Accessibility

Venue Location

British Airways ARC is located along Emberton Walk at Olympia, Hammersmith Road/Blythe Road, London, W14 8FJ

Kensington Olympia station is wheelchair accessible and within walking distance to the venue.

Bus and Tube

For step-free access use the Olympia Way entrance for the District line or Mildmay line northbound platforms. Use the Russell Road entrance for the Mildmay line southbound platform. We recommend National Rail, Trainline or TFL to plan your journey.

Local Buses: 9, 27, 28, 49 and 306. Use TFL to plan your journey.

Tube & Train

Kensington Olympia station is 5 minutes away from British Airways ARC, served by three lines:

• Mildmay Line (Overground): For frequent services between Stratford and Clapham Junction.
• District Line (Underground): Runs between Kensington Olympia and Edgware Road (for other underground lines).
• Southern (National Rail): For services between Watford Junction and East Croydon.

Parking & Drop-off

Limited parking is available locally at Olympia Events. It is recommended to pre-book parking online to secure a space as spaces are limited. For more information, please visit the Olympia Events Parking website. Please note the venue does not control or operate parking, as this is handled by Olympia estate.

For information regarding Blue Badge holders’ parking please visit the LB Hammersmith & Fulham website or Gov.uk.

• British Airways ARC is located above Olympia. There’s lift access to the venue from street level that the Olympia site operate and maintain.
• There is step free access to Stalls concourse but not the stalls standing floor. From there the Balcony is also accessible by lift.
• There is an accessible ramp in the entrance/foyer of the venue that takes customers to the lift or to the Stalls concourse, that are connected to the Access Viewing Platforms.

Access Viewing Platforms AVP1, AVP2, AVP3 

• Our Access Viewing Platforms are located on the ground floor of the venue. These platforms are raised for uninterrupted viewing over the stalls standing.
• These tickets are for guests who will remain in their wheelchair for the duration of the event. There are only enough seats for personal assistants as the platforms are designed to house customers in their wheelchairs. A standard seat will only be available for your companion attending with you.
• Access Viewing Platform tickets acquire you a space on the AVP, however those spaces work on a first-come first-served basis to ticket holders in that section. Customers seat numbers do not reserve them a selected space, it just reserves them a space on the platform for when they arrive.

Balcony Row B 

• This is a step-free row in the balcony level and can be sold as Wheelchair Access or Ambulant Accessible seating. Customers can use a lift to get to the front balcony level.

• These seats are multi-functional and can be removed to accommodate Wheelchair seating if required. The seats are bolted into the floor and are not easy to add or remove once the doors to an event are open.

• They are best suited for Ambulant Accessible customers, this may include individuals with mobility impairments, neurodiverse conditions, visual or hearing conditions, or other disabilities who benefit from easier access but do not require a wheelchair space.

Access Viewing Platforms (AVP 1,2,3): 

Step free access.

Stalls: 

4 steps access to the main floor for standing. On fully seated events the stalls are not tiered seating.

Front Row: 

5 steps access. Front Row seats are classified as High Seats, which means they are higher off the floor than standard seats.

Balcony Rows C to E 

Seats 1-12

Rear Access staircase

Row C: 21 steps,   Row D: 18 steps,   Row E: 15 steps

Seats 13-59 

Front Access staircase

Row C: 4 steps, Row D: 6 steps,   Row E: 8 steps,

Seats 60-81 

Rear Access staircase

Row C: 20 steps,  Row D: 17 steps , Row E: 14 steps

Row F (The Level – These are exclusive seating areas with comfortable banquette seats and sharing tables): 16 steps

Seats 82-91 

Front Access Staircase

Row C: 6 steps,   Row D: 9 steps,   Row E: 12 steps

Balcony Rows F to K 

Seats 13-59

Front Access staircase

Row F: 10 steps,  Row G: 12 steps,

Rear Access staircase 

Row H: 14 steps,   Row J: 16 steps

Row K (The Level – These are exclusive seating areas with comfortable banquette seats and sharing tables): 18 Steps

British Airways Wing (Row A): 

Front Access staircase

Row A: 5 steps – Row A seats are classified as High Seats, which means they are higher off the floor than standard seats.

British Airways Wing (Row B-F): 

Rear Access staircase

Row B: 29 steps,    Row C: 27 steps,    Row D: 24 steps,    Row E: 21 steps,    Row F: 14 steps – Row F seats are classified as High Seats, which means they are higher off the floor than standard seats.

• Accessible toilets are unisex and are available on both levels of the venue.
• Accessible toilets will be locked. Customers with a RADAR key will be able to unlock it. The venue will -have spare ones if required.
• There are Accessible cubicles inside the female/ male toilets, that will be unlocked.
• There is one changing place WC unit located in the Balcony. Customers seating on the Access Viewing Platforms located on the ground floor (stalls), will be able to access it via a lift.
• Accessible toilets include a shelf.

For those with hidden disabilities, the Sunflower lanyard is a discreet way of letting staff know that you may need extra assistance – our staff are trained to recognize the Sunflower and may ask if they can provide any additional help.

Food and drink are not permitted into the venue, however we do make exceptions for those who need to bring medicines, food or drink to manage a medical condition, or medical equipment. Should you have any concerns, please email us on general@britishairwaysarc.co.uk  for further details.

A medic is on site for all events at our venue – should you require any medical assistance on the night, please speak to any member of staff who can call the medic for you.

We offer BSL interpretation wherever possible. We advise that customers requiring BSL interpretation contact us as soon as possible after an event goes on sale so we can make the necessary arrangements before the event sells out. You can email us on general@britishairwaysarc.co.uk for further details.

Customers that cannot stand or queue for any periods of time can speak with a member of staff at the entrances who will arrange priority entry once doors open

Assistance Dogs are welcome into the venue, and our staff are happy to look after them during the performance. If you are bringing an assistance dog, please email us on general@britishairwaysarc.co.uk  to let us know in advance.

The use of strobe lighting is dependent on the show itself. If you are concerned about the use of strobe lighting at an event you’d like to attend, please email us and we will contact the event promoters for you to get any information you need. Signs will be placed around the venue on show nights to warn of any strobe lights where necessary.

Please email us on general@britishairwaysarc.co.uk with any questions not answered on this page.

We are available to answer emails between 10am – 5pm Monday-Friday and will aim to get back to you within 5 working days.