St Giles' Cathedral

Date of visit: May 2022

I have experience of challenges around: moving around and seeing.

Overall Rating

Having reviewed St. Giles as one of the Volunteer Guides there, this is a continuation of my role and also a post covid review. There is a peace and serenity and a real busyness that has returned to St.Giles, since fully reopening. As a Guide, the footfall is up, donations to maintain the wonderful legacy of 900 years of history has risen and events and concerts are reestablished. .

Disabled Access In and Around

Currently, St. Giles is updating its website, with an audio descriptive tour of the Church being available through visitors devices. This includes a review of information in different formats. Post covid the Church has continued with a one way system from the entrance through the Church to the exit. There are gradual ramps leading from street level to the doors from the south and north sides. Although the exit is a stair descent, mobility exit is via the entrance ramp. Front door volunteers inform visitors of this and the step access to the Thistle Chapel.

Parking & Transport

St Giles is in a busy and the oldest part of the Old Town of Edinburgh, parking although restricted in this area, available for blue badge holders there is parking in the parliament square, permits also available on request from the Visitor Services Team. Edinburgh buses have one of the newest fleets, there is a range of diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles all with drop down or automatic ramps, gangways can accommodate various chair / power chair widths and there are spaces for a maximum of 2 chairs plus disabled seating. The nearest bus services are on George lV Bridge a 100m on the Southbound side and 150m on the Northbound side - services 23, 27, 41, 42, 47 and all Edinburgh City Bus Tours. Waverley Station and the Tram services are 600m from St.Giles and all uphill !, * Being in the Old Town, cobbles and uneven surfaces are frequent.

Accessible Toilets

0

None available.

Staff

There are full time visitor staff who manage the venue, however the tours and guiding is provided by volunteers for individuals, groups of all types. One guide provides accessibility guiding in touch sensory provision and description.

Additional Information

Despite no toilet facilities and step access to the Thistle Chapel, the Cathedral should not be missed as a venue.

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