Accessible Britain
o4Nb301YbAS
o4Nb301YbAS
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than state what is possible. Predictably<br />
with heritage sites, there are some largely<br />
inaccessible areas of certain properties –<br />
but the assessments in the Access Guide<br />
have been written by disabled people<br />
so you can feel confident of accurate,<br />
considered information.<br />
Visit Birmingham<br />
www.visitbirmingham.com; 0845<br />
8883883 A comprehensive guide for the<br />
disabled visitor on what to do, where to<br />
go and how to get there can be found by<br />
visiting the website, clicking Travel, then<br />
<strong>Accessible</strong> Birmingham.<br />
Visit <strong>Britain</strong> www.visitbritain.com<br />
<strong>Britain</strong>’s national tourism agency also<br />
runs the National <strong>Accessible</strong> Scheme – a<br />
nationally recognised rating for accessible<br />
accommodation (more information<br />
about the scheme is available from the<br />
website). Disappointingly, you can’t use<br />
the scheme’s symbols as search criteria<br />
on the accommodation database. There is<br />
however a satisfactory section for “people<br />
with physical and sensory needs”.<br />
Visit England www.visitengland.com<br />
The English tourist board runs a dedicated<br />
Access for All scheme on their website<br />
which includes mini-guides to short<br />
breaks across the country, and practical<br />
information. In addition, the accommodation<br />
search function on the website allows<br />
you to filter search results by type of disability<br />
(physical, visual or hearing). Every<br />
establishment assessed by Visit England<br />
has completed a detailed Access Statement;<br />
they’re not available to download<br />
but you can ask the hotel to send it to you<br />
before you book.<br />
Visit Lancashire www.visitlancashire.<br />
com; 01257 226600; info@<br />
visitlancashire.com This website has an<br />
online list of accessible accommodation<br />
and some access information for<br />
attractions; unfortunately the fairly<br />
comprehensive “food and drink” listings<br />
section doesn’t include access details.<br />
Visit Scotland www.visitscotland.<br />
com; 0845 8591006; info@visitscotland.<br />
com Tourism Scotland runs its own<br />
quality assurance scheme for disabled<br />
access. Accommodation and attractions<br />
are searchable on the website using<br />
accessibility criteria, making this by far<br />
the most useful of the national tourism<br />
websites. A printed guide is also available.<br />
Visit Wales www.visitwales.com;<br />
0333 006 3001; info@visitwales.com<br />
The website of the Welsh tourist board<br />
has links through to a wide variety of<br />
accommodation and activities within<br />
the country, plus contact details for the<br />
Visit Wales Contact Centre, which can<br />
answer any specific queries.<br />
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