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Accessibility Guide for Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

Welcome
The Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar is a restoration facility dedicated to putting Spitfires back in the air. The hangar is a hive of activity with several ongoing Spitfire restorations taking place at any time so visitors can observe our engineers building wings, fitting out fuselages and servicing Merlin engines.

We’re also home to a number of airworthy Spitfires, Hurricane, P51 and Messerschmitt 109 aircraft along with a collection of military vehicles and motorcycles.

Watch the video: Welcome to the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

At a Glance
Level Access
There is level access from the main entrance to:

  • Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
  • Combined information/ticket/merchandise sales/Spitfire flight bookings
  • Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar Gift Shop
  • Outside grassed area with seating

We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Visual

  • Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

General

  • We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
  • There is at least 1 public toilet for disabled visitors.

Getting here
Hangar 204/205 Churchill Way
Biggin Hill Airport
Biggin Hill
TN16 3BN

Travel by public transport

  • You can get to Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar by train.
  • The nearest train station is Bromley South. The train station is 6 miles / 9.7 km from Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar.
  • We’d advise taking a taxi from Bromley South as the nearest bus station is over a mile from the Heritage Hangar. Hayes and Orpington are alternative Train Stations.

Travel by taxi

  • You can get a taxi with Westerham Cars by calling +44 1959 562091. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
  • You can get a taxi with Bromley South Taxis by calling +44 7769 226436.
  • You can get a taxi with Biggin Hill Airport Cars by calling +44 1959 540 550.

Parking

  • We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free.
  • There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.
  • From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 2000mm wide, or more.
  • The carpark is flat with a compacted gravel and concrete surface. Three disabled parking bays are clearly marked directly adjacent to the entrance. There is also a drop off point immediately in front of the entrance.

Flat concrete and gravel car park outside the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar
Flat concrete and gravel car park outside the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

Arrival
Path to main entrance

  • From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

  • The main entrance has level access.
  • The door is 1840mm wide.
  • The main door is side hung and manual.
  • There is direct access to the hangar from the adjacent car park.

Inner entrance leading to the reception area
Inner entrance leading to the reception area

Getting around inside
Visual Impairment – General Information

  • Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk
Combined information/ticket/merchandise sales/Spitfire flight bookings

  • From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 740mm wide, or more.
  • The door is 740mm wide, or more.
  • All visitors are clearly visible from the desk. We would come out of the office to give assistance to wheelchair users.

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar reception area
Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar reception area

Things to See and Do

  • We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar

  • From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 740mm wide, or more. The door is 880mm wide.
  • Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Spectator/ Audience viewing areas

  • We have a viewing area for wheelchair users.

Heritage Hangar

  • From the main entrance to the viewing area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 740.00 wide, or more. The door is 1700 wide.
  • Personal assistants and friends can sit with wheelchair users.
  • Stewards can bring food and drink to wheelchair users.
  • Viewing areas are not seated but are located at different points in the Heritage Hangar and chairs are available if required.
    There is a small ramp, which staff can provide assistance with if needed.

Ramp access in second hangar
Ramp access in second hangar

Public toilet

  • There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
  • From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.
  • The route is 740mm wide, or more.
  • The toilet door is 920mm wide.
  • The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
  • There is 880mm at the side of the toilet. The toilet seat is 440mm high. The toilets have handrails.
  • There is a joint womens and disabled access toilet available in the Heritage Hangar.
    There is a small ramp, which staff can provide assistance with if needed.

Disabled toilet in second hangar
Disabled toilet in second hangar

Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar Gift Shop

  • From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 740mm wide, or more. The door is 740mm wide.
  • The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.
  • The shop is located in our reception area. Our staff will assist with access and selecting items if required.
  • From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.

Spitfire Flight Lounge

  • Our main Spitfire Flight Lounge is not wheelchair accessible
  • Our ‘Garden’ viewing area is wheelchair accessible and there is level access onto the aircraft Ramp area
  • Accessible toilet facilities can be reached via the Apron in Hangar 2

Getting around outside
Smoking
Outside grassed area with seating

  • From the main entrance to the smoking area, there is level access. The route is 740mm wide, or more.
  • The entrance is 1840mm wide.

 

Customer care support
Accessibility equipment

  • We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.
  • Grass area adjacent to the hangar.
  • We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.
  • Three pin sockets available in entrance foyer.

Noise

  • The engineering hangars are usually noisy with air tools, hand tools and machinery in use
  • The aircraft ramp and viewing areas are noisy with aircraft engines starting and running
  • Ear defenders and/or in ear plugs are available for visitors

Emergency evacuation procedures

  • A member of staff will always be accompanying any visitors to the Heritage Hangar, so can ensure a swift and safe exit in any emergency situations.