Accessible Britain

The tour starts in the MCC Museum where – as well as the famous trophy – a
collection of paintings, photos and memorabilia celebrates four hundred years of
cricketing history. You’ll also take in the Long Room, through which players make
their way to and from the ground, and the dressing rooms, where the famous Honours
Boards record the names of players who score a Lord’s century or take five wickets in
an innings. Another highlight is the futuristic Media Centre, which offers an unrivalled
view of the ground. Finally, like every modern tour, this one ends in the gift shop.
Most areas visited on the tour can be accessed without any problem, though the
upper floor of the museum is reached by stairs only – if you ask, someone will bring
down a replica of the Ashes Urn and tell its story. For those attending a match,
there are three wheelchair enclosures, only one of which is covered; there’s also an
induction loop within the Grand Stand, and audio commentary is provided via
headsets available from stewards. There are six accessible toilets around the ground;
ask a steward for a RADAR key. There’s no car park, but set-down and pick-up
passes are available from Club Facilities (020 76168653), and the venue is served by
wheelchair-accessible buses.
FOOD & DRINK aa Restaurants and bars throughout the ground cater to every palate
and wallet. Particularly recommended are the outstanding bacon or roast beef rolls
available from the bar behind the Warner stand.
LONDON
009 Spitalfields Market
Address: Brushfield Street E1 6AA Web: www.oldspitalfieldsmarket.com; www.spitalfields.co.uk
Tel: 020 73752963; Old Spitalfields Market 020 72478556 Hours: markets Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun
9am–5pm; shops & restaurants open daily, times vary Dates: closed 25 Dec Entry: free
Spitalfields Market – which has been around in one form or another since the thirteenth
century – sits under a glorious vaulted Victorian roof in London’s fashionable East End.
You can come simply to soak up the atmosphere, but with so much to taste, try on and
check out, few can resist the temptation to join in the bustling bargain-hunting for long.
The market building – which underwent a major refurbishment in 2003 – offers an
appealing blend of historical charm and contemporary chic. There’s a changing rota of
traders throughout the week: antiques and vintage goods on Thursdays; fashion, arts
and crafts on Fridays; and on Sundays, a lively mixture of anything and everything,
from textiles to gluten-free cakes and freshly harvested oysters. Based around the
perimeter of the building, and open every day of the week, are funky art and design
shops, some well-known chain restaurants and other independent or family-run cafés
selling delicious international foods.
Just over fifty yards from the market entrance on Brushfield Street is a Blue Badge
bay with a three-hour limit. Handily though, Blue Badge holders can pay and display
on single and double yellow lines for an unlimited time throughout the borough of
Tower Hamlets. The main market area has excellent level access throughout, and the
only problems you might face are step-entry to some of the shops and cafés, and busy
passages between stalls at peak time – Sundays in particular can get crammed, so
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