Essential Information About Your School Visit
We’re delighted to welcome you to our venues.
Visiting Symphony Hall
If you need any assistance or information while at Symphony Hall please ask any of the stewards or the Duty Manager – we’re all very happy to help.
- Please note that food and drinks may not be consumed in the auditorium.
Unfortunately we cannot offer anywhere for your group to eat packed lunches, due to the large numbers attending and the short space of time between performances.- You’re responsible for the welfare and behaviour of your group while at Symphony Hall.
- Photography isn’t permitted in the auditorium without prior permission. Please note that official photographs or a video may be taken during some events. However, images will not be used in any publicity without appropriate consent.
- There are toilets on the foyer on every level of Symphony Hall – please do not use the ICC toilets near Starbucks.
- There are accessible toilets on Levels 3, 5 and 5a.
- There’s an infrared hearing enhancement system which can be used with a hearing aid or earphones. If anyone in your group needs to use this system, please ask a member of staff for a receiver unit.
- There is a first aider available – please ask a member of staff if you need any assistance.
- In the unlikely event that we have to evacuate Symphony Hall during your visit, please follow stewards’ directions and leave the building by the nearest fire exit.
Visiting Town Hall
If you need any assistance or information while at Symphony Hall please ask any of the stewards or the Duty Manager – we’re all very happy to help.
- Food and hot drinks may not be consumed in the auditorium.
Unfortunately we cannot offer anywhere for your group to eat packed lunches, due to the large numbers attending and the short space of time between performances.- You’re responsible for the welfare and behaviour of your group while at Town Hall.
- Photography is not permitted in the auditorium.
- Most of the toilets at Town Hall are on the Lower Level, so if you're sitting in the Circle please use these facilities before going upstairs.
- Baby-changing facilities (and a free pushchair park at relevant events) are available on the Lower Level.
- There is an induction loop for anyone who uses a hearing aid, and accessible toilets are available on every level.
- There is a first aider available – please ask a member of staff if you need any assistance.
- In the unlikely event that we have to evacuate Town Hall during your visit, please leave the building by the nearest fire exit and take your group to the Assembly Area as directed by the stewards.
Travelling by Coach
Symphony Hall
Traffic officers will ensure the safe unloading and reloading of your coach outside the front entrance of the ICC on King Alfred Place.
Town Hall
The nearest coach drop-off and pick-up point
We therefore ask you to consider the following options to reduce traffic and the risk of accident:
- Delay your coach pick-up time slightly if possible, perhaps planning another activity after the Town Hall performance (please note there is no space for groups to wait inside Town Hall)
- Consider an alternative pick-up point in the city centre, as there are a number of other coach bays available within a few minutes’ walk. More information, including a map of city centre coach bays, is available here. (Please note we cannot accept any responsibility for the content of external websites.)
- If none of the above options is suitable, we suggest you ask the children to wait well away from the coach loading area (perhaps on Victoria or Chamberlain Square, which are both next to Town Hall). One or two adults from your party should wait by the coach bays until your coaches are accessible, and only then bring the children down safely.
- If your coaches are near the front of the queue, we would appreciate it if you could board and then move away as swiftly as possible. This will allow other coaches to move up the queue.
Children-Adult Ratios
Responsible adults must supervise children in organised groups at all times. We follow these ratios:
- Age 0-2 years: 1 adult to 3 children
- Age 2-3 years: 1 adult to 4 children
- Age 4-8 years: 1 adult to 6 children
- Age 9-12 years: 1 adult to 8 children
- Age 13-18 years: 1 adult to 10 children
Teachers are responsible for students’ behaviour and safety.
Risk Assessments
We encourage all teachers to carry out their own risk assessments, and ours are provided as a guide to support this process. Download risk assessments for selected schools performances by clicking on the links below. Please note: files will be in .xslx format which is compatible with most versions of Microsoft Excel or Mac Numbers.