Access
Assembly aims to be welcoming and accessible to all. We are committed to making your visit as easy and enjoyable as possible but we are aware that the nature of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe can sometimes lead to a few areas where access may be restricted by the venues’ physical layout. Please find more information about our venues below, as well as assisted performances at Assembly Festival.
Assembly Hall Details
Nearest Parking/Drop Off – Lawnmarket
The Lawnmarket entrance is our accessible entrance. It is situated near the Ensign Ewart Pub and is a large wooden door with a doorbell which staff will be happy to attend to. If you have not been attended to after 5 minutes, please do call the venue staff directly on the number provided at this entrance.
Public Transport: From both Assembly Rooms and Assembly Hall there is quick access to Princes Street and the tram servicing both Waverley and Haymarket train stations for onwards transport. For more information on available routes, timetables and more information, please visit: https://lothianbuses.co.uk
Step Free Access:
Accessible Box Office: The Box Office is situated nearby the Front Entrance on Mound Place which is around a 200m journey to the Lawnmarket entrance.
Accessible Toilet: Yes – In the main hall area.
Accessible Bar: The Bar is situated at Quad Level in the Front Gates (Stairs into the venue )
Induction Loop: No
Assembly Rooms Details
Nearest Parking/Drop Off – George Street
Public Transport – Bus 41 towards Marchmont, Bus 16/22/12 to Leith. For more information on available routes, timetables and more information, please visit: https://lothianbuses.co.uk
Step Free Access: Yes – via lift in the front reception
Accessible Toilet: Yes
Accessible Box Office: Yes
Accessible Bar: Yes
Induction Loop:
- Ballroom: No
- Drawing Room: No
- Music Hall: Yes
- Front Room: No
Assembly Checkpoint Details
Nearest Parking/Drop Off – Bristo Place/Teviot Place
Public Transport – https://lothianbuses.co.uk
Step Free Access: No, 26 Steps to venue
Accessible Toilet: Accessible toilet on ground level
Accessible Box Office: At stair level (26 stairs into venue)
Accessible Bar: At street level (26 stairs into venue)
Induction Loop: No
Assembly George Square and Roxy Details
Assembly George Square
Step-free access
George Square Gardens is step-free throughout and the floor is made of artificial grass. Although this surface is step-free its level varies in line with the natural contours of the Garden size. The surrounding area of George Square comprises of cobbled streets and flat slab pavements with dropped kerbs.
Accessible Box Office
The main Box Office is at the corner of George Square and although we do not have a low-level window at our Box Office yet, our Box Office attendants will be more than happy to assist you in purchasing tickets at our Box Office.
Performance spaces
Palais du Variété Spiegeltent
There is step-free access to this venue from within the Gardens.
Piccolo Tent
There is step-free access to this venue from within the Gardens.
The Box
There is step-free access to this venue from George Square.
The Blue Room
There is step-free access to this venue from George Square.
Gordan Aikman Theatre
There is step-free access to this venue from George Square.
Nearest parking
Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9GN
Public transport
The nearest bus stops are:
- Chapel Street – 41, 42 (Lothian Buses)
- Lauriston Place – 23, 27, 35, 47, 47B (Lothian Buses)
- Surgeons’ Hall –
- 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 29, 30, 31, 33, 37, 47, 47B, 49, 51, N3, N30, N31, N37 (Lothian Buses)
- X62, X95 (Borders Buses)
Assembly Roxy
Step-free access
Roxy Central
There is step-free access to the venue on arrival. There is also an accessible toilet located on the same floor with level access.
Roxy Upstairs
We are sorry that there is currently no step-free access to this venue.
Roxy Downstairs
We are sorry that there is currently no step-free access to this venue.
Nearest parking
There are no dedicated disabled parking places located close to the venue, but Blue Badge holders are permitted to park in the following locations in Edinburgh free of charge:
- In public and shared on-street parking bays.
- On single or double yellow lines when loading is allowed.
- In greenway parking spaces where parking is allowed.
- Blue Badge holders are not permitted to park in spaces reserved for residents unless you hold a permit for the relevant zone. Assembly Roxy is located within Zone 3.
Public transport
The nearest stops are at Surgeons’ Hall, which is 250 metres away.
- 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 29, 30, 31, 33, 37, 47, 47B, 49, 51, N3, N30, N31, N37 (Lothian Buses)
- X62, X95 (Borders Buses)
Venue access information for artists
Check out our dedicated access guide to our venues for artists and performers. (PDF – 186KB)
Accessibility Filter
Icon | Meaning |
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Audio Description. |
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Captioned Performance.
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Hearing not needed.
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Induction Loop.
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Relaxed Performance dates available. Common practices of a relaxed performance includes:
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Step Free Access.
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Sight Not Needed.
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Signed Performance dates available.
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Touch Tours available.
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Show information
Some of our shows may feature loud bangs and/or flashing or strobe lighting. Any content warnings will be displayed at the show venue prior to the show beginning but please do ask our Front of House if you would like any more information on anything within each show or feel free to email [email protected] prior to your arrival.
Essential companion tickets
Assembly Festival are more than happy to provide free tickets to our shows for any essential companions. If you do require an essential companion ticket for one of our shows, please call our Box Office on 0131 623 3030 or email [email protected] for more information.
Assistance dogs
Accessibility dogs are more than welcome across all Assembly venues. Please do say hello to our Front of House Assistants at the venue if you are arriving for a show who will be able to assist you.
Assisted performances
We offer a variety of BSL Signed Performances and Relaxed Performances, which can be searched for via the Accessibility filter on the What’s On page. For further information please e-mail [email protected] or call us on 0131 623 3030.
Changing Places
The nearest Changing Place Toilet for Assembly Roxy can be found in the National Museum of Scotland which is located on Chambers Street. The museum is open from 10:00 until 16:30 each day of the week.
An additional Changing Places Toilet is available at the Edinburgh International Book Festival site at the Edinburgh College of Art on Lauriston Place. This will be open from 13–29 August 2022.
Any other questions?
We're here to help! Give us a call on 0131 623 3030 or email [email protected] and we'll be happy to answer your questions.
Feedback
We would love to hear any feedback you might have regarding your experience with us and at our venues. Feel free to email [email protected] any feedback you might have for us.
We also have all our venues listed on Euan’s Guide and please feel free to leave us a review of your experience or some feedback to share with other users.