Everyone is welcome at Collective. We want to make your visit to Collective as accessible and inclusive as possible. On this page you’ll find access information about our site, exhibitions, services and programme.
View our visual access guide which has more detail about getting to and around our site
Please get in touch if you have any specific queries about accessibility.
A gated access road leading from Regent Road, next to the Royal High School entrance, is available for use by blue badge holders during opening hours. Parking is available on top of Calton Hill during opening hours for blue badge holders only.
Taxi drop-off and pick-up is available using the access road. Parking is not permitted for taxis.
The easiest approach to Collective on foot if bringing a buggy up is via the access road leading from Regent Road, next to the Royal High School entrance.
While we change the opening times of Collective each October and March to align with British Summer Time, there will sometimes be events that fall outwith hours of daylight.
If visiting Collective on foot after dark, especially in winter months, we suggest using the path up from Waterloo Place and entering our site through the smaller South Gate, as there are areas of the hill with limited lighting – and therefore limited visibility.
If you are arriving via car/taxi to our accessible main East Gate entrance after dark, please do feel free to call us and we can assist with additional torchlight.
If visiting for a Collective event:
While we aim to ensure our Observatory site is gritted and as safe as possible for visitors during icy and snowy conditions, the wider Calton Hill is a large, expansive space and there can be slip hazards on the main areas and pathways.
We ask visitors to take extra care when exploring the hill in winter, and suggest using the gentler slope up from Waterloo Place in adverse weather conditions.
Please do feel free to call us within opening times if you need further assistance.
The paths around Collective are wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible.
All of our new buildings are fully wheelchair accessible, however a number of buildings at Collective are hundreds of years old and there are limitations to their accessibility. The City Observatory has a 10cm step at the entrance which is ramped but may require assistance from our team or a friend/carer to push a wheelchair over.
Collective is in an exposed location on top of Calton Hill and exploring the site does involve being outdoors, so please check the forecast and dress accordingly.
Pick up a free paper map on site to help you navigate the grounds, galleries, stairs, kiosk, restaurant, shop and toilets.
The main toilets for gallery visitors are located beneath Cafe Calton, opposite the Hillside Gallery and Play Shelter. There are two unisex toilet cubicles.
A disabled toilet is available at the City Observatory. Please ask at the shop desk for a key to access the accessible toilet.
There is seating throughout the grounds of Collective for you to enjoy the views from and limited seating available inside the City Observatory.
Baby changing facilities are available at the Hillside Gallery. Please ask a member of staff for access.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas. All dogs are welcome on our grounds but not inside our buildings.
Please get in touch if you have specific queries about accessibility
Large print exhibition texts are available in gallery spaces - please ask the Welcome Assistants at the invigilation desks.
Audio versions of our exhibition texts are available on Soundcloud for you to listen to on your own device.
We also have a series of audio guides created by artists, Observer Walks. The guides can be listened to on your own device and offer an alternative experience for visually impaired visitors.
Ear defenders are available to borrow in the gallery spaces - please ask the Welcome Assistants at the invigilation desks.
We regularly host BSL and audio-description tours of our exhibitions. Please explore what's on to find upcoming accessible events.
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