Accessible Britain

LONDON
and 528 to the topmost Golden Gallery (don’t be misled by the lift marked with a
wheelchair symbol; it’s for staff only). If you can’t manage the stairs, you can at least
enjoy a virtual tour of the galleries on a film screened in the crypt.
For those with visual impairments there are guided “Touch and Feel” tours (book in
advance) and audioguides. Braille and large-print Orders of Service are also available.
Several members of staff are BSL-trained and there’s a touch-screen multimedia BSLsigned
tour, as well as an induction loop in the cathedral. There are well-equipped
disabled toilets in the crypt. The cathedral has no car park, but registered taxis can drop
visitors very near the entrance. Finally, it’s worth noting that admission queues can be
very long, so it’s a good idea to buy tickets in advance, which allows you to skip the queue.
FOOD & DRINK aa A small selection of light lunches is available in the café (around £8)
and more substantial meals in the restaurant (around £20–30 for three courses); both
are in the crypt and are fully accessible.
012 London Transport Museum
Address: Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 7BB Web: www.ltmuseum.co.uk Tel: General Enquiries
020 7379 6344; Bookings (10am–5.30pm) 020 75657298; Minicom 020 75657310 Hours: Mon–Thu, Sat
& Sun 10am–6pm, Fri 11am–6pm; last entrance 34min before closing Dates: 24–26 Dec (café & shop
open on Dec 24) Entry: [D]£13.50 [C]free [A]£16 [under 18s]free [Students & seniors]£13.50. All tickets
allow unlimited entry for 12 months.
In a prime location on Covent Garden Piazza, the London Transport Museum is a cleverly
laid-out tribute to the creators of one of the world’s most sophisticated transport
systems. It’s a fascinating, hands-on look at the capital’s transport, from horse-drawn
buses through the building of the tube, to driverless trains and the Crossrail project.
Much like the city itself, this highly recommended museum is crowded with vehicles
and has an exciting story to tell. It is laid out over three floors and the visitor’s journey
starts at the top with the introduction of horse-drawn carriages in the nineteenth century.
The displays are crammed with historic vehicles that have adequate room around
them so they can be explored up close, though only the Victorian-era tube carriage has
an access ramp. You can climb into some of the carriages, buses and trams, all of which
feature realistic mannequins and entertaining audio-visual descriptions. The first floor
is dedicated to the building of the tube network – a highly dangerous undertaking,
dramatically portrayed – and the age of steam, while the ground floor explores contemporary
transport and takes a glimpse into the future.
Access to the museum is best by public transport, as Blue Badge parking is extremely
limited. There are no bays in the piazza itself, with the nearest being in Henrietta Street;
there’s also one in Tavistock Street and four in Bow Street, while the nearby Covent
Garden NCP car park has two disabled bays. Dropped kerbs abound, though the piazza
itself is largely cobbled. The museum’s main entrance has automatic doors, with level
access throughout, and the reception counter has an angled slat to allow wheelchair
users to see the cashier. There’s a spacious, well-equipped toilet on the ground floor,
plus a nearby cloakroom with a loan wheelchair, and water for assistance animals. Fur-
24