Accessible Britain

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001 The Roundhouse LONDON Address: Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH Web: www.roundhouse.org.uk Email: access@roundhouse. org.uk Tel: 0300 6789222 Hours: box office and Blue Badge booking Tue–Fri 9am–9pm, Sat–Mon 9am–5pm Dates: closed 1 Jan & 25–26 Dec Entry: ticket prices vary depending on performance and seat This former Victorian steam engine shed has been transformed into an attractive and intimate venue that hosts a dynamic programme of live theatre, music, dance, comedy and circus. The Roundhouse sets out, above all, to reach out to teenagers and young adults, particularly with its range of fantastic workshops, courses and other projects. After falling into disrepair in the 1980s, the venue closed its doors for thirteen years. However, following a £30-million redevelopment, it now makes a highly accessible place to catch both household names and emerging talent, from the likes of Elton John and the Royal Shakespeare Company to award-winning choreographer and dancer Akram Khan. Perhaps more exciting to young people, however, is the year-round roster of creative projects for 11- to 25-year-olds in the Paul Hamlyn Roundhouse Studios: courses include street-circus skills, music production, band development, and even an introduction to working in a TV crew, all at affordable prices. In addition, a low-cost membership deal for 13- to 25-year-olds allows members to rent equipment, recording studios, production suites and rehearsal rooms at low rates. Access is excellent. There are seven Blue Badge spaces (best reserved in advance) in the on-site car park, from where a ramp leads directly into Level 1 of the building. Alternatively, the main entrance on Chalk Farm Road offers level access through power-assisted doors into Level 0, where the reception desk, box office and cloakroom have low counters. You’ll find accessible toilets opposite the lift (too small for powered scooters) on all three levels of the building. There are dedicated wheelchair spaces in both the Studio and Main Space, with the best views being from the Circle slots – so much so that you may face competition from press photographers. The balcony handrail has been lowered to offer a better view. In addition, there’s an infrared-assisted hearing system in both theatre spaces (headsets loaned for free) and an induction loop at the box office. Braille/tactile signs have been installed throughout the venue. There are also two wheelchairs available for use. FOOD & DRINK aa The adjoining Made in Camden bar/restaurant (020 74248495, www.madeincamden.com) offers a stylish, accessible setting and an appetising and adventurous menu (main courses £12–16). 002 Wembley Stadium Address: Wembley HA9 0WS Web: www.wembleystadium.com; car parking www.gotocsp.com/ bookings Email: accessforall@wembleystadium.com Tel: 0844 9808001; disabled bookings 0845 4581966; tour parking 020 89002405 Hours: check website for events Entry: varies according to event and seat; tours: [D]£19 [C]free [A]£19 [5–16s]£11 [Con]£9 [Fam]£45; disabled parking £15 with tour ticket 14
It’s the colour of the pitch – such a bright green against the red and grey of the stadium – that hits you as you wheel out to one of the three-hundred-plus wheelchair spaces around the ground. Visitors never fail to be awestruck and, arguably, wheelchair users can choose from the best seats in the house. If you can’t attend a match here, taking a tour around the stadium is the next best thing – as well as exploring the pitch, you’ll be shown around otherwise restricted areas such as the press room, footballers’ dressing rooms, royal boxes and the players’ tunnel. You can even have your picture taken with a replica FA Cup, or sitting in the managers’ seat in the press room. Throughout, you’ll be made to feel enormously welcome by staff, who are justly proud of the stadium’s accessibility. Lifts and disabled toilets abound, turnstiles, food and merchandise counters are at the right level and the surface is carshowroom smooth. Induction loops are everywhere and, if you’re here for a match, you can listen to commentary delivered via headsets available from access points. A free app for Apple and Android devices gives useful stadium and travel information. Blue Badge parking is available in the stadium’s two car parks (book at least three days in advance). If you’re arriving at Wembley Park Tube, note that not all carriages provide level access: ask for guidance on earlier station platforms. The journey to the stadium is straightforward, and on match days the police will direct you via ramps to Wembley Way. Information on dial-a-ride and shuttle buses is available from the website. Once you’ve reached the stadium, you should be fine. FOOD & DRINK aa The on-site restaurants are only available to Club Wembley members; for everyone else, there’s the staple burger and pie outlets, which are pricey – buy before you arrive! LONDON 003 London Fields Lido Address: Hackney E8 3EU Web: www.better.org.uk/leisure/london-fields-lido Email: london-fieldslido@gll.org Tel: 020 72549038 Hours: daily 6.30am–9pm Dates: closed 25 Dec Entry: [D] Free swimming for disabled people and their carer (with proof of eligibility) [A]£4.80 [5–15s]£2.85 [Con] discounted membership and entry for seniors; free annual membership for Hackney residents After a vociferous campaign by Hackney residents, London Fields Lido was restored following decades of neglect and reopened in spring 2007. As London’s only Olympicsized heated outdoor pool, it attracts regular swimmers from as far away as Kent. Such is its popularity during weekends at the height of summer, visitors should arrive early to guarantee even being able to squeeze in alongside all the other families splashing around. But in winter, as steam gently rises from the water’s surface, more often than not it is only stalwart locals ploughing up and down the fifty-metre pool. Don’t be put off from visiting at this time of the year, as the water is heated to a comfortable 25–27°C. When the weather is exceptionally cold, extra lifeguards are on duty, peering through the swirling fog to keep everybody in view. Swimming courses are available for various age groups, as are women-only sessions. The attitude of the enthusiastic staff reflects the pride that the local community takes in the lido’s services. All staff receive 15
Page 1 and 2: THE ROUGH GUIDE to Accessible Brita
Page 3 and 4: Enjoy even more fun, family days ou
Page 5 and 6: Contents Click on any chapter to go
Page 7 and 8: About this book Designed to be good
Page 9 and 10: HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS IWM Duxford (E.
Page 11 and 12: Brockholes Nature Reserve (Northwes
Page 13: London 001 The Roundhouse 002 Wembl
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
Page 59 and 60: and the tidal pools, as well as aro
Page 61 and 62: centre whose residents range from d
Page 63 and 64: 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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