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Accessibility

Mackintosh at the Willow accessibility guide

Step back in time and enjoy the unique experience of visiting an Art Nouveau masterpiece, a family-friendly interactive exhibition, a delightful retail store, daily guided tours of the building and a fully equipped creative learning room which offers free and subsidised workshops.

On this page:

Welcome

Contact for accessibility enquiries

Email: obraid@nts.org.uk

Tel: 0141 204 1903

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal carers.

At a glance

There is level access to:

  • Tearoom
  • Information point (main till)
  • Retail space
  • Accessible toilet (basement level)

The main entrance has level access with a permanent ramp.

The building is over 5 floors (basement, ground, 1, 2 and 3) – a number of staircases run between these floors. There are also 2 lifts: the one by reception calls at all floors; the one at the back of the exhibition on the ground floor only goes to the second floor.

Visual

  • Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Sensory

  • The fire alarm has flashing lights.
  • There are hearing loops at the retail counter and by the large screen on the first floor of the exhibition.
  • Music is played in the tearooms and Salon de Luxe.

Dogs

  • Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the property.
Expand image 1: A view of the whole exterior of Mackintosh at the Willow, showing the full four storeys terraced into a row of buildings. A large paved area is in the foreground. Expand image 2: The black and white exterior of Mackintosh at the Willow, with little purple square tiles running across the width of the white wall. Small glass panels fill the upper area of the frontage. Expand image 3: Two old black signs are attached to the white-walled exterior of Mackintosh at the Willow.

Getting here

Mackintosh at the Willow
215-217 Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow
G2 3EX

Parking and public transport

There is no parking available on site, but there is a public car park within 200m (approx) at Q Park Sauchiehall Street, off Bath Street. There are Blue Badge parking bays in the car park. There is also on-street Blue Badge parking on Cambridge Street.

The closest bus stop is on Cambridge Street – a very short walk from the Tea Rooms. Buchanan Bus Station is the closest bus station for buses (½ mile).

We are close to both Glasgow Queen Street (0.7 miles) or Glasgow Central (½ mile) railway stations.

We are a short walk from Cowcaddens subway station (0.3 miles).

Entrance

The main entrance is at the front of the building, on Sauchiehall Street.

  • There is permanent ramped access, with a slight gradient, at the main entrance.
  • The main door opens automatically towards you, activated by a push pad 100cm from floor level.
  • The doors are double width with a width of 135cm.
  • There is a small 2cm lip on the threshold of the entrance.

Reception and shop

  • The counter is 9 metres from the main entrance.
  • There is level access to the counter from the main entrance.
  • The counter is of medium height (77cm–109cm).
  • There is a fixed loop hearing assistance system.
Expand image 1: A doorway to the right of the modern glass window of the Mackintosh-designed tearooms. There is level access into the tiled doorway. Expand image 2: A doorway to the left of the Mackintosh-designed exterior of a tearooms. There is a shallow step into the tiled doorway. Expand image 3: A long shop counter stands in the shop at Mackintosh at the Willow, with many dark wooden shelves around the edges filled with gifts and souvenirs.

The visitor experience

The tea rooms

The main tea rooms (Front Saloon and Back Saloon) are located to the right as you enter. They serve hot and cold food, and hot and cold drinks.

  • Full table service is available.
  • Some chairs have armrests.
  • The nearest table is approximately 15 metres from the main entrance.
  • The standard height for tables is 70cm.
  • There is a permanent ramp (with a slight gradient) to access the Back Saloon to the rear of the shop area. The ramp has handrails on both sides. It is 84cm wide.
  • There is also a step to access the Back Saloon, towards the rear of the Front Saloon. There is a handrail on the left going up the step.

The Gallery

The gallery is on a mezzanine level above the Back Saloon.

  • This area is only accessible by one flight of stairs.
  • The double doors open towards you (pull) but they are normally fully open during opening hours.
  • The width of the door opening is 92cm.
  • There is one step (13cm) into the gallery.
Expand image 1: A tea room with lots of square tables, covered in white linen with a glass top over each. The chairs are in the ladderback style designed by Mackintosh. A long bar counter runs on the left of the image. Expand image 2: A tea room with lots of square tables, covered in white linen with a glass top over each. The chairs are chunky and made from a dark wood. The fireplace in the centre of the back wall and the surrounding wall stencils are designed by Mackintosh in his distinctive style. Geometric squares feature on the grey carpet runners. Expand image 3: A wide single step between two floor levels in a tearoom. The edge of the step is lit with a row of LED lights. The floor either side is polished wood. Expand image 4: A narrow ramped corridor-like space that leads from a shop area into a tearoom space. Handrails run on either side of the walls for the first section, by the shop. Expand image 5: A large metal sculpture, holding white daisies, hangs from the ceiling in Mackintosh-designed tearooms. Expand image 6: A gallery floor in a tearoom, with tables arranged around the central atrium space. It is filled with light.

Salon de Luxe

The Salon de Luxe is on the first floor, above the Front Saloon.

  • There is step-free access at this entrance (access via the lift).
  • The width of the small corridor to the main doors is 62cm.
  • The double doors open away from you (push).
  • The width of the door opening is 115cm.
  • There is no lip on the threshold of the entrance.

Billiard Room

The Billiard Room is on the second floor.

  • There is step-free access at this entrance (access via the lift).
  • The single door opens towards you (pull).
  • The width of the door opening is 60cm
  • There is no lip on the threshold of the entrance.

Rooftop terrace

The entrance to the rooftop terrace is on the third floor, accessed by lift.

  • There is step-free access at this entrance (via the lift).
  • The main door opens away from you (push).
  • The width of the door opening is 92cm.
  • There is a small 2cm lip on the threshold of the entrance.
Expand image 1: A view of the luxurious Salon de Luxe, looking towards the Mackintosh-designed double doors from the centre of the room. Glass panels with purple beads run round the edge of the room. Tables covered in white linen are around the sides too. Expand image 2: A view of the Billiard Room, with long booth-style benches running along the length of the room. Low-hanging lights hang at regular intervals. Expand image 3: The roof terrace at Mackintosh at the Willow, with tables and chairs arranged across the flat rooftop space. Expand image 4: A lift entrance in the corner of a shop, with a smooth wooden floor in the access space.

The exhibition

The exhibition is over two floors - a small space on the ground floor and a larger area on the first floor.

  • A set of stairs, with a handrail on the left, runs between the ground floor and the first floor.
  • A standard lift is located to the left as you enter, opposite reception, approximately 9 metres from the main entrance. The door width is 90cm, and the dimensions of the lift are 101cm x 140cm. There are separate entry and exit doors in the lift, and there is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift. The lift has a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Touch tours are available.
  • Video tours are available.
Expand image 1: An exhibition room with dark green walls that have white text printed on them, sharing stories about Charles Rennie Mackintosh. There is a clothes rail at the side with some costumes hanging on it. In the middle of the room is a round table on a rug. The table has several objects on it for visitors to interact with. Expand image 2: An exhibition room that has a very large glass case at the centre. Inside the case is a Mackintosh-designed glass window. At the edge of the room is a Mackintosh-designed yellow wooden settle with a dark padded seat. There are interpretation panels dotted around the walls. Expand image 3: A number of touchscreens, loaded with interactive games, are displayed in a corridor of an exhibition space. It is quite dark. There are bar stools in front of the screens. The floor is carpeted.

Toilets

Female and male toilets are available in the basement, approximately 5 metres from the lift.
There is another female toilet on the first floor, to the left from the lift opposite the Salon de Luxe.
There are unisex toilets on the second floor, to the right from the lift.

Accessible toilet facilities are available in the basement, to the right from the lift.

  • The door opens outwards and is locked by a lever twist.
  • The accessible toilet door is 85cm wide.
  • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 150cm x 250cm.
  • There is sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
  • There is a lateral transfer space of 71cm, on the left as you face the toilet.
  • There is a drop-down rail and flush on the transfer side.
  • There is a lever mixer tap.
  • There is an emergency pull cord alarm.
  • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.

Baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet.

  • The height of the baby change table (once extended) is 91cm.

Accessible toilet facilities are also available on the second floor, adjacent to the audio-visual room, although there is a permanent ramp to access these rooms.

  • The door opens outwards.
  • The accessible toilet door is 78cm wide.
  • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 168cm x 256cm.
  • There is sufficient turning space in the cubicle for a wheelchair user.
  • There is a lateral transfer space of 89cm, on the right as you face the toilet.
  • There is a drop-down rail and flush on the transfer side.
  • There is a lever mixer tap.
  • There is an emergency pull cord alarm.
  • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.

Baby change facilities are located within the accessible toilet.

  • The height of the baby change table (once extended) is 88cm.
Expand image 1: Expand image 2: Inside some basement toilets, with two sinks above a unit and a large mirror behind. A purple chair stands beneath the high window on the left. Expand image 3: An accessible toilet, with a handrail and large bin on the left; and a sink with handrails either side of the wall-mounted mirror. Expand image 4: An accessible toilet in a tiled room, with a handrail on the right and a sink and handrail on the left.

Guide last updated: May 2025

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