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St Albans Cathedral

Sumpter Yard, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 1BY

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • This is a Cathedral Church which also provides guided tours.
    • Services available in the venue include: daily worship services, café, Ecumenical services, a gallery and guided tours.
    • View information on opening times
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Getting In and Around View
    • There is step-free access via slope at the most accessible entrance.
    • The alternative West End entrance is at the rear of the Cathedral. This entrance has step-free level access via a lift.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of areas.
    • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: The Nave, The Quire, Shrine of St Amphibalus, Lady Chapel, and St Micheal Chapel.
    • The following areas have stepped access: The Shrine of St Albans, North Transept, and Presbytery.
    • Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
    • The Ground and Mezzanine floors can be accessed via stairs.
  • Getting Help and Assistance View
    • There is seating available.
    • There is a fixed hearing assistance system.
    • You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair.
    • There is a designated safe space which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
    • The designated safe space is located in the Chapel of Transfiguration.
    • Documents are available in the following formats: Braille, large print and different languages.
    • There are BLS tours every 5th Sunday, when there are 5 weekends in a month.
    • There is a water bowl available for assistance dogs.
    • There is not a designated assistance dog spending area.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located to the rear left, along the main corridor beyond the main reception.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • The female step-free toilet facilities are located rear left.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located on the mezzanine floor.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the toilet with adaptations located to the rear left, along the main corridor.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the Cathedral, off Sumpter Yard.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces and a bollard.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • The bollard on the approach reduces the width of the pavement to 153cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 144cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 164cm.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Entrance (West End)

  • This entrance is located at the rear of the Cathedral.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via a very easy slope at the entrance.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 95cm.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second single manual door.
  • The second door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 90cm.
  • The second door has a medium visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access via lift as you enter.
  • The lift bypasses the steps.
  • There are 5 steps with handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are clearly marked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.

Lift (West End Entrance)

  • The lift surveyed is located just beyond the West End entrance, to the right.
  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • The distance from West End entrance is 6m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings and a low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 99cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 112cm (width) x 137cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a low visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The button needs to be pressed constantly when in use.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.
  • There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.

Reception

  • The reception is located straight ahead as you enter.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 5m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 114cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 91cm.
  • The reception has a television.
  • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Entrance (Cathedral)

  • This entrance is located to the right, along the main corridor and past the reception.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 109cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout walkways.
  • The following areas have step-free access via ramps or slopes: The Nave, The Quire, Shrine of St Amphibalus, Lady Chapel, and St Michael Chapel.
  • The following areas have stepped access: The Shrine of St Albans, North Transept, and Presbytery.
  • Access throughout may include doors permanently held open.
  • Some flooring is patterned.
  • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided.
  • The colour, design and typeface of signs is consistent throughout.
  • Seating available in the walkways includes: chairs without armrests and benches.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Stairs (Mezzanine)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the left, past the café entrance.
  • The mezzanine and ground floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 19 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail that switches sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the rear left, along the main corridor.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 21m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and ‘Not All Disabilities Are Visible’ signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 97cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a low visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 151cm (width) x 271cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 105cm (from the side of the toilet pan to the wall).
    • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 122cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 79cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 91cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 121cm and 172cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 89cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.