Accessible Britain

THE EAST MIDLANDS AND EAST ANGLIA
Close to the cathedral, on Market Street, is Ely Museum (01353 666655; www.
elymuseum.org.uk), in an old building that served as the town’s jail from 1679 to 1836.
Its lively exhibits focus on local history, from prehistoric times up to World War II, and
some of the old prison cells have been restored to their original appearance. There’s
level access through automatic doors, a stair lift to the first floor and a hearing loop at
reception. The museum is also the site of the Ely Shopmobility scheme (01353 666655),
where you can borrow powered scooters.
Also worth a look-in is Oliver Cromwell’s House (01353 662062; visitely.eastcambs.
gov.uk), on St Mary’s Street, where the controversial parliamentarian lived for ten years
before he became Lord Protector of England. Part of the house is occupied by the
tourist information centre, while the rest is a museum, furnished to recreate the look
and feel of a seventeenth-century home, with some fascinating exhibits on Cromwell’s
life, death and the English Civil War. There’s wheelchair access to the parlour and
kitchen on the ground floor, but the first floor can only be accessed via stairs.
In general, Ely’s compact centre is easy enough to navigate in a wheelchair, and
there’s a level, accessible footpath skirting the edge of the River Ouse, too, which runs
through the town. There’s a decent supply of Blue Badge bays around town, including
on the high street, Market Street, Minster Place and Newnham Street, and there are
handy long-stay car parks on Newnham Street and Barton Road, both with designated
disabled spaces and a RADAR key-accessible toilet. Other centrally located accessible
toilets include those at the Cloisters shopping centre, just off Market Square, and at
Sacrist Gate, by the side of the cathedral.
069 Southwold Pier, Suffolk
Address: North Parade, Southwold IP18 6BN Web: www.southwoldpier.co.uk Tel: 01502 722105 Hours:
times vary according to weather and season; check website for details Dates: closed Dec 25 Entry: free
As you would expect, Britain’s only twenty-first-century pier is a thoroughly accessible
place to visit. Southwold Pier was actually built at the beginning of the twentieth century,
but storms, drifting sea mines and World War II each played a hand in its destruction and
subsequent reconstructions. The latest, and hopefully final rebuild was completed in 2001.
Southwold is as charmingly English a seaside town as you could hope for, and the
award-winning pier makes the perfect introduction, commanding views of the picturepostcard
colourful beach huts, golden sands and bustling harbour. Traditional fun is the
name of the game in the amusement arcade on the pier. Not quite so tasteful is the wacky
Under the Pier Show, which is packed with a selection of obscure, hand-built games ideal
for fun-loving visitors of all ages. Some of the machines require a fair degree of physical
participation, so aren’t suitable for everyone, but there are lots to choose from. To take on
the challenge of the cheeky but entertaining Mobility Masterclass, you’ll need to be able
to manage one step up and to stand while manoeuvring an unsteady platform. The three
accessible shops are crammed with jewellery, gifts and works by local artists.
There are four disabled parking bays directly outside the arcade and 21 more in
the public car park nearby. A RADAR key-accessible toilet is nearby, and there are
also disabled toilets in The Boardwalk restaurant on the pier. With level decking out-
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