King's College Chapel

Date of visit: August 2016

I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: moving around

Overall Rating

Said to be wheelchair accessible. There are two doors, and we found the wheelchair-friendly accessible one would not open. The other door, which has two steps leading up to it, wasn't locked so the accompanist went in & found the wheelchair accessible door was bolted on the inside. He was able to unbolt it and let the wheelchair user in. Had she been on her own, she could not have accessed the building.

Disabled Access In and Around

Five stars if the wheelchair-accessible door isn't bolted on the inside. That door has no steps, a gentle slope and is sufficiently wide. Once inside, all areas are wheelchair accessible apart from the organ loft.

Parking & Transport

0

Can't comment on parking. The no. 20 bus from the city centre stops near the College but the pavement is very narrow and getting a wheelchair off might not be possible. The stop further on in Dunbar Street has a spacious pavement but is about seven minutes wheel/ walk from the College, with some tricky narrow flagged pavements.

Accessible Toilets

None in the Chapel, but there is a well-equipped though not very spacious one in the King's Centre, which is adjacent. The double automatic doors to the Centre weren't working but a very helpful staff member let us in, and opened the loo door for us.

Staff

None in the Chapel when we visited. Whoever bolted the accessible door gets 1 star. The helpful staff member in the King's Centre deserves five stars.

Additional Information

A tranquil and historic building. Bishop William Elphinstone, who founded the university and is buried in the Chapel, was far-sighted. The Chapel can seat 300 students, though there were only 36 when work on the building began in 1500. The College is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.

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