Festival Access
Our flagship festival for Accessibility, Birmingham Weekender is back from 23 August – 26 August 2024.
Birmingham Weekender will spread across the city on streets, in squares, shopping centres and in the sky above the city. You can enjoy a variety of art forms including dance, circus, musical theatre, visual arts, poetry, sensory and immersive experiences, music and storytelling.
Welcome to Birmingham Weekender Easy Read Guide
BSL Flyers
An Introduction to Birmingham Weekender Festival
Access and Inclusion at Birmingham Weekender Festival 2024
Audio Flyers
An Introduction to Birmingham Weekender Festival
Access and Inclusion at Birmingham Weekender Festival 2024
Key for Accessible Events
- AD = Audio Description
- AVP = Accessible Viewing Point
- BSL = British Sign Language
- REL = Relaxed Performance
View all of the Accessible Events here.
We want everyone to enjoy Birmingham Weekender. At the festival we will have the following…
- Access hosts wearing yellow T-Shirts
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters on selected performances and roaming at the festival
- Live Audio Description on selected performances
- Access hubs and chill out spaces
- Access packs including ear defenders, colour therapy glasses and fidget toys
- Pre-visit information on the website including easy read information and an Audio and BSL introductions to the festival and our access and inclusion provision. We will be providing large print and braille information at the festival in our access hubs.
- A sensory walk mapping a route of the entire festival highlighting experiences for the senses across the festival programme
Accessible routes
We have worked in partnership with SENSE to create a sensory walk mapping a route of the entire festival highlighting experiences for the senses across the festival programme. Follow this link to take part in the walk at any point across the weekend.
Transport/Parking
Drop off points:
- Inge Street – Close to events on Hippodrome Square
- Ladywell Walk – Close to events on Hippodrome Square and Edgbaston Street
- Edgbaston Street – Close to events on Edgbaston Street, St. Martins Square, Choapraya Square, Central Street and The Bullring
- Smallbrook Queensway – Close to events on 1000 Trades Square, in New Street station, in The Bullring, Rotunda Square and Victoria Square
Car parks:
Arcadian Car Park
• Height = 2.05m
• Disability spaces available
• Lift and level access
• Spaces can be pre-booked here
Chinatown Car Park
• Height = 2.00m
• Disability spaces available
• Spaces can be pre-booked here
Edgbaston Street Car
• Height = 2.15m
• Disability spaces available
NCP St Judes Car Park
• Height = No restriction
• Spaces can be pre-boked here
Moor Street Car Park
• Height = 2.25m
• Disability spaces available
New Street Car Park
• Height = 1.88m
• Disability spaces available
• Spaces can be pre-booked here
Changing Places
Bullring and Grand Central
- Close to events on Hippodrome Square, Edgbaston Street, St. Martins Square, Choapraya Square, Central Street, Rotunda Square, The Bullring and Hippodrome Square.
- Two changing places available.
- One is located on the upper mall which is access through the main entrance from Stephenson Street and is adjacent to the escalators near The Kitty Café.
- The other is in the Middle East Mall.
- Radar key required – ask form Bullring and Grand Central Staff. Customer information located on top level of Bullring near Goldsmiths.
Other
- Library of Birmingham – Located on lower ground floor, lose to events on Victoria Square
Accessible Toilets
- Birmingham Hippodrome – Close to events on Hippodrome Square
- Bullring and Grand Central – Close to events on Edgbaston Street, St. Martins Square, Choapraya Square, Central Street, Rotunda Square and The Bullring
- New Street Station – Close to events on 1000 Trades Square, in New Street station, in The Bullring, Rotunda Square and Victoria Square
- Library of Birmingham – Close to events on Victoria Square
Multi-Faith Spaces
- Birmingham Hippodrome – Please ask a member of staff to use this space.
- New Street Station – This is located near the exit to Smallbrook Queensway/Bullring. Next to Café Nero.
First Aid
- There will be medical staff around the festival site – just ask for assistance from a member of staff.
- Please ask a member of staff if you need a private space to administer medication.
If you have any questions about particular route around the festival, please contact charlotteboyer@birminghamhippodrome.com
