Busy station close to London landmarks
3
3
Date of visit: March 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
Average
This station comes out directly opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Because of its location it’s a busy station and the surrounding streets are also incredibly busy. This station is part of the Jubilee, District and Circle lines. The Jubilee platforms are located on the two lowest levels of the station and there is step-free from street level to train for all Jubilee services. The District and Circle trains arrive and depart from the same platform and these can be found on the level between the ticket hall and the Jubilee line platforms. The District and Circle Line platforms are curved, which means that the gap between the train and the platform varies along the platforms, and it is recommended that you speak to a member of staff for ramp assistance if you need step-free access. I have been able to manage the gap when I have my power attachment on, as the large front wheel can easily navigate the gap. However, when I am not using my power attachment, my wheelchair’s front castor wheels are too small and would likely slip down into the gap if I misjudged the gap.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
The step-free access to this station is located on Bridge Street, almost directly opposite Big Ben. A small lift travels between street level and the ticket hall, this is identified as Lift A on the lift guides. There are a number of other entrances to the station but they all have flights of stairs. The ticket hall is quite large and is often busy. Because of its layout, it can appear confusing at times when it is more crowded. There are automatic ticket machines available directly opposite to the lift that travels to street level. I didn’t see a manned ticket or information desk, but I found it easy to spot members of staff who are often by the ticket barriers. There were a couple of shops in the ticket hall as well. These had no steps or lips to enter and no doors to navigate. The ticket barriers are located in the middle of the ticket hall, and there are wider ticket barriers at either end. There are escalators that travel between the ticket hall and the level below where the District and Circle line platforms are. There are two lifts available as well, one for each District and Circle line platform. Lift B travels to platform two where the eastbound services can be found, and Lift C travels to platform three where the westbound services can be found. Platform three is also where Lift D is located, which is the lift that travels to platforms three and four, the Jubilee platforms. If you require step-free access when boarding the District and Circle line trains, it’s recommended that you speak to staff about a boarding ramp. While in some spots along the platforms the gap between the train and the platform is quite small, because the platforms are curved this gap varies. A boarding ramp provides a safer boarding route and avoids any wheels or mobility aids getting caught in the gap. On the District and Circle line platforms, the edge of the platform is highlighted with tactile markings and a painted yellow line. There weren’t many seating options from what I could see on the platform, but it was also quite busy, so I might not have been able to see them. The Jubilee line offers step-free access without the need for a boarding ramp at this station. There are blue, circular stickers on the floor in certain spots on the platform. These have a wheelchair symbol inside them and highlight the best place to board the Jubilee trains if you need step-free access. There is also a colour contrast line embedded into the floor to help identify these spots. These boarding locations are closer to the wheelchair spaces on the train, providing more space. They also provide step-free access on and off the trains at stations where some parts of the platform have a larger gap between the train and the platform, but these highlighted boarding locations have been built up to ensure they are level with the train. The Jubilee platforms have glass barriers at the edge of the platform, which provides a solid barrier before the platform ends. The doors are positioned regularly along the platform and open automatically with the train doors when one has arrived on the platform. The lifts in this station were on the smaller side. In all of them I could fit my small manual wheelchair alongside another wheelchair or pushchair but then it became full. The lifts all had grab rails inside them. The buttons were both tactile and had Braille on them. They also had a hearing loop symbol for if you had to use the intercom to speak to someone.
Accessible facilities: Lift to all areas, Step-free access to most areas, Step-free entrance
Parking & Transport
Good
I travelled to this place by train
This station is part of the Jubilee, District and Circle lines. The Jubilee Line provides trains from Stratford to Stanmore. The District Line provides trains between Upminster, Edgware Road, Wimbledon, Ealing Broadway, and Richmond. The Circle Line provides trains between Hammersmith and Edgware Road. There are quite a few bus stops close to the station: One directly outside the station on Bridge Street is called Westminster Station/Westminster Pier (Stop H). From this stop you can get the buses 11 and 148 Another is just outside the station but around the corner from the step-free entrance on Parliament Street and is called Westminster Station/Parliament Square (Stop G). From this stop you can get the buses 12, 159, 453, N53, N109, N155, and N381 Another is on the opposite side of Parliament Square from the station, roughly 200 metres away. It’s called Parliament Square/Westminster Abbey (Stop P) and you can get the buses 11 and 148 in the opposite direction from the one just outside the station. Around 250 metres away from the step-free entrance is also Westminster Pier. From here you can get the Thames River Boats and Uber Boats. There is also an exit from Westminster Station that comes out much closer to the pier but it has stairs. There is no parking in this area.
Staff
Excellent
I have spoken to staff a couple of times at this station regarding ramp access and they’ve always been really great. On my most recent trip, the station I had hoped to travel to couldn’t assist me due to an incident. So a member of staff came and explained the situation, asked where my final destination was, and helped me find an alternative route. They even came with me to street level and pointed me in the right direction of the bus stop I needed to go to.
