on request)

Lancaster Place: 320* via the Strand

Waterloo Bridge: 400* via the Strand

 

 

 

Visiting the West Wing
including West Wing Galleries

The Strand entrance is the accessible route.

There are two steps from the courtyard to the West Wing exhibition entrance.

For step free access use the east ramp of the South Wing and continue past the Seamans Hall to the West Wing.

 

 

 

Visiting the West Wing
including West Wing Reception

The Strand Entrance is the accessible route.

From the courtyard there is a ramp at the front of the West Wing.

 

 

 

Visiting the New Wing
(via Lancaster Place main entrance)
including Gallery 31, New Wing Reception, Lancaster Rooms (ramp access available on request); River Rooms

Please note there is no step free access to other wings from this entrance

Distance to the New Wing our entrance

Strand entrance: 206* and 161m with 11 steps

Embankment entrance: 430* and 340 with steps

Please note: There is access from the north Lancaster Place entrance to the other wings of Somerset House but not from the main reception Lancaster Place entrance of the New Wing as there are steps within this wing.

*Level Access

 

 

 

 

Visiting the New Wing
(via North Lancaster Place main entrance)
for Spring Restaurant

Please note there is also step free access from this entrance to our courtyard which connects to our other wings

The north Lancaster Place entrance near Café Nero is the accessible entrance and there is also a ramp to access the courtyard side.

 

 

Distance to the New Wing our entrances

Strand entrance: 206* and 161m with 11 steps

Embankment entrance: 430* and 340 with steps

Please note: There is access from the north Lancaster Place entrance to the other wings of Somerset House but not from the main reception Lancaster Place entrance of the New Wing as there are steps within this wing.

*Level Access

 

 

 

Guide and Assistance Dogs

Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome throughout Somerset House.

All other dogs are welcome on the River Terrace and in The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court during regular opening hours. Only registered assistance dogs are permitted on-site during ticketed courtyard events and inside exhibitions and events.

Large Print Exhibition Guides

Large print exhibition guides are available on request at the entrance of every exhibition. Please speak to a member of staff if you would like a copy

Borrow a Wheelchair

Standard sized manual wheelchairs are available for visitors with mobility

impairments. These can be booked in advance by emailling

visitor@somersethouse.org.uk

On the day you may borrow a wheelchair (subject to availability) by speaking to any Receptionist at one of our entrances.

Electric Mobility Scooters

Visitors are welcome to use electric mobility scooters throughout Somerset House.

Booking your Ticket

Visitors with disabilities are eligible for concessions and may bring a companion free of charge.

Exhibition tickets can be booked via our website.

Tickets for live events including Skate at Somerset House and Summer Series can also be booked via our ticketing phone line 0333 320 2836 (choose option 1) (Mon-Sat 09.00 - 21.00, Sun 09.00 - 20.00)

Accessible Toilets

New Wing (please advise reception staff who will show you the route)

South Wing Strand Level
2 Accessible Toilets (one next to Café Petiole, one opposite the end of the terrace rooms)

South Wing Embankment Level (next to the Great Arch Hall)

East Wing via WatchHouse entrance

Changing Facilities

Baby changing facilities are available on site at the locations below.

New Wing

South Wing Strand Level (next to Café Petiole)

South Wing Embankment Level (next to the Great Arch Hall)

For information about other changing facilities in the area please visit www.changing-places.org/find.

Cloakrooms

There are no cloakroom or luggage storage facilities at Somerset House.

Our Programme

We are working to remove barriers for visitors with disabilities and to ensure our events and exhibitions are accessible.

For details of our current programme visit What’s On.

Contact Us

If you would like to discuss your visit or share your feedback with one of our Visitor Experience Team please email visitor@somersethouse.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can.