Accessible Britain

THE EAST MIDLANDS AND EAST ANGLIA
The UK’s largest planetarium and exhibition on space exploration is a stimulating and
visually arresting place – something immediately apparent as soon as you lay eyes on its
Rocket Tower building, thrusting skywards above the entrance.
Whether or not you’re a fan of space matters, you could easily spend the day here
– and if you’re an enthusiast, you’ll be enthralled by Tranquility Base, where you
can test your suitability for a career as an astronaut. Elsewhere, six spacious galleries
tell the story of the origins of the universe, of unmanned space probes, and of space
travel, all illustrated by genuine space artefacts, including food packs, rockets, and
even a space station toilet. Many hands-on activities provide fun for visitors of all
ages – don’t miss the Weather Pod, where you can record your own TV studio weather
forecast then broadcast it on the big screen. A highlight of any visit, the futuristic
Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium shows stunning thirty-minute films projected onto its
huge, domed ceiling. The planetarium has step-free access and six wheelchair spaces.
There are plenty of disabled parking spaces, though there’s a long slope up to the
entrance, which is accessed via automatic doors. Inside, lifts provide access to all the
levels. Displays are easily accessible and spacious, though a few of the interactive
features are out of reach to wheelchair users, such as the SIM, which is a flight to the
ice moon Europa. It is possible, however, to view the Europa show in 2D from Mission
Control. Touch tours can be arranged in advance, large-print and Braille guides are
available, and most audio exhibits are subtitled. There are disabled toilets off the main
lobby and at the back of the ground-floor galleries.
FOOD & DRINK aa Beneath the gigantic rockets, the newly refurbished Boosters serves a
wide selection of food and drinks, including hot dogs, chilli and nachos, sandwiches,
soup and snacks. Chairs can be moved and the tables are well spread out.
067 Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Caldecott Visitor
Centre, Norfolk
Address: Caldecott Visitor Centre, Beccles Road, Fritton, Norfolk NR31 9EY Web: www.redwings.org.uk
Tel: 01508 481000 Hours:Apr–Oct daily 10am–4pm Entry: Free
Redwings is the UK’s largest horse sanctuary, caring for over 1500 rescued horses, ponies,
donkeys and mules at several sites across England and Scotland, including this
Visitor Centre near Great Yarmouth.
Animal lovers will delight in meeting nose-to-nose with the charity’s rescued residents,
which include everything from cuddly cobs, majestic shire horses, cheeky Shetland ponies
and adorable donkeys. Redwings Caldecott is the sanctuary’s largest centre, with more
than 120 residents. Regular guided tours and horse care demonstrations allow visitors to
find out all about these wonderful animals, their background stories and how the charity
cares for them. For youngsters who still have enough energy after exploring the paddock
walks, there’s a children’s play area, while parents can relax in the café and gift shop.
There are around ten disabled parking spaces on a grassy surface, with a central concrete
path leading to the fully accessible visitor centre. The wide grass tracks around
the main paddocks and the gravel track around the stable yard can all be negotiated in
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