Access at the National Theatre

The building is step-free from the street at both entrances, and lifts reach every level of all three theatres. This route covers getting into the building and what is provided throughout it; the route to a particular seat differs by theatre and sits on the Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfman guides.

Access bookings, accessible seats and wheelchair spaces are handled by the theatre's own access team, not by us, through the National's official site.

Getting in

The step-free way in by car or taxi is the private road on the east side of the building, between the theatre and the old IBM building. That drop-off gives a step-free route to all three theatres. The Dorfman entrance itself is ramped, with button-operated swing doors.

Some of the other entrances have steps, including the stairs down from Waterloo Bridge, which are the quick way in rather than the easy one. If you are coming from the bridge and would rather not use steps, follow the ramp round instead.

From the car park there is direct lift access into the building while it is open, 10am to 11pm Monday to Saturday. Outside those hours the car park team comes down to you; the number is on the payment machines, and on days with no performance the exit into the foyers closes at 6pm.

Lifts and getting to your seat

Four lifts run from the main foyer on the ground floor and serve the Olivier's Stalls and Circle levels, and staff on the ground floor will point you at the right one. They take wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and the main lift is a generous size.

The Lyttelton Circle has its own lift, opposite the Lyttelton Stalls entrance. The Dorfman has a lift serving all of its levels, which is the room where it matters most because the levels change shape with the production.

Accessible toilets are on the way into the Olivier auditorium at level 2, to the right of the Lyttelton Stalls level, and in the Dorfman's own foyer.

Wheelchairs and assistance

Wheelchair spaces are booked through the access team rather than picked from a plan, and where they sit is different in each of the three theatres, so the room guides cover them individually.

A wheelchair can be arranged to be waiting for you on arrival if you ask in advance. Staff cannot push it for you.

Assistance dogs are welcome. An aisle seat can be set aside, staff will flag any effects in the show that might unsettle a dog, and front of house will look after the animal instead if you would rather.

Hearing, captions and audio description

All three theatres run an infra-red hearing system, with headsets collected on arrival from outside each auditorium. The Olivier and the Lyttelton have installed hearing loops. The Dorfman does not, because its layout changes, so a personal neck loop is requested from the Dorfman cloakroom instead.

Smart caption glasses are suspended across all three theatres and are not available on any production at the moment.

Assisted performances are scheduled per production and the dates sit on each show's own page. Across the three theatres they include audio described performances with a touch tour and audio notes beforehand, BSL interpreted performances with integrated BSL on some shows, captioned, chilled, relaxed and dementia-friendly performances, with a visual story sent out in advance for the last of those.

For captioned and BSL performances the best seats are not identified until closer to the date, so an early booking is made with the access team and the seat is chosen later.

Blue Badge parking

Blue Badge holders attending a performance park free in the car park under the building, scanning the badge at a kiosk at the end of the visit. Badge holders can park anywhere in it and there are spaces kept near the lifts, reached by a ramped entrance with semi-automatic doors into the basement foyer. For the Dorfman there are bays opposite Stage Door on the east side, booked in advance through the theatre.

Cloakroom and around the building

Storing a wheelchair, walking aids or medical supplies in the cloakroom is free. The main one is by the lifts on the ground floor, and the Dorfman has its own. Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere on site, and baby changing is free.

Photography is not allowed in any of the three auditoriums, though it is fine in the foyers. Programmes are sold at desks by the auditorium entrances and in the Bookshop.