Legislative Buildings and Chambers

Legislative Buildings and Chambers are located on the corner of Finch Road and Bucks Road (postcode IM1 3PW).

Contact information and map are available here.

The public entrance to Legislative Buildings (meeting rooms, offices, shop, library and tours) is on Finch Road, Douglas. This entrance is open from 9 am to 5 pm each working day.

The public entrance to the Legislative Chambers (parliamentary sittings and committee hearings) is on Bucks Road, Douglas. The public entrance to the Chambers are open 15 minutes before each parliamentary or committee sitting.

Legislative Buildings and Chambers are located on the corner of Finch Road and Bucks Road (postcode IM1 3PW).

Contact information and map are available here.

The public entrance to Legislative Buildings (meeting rooms, offices, shop, library and tours) is on Finch Road, Douglas.
This entrance is open from 9 am to 5 pm each working day.

The public entrance to the Legislative Chambers (parliamentary sittings and committee hearings) is on Bucks Road, Douglas.
The public entrance to the Chambers are open 15 minutes before each parliamentary or committee sitting.

By Car

Legislative Buildings and Chambers are within Douglas’ Disc Parking Zone. Parking zones allow free of charge parking, however they are subject to time restrictions which are displayed on signage in the area. Anyone wishing to park in these areas must display a parking disc showing the correct time of their arrival. Parking discs are available from our Reception Team or the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, Post Offices, police stations, local commissioners offices and vehicle hire companies.

Visitors may park on the roads surrounding Legislative Buildings, but should note they are within Douglas’ two-hour parking disc zone.

There are two accessible parking bays close to Legislative Buildings on the right-hand side of Finch Road. These spaces have level access and both have a parking restriction of four hours. Note that a disabled passenger disembarking from the passenger side will be immediately onto the highway, which is a one-way street, so care should be taken.

Alternative long-stay public parking is available at nearby Chester Street Car Park or Shaw’s Brow Car Park.

Access to Level 5 Chester Street Car Park is from Finch Road or Ground level from Market Street. There is a height restriction of 1.8 metres. It is recommended to park on Level 5 or 7 to ensure the shortest distance travelled to Finch Road. Details of parking charges can be found by clicking here. The payment machine accepts coins and cards. Disabled badge holders can park in Chester Street Car Park for double their allotted time (i.e. 1 hour ticket = two hours parking). The route from Chester Street to Legislative Buildings has an initial incline with some uneven paving along the route.  If you are relying on drop kerbs you should stay on the left-hand side of Finch Road until you are opposite the end of the row of shops. You are then advised to cross at this point so that you can access the drop kerb at Mount Havelock to enable you to access the entrance of Legislative Buildings.

Access to Shaw’s Brow Car Park is from Church Street. Entering the car park, you will stop at the barrier where the automatic number plate recognition system will record your number plate. You only pay when leaving the car park later. This can be done in one of three ways. There is a payment machine on site, which accepts cash and cards. Alternatively, you can visit Douglas Town Hall next door to the car park in advance and purchase credit for later use in the car park through the payment machine. If you have a blue badge, you can register with Douglas Town Hall which will entitle you to an additional hour parking free of charge in the car park. Details of parking charges can be found by clicking here. The route from Shaw’s Brow car park involves steep inclines and is not suitable for most unassisted manual wheelchair users.

By Bus and on Foot

There are two bus stops on opposite sides of the road on Prospect Hill. There are no Kassel kerbs, however Isle of Man buses are able to operate and assist passengers with mobility impairments without the need for Kassel kerbs. Disembarking on the downhill side of Prospect Hill requires passengers to turn left and ascend the short hill towards Legislative Buildings. There are drop kerbs, tactile paving and a small pedestrian island to ensure an accessible and safe route.

Disembarking on the uphill side of Prospect Hill requires passengers to turn left and first descend the steep and sometimes uneven hill to the traffic lights outside Isle of Man Bank. The traffic lights have audio sounds and there is tactile paving on both sides. Once across, turn left and ascend the hill, where you will reach the uphill bus stop and from there follow the earlier instructions to reach Legislative Buildings. It is possible for passengers to disembark from the bus by turning right and having a shorter distance to Legislative Buildings, however it is neither an accessible nor safe route to travel.

Visitors may watch a sitting of the House of Keys, the Legislative Council or Tynwald. The dates and times of parliamentary sittings and committee hearings can be found on the Tynwald website on the Business page (a quick link is here). There is no charge to attend the public sittings or hearings. Public sittings and hearings are also broadcast live via the Tynwald website and are available post-sitting via our website if you would like to Listen Again. Please follow this link to the Listen Live and Listen Again service.

The public entrance to Legislative Chambers is on Bucks Road. The doors are only open and the area staffed when parliamentary sittings and committee hearings are taking place. Members of the public can see when the doors are open as there will be a wooden sign hung outside the doors indicating that parliamentary proceedings are taking place.

There is a ramp outside the main doors and metal handrails to aid access into the Chambers’ Foyer. Members of the public can gain staff’s attention by ringing a doorbell fixed to the main doors.

Chambers' Foyer

The flooring inside the foyer area is level, tiled and patterned. The area is well lit with artificial light.

There is a low level desk which is where some of the helpful staff are located whilst the Chamber doors are open. Hearing assistance via an infrared transmitter system is available in the House of Keys and Tynwald Chambers. Please speak to the member of staff on arrival for receivers, loops or headphones.

On arrival, members of the public will be asked to turn off their mobile phones and devices; they will be asked to leave food and drink at the foyer desk as these items are not allowed in the Chambers; and staff will security check bags and use a metal detector wand for a security check. 

Staff will inform members of the public when they may access the Chambers.

Off the Foyer is an non-gendered accessible toilet which can be reached through two heavy wooden doors. Assistance for some users may be required. The accessible toilet size is 2400mm x 1400mm.  Currently there is no toilet backrest. The floor is level access and has non-slip covering.

House of Keys' Chamber

From the Chambers’ Foyer, there is a wooden door into the public viewing gallery. This is generally open before the start of sessions and assistance is readily available.

The public viewing area is level access with fixed bench seating, some of which is level access and some requires a step up. 

There is space for a single wheelchair user on the front left side.

The carpet is deep pile and plain colour.

There is good natural daylight over this area as well as artificial light available.

Tynwald Court and Legislative Council Chambers

To the left of the Foyer, there is a wide original staircase which leads to the Legislative Council Chamber, the Members’ entrance to the Tynwald Chamber and the Tynwald Public Gallery.

The stairs are carpeted in a traditional style with brass stair rods. The carpet does not reach the edging therefore the surface is uneven underfoot. The initial rise is 12 steps to a large landing and quarter turn. There are two steps to a further landing with a quarter turn to seven steps leading to a second tiled first-floor lobby. There is seating found in this lobby. The lobby leads either to the Members’ entrance to the Tynwald Court Chamber (some Government officers are allowed to enter this doorway with prior permission if they are assisting Members during a sitting) or to a set of steps which lead to the public entrance to the Legislative Council Chamber.
Access to the Legislative Chamber is up 10 narrow steps which are carpeted in pale green. There is a historic wooden handrail to the left-hand side, but this does not project outwards. There is no handrail on the right-hand side. The Legislative Council’s public gallery has fixed bench seats on a level access. There is good natural daylight with the addition of artificial lighting.

The chamber has bright red, medium-pile carpet and the wallpaper is a busy repeating traditional pattern.

The nearest toilets, including an accessible toilet are located on the ground floor off the Chambers’ Foyer. 

Tynwald Court and Public Gallery

Members of the public may watch a sitting of Tynwald Court from the Public Gallery. It is only possible to access the original public gallery by stairs which lead from the first- floor lobby immediately outside the Members’ entrance to the Tynwald Court Chamber.

The stairs, which vary in height, are carpeted and there is no contrast to distinguish the stair edge. There is a handrail to one side.

On reaching the public gallery viewing area, there are a range of fixed leather bench seats with high leather fixed backs. The benches are arranged along a series of five steep steps descending, with no handrail provision. 

There is blue deep-pile carpet and a contrasting metal nosing. It is not advised for visitors with ambulant mobility disability or non-ambulant disability to access this area, but instead consider using the Tynwald Viewing Gallery. 

Tynwald Court Viewing Gallery

This area enables members of the public with mobility impairments to watch and listen to a live Tynwald sitting. There are four available spaces for direct view over Tynwald Court Chamber.

To access this area, visitors must approach using the public entrance on Finch Road. Finch Road entrance has ramped access into the building and a lift to all floors in Legislative Buildings. The Viewing Gallery is located on the 4^th floor. From the lift, visitors should go through double doors which are maintained in an open position. 

There is a platform lift for wheelchair users which has tactile, visual and audio information for users. The lift dimensions are 720mm x 1500mm.

In the Viewing Gallery are four moveable chairs which look through glass over the Chamber. Each chair is between 720mm and 780mm wide, which would accommodate a standard wheelchair. It is 850mm from the floor to the window height.

There is currently a speaker system, but no induction loop in this area. 

There is an accessible toilet which is accessed adjacent to the platform lift. The cubicle dimensions are 2200mm x 1650mm.  There is currently no long mirror, no paper towel holder and no toilet backrest in this facility which is being reviewed.

There are also gendered toilet facilities available opposite the accessible toilet.

Public committee hearings are usually held in the Legislative Council Chamber. See 'Watching a Parliamentary Sitting' for information about accessing this Chamber. The staff on duty in the Chambers’ Foyer will give visitors information about when they may enter the Chamber.

Stair lift access to the Chamber is available, but members of the public who wish to use the stair lift should enter Legislative Buildings through the Finch Road entrance and they should arrive before the committee hearing has commenced. Access to and egress from the Chamber via this route will not be possible once the hearing has commenced. Stair lift users must be accompanied by a member of staff as doors leading to the stairlift are opened by secuity pass. It is recommended that users communicate their intention to gain access to the Chambers via the stair lift with the Reception Team or Seneschal prior to arrival.

Entrance Area

The entrance to Legislative Buildings is on Finch Road and is accessed by two steps served by a short handrail on one side or by a short ramp with handrails either side leading to a manual glass door. The door is left in an open position during the building’s opening hours. From here, it is level access to a power-operated door on the left, which opens towards you on arrival or a revolving door to the right. There is a seating bench on the left-hand side and space for wheelchair users.

Reception Desk

The well-lit, high reception desk is on the right-hand side and is staffed during opening hours. There is an accessible section to the reception desk on the right which is not currently in use. Visitors who require a lower desk can speak to the staff member by using the left-hand side of the desk. The Reception area currently has a glazed screen.

The reception team will ask all visitors to sign in. After signing in, visitors will be given a visitor’s pass to wear during their time in the building. On leaving the building, visitors should return their visitor’s pass and sign out with the reception team. Visitors will be asked to wait in the Reception Area or the Welcome Area until they are called to attend their meeting room.

Parking permits authorised by the Seneschal for parking immediately in front of Legislative Buildings are issued here.

A portable hearing induction loop available here. This can be used at Reception or taken to any meeting room.

Assistance dogs are welcome in the building.

Clockroom Facility

There are cloakroom facilities opposite the reception desk. Please ask the reception staff to assist you if you would like to use this facility.

Accessible Toilets

To the right of the Reception Desk, there are two non-gendered accessible toilets, the further of the two has an electric-powered door which opens away from the user. If you need assistance to open the non-powered door outwards towards you, please ask the reception staff to assist you.

Accessible toilet information:

• 1900mm x 1500mm
• Outward opening door
• Drop down rail for transfer
• Fixed hand rails to side of the toilet
• Vertical hand rail to side of basin
• Low level basin with lever tap and mirror
• Paper towel dispenser
• Bin
• Emergency pull cord
• Overhead lighting (switch inside door)

There are no shelves, clothes hooks, changing shelf or long mirror.

Welcome Area and Shop

This area can be accessed from the main foyer and reception desk by turning right through double wooden doors. Access is on the level.

The Welcome Area is staffed during office hours. The desk is low level with good lighting. There is a glazed screen. 

There is also a gift shop which is open plan with accessible shelves. Helpful staff are ready to assist visitors. 

There is a well-lit waiting area adjacent to the reception desk with a range of different chairs and space for wheelchair users.

The Corporate Services Executive Officer’s office is situated here. This officer is responsible for the building and the health and safety of visitors.

The Library

Leading from the Welcome Area on level access and through double doors, is a small library.

There is a further reception desk which is very high and has no lower accessible options, but this desk is not currently staffed.

Offices of the Clerk of Tynwald

Some offices are situated on the ground floor and can be accessed via the Welcome Area.

Lift from Ground Floor

A lift services all floors of Legislative Buildings and can be used to access the offices, meeting rooms and the Tynwald Viewing Gallery. This lift does not service the Chambers.

The lift is operated by a large tactile touch pad for floor selection or alarm. There is clear directional signage outside of the lift but this is not tactile. There is no audio for the lift. Staff will assist you if required. The doors open on both sides.

The lift door is 800mm wide and the internal floor area is 100mm x 1400mm. The thresholds are level on each floor and the flooring slip resistant.

Committee Rooms One and Two

These two rooms are used for a meeting space for up to 10 people in each room. They can be accessed using the stairs from the main reception, which are non-slip with contrasting nosing and accessible handrails. There are platforms between each level but no seating available. Alternatively they can be accessed by the lift on lift-level 2. On arrival at lift-level 2, visitors should go through the heavy double doors with self-closing devices. The doors are currently labelled ‘Office of the Clerk of Tynwald’. Visitors should turn left and continue past an un-staffed reception desk and gendered toilets until they reach the Committee Rooms.

Each Committee Room has a separate heavy self-closing 900mm wide door. The rooms have level access and a low pile, neutral colour, lightly striped carpet. The walls are plain. 

Each room contains a boardroom-style table with moveable heavy chairs. The table height is 720mm.

There is some natural daylight and dimmable artificial light.

There are two gendered toilets located in the area outside the Committee Rooms but neither are accessible. No cubicle exceeds 700mm wide. The nearest accessible toilet is on the floor above on lift-level 4 and these can be accessed using the lift or visitors can return to the ground floor to access the toilets on this level.

Barrool Suite

The Barrool Suite can be accessed using the stairs from the main reception, which are non-slip with contrasting nosing and accessible handrails. There are platforms between each level but no seating available. Alternatively, the Suite can be accessed by using the lift to the 5^th floor. 

The room is a very large meeting room or conference space which is used by Members of Tynwald, Isle of Man Government officers and visitors. Room bookings are taken by the Reception Team.

Opposite the lift are heavy double doors with self-closing devices and then a further set of heavy double doors which can only be accessed using a proximity type swipe card.

Inside the room, there is ample natural daylight as well as controllable artificial light.

There is a range of moveable round tables and moveable armless chairs.  The flooring is level access with a short pile carpet. There is room for wheelchair access.

An induction loop system is in operation here.

The access to the balcony area is not possible for wheelchair users and some ambulant disabled people. 

The exit switch for the room is located to the right hand side of the double doors.

Outside the Barrool Suite are gendered toilets and one accessible toilet. Access to the toilet lobby is through one wooden door. The accessible toilet size is 2400mm x 1400mm. There is currently no toilet backrest and no towel dispenser and these are being reviewed. The floor is level access and non-slip covering.

The cubicle dimensions in the gendered toilets are all less than 700mm wide.

Members' Room

This room can be accessed via the stairs from the entrance foyer and Reception Desk. It is one set of stairs, and there are handrails on either side of the stairs and contrasting nosing on each step. Alternatively, the room can be accessed from lift-level 1, across hard non-slip flooring.

There are heavy double doors opposite the lift which open inward. The doors open through the use of a proximity style swipe card on the right hand wall. It is a level access.

In the room there is a medium pile blue carpet with busy pattern.

There are moveable tables and chairs. The chairs are without arms.

The room is bright with natural daylight and also with dimmable artificial light.

There is no hearing loop induction system in this room and the room has a background noise from the air conditioning unit, but this can be turned off.

There are two unisex toilets but neither is accessible. The nearest accessible toilet is on the ground floor and is accessed using the lift or, if ambulant, by one flight of stairs.

To exit the room, there is a switch on the wall to the left hand side of the double doors.

Millennium Room

This can be accessed by the stairs from the Reception Desk. It is two sets of stairs with a platform between the flights. There is no seating available between flights. There are handrails on either side of the stairs and contrasting nosing on each step.

Alternatively, this room can be accessed from the lift, on lift-level 3. The door to the Millennium Room is opposite the lift and is accessed across hard, non-slip flooring. It is level access.

The door is a single-width door accessed only through the use of a proximity style swipe card on the right hand wall.

In the room there is a medium pile carpet with a busy repeating pattern.

The room contains a board room style table and moveable chairs. There are additional armless chairs around the outside for additional people. There is room for wheelchair users.

The room is bright with natural daylight and also with dimmable artificial light.

There are two unisex toilets but neither are accessible. The nearest accessible toilet is on the ground floor and is accessed using the lift or, if ambulant, by one flight of stairs. There is also the accessible toilet on adjacent to the Tynwald Viewing Gallery on the fourth floor. Both can be accessed by using the lift.

To exit the room, there is a switch on the wall to the left-hand side of the double doors.

Offices of the Clerk of Tynwald

Other offices are located on lift-level ?and can be accessed by the lift or via several flights of stairs with platforms between each flight. There is no seating on the platforms.

The double doors are opposite the lift and across a hard non-slip, level surface. The doors are heavy to push, but one usually remains open during public hours.

There are gendered toilets off this waiting area but neither are accessible. No cubicle exceeds 700mm wide. The nearest accessible toilet is on the floor above which can be accessed using the lift, lift-level 4.

The area is well lit using artificial light.

Information about tours can be found here. 

Some parts of the tour are accessible only via stairs. Visitors with mobility limitations can be undertake the tour by taking a different route, but prior notice would be appreciated.

Tours start in the Welcome Area of Legislative Buildings. Visitors should report to the Reception Desk and then await your tour guide.

There is an online tour of Legislative Chambers. Click here to view the online tour.