Access and Facilities at the London Coliseum

Step-free access reaches three of the four levels here, and the one thing to plan around is the Upper Circle, which the lift doesn't serve.

Access bookings are handled by the venue's own access team, through the theatre's official site, and can now be made online as well as by phone. That side of it is handled by the venue, not by us.

Getting in and getting to your seat

The lift is in the main foyer, by the Box Office. It reaches the Stalls, the Dress Circle and the Balcony, and every bar in the building, but not the Upper Circle, which is stairs only.

The step-free seats are:

• Stalls row O
• Dress Circle row K
• Balcony row K
• The Boxes at the back of the Stalls

Walking up to the Balcony from the foyer is 86 steps. Handrails: none in the Stalls, and on the upper levels they run along the outer walls from the back row down to about row D.

An Access Supervisor is on duty at every performance.

Wheelchair and transfer seating

The building has seven wheelchair spaces. Four are in the Boxes at the back of the Stalls, two in the Dress Circle and one in the Stalls. If you can transfer out of your wheelchair, the Balcony has six transfer seats and the Dress Circle four.

Accessible toilets

On four of the five floors: the lower ground, the Stalls, the Dress Circle and the Balcony. The Stalls one has a single step, and the others have two. There isn't one on the Upper Circle.

Assistance dogs

Welcome in the auditorium. Staff can also mind your dog while you watch, water bowl and walk included.

Hearing support

Ask the venue's access team what hearing support is available for your performance.

Signed, relaxed and audio-described performances

English National Opera runs British Sign Language interpreted and relaxed performances each season, and English National Ballet runs audio-described performances with a touch tour beforehand. The dates are on each show's page.

Bars

There's a bar on every level, all open 75 minutes before the show, and the lift reaches all of them.

• American Bar, on the lower ground floor, oak-panelled and the best-looking of the lot
• Stalls Bar and Adelaide's Champagne Bar, on the Stalls level. Adelaide's opens 90 minutes before
• The Dress Circle bar
• Sky Bar, on the Upper Circle level, under a glass roof
• Balcony Bar, at the very top, with the Trafalgar Room off it

Ice cream is sold on every level at the interval, including vegan options, and you can order interval drinks in advance so they're waiting for you. Everything is card only: the Coliseum is cashless.

Toilets on every level

The accessible ones are listed above.

Cloakroom and bags

A small cloakroom in the foyer next to the main staircase, £2 an item, open from 75 minutes before the show until 30 minutes after. It takes coats and bags up to standard rucksack size. Suitcases, large bags, e-bikes and e-scooters aren't accepted; left luggage is at Charing Cross station, three minutes away.

Tips for the night

• Take the lift to the Sky Bar or the Balcony Bar before the show, even if you're sitting in the Stalls. The views of the rooftops and the globe are worth the trip.
• Order your interval drinks when you arrive, so you're not queuing in a full theatre at the interval.
• Find the bust of Adelaide, Oswald Stoll's mother. Give her a pound and three spins and, so the tradition goes, you'll see great theatre for life.
• For an opera, look for the 'i' symbol when you pick seats: it marks the ones with a restricted view of the surtitles.
• Bring a reusable water bottle. There are refill stations on the main levels.

Call us on 020 7193 9050 for group bookings.