Almost fully accessible
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: June 2016
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: disabled toilet
Overall Rating
Good
Some thought has gone into making the ICA wheelchair-friendly, but there are a few things still not quite right, and the upstairs bar cannot be reached in a wheelchair, which is very disappointing.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
Approach the main entrance via the Mall, from the bottom of the Duke of York's Steps, where you can glide onto the pavement. The entrance to the building is step-free, with automatic doors. Most areas inside the ICA are step-free and accessible. There is a platform lift down to the sunken exhibition area. Both cinemas are wheelchair-accessible, but if you want to watch a film in Cinema 2, you will be placed at the very front, too near the screen. The wheelchair space in Cinema 1 is further back. There is no wheelchair access to the upstairs bar, which is a major disappointment, though there is a small bar annex at the foot of the stairs, and staff/friends can bring you drinks there: but it's a very poor substitute for being able to join everyone else in the real bar.
Parking & Transport
Poor
The nearest step-free station is Green Park, which is on the other side of (erm) Green Park, i.e. a considerable distance away (more than 15 minutes walk/roll). The nearest place for buses to drop you off is Trafalgar Square, about five minutes away. Of course parking in the Mall is completely impossible - but there are multi-layered car parks in various places in the West End, which is near by.
Accessible Toilets
Good
There is an accessible toilet near the main entrance. It's a bit too small, and there were large rubbish bins in the wheelchair transfer area, which is annoyingly thoughtless.
Staff
Good
Staff are friendly, patient and helpful. One star lost for failing to understand that the wheelchair transfer area in the accessible toilet must be kept clear.
Additional Information
I would recommend this venue for exhibitions and for films in Cinema 1, but the following improvements are needed: (1) Provide a lift to the upstairs bar (2) Configure the accessible toilet so that the wheelchair transfer area is kept clear (3) Provide more flexible wheelchair spaces in the cinemas so that wheelchair users have, like everyone else, a choice of where to sit, a choice about whether to be rammed up against the screen or not.
