Visitor accessibility

Information for visitors with disabilities or other accessibility requirements. Disabilities can include visual, hearing, mental, cognitive, and learning, as well as medical or physical impairments.

Getting here

Public transport

Nearby stations with step-free access include Euston Square, King’s Cross St Pancras, and Tottenham Court Road.

Nearby bus stops include Russell Square, Tavistock Square, and Goodge Street Station.

Street parking

Street parking is managed by Camden Council, one of the four central London boroughs in which the "blue badge scheme" does not apply fully. Unless your blue badge was issued by Camden Council, you are restricted to using designated "blue badge parking bays".

There is a blue badge parking bay, which can accommodate three cars, outside 20 Bedford Way.

Accessible entrances at 20 Bedford Way (main IOE building)

Via Bedford Way

Approaching 20 Bedford Way at street level, there is step-free access to the main reception area and café. Enter through the motion-sensor controlled entrance doors and through the turnstiles. This is Level 3.

There is a platform lift by reception, which will take you down to the lower Level 3 to provide access to Core A lifts on your left, or along a corridor on your right to the Core B lifts.

There is a second platform lift at the far end of the café, linking the Level 3 café to Level 4 Reception.

Via Thornhaugh Street/Russell Square and Woburn Square

If you approach from the pedestrian walkway between Woburn Square or Russell Square via Thornhaugh Street, the building entrance is at the top of the concourse, which has a slight uphill gradient. The entrance has a wide step-free entrance door controlled by a motion sensor. This is Level 4. On entry, there are card-access controlled turnstiles and the Level 4 security desk.

Google Street View of pedestrian walkway and entrance

Inside the 20 Bedford Way building

Guide dogs are welcome.
Wheelchair accessible toilets can be found all levels with the exception of Level 2.
There are no hearing loop facilities available, but let us know if you need assistance planning or reserving seats in advance of an event.

Which Core do I need?

The IOE main building at 20 Bedford Way is organised around three 'Cores', each containing stairways and a set of three lifts. During normal building operation (not during the event of an emergency):

Both Core A and B lifts serve Levels 1 to 9.
To access the Wing, visitors must take one of the lifts to Level 4 (either via Core A, B, or café platform lift) then take the Wing lift down into the Wing.
There is no general through-access between Level 6 Core B to C through Room 650, except for staff and postgraduate research students.
There is no general through-access between Level 8 Core B to C due to the card-controlled access Art, Design and Museology Studios.
There is no general through-access between Level 9 Core A to B due to the card-controlled access through the Science Labs.

Exiting the building in an emergency

PEEP

Students, staff, and visitors with disabilities or sensory issues are advised to submit a risk assessment-based PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) to ensure that any specific issues are addressed.

If you have not been in contact with a member of staff prior to visiting or attending an event, notify a staff member at the front desk when you arrive to submit your PEEP and raise any additional requirements or questions you may have.

Step-free emergency routes

These are the best step-free exit routes in the event of an emergency, however always use the emergency exit nearest to you. Please take time to familiarise yourself with the best route from your regular building location and the available emergency exit options.

On Levels 1 and 3, visitors requiring step-free routes should exit using the fire-protected evacuation lifts in Core A. A security staff member or trained personnel will need to operate the lift to assist exit.

On Level 3, exit IOE horizontally by proceeding past Core C (northwards) through doors into the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at 26 Bedford Way, then follow the local exit route to street level.

All areas of Levels 4 to 9 of the building are accessible and feature horizontal means of escape and adapted facilities:

If you are on Levels 4 to 8, exit IOE horizontally in either direction past Core C (northwards) or past Core A (southwards) and then follow the local exit route to street level.
If you are on Level 9, exit IOE horizontally by proceeding past Core A (southwards) through doors into the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and then follow the local exit route to street level.

Direct Messaging System (DMS)

DMS is a mass notification system that sends emergency text messages to users who have subscribed to the service.

The system directs fire alarm information to an individual’s mobile phone. It can inform deaf or persons with hearing impairments when a fire alarm has been activated.

This could be used for pre-alarm notifications and evacuation alerts.

Subscribe to the DMS service of 20 Bedford Way by texting “ioebedfordway1” to 07797 870999.

Events

We aim to make our events as inclusive as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or enquiries that are not covered in the access profile, please contact the IOE Events and Marketing team at ioe.marketing@ucl.ac.uk