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ACCESS INFO

We want everyone to be able to enjoy Tall Ships Festival, and we've designed the programme to be family-friendly and enjoyable for all ages, with something for everyone. We hope the information here will help you make your visit the best experience it can be.

GETTING TO THE FESTIVAL

It is 0.8 Miles / 1.2km (16 min walk) from Gloucester Railway Station to Gloucester Docks

It is 0.6 miles / 0.9km (14 min walk) from Gloucester Transport Hub to Gloucester Docks

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Gloucester city centre is largely flat and, since the completion of Kings Square, step-free between the railway station, transport hub and Gloucester Docks.

 

There is a shuttle bus service operating to the Festival site. There are also multiple car parks around the city centre, many of which have accessible spaces, and free Blue Badge Parking.

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Find out more about getting to us here.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

There is accessible parking available at:

  • Gloucester Quays Car Park (multiple) - Blue Badge holders get 4 hours free

  • Peel Centre Car Park (multiple)

  • Kings Walk Car Park (12 spaces) - Blue Badge holders get 3 hours free

  • Eastgate Centre Car Park (20 spaces) - Blue Badge holders get 3 hours free

  • Westgate Car Park (4 spaces)

  • St Michael's Square (1 space)

  • Hare Lane North (1 space)

  • Hare Lane South (6 spaces)

  • Hampden Way (7 spaces) - book via an app

  • Hampden Way South (1 space) - book via an app

  • LadyBellegate (7 spaces)

  • Southgate Moorings (7 spaces)

  • Station Road (2 spaces)

  • Blackfriars Car Park (1 space)

  • Quayside Car Park (multiple)

BUYING TICKETS

We are providing free Carer / Assistance tickets for the Festival. If you need these, they are available from Gloucester Guildhall's Box Office or from the on site Box Office.

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To book from Gloucester Guildhall, please either visit at 23 Eastgate St, Gloucester GL1 1NS or over the phone on 01452 503050. Please note the Box Office is only open Wed-Sat, 10am-4pm.

 

To book on site, please visit our Box Offices near our entrance gates (G2 and G3 on our digital map). The queues might be quite long, so it is advisable to book in advance.

GETTING AROUND THE FESTIVAL

Gloucester Docks is level and step-free. There is level access to all dockside festival areas.

 

By the G1 entrance gate, where the Docks meet Southgate Street, there is a ramp you can take to get down to the docks level.

 

While it is level, as a 200-year old site, some areas may have slightly uneven ground or are cobbled, and there are pedestrian bridges which, while level, should be approached with care to avoid tripping over any gaps.

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS

Each of our festival toilet blocks feature at least one accessible facility. You can find the locations of the toilets on our festival map here. Look out for signage for the toilets across the festival site too.

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There are public toilets available in Eastgate Shopping Centre and Kings Walk in the city centre, and Gloucester Quays. These all provide accessible facilities. Kings Walk's accessible toilet is a Changing Places facility.

ENJOYING THE FESTIVAL

To help everyone enjoy the festival to the max, we're providing the following access features:

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  • A raised accessible viewing platform for the Main-Sail Stage in Orchard Square (you can find this on our digital map here). From here wheelchair users will be able to see the stage clearly and safely and enjoy our music line up.

  • Lowered bar counter tops are available at all our main bars to make it easy to serve everyone.

  • Clear high-contrast signage. We are endeavouring to make our on-site signage as clear as possible with a minimum of 50% contrast between text and backgrounds.

  • Digital maps and website readable by screen-readers.

  • Manned gates and Box Offices on site. If you need assistance on site for any reason, our team will be on hand. Either head to one of our gates, one of our Box Offices or look-out for our roving team.

THE SHIPS

Unfortunately the tall ships themselves are not wheelchair accessible. This is due to the variance of height at which the ships may be in the water, and the possibility that they may rise and fall in the water, making their gang planks unsafe for wheelchairs.

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If you are a wheelchair user and have purchased a Sea Legs ticket but cannot make use of it, please contact the Box Office to exchange it for a Land Lubber ticket. We will refund you the difference in price.

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It is our ambition to source Tall Ships for future events that are wheelchair accessible as we would like everyone to be able to experience these wonderful vessels.

ACCESS QUESTIONS

If you have questions about access, please contact us at tickets@gloucester.gov.uk.

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At the festival, if you need any assistance at all, just look out for a Crew member in a white T-Shirt, head to one of the gates or Box Offices and someone will be happy to help.

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