Overview

We attended for a concert so it’s set up a bit differently than usual. We booked a wheelchair and carer ticket, and booked disabled parking also at the venue. Roads are shut off around the stadium when an event is on and you can only access the parking if you’ve pre-booked it and have submitted your vehicle registration. Firstly finding the way to access the parking was hard. We were given a ‘what3words’ code but due to the road closures when following the Sat Nav it took us to the wrong road closure entrance. When we finally got to the right one (near to Pudding Mill station) we had to wait while they radioed ahead to check we did have our registration number booked in. Once we had the go-ahead we were told to drive until the traffic lights, turn left, go passed gate 1, and then we’d find the parking. It was quite difficult to find as we nearly went passed and onto the main road again. Luckily someone flagged us down while we were sat at the crossings. The parking is a temporary gated off part of the pavement. There are no marked spaces and were told to park as close as possible to the car next to us due to having to get so many people in. This obviously isn’t helpful if you are the driver and need to open the door wide to get out the car. When we got out the car we didn’t know where to go so went up to the entrance by the car park and was told we had to walk round half the circumference of the venue to gate 5. They had wheelchairs there so I think you may be able to borrow one if you can’t walk far, but I was in my wheelchair. It was still quite difficult to get round on the pavement as it’s not that wide and people kept stopping abruptly. A steward took pity on me, seeing how much I was struggling and told me to enter two bridges early, which was so helpful. I found most staff were great however the staff member on the bag and body search seemed embarrassed and didn’t even really search me and just waved me through. Even though it was by the ‘accessible’ lane. When we got in we found it very accessible with lots of bars and food places with accessible lanes, and also a lot of accessible toilets. When going please remember to take a RADAR key if you have one as all the accessible toilets were RADAR access only. This is good as they’re not used as a means of queue jumping the standard toilets, and are kept cleaner. Staff do have keys on them though (in the accessible seating areas at least). The toilets were nicely sized and clean on arrival. We did find that towards the end of the event there was beer on the floor, cups and wet tissues. We sat in 142 which was a nice large area set up for a wheelchair users and their carer (a fitted seat next to the wheelchair user). This was ok for us however a number of people with disabilities, who didn’t us wheelchairs, had booked this area and there were no seats for them. Most venues have portable seats that they put in place for people with these type of bookings, however London Stadium didn’t and it caused a lot of issues with people swapping and sharing seats. I think it should be made clear when booking that if you book a space in these areas that they expect you to be in a wheelchair as you won’t get a seat. During the concert support acts we were asked for our tickets several times to check we were in the right place and then asked to move from our booked area so that someone else could go there. It really wasn’t well organised at all and disrupted the concert. Leaving the venue was a bit of a nightmare as the exit from our block was right by the exit for the train station, however once out the crowd and going back down towards the car park it was a bit easier as we travelled in the road (as the roads were closed). We were advised on our car park booking that the car park won’t let you out until half an hour after the concert finishes as the road closures are still in place. We got back to the car and people were already queuing waiting for the car park to open, and blocked the back of our WAV so I couldn’t get in my vehicle which was frustrating. Even though we couldn’t drive off I just wanted to get in my vehicle in the warm and out of the rain. The venue itself inside is very accessible it just needs seating for those who don’t use wheelchairs. Outside I think the issues were more to do with the crowd and visitors themselves, but it would be helpful if you were made aware of the distance from the disabled parking to the entrance as it was a considerable distance. Also if staff are going to be on the security check etc they need to be confident dealing with people with disabilities and be comfortable asking to search bags etc.

Transport & Parking

Access

Toilets

Staff

Photos