How to Find Us
Head Office (London) and Regional Offices
London Office
Map
Address
National Audit Office
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road
Victoria
London
SW1W 9SP
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7798 7000
Directions
From the front entrance of Victoria station, turn to your left
past the small row of shops. Turn left at the Thistle Victoria
Hotel into Buckingham Palace Road. Cross Eccleston street and
continue along Buckingham Palace Road until you reach Elizabeth
Bridge. 157-197 is the first building on the opposite corner
and is directly opposite Victoria Coach Station. Cross Elizabeth
Bridge and continue along Buckingham Palace Road for 50 metres
where you will find the main entrance.
Transport
- Underground: Victoria (Victoria Line and
District & Circle Lines) - 500 metres - or Sloane Square
(District & Circle Lines) - 15 minutes walk
- Buses: 11, 211, C10 and C239 (alight and
depart outside)
- Coaches: Victoria Coach Station
(opposite)
- Air: London Heathrow, 15 miles (Piccadilly
Line Tube) or London Gatwick, 26 miles (Rail express to
Victoria)
- Car park: By prior arrangement only. Entry on
Elizabeth Bridge Street. There is an intercom on the right just
before the barrier. You should identify yourself to the security
guards.
Plan your journey using Transport for London's on-line
Journey Planner.
Accessibility Guide
Accessibility Information for Visitors to the National Audit
Office at
157/ 197 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SP.
1. Controlled Visitor
Access
With the exception of duly authorised
statutory authority officers, all visitors to the National Audit
Office (the NAO) are subject to prior arrangement with their host.
They must wear their visitors pass whilst on the premises and
hand it into Security on leaving the building.
2. Location
The NAO’s headquarters is located on
Buckingham Palace Road, opposite Victoria Coach Station, as
indicated on the map located on this
page, and is within 600 metres of two underground stations and one
mainline station. A number of scheduled local bus routes
serve the area.
3. Public Transport and Surrounding
Area Hazards
Visitors using public transport should be
aware that pedestrian routes within and adjacent to local stations
are, as yet, not readily accessible. Wheelchair users, other
ambulant disabled people and anyone who has a significant visual
impairment should make enquiries with the relevant transport
providers before embarking on their journey.
Buckingham Palace Road and connecting streets
are often congested with people who are unfamiliar with the area
and who are impeded by luggage. Routes to the NAO from the
various stations have numerous busy road crossings that are,
generally, provided with tactile paving, dropped kerbs and
pedestrian operated phased traffic lights with either visual or, in
a few cases, audiovisual pedestrian indicators. It should be
noted that some of the tactile paving is not colour coded.
Pavement and road surfaces are generally good, but there is a
high concentration of street furniture and bus stops.
Visitors using public transport may wish to
make arrangements with their host to be met at their alighting
station or bus stop.
4. Arrival by Taxi or Private
Car
Taxis and private cars may drop passengers at
our main Reception using the covered private access road off
Buckingham Palace Road at the front of the building.
Subject to prior agreement, accessible parking
bays are available at the rear of the building for anyone arriving
in their own vehicle. Access to the car park is via the
second roadway to the right off Elizabeth Bridge via a Security
controlled entrance. The barrier will be raised in response
to a call using the button operated intercom located on a bright
steel post to the right of the entrance. It should be noted
that Elizabeth Bridge is a one-way street from Buckingham Palace
Road. Level access is provided into the building within 10 to
15 metres of the accessible parking area. For the convenience
of anyone arriving when this entrance is unmanned a post mounted
intercom and a canopy is provided. The area is also monitored
by CCTV.
5. Main Front Entrance to
Reception
The main Reception is served by an automatic
revolving door, to the left of which are a pair of automatic
accessible doors that open outwards onto the pavement. It is
located beneath a wide canopy and is therefore protected from
adverse weather conditions. A dropped kerb, with tactile
paving, providing almost level access is available near the
northern entance to this roadway.
6. Reception
Except where special arrangements have been
made, all visitors to the NAO are required to report to Reception,
where they will be issued with a Visitor’s (or Contractor’s)
security pass. The reception desk is equipped with an
induction loop and provides for recessed wheelchair approach for
ease of communication with the Receptionist. All visitors
will be met in Reception by their host who is required to remain
with their guest throughout their visit.
There is a variety of seating available within
the Reception area and public-facing staff will be pleased to
assist with accessibility or any other matters. Visitors
should not hesitate to discuss their particular needs with the
Receptionist or with their host.
7. Horizontal Access and Accessible
Space
Level access is available to the ground floor
Reception and refreshment facilities and to the Auditorium and
welfare facilities in the basement. Within the building’s
office and general meeting space the only step-free floor is the
second floor. The mezzanine floor level and the central block
of the building are very restricted but both the north and south
wings of each of the other floors in the building are accessible
areas with step-free access to temporary refuge points.
8. Accessible Toilets
Wheelchair accessible toilets and WC cubicles
for ambulant impaired people are provided throughout the
building. Your host will be able to advise you of the most
convenient facilities according to where you are within the
building.
9. Lifts
Lifts to all floors comply with best practice
having low level tactile controls and both visual and audible
announcements.
10. Assistance
Please advise us well in advance if you wish
to bring an interpreter, signer, lip speaker or assistance dog with
you or if you need the use of an induction loop.
11. Emergencies
Any visitor who is unable to use the emergency
stairways unaided should advise their host or the Receptionist so
that a generic or specific Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan may
be adopted to ensure their safety in the event of a fire alarm or
terrorist threat during their visit. Temporary refuge points,
emergency evacuation chairs and trained staff are available.
12. Hearing impairment
Paging devices (deaf alerters) linked to the
fire alarm are available upon request.
13. Visual impairment
Upon request, information can be provided
verbally, in large print, on audiotape or in Braille.
14. Contacts
The Head of Facilities and the Health &
Safety Manager will be pleased to provide further assistance and
may be contacted on telephone +44 (0)20 7798 7000.
Newcastle Office
Map
Address
National Audit Office
1st Floor
89 Sandyford Road
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 8HW
Telephone: +44 (0)191 269 1820
Directions
From Central Station catch the Metro to the Haymarket station.
On exiting the station turn left and head towards St Thomas’
church, crossing the main road. Turn right onto St Mary’s Place and
follow the road round past the Civic Centre onto Sandyford Road.
The National Audit Office is located on the first floor of the PwC
building, just next to the roundabout.
Alternatively it is possible to walk from Central Station,
heading up Grainger Street onto Northumberland Street. The
Haymarket Metro station is located at the top of Northumberland
Street. The walk from Central Station will take approximately 15-20
minutes.
Transport
Metro: The nearest Metro station is the
Haymarket, which is approximately 5 minutes walk from the office.
Alternatively, if arriving into Central Station by train, the
office is a 15-20 minute walk away.
Buses: Services 1 and 38 both stop on Sandyford
Road and at Central Station.
Air: Newcastle Airport, 8 miles. Catch the
Metro from Newcastle Airport to the Haymarket station, journey time
approximately 25 minutes.
Car Park: By prior arrangement only, access via
Jesmond Road.
Nearest public car park: St Georges, next to the TA Centre on
Sandyford Road.
Accessibility Guide
Accessibility Information for Visitors to the National Audit
Office at their Newcastle address at 89 Sandyford
Rd, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8HW:
- Controlled visitor access
All visitors to the National Audit Office (NAO) at 89 Sandyford
Road are subject to prior arrangement with their host. They
must wear their visitor pass whilst on the premises and hand their
pass into the NAO Reception and sign out on leaving the
premises. Visitors must be accompanied by their host at all
times.
- Location
The NAO Newcastle office is
located on the first floor of the PWC building on Sandyford Road,
just past the Newcastle Civic Centre, on the roundabout opposite
the Newcastle University buildings.
- Public transport and surrounding area
hazards
Visitors using public transport should be
aware that pedestrian routes within and adjacent to local station
are as yet, not readily accessible. Wheelchair users, other
ambulant disabled people and anyone who has a significant visual
impairment should make enquiries with the relevant transport
providers before embarking on their journey.Sandyford Road has a
steady flow of pedestrian usage which is increased in the normal
peak times with commuters and students walking to and from their
place of work and the surrounding University campus. Surrounding
road crossings are provided with tactile paving, dropped kerbs and
pedestrian operated phased traffic lights with visual pedestrian
indicators. Pavements and road surfaces are generally good.
Visitors using public transport may wish to make arrangements with
their host to be met at their alighting bus stop.
- Arrival by taxi or private car
Taxis and
private cars may drop passengers off immediately outside the
building where there are a number of ticketed parking bays. Subject
to prior arrangement, accessible parking bays can be made available
via the service road at the rear of the building. The Office
Manager will provide directions and assistance to expected visitors
who have been granted parking permission, and will ensure that the
guest’s host is alerted to their arrival. Level or sloped access
suitable for wheelchair users is provided at the front and rear of
the building.
- Main entrance
The main entrance to the
building is via a ramp for all users, leading to two sets of fully
glazed hinged double doors. This provides access to the main
PWC Reception and Security area and lifts to all floors. There are
low level call buttons at both the front and rear entrances to the
building should assistance be needed, with a night call button for
out of hours access at the rear also. Day hours are 0600 –
1800. The building is monitored by PWC Security staff on site 24
hours a day.
- Reception
All visitors to NAO Newcastle
will first report to PWC Reception where they will then be directed
or accompanied to the NAO office on the first floor. All visitors
should be met by their host at either the PWC or NAO Reception,
according to prior agreement, and their host is required to remain
with them throughout their visit. At the conclusion off their
visit, they must return the pass and also sign out. On arrival at
the NAO Reception they will be asked to sign in and issued with
visitors pass. The Reception Desk has two levels and
wheelchair users may draw alongside the right hand side of the desk
to communicate more easily with the Office Manager/Receptionist.
There is a small seating area and room for a wheelchair
adjacent to the NAO Reception Desk, where visitors may await their
host. Visitors should not hesitate to discuss their particular
needs with the Receptionist/Office Manager or with their host.
- Accessible toilet
There is an accessible
toilet situated on the ground floor of the building. Access
to it is via the main PWC Reception area.
- Lifts
Lifts to all floors comply with
good practice having large, low level, tactile controls and both
visual and audible announcements. Upon exiting the lift on the
first floor, entry is gained to a glass vestibule area with double
wooden pass controlled doors leading to main office area.
Visitors without a pass are asked to ring the bell to alert the
Receptionist of their arrival on the floor.
- Emergencies
Any visitor who is unable to
use the emergency stairways unaided should advise their host so
that a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan may be prepared to ensure
their safety in the event of a fire alarm or terrorist threat
during their visit.
- Visual impairment
Upon request,
information can be provided verbally, in large print, on audiotape
or in Braille.
- Contacts
The NAO Facilities
Director or Office Manager in Newcastle will be pleased to provide
further assistance, and may be contacted on telephone +44 (0) 191
269 1844. The Health and Safety Manager, based in London, may
be contacted on telephone +44 (0) 020 7798 7000.