Accessible Britain

THE SOUTHEAST
Ideas aa Castles and stately homes
Windsor Castle (Berkshire SL4 1NJ; www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle)
The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor is fully accessible if you
can cope with the steep hill. Scooters can be used in the precinct areas and, provided
they fit inside the lifts (check the website), within the castle itself. Induction loops
are fitted where you would expect, including the audio tour handsets. BSL tours on
selected dates.
Hampton Court Palace (Surrey KT8 9AU, www.hrp.org.uk/hamptoncourtpalace)
Having celebrated its five hundredth anniversary in 2015, Hampton Court is particularly
well-known for its wide range of family-orientated activities. The accessible tour
is fine, and the only steps are to the Young Henry VIII exhibition (there’s a virtual tour
in the Information Centre) and the wine-cellar.
Castle Howard (York YO60 7DA; www.castlehoward.co.uk) One of England’s finest
stately homes, the Castle Howard estate is still owned by the Howard family and
boasts interiors and formal gardens that, for once, truly merit the descriptor “awesome”.
The main house features a stairlift (with weight and size limits) and some parts
of the house have restricted access. Outside, a land-train takes wheelchairs and the
effort out of exploring the one thousand acres of formal grounds.
tion, home to pieces from the early Art Deco period to contemporary works. There is
a pair of giant lips that is actually a sofa, ceramic art by Turner Prize winner Grayson
Perry, and beautiful domestic objects that your granny might have owned. The museum
has level access, some seating, an accessible toilet and a lift between floors.
Neither the pavilion nor the museum have any dedicated parking, but drop-offs and
pick-ups can be arranged in advance. On-street parking in Brighton is free all day for
Blue Badge holders in disabled bays and pay-and-display bays, as well as in car parks
(responsible parking on single and double yellow lines is also free for up to three hours).
FOOD & DRINK aa Royal Pavilion Tearoom is on the first floor of the building, so out of
reach for some visitors, but there’s also a tea shop, Pavilion Tea Company, on the ground
floor next to the shop, which is accessible (see www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk/paviliontea-company
for more details). At the museum, excellent home-made cakes, drinks and
light lunches are served in the accessible tearoom that overlooks the main exhibition
area. The tea hut in the Pavilion Gardens sells drinks and snacks and is a great place to
sit on a sunny day and watch the world go by.
040–041 Around Chichester Harbour: Solar Heritage
Boat Trips and West Wittering Beach, West Sussex
Boat trips: Address: The Harbour Office, The Street, Itchenor PO20 7AW Web: www.conservancy.co.uk
Tel: 01243 513275 Hours: departures from Emsworth most days in the summer hols; scheduled
departures from Itchenor throughout the rest of year; check in advance for timetable Entry: [D]£8.50–£17
[C]free [A]£8.50–£17 [0–16s]£3.50–£7. Refreshments available on board for Itchenor trips.
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