Accessible Britain

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Foreword Former BBC programmemaker Emma Bowler has worked as a writer for everyone from The Times and The Guardian to The Practising Midwife. Emma lives in leafy Devon with her two children – eleven-year-old Archie and nine-year-old Ben – her husband Mike, who doubles as her mobility scooter mechanic, and Border Terriers Topsy and Twiglet. She enjoys exploring the countryside on her Tramper, writing, reading, wildlife and travel. One day she hopes to go on the ultimate wildlife holiday – somewhere like Costa Rica, Madagascar or Borneo…. Welcome to the sixth edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, brought to you in collaboration with Rough Guides and Motability Operations. Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations once said, “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating.” And I think this is particularly true when, as disabled people, we have access obstacles to overcome wherever we go. The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is so useful because it is packed with information. Our team of disabled reviewers have checked and updated all the attraction reviews, which means that wherever you go you’ll know what to expect – and you can concentrate on having a great time rather than worrying about access. For this edition, we have included some exciting new attractions in each region. There’s something fascinating about the story of ships and I suspect two newcomers to the guide – the Titanic Belfast and the Cutty Sark – will be potential rivals to one of my family’s firm favourites, the SS Great Britain. However, if ships don’t float your boat (sorry I couldn’t resist…), then Trengwainton Garden in Cornwall and the Callanish Standing Stones in Scotland both look like a feast for the senses. Although I also rather like the idea of a chocolate feast at Cadbury World, if I’m honest. The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain isn’t just about taking in the ambience of a place: there are several more active suggestions including attractions where you can have a go at white-water rafting, sailing, gliding and even – for the more adventurous – coasteering, where you can do cliff jumping, rock scrambling, adventure swimming and experience water features such as the “toilet flush” and “washing machine” – it all sounds very intriguing, doesn’t it? And even if you can’t swim, apparently that’s no excuse! Dare you try something new? Wherever you decide to go or whatever activity you are game enough to try – have a great day out! 6 Emma Bowler
About this book Designed to be good to read and easy to use, this updated sixth edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is filled with inspirational and practical advice to help you plan your day out. The introductory highlights section – celebrating some of the finest accessible attractions in Britain, as chosen by our expert reviewers – is a good place to start. The ten colour-coded regional chapters that follow are packed with reviews of a wide range of sites, to suit all interests and abilities. Each review includes details about facilities for disabled visitors, plus ideas for places to eat on site or nearby. In each chapter, we have included a beautiful scenic drive, complete with a colour route map and suggested places to stop along the way. We’ve also written some town reviews: in each region, we’ve chosen one town or city that’s well worth a visit and looked at access both around the town and at some of its main attractions. The following symbols have been used to highlight these features: Symbols used Assisted wheelchair access Non-assisted wheelchair access Facilities for mobility impaired people Rest seats for mobility impaired people Accessible toilets Accessible car parking Powered scooters available Induction loops BSL interpreters Facilities for blind and visually impaired people Scenic drive Town review Assistance dogs allowed Café/refreshments on site Restaurant on site Our reviewers try to consider all the questions and concerns you may have, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead to check on current conditions at an attraction, especially if you have specific requirements. Many places can be enjoyed independently, but we have made it clear where some assistance will help you make the most of your visit. At the end of the guide, you’ll find lists of useful contacts to help you plan holidays and days out in Britain, from travel advice to finding accommodation. Codes for entry fees [D] Disabled [C] Carer [A] Adult [5–15s] Child; with applicable ages [Con] Concessions [Fam] Family; two adults and two children, unless otherwise specified If you have any thoughts on this guide, or would like to order an alternative version of this guide, such as Braille, please email us at accessibleguide@motabilityoperations.co.uk. 7
Page 1 and 2: THE ROUGH GUIDE to Accessible Brita
Page 3 and 4: Enjoy even more fun, family days ou
Page 5: Contents Click on any chapter to go
Page 9 and 10: HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS IWM Duxford (E.
Page 11 and 12: Brockholes Nature Reserve (Northwes
Page 13 and 14: London 001 The Roundhouse 002 Wembl
Page 15 and 16: It’s the colour of the pitch - su
Page 17 and 18: On the site of the London 2012 Olym
Page 19 and 20: LONDON ZSL London Zoo FOOD & DRINK
Page 21 and 22: The tour starts in the MCC Museum w
Page 23 and 24: LONDON Royal Opera House FOOD & DRI
Page 25 and 26: LONDON London Transport Museum ther
Page 27 and 28: Ideas aa Art and sculpture Tate St
Page 29 and 30: 016 Westminster Abbey Address: 20 D
Page 31 and 32: hop-on/hop-off at any stop along th
Page 33 and 34: the Painted Hall and chapel. There
Page 35 and 36: 023 Horniman Museum and Gardens Add
Page 37 and 38: 024 Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire
Page 39 and 40: Parents of any disabled child will
Page 41 and 42: If you’d rather go sightseeing, h
Page 43 and 44: FOOD & DRINK aa The sizeable Studio
Page 45 and 46: In 1842, when the young Charles Dar
Page 47 and 48: grotto and birds of prey centre 10a
Page 49 and 50: populated by grazing sheep and the
Page 51 and 52: available on request, subject to av
Page 53 and 54: Beach: Address: The Estate Office,
Page 55 and 56: Emirates Spinnaker Tower THE SOUTHE
Page 57 and 58:
043 Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Br
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and the tidal pools, as well as aro
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centre whose residents range from d
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Temple of Flora and Palladian Bridg
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051 Haldon Forest Park, Devon Addre
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you can pre-book bikes with trailer
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Weymouth and Portland National Sail
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Octavia the octopus always draws a
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Trengwainton Garden THE SOUTHWEST p
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Lincoln Cathedral 059 Lincoln Cathe
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Ideas aa Animal sanctuaries Bolderw
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Holkham Hall Reserve: in summer you
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FOOD & DRINK aa The T&D café bar o
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a wheelchair, while benches provide
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Southwold Pier side and in all the
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Wicken Fen is one of Britain’s ol
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depending on what you most fancy se
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field Cavendish AM LE field Pentlow
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floor has a large step up to it, bu
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M6 M1 Barrow-in-Furness The West Mi
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A619 080 Peak District Scenic Drive
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a boat across it or admire it from
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084 RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire
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Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museu
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FOOD & DRINK aa The on-site café i
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Severn Valley Railway Northwood), a
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091 Royal Shakespeare Company, Warw
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Hereford Cathedral FOOD & DRINK aa
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WWT Slimbridge mile. To take the wh
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M18 The Northwest MID LOTHIAN Berwi
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South of Grasmere you’ll pass the
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it’s a fairly steep hundred-yard
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103 Brockholes Nature Reserve, Lanc
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Southport Pier 105 Airkix Indoor Sk
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the whole site (even the sewer syst
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installations in a converted docksi
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Anderton Boat Lift Blue Badge holde
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M18 The Northeast and Yorkshire 113
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smooth, solid surfaces, although it
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Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the
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fully accessible bus, with a wheelc
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efreshments, call in at the friendl
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Betty’s Tea Rooms, Harrogate If y
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Roundhay Park of here sits The Mans
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(book in advance). The museum has a
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Yorkshire Wildlife Park 128 Magna S
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Families are particularly well serv
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130 Callanish Standing Stones, West
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Fort George (twenty degrees) onto t
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which you can reserve in advance. A
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Sitting in the heart of the Cairngo
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St Andrews itself isn’t easily ac
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(with a disabled toilet) about a hu
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all but the most limited hand funct
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143 Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh Addres
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provide a stunning backdrop to the
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yards away from the house are the t
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M6 Wales ISLE OF MAN Barrow-in-Furn
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Electric Mountain landscape of Snow
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153-154 Llangollen Wharf and Pontcy
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Benar, turn off the A496 just befor
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Celtic Quest Coasteering When swimm
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159 Garwnant Forest Visitor Centre,
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some of the concrete surfaces insid
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163 Wales Millennium Centre, Cardif
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Northern Ireland Oronsay Colonsay J
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mobility. If you want to visit the
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(June-Aug Sat & Sun & bank hols), a
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the lives of more than 1500 passeng
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Grand Opera House, Belfast with dis
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Ulster Museum Discovery Zones - nat
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Ideas aa Heritage Fountains Abbey (
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Useful contacts This chapter featur
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advice on available facilities for
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than state what is possible. Predic
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Credits Reviewers: Claire-Louise Ba
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Accessible Britain

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