Accessibility

Getting here

UK Parliament is easily accessible via London Underground, buses, mainline trains, and river services.

• Westminster Underground Station: Located next to our venue, this is one of London’s most accessible step-free stations.
• Accessible public transport information is available to help plan your journey.

Our staff

Our staff regularly participate in disability awareness training to ensure we provide respectful and informed support to all visitors.

Accessing our web pages

We are committed to ensuring our website is accessible to everyone and follows recognised standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Key features of our website include:

• Consistent navigation to help you move around our web pages easily.

• Use of standard web fonts for readability.

• Alternative text for images where the detail of the image is not provided in the page or if the image enhances the understanding of the text.

• Accessible forms, where field names on each form are explicitly associated with their text boxes, radio buttons and check boxes.

• Clear, descriptive links that make sense when read aloud.

• Compatibility with screen readers across most content, including PDF documents.

If you encounter a PDF that does not work with a screen reader, please let us know, and we will provide the content in an alternative format. Free tools such as Adobe Acrobat Reader may also assist with viewing PDFs.

We continually review and update our digital services to ensure accessibility compliance. Learn more about our efforts to improve online accessibility here.

Mobility and dexterity

We strive to make the UK Parliament estate accessible to visitors with mobility or dexterity impairments by providing:

• Step-free access via the Cromwell Green and Portcullis House visitor entrances.
• Wide corridors and fully accessible lifts with space for standard wheelchairs and companions.
• Handrails on all staircases.
• Wheelchairs available on request (we recommend bringing your own for maximum comfort).
• Uncarpeted and low pile carpeted access routes to ease wheelchair manoeuvrability.
• Flexible seating arrangements to allow positioning of wheelchairs.
• Mobile ramps for staging in larger venues (requires one week's notice).
• Accessible toilets available near event spaces, with clear signage.
• Seating available at regular intervals along the visitor route and within event venues for visitors who may need to rest.

We regularly review our physical spaces to ensure they meet accessibility standards and accommodate diverse needs.

Deaf or hard of hearing

Our facilities are equipped to support visitors who are deaf or have hearing impairments:

• Relay UK: We use Relay UK for phone communication, which translates speech into text and vice versa. Find out more about how to make and answer calls with Relay UK.
• Hearing loops: Installed in most event venues and reception desks to send sound directly to hearing aids via the T-setting. Portable hearing loops are also available.
• Strobe fire alarms are fitted in common areas to provide visual alerts.

Blind or visually impaired

We are committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming experience for visitors who are blind or have visual impairments:

• Assistance dogs (including licensed therapy dogs) are welcome with prior notice. We provide water and designated relief areas.
• Staff are trained to guide and assist blind or visually impaired visitors.
• Audible fire alarms and voice synthesisers in passenger lifts help orient visitors.

Neurodivergent and cognitive impairments

We understand that some visitors may find elements of UK Parliament, such as noise, patterns, or security procedures, overstimulating. Please be aware of the following:

• Queues for the security search areas start outside the buildings so dress for the weather.
• You and your belongings will need to go through airport-style security before entering Parliament, which may include a hand search of you and your belongings.
• Armed police officers are visible on-site. If this may unsettle children or others, we recommend discussing this with them in advance.
• Bold patterns and the sound of the division bell are common features on the UK Parliament estate. These are not fire alarms.
• You may be visiting us during a protest action in Westminster. We can reassure you of measures in place to ensure you remain safe and have an enjoyable visit.

To assist:

• Quiet spaces are available upon request (subject to room availability).
• Ear defenders can be provided.
• Alternative arrangements for airport-style security checks are available—just let us know if you prefer a quieter area or additional support.
• Clear, concise wayfinding signage with symbols and simple language is used.
• Manual flush toilets are available for visitors with sensory sensitivities.

We will work with you to address any specific concerns or requests to ensure a comfortable visit.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP)

We have robust evacuation procedures in place to support visitors with accessibility needs. If you require assistance during an evacuation, please inform us in advance, and we will create a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).

The PEEP will outline evacuation options and designate assistance personnel to ensure your safety in the event of an emergency.

Continuous improvement

We are committed to ongoing improvements in accessibility across all aspects of our services and facilities. Feedback is vital to this process, so please share your thoughts with us if there is anything we can improve.

For any questions about accessibility services or to request specific arrangements, please email us.