College Accessibility guide

This access guide is for all disabled visitors to the College buildings, whether conference delegate, museum visitor or hotel guest.

There is also parking information for disabled people on the How to find us page.

You can find details of which entrance is most suited to your needs, as well as information about the services for disabled visitors on offer in the College.

The guide provides the main contact details for the College as well as the telephone numbers and email addresses for the College departments with a visitor focus.

We hope that this guide makes your visit to the College a more enjoyable one.

About the College

The main College building

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is at 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, on the south side of the square. This is in the centre of London near to Holborn and Covent Garden.

The College occupies two buildings on this site. The main building has a pale stone exterior and a large portico with six columns. It is set back from the street behind black iron railings.

The other building is the Nuffield College of Surgical Sciences. This is a brick building with a set of steps and an external access lift to the right of the steps.

The Nuffield College building

The College is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and occasionally at the weekend for special events.

The Hunterian Museum is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Please see the museum section for further details.

The College can be hired for conferences, lectures, meetings, weddings, receptions and banquets. For more information please call 020 7869 6702 or email facilities@rcseng.ac.uk.

The College also offers three-star hotel accommodation. This includes an accessible bedroom with the following features:

• wheelchair accessible throughout
• adapted en-suite bathroom and toilet.

To find out more about booking this and the other accommodation on offer please call 020 7869 6700 or email nuffield@rcseng.ac.uk.

Back to top

Entering the College buildings

There are two entrances to the College buildings from Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

Main College Entrance

During working hours (9am to 5pm) entry to the building is restricted to the main College entrance, except for visitors who are wheelchair users or unable to use steps. These visitors should use the Nuffield entrance (see pictures, below).

This entrance has six shallow steps up to the doors. There is a revolving door with two doors either side. The side doors open outwards from the inside. A College staff member will assist with entry through these doors.

All visitors should go to the reception desk in the first instance. Reception staff will provide directions to the relevant meeting room or lecture hall or contact a College staff member when appropriate. The reception desk is staffed at all times during working hours.

The reception desk has a portable induction loop and an electronic information screen.

Nuffield Entrance

During working hours this entrance is for visitors who are wheelchair users, have mobility problems or are unable to use steps. Entry is provided via an external access lift. There are nine steps with handrails on each side.

All visitors should use this entrance outside of working hours and at the weekends.

The Nuffield entrance                Wheelchair lift

Dogs

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other assistance dogs are welcome in the College.

Emergency Egress

Visitors who require assistance during an emergency evacuation should advise College reception staff or conference organisers on arrival.

Back to top

Facilities and Services

Toilets

There is a unisex accessible toilet on the ground floor of the main College building. There are male and female toilets on the ground floor of the main College building and the Nuffield building.

Cloakroom

The cloakroom is on the lower ground floor of the main College building. There are 24 steps down to the cloakroom. A member of the reception staff can assist visitors who are unable to use the stairs.

Telephones

There is a public payphone on the lower ground floor of the main College building. There are 24 steps down to the telephone. The phone takes coins only. Visitors who are unable to access the public telephone are welcome to use the reception desk phone.

Resting Facilities and First Aid room

There is a private room with a day bed on the ground floor of the Nuffield building. This room can be used by people who need to lie flat and rest. Please ask at the Nuffield building porters desk for the key.

College Cafeteria

Visitors to the College are welcome to use the cafeteria, which is open for light refreshments from 9am to 4pm.

The College cafeteria is in the basement of the Nuffield building. It can be reached via the lift in the Nuffield building or by using the Nuffield staircase to the basement. There are 24 steps, mostly with handrails on both sides.

A large print version of the menu is available. Please ask a member of catering staff for assistance if required.

Nuffield lounge, bar and conservatory

Visitors to the College are welcome to use the lounge, bar and conservatory. The bar is open weekday evenings from 5pm to 11pm. At-seat service can be provided by the bar staff for visitors who are wheelchair users or require assistance. Please ask a member of the bar or catering staff.

‘BUDDY’ System

The College is happy to provide disabled visitors with a ‘buddy’ to accompany them during their visit. Please ask a member of the reception staff if you require assistance.

Back to top