St George’s Hall adds step-free routes and lifts to improve accessibility in Liverpool

St George’s Hall has introduced a suite of accessibility improvements designed to let more visitors experience the Grade I listed building without barriers.

Improved movement within the building

Step-free routes now link most areas of the hall, and two accessible entrances have been opened on St John’s Lane and William Brown Street. Standard lifts and a platform lift provide vertical access to several floors and to historic spaces such as the former holding cells.

Facilities for visitors with specific needs

A new ramp inside the Great Hall allows wheelchair users to reach the famous Minton tile floor for the first time. The venue also offers a dedicated Changing Places facility, multiple accessible toilets on different levels, adapted baby-changing stations and shower facilities. Concert-goers can use a step-free North Hall entrance equipped with ramped access and handrails, while the main St John’s Lane entrance features automatic doors and a lowered reception desk.

Guided tours have been adapted to bypass any remaining inaccessible zones and include regular seating for those who need rest breaks. Staff have undergone specialist training covering neuro-diversity and dementia awareness, ensuring they can provide appropriate support throughout a visit.

Alternative information formats, including large-print copies on request, are available, and detailed accessibility guides can be accessed via AccessAble at the provided web address.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr William Shortall, who uses a wheelchair, visited the hall together with disability-rights advocate Harin Ellis to review the changes. The Lord Mayor said, “As a wheelchair user myself, I know how important it is”. Harin Ellis added, “As a disability rights campaigner, I believe everyone should be included”.

These upgrades form part of a broader commitment to keep St George’s Hall welcoming while preserving its historic character, allowing a wider audience to enjoy its exhibitions, tours, events and performances.