Disabled access

Parking

For general information on disabled parking bays in the area go to: http://bluebadge.direct.gov.uk. Please check our Road Closure information to ensure that these bays will not be closed at the weekend.

Site Layout

Thames Festival is spread over a 3.5 kilometre site between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge (click here to download the festival map). Most activities take place by the Queen’s Walkway on the south bank of the Thames and are there is flat access along the whole of this walkway. Please note that Clink Street (between Vinopolis and Southwark Cathedral) is cobbled.

Site Congestion

Please note that the Queen’s Walkway can become very congested and it is important to take this into consideration when planning your route to and between the festival’s attractions. The area underneath Blackfriars Bridge, where the walkway narrows, is particularly vulnerable to congestion. The Festival stewards have been instructed to give priority to wheelchair users in this area. If you wish to avoid this area then the recommended diversion is (going west to east – simply reverse if going east to west): exit the Queen’s Walkway at either Bernie Spain Gardens or Oxo Tower Wharf (nb there are only stepped exits after this point); proceed along Upper Ground and cross Blackfriars Road onto Southwark Street; regain the Queen’s Walkway via Hopton Street.

Jubilee Gardens

(Barclaycard Jive Stage, CBBC me and my movie, Barclaycard Freerun Zone and Club Dada)

Jubilee Gardens itself is a flat grassed area. There is a viewing area for wheelcair users at the front right of the Freerun Zone. No other viewing platforms are provided. There is ramped access directly onto the Gardens from Belevedere Road and also access via Belevedere Road to the avenue leading to the London Eye and from there along the Queen’s Walkway to Jubilee Gardens. There is also flat paved access along the Queen’s Walkway itself coming west and east. The closest adapted toilets provided by the Festival are on Belvedere Road. St John’s Ambulance has a First Aid post on Jubilee Gardens.

• Nearest tube: Waterloo
• Nearest pier: Waterloo Millennium

Queen’s Walkway by Southbank Centre

(New European Village)

The New European Village is located on the Queen’s Walkway in front of the Southbank Centre; the New European Village Stage is located at street level opposite and below the New European Village. No viewing platform is provided. There is flat access to the Stage via Belvedere Road and the east side of the Royal Festival Hall. The closest adapted toilets are within the Royal Festival Hall. There are also adapted toilets provided by the Festival at the same level as the Stage on the exit road beneath and then beyond Hungerford Bridge. There are First Aid facilities within the Southbank Centre. The nearest St John’s Ambulance First Aid post is on Jubilee Gardens.

• Nearest tube: Waterloo
• Nearest pier: Festival

Southbank Centre

(Japanese Jamboree and Wool ‘n’ Dance)

Japanese Jamboree takes place on the Clore Ballroom within the Southbank Centre and Wool ‘n’ Dance takes place outside the Southbank Centre on Southbank Centre Square. Visit the Southbank Centre website for access information.

• Nearest tube: Waterloo
• Nearest pier: Festival

National Theatre area

(BBC Blast, Thames Lens)

BBC Blast takes place on Theatre Square. For access information visit the National Theatre website. Thames Lens takes place within BFI Southbank. For access information on BFI Southbank, please visit their website.

• Nearest tube: Waterloo
• Nearest pier: Festival

Riverside Walkway

(The Observation Point)

The Observation Point Stage is on the Riverside Walkway. No viewing platform is provided. There is flat paved access along the Queen’s Walkway itself coming west and east. The closest adapted toilets provided by the Festival are on the Queen’s Walkway 100m west of the Observation Point. There is a St John’s Ambulance First Aid post in the same vicinity as the toilets.

• Nearest tube: Southwark
• Nearest pier: Blackfriars Millennium

Bernie Spain Gardens

(Wishing Tree, New Moon Festival, the Zen Hussies)

Wishing Tree, New Moon Festival and the Zen Hussies are located on the flat grassed areas of Bernie Spain Gardens adjacent to Upper Ground. No viewing platforms are provided. There is flat access from both the Queen’s Walkway and Upper Ground to these attractions. The closest adapted toilets provided by the Festival are adjacent to the Wishing Tree and Upper Ground. There are adapted toilets in Gabriel’s Wharf and Oxo Tower Wharf. There is a St John’s Ambulance First Aid post on the Queen’s Walkway in Bernie Spain Gardens.

• Nearest tube: Southwark
• Nearest pier: Blackfriars Millennium

the.gallery@oxo

(Rivers of the World)

There is flat access from both Bargehouse Street and the Queen’s Walkway both east and west of the.gallery@oxo. The closest adapted toilets are in Oxo Tower Wharf. The closest adapted toilets provided by the Festival are adjacent to the Wishing Tree and Upper Ground. The closest St John’s Ambulance First Aid post is on the Queen’s Walkway in Bernie Spain Gardens.

• Nearest tube: Southwark
• Nearest pier: Blackfriars Millennium

Tate Modern

(River Tango)

There is flat access from Hopton Street and the Queen’s Walkway both east and west of the River Tango Stage. No viewing platform is provided. The closest adapted toilets are within Tate Modern. Adapted toilets are provided by the Festival on Sunday (Tate Modern is closed from 5pm) 75m to the west of the River Tango Stage. The closest St John’s Ambulance First Aid post is on the Queen’s Walkway 75m west of the River Tango Stage. Click here (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/information/access.htm) for access information to Tate Modern.

• Nearest tube: Southwark
• Nearest pier: Bankside

Queen’s Walkway by Millennium Bridge

(Thames Pageant, Great River Race, River Races, Firing on the Foreshore)

There is flat access from Hopton Street and the Queen’s Walkway both east and west of the area west of Millennium Bridge to hear the commentary for Thames Pageant, Great River Race and the River Races. No viewing platform is provided. The closest adapted toilets are within Tate Modern. Adapted toilets are provided by the Festival on Sunday only (Tate Modern is closed on Sunday from 5pm) 100m to the west on the Queen’s Walkway. The closest St John’s Ambulance First Aid post is on the Queen’s Walkway in close proximity to the toilets.

• Nearest tube: Southwark
• Nearest pier: Bankside

Southwark Bridge

(Feast on the Bridge)

From the south, there is flat access on to Southwark Bridge from the Queen’s Walkway via New Globe Walk, Emerson Street, Sumner Street and Southwark Bridge Road. From the north, there is flat access from Upper Thames Street directly on to Southwark Bridge. No viewing platforms are provided. The closest adapted toilets provided by the Festival are on the north end of Southwark Bridge by Upper Thames Street. The closest St John’s Ambulance First Aid post is on the south end of Southwark Bridge.

• Nearest tube: Cannon Street
• Nearest pier: Bankside

Hibernia Wharf

(Jazz at the Fairtrade Village)

Access from the west from the Queen’s Walkway is via Clink Street and Cathedral Street. Please note that these streets are cobbled and liable to congestion. Access east from the Queen’s Walkway is via Montague Close. No viewing platform is provided. The closest adapted toilets are in Southwark Cathedral. St John’s Ambulance is providing mobile First Aid units in this area. Please contact the Festival Stewards if you require any assistance.

• Nearest tube: London Bridge
• Nearest pier: London Bridge City

London Bridge City Pier

(Swamp Rock)

There is flat access on the Queen’s Walkway both east and west of the Swamp Rock Stage. No viewing platform is provided. The closest adapted toilets are in Hay’s Galleria. St John’s Ambulance is providing mobile First Aid units in this area. Please contact the Festival Stewards if you require any assistance. Download a map of the area with useful access information.

• Nearest tube: London Bridge
• Nearest pier: London Bridge City

The Scoop at More London

(Kids’ Choir, Sing for Water, Street Cabaret, Whoopee’s Carnaval)

There is flat access on the Queen’s Walkway both east and west of The Scoop at More London. There is also flat access from Tooley Street via More London Place. No viewing platform is provided. The closest adapted toilets provide by the Festival are behind City Hall by Potters Fields Park. The closest St John’s Ambulance First Aid post is behind City Hall by Potters Fields Park. Download a map of the area with useful access information.

• Nearest tube: London Bridge
• Nearest pier: London Bridge City

Potters Fields Park

(Blue Ribbon Village, Green Man Stage, BBC Headroom)

There is flat access on the Queen’s Walkway both east and west to the Potters Fields Park. There is also flat access from Tooley Street via Weavers Lane. No viewing platforms are provided. The closest adapted toilets provide by the Festival are behind City Hall. The closest St John’s Ambulance First Aid post is behind City Hall. Download a map of the area with useful access information.

• Nearest tube: London Bridge
• Nearest pier: London Bridge City

Victoria Embankment and Blackfriars Bridge

(Night Carnival and Fireworks)

Victoria Embankment and Blackfriars Bridge are closed to traffic for both the Night Carnival and Fireworks display. No viewing platforms are provided. No toilets are provided by the Festival in these areas. St John’s Ambulance is providing mobile First Aid units in this area. Please contact the Festival Stewards if you require any assistance.

• Nearest tube: Embankment & Blackfriars
• Nearest pier: Embankment