Lovely community building
4
4
Date of visit: July 2026
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: disabled toilet, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
This is a public library in the centre of Brighton. It has a large selection of books and a children’s area. There were areas that provided community support and at the front of the building there was an area where those who needed it could pick up free baby supplies and sanitary products. There were lots of different types of seating, including desks with computers. There were copying and printing facilities and self-service screens as well as a manned help desk with a lowered counter.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The main entrance had automatic sliding doors which opened as you approached. There was then an area which had a desk for those that were looking to speak to someone from the council. There was then another set of automatic sliding doors which led into the main library space. There were lots of shelving units around the walls of the library and more evenly placed throughout the space. There was a ramp that led down to the children’s library which was slightly separate from the main library space. There were lots of different types of seating available. Some large tables and chairs where the chairs could be moved as needed, some desks with computers, and some comfier, armchair style seating. There was a help-desk straight ahead as you entered which had a lowered counter and was manned. There were also self-service screens available. Most of the facilities were on the ground floor but there was a lift to travel to the other floors of the building.
Accessible facilities: Lift to all areas, Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals, Step-free access to most areas
Parking & Transport
Good
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
There is no dedicated parking but there were some accessible parking spaces on the street outside the building. There are other public car parks in the area as well. The library is roughly 650 metres away from the train station. Some of the roads between the two are quite steep. There is a bus stop on North Road, about 75 metres from the library’s main entrance. From here you can get the buses 3X, 20, 37, 37B, 52, 79, and 98.
Accessible facilities: Public or on street parking
Accessible Toilets
Good
There was an accessible toilet in the same area as the other toilets. The toilet required a RADAR key to enter and the door opened outwards. The door was placed directly perpendicular to the door that led to another toilet area. This meant that while I was trying to get the door open to get in or out of the accessible toilet, I was directly obstructing anyone who wanted to enter or exit the other toilets. The toilet was quite small with a limited amount of transfer space. There was some transfer space for a right-side transfer, but it was partially obstructed by two bins. The toilet itself had no lid and the cistern provided some support behind the seat. There was a height-adjustable grab rail and two other fixed grab rails around the toilet. The flush was a circular button and it was mounted on the cistern. It was placed on the same side as the transfer area so you did not have to reach across the toilet to use it. The sink was just in front of the toilet. It was a small sink with a single tap. The tap was manually operated and had a thin lever handle, which seemed like it could be operated with a fist or elbow. The tap twisted to control both the temperature and flow of the water. There was a vertical grab rail on either side of the sink. Above the sink was a manual soap dispenser and to the left was a paper towel dispenser. A red emergency cord hung freely to the floor in between the sink and toilet.
Facilities: Accessible toilet
