Arts centre and exhibition halls in controversial building dating from 1977
5
5
Date of visit: June 2017
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
This famous (some would say infamous) building designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers is well worth a visit even if none if the current exhibitions interests you. There's a restaurant, a cafe, a children's play area and a really good bookshop specialising in art and architecture and the buikding itself is a must-see. Best of all, wheelchair users and accompanists get in free, through the staff entrance, and thus avoid the queues. The website https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/Visite/S-informer-sur-l-accessibilite has plenty of information to help differently abled visitors.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
There are lifts inside the building. Sadly wheelchair users can't make use of the escalators on the outside of the building. Circulating spaces inside are excellent.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
Very central. Buses 29, 38, 47 and 75 will get you there. The website (see above) has details of where reserved parking spaces for wheelchair users can be found.
Accessible Toilets
Good
Clealrly signposted, clean and spacious. Room to side transfer and a good grab rail. There was no alarm that we could see.
Staff
Excellent
Friendly and helpful.
Additional Information
It's a building which conceals nothing, either on the outside or the inside. There may well be some sort of performance to entertain you. We wee fascinated to watch Lee Mingwei, a Taiwanese performance artist, "painting" a design with sand and a broom.
