From London’s Science Museum to the Titanic attraction in Belfast, here are 20 of the best attractions for disabled travellers
This week Britain’s 20 “most accessible tourist attractions” were named in a joint effort by tourist boards in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“As these attractions show, it doesn’t take much to make your business more disabled-friendly and I’m urging everyone in the tourism industry to look at what more they can do to better cater for disabled travellers, said Mark Harper, minister of state for disabled people. “Businesses are missing a trick by not doing more to tap into this market. There are eleven million people with a disability in Britain and they and their families have a spending power of over £200bn.”
Here is the full list:
England
1. Science Museum, London
The Science Museum caters particularly well for disabled visitors with written material available in large print, a special Makaton language resource for those with communicative disabilities and information in Braille. The museum holds accessible events, including events for deaf audiences, deaf-led tours of galleries, SIGNtific family events and audio-described events for partially-sighted or blind visitors. Specially trained staff members are always on hand. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible and disabled visitors receive concessionary prices for the IMAX 3D cinema – with support workers admitted for free.
2. Cadbury World, Birmingham
A large print guide is available and concessions are offered for visitors with disabilities. Visually impaired visitors have the opportunity to touch and feel key props at various stages of the exhibition. There are audio tours and subtitles on video presentations. Wheelchairs are available and the Cadabra ride has a specially adapted mobile car, which can seat one wheelchair user and one companion.
3. The Chill Factorᵉ, Manchester
Chill Factorᵉ is home to Disability Snowsport UK, a national charity providing adaptive skiing for individuals with all disabilities. By using adaptive equipment and specialist instruction and support, they are able to cater for people with very limited mobility. The majority of the attraction is accessed at ground floor level. There is an additional restaurant, bar and conference facilities on the first floor which are accessible by lifts or stairs. Accessible toilets and large print information are available.
4. The National Children’s Museum, Halifax, Yorkshire
Set up in 1992, this is a museum dedicated to helping inspire children to understand more about themselves and the world around them. Groups including a disabled child can book a free service where a member of staff helps to plan the visit, meets the party and looks after them. Those with sensory impairments can enjoy interactive exhibits which they can smell, touch, press and pull, including a Wonder Walk with scented plants for visually impaired visitors.
5. Curve Theatre, Leicester
The venue has level access throughout, lifts to all floors and wheelchair lifts in backstage areas. The theatre offers a number of performances which incorporate British Sign Language interpretation, audio description and on-screen captions. Customers requiring particular assistance are entitled to a free ticket for their companion. The theatre’s layout has also been designed with disabled people in mind – with extra disabled car parking spaces, low counters and induction loops throughout.
Wales
6. St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff
Traditional crafts and activities bring St Fagans alive, in workshops where craftsmen still demonstrate their traditional skills such as bread baking and crafts involving wood fires and animals – excellent for those with learning difficulties or sensory impairments. Dedicated disabled car parking and ramps are provided to nearly all buildings. A motorised Disabled Tour Vehicle (DTV) is available to transport visitors around the site.
7. Caernarfon Castle
It’s not easy to make a medieval fortress accessible to people with disabilities, but, thanks to the input of a local access group, Caernarfon Castle now has a purpose-built ramp which allows wheelchair-users to access all the inner wards. Disabled visitors are welcome free of charge – along with their carers.
8. Clwyd Special Riding Centre, Wrexham
Whether you’re a confident equestrian or an absolute beginner, Clwyd’s Special Riding Centre welcomes over 200 people of all ages with special needs every week who benefit from the pleasure and stimulation of riding, carriage-driving and equestrian vaulting – described as like gymnastics on horseback. This unique venue also provides residential riding holidays for groups of people with special needs from all over the UK and abroad.
9. Coasteering, Pembrokeshire
Coasteering specialists Celtic Quest in Pembrokeshire can tailor their daredevil activities to suit just about anyone, including deaf, blind, hearing-impaired and sight-impaired children and adults, as well as those with learning difficulties and limited mobility. Their coasteering kit makes you so buoyant, you don’t even need to be a strong swimmer.
10. Red Kite Spotting, Cambrian Mountains
Bwlch Nant yr Arian forest park in the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales is one of the best places in Wales to spot red kites. Some of the Waymarked Walks are specifically built for people with restricted mobility to enjoy the amazing views of the lakes and mountains. The Vale of Rheidol railway near Aberystwyth offers an unforgettable journey through the beautiful Rheidol Valley by narrow gauge steam train. It offers wheelchair users the chance to sit back and enjoy some of Wales’ most spectacular scenery, including the beauty spot of Devil’s Bridge.
Scotland
11. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
The Garden welcomes disabled visitors and goes out of its way to ensure everyone enjoys their visit, providing special scooters and wheelchairs to those with mobility issues. There’s seating at regular intervals throughout the gardens, as well as water points for assistance dogs. All reception spaces have low counters and for those with sensory impairments there are pens and paper and magnifying glasses at the Visitor Welcome centre.
12. Riverside Museum, Glasgow
The museum has large electronic touch-screens for visually impaired people and also includes BSL for those with hearing problems. There are also tours audio descriptions. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible and Guide and Assistance dogs are welcome.
13. Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh
Despite being a boat, she is entirely wheelchair accessible with ramps and lifts throughout. Staff also go out of their way to help those with sensory and learning impairments.
14. Culzean Castle and Country Park, Maybole, South Ayrshire
The castle and many parts of the gardens and out buildings are accessible to wheelchairs and there are disabled toilets across the estate. Also motorised scooters can be booked in advance. Large-print room guides are available and there’s an induction loop in the auditorium.
15. Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of Scotland’s most popular free attractions. Lots of staff have been trained in British Sign Language and all audio-visual presentations have subtitles and are at an accessible height for wheelchairs. The galleries are specially designed to allow for wheelchair access between displays and cases, making it fully wheelchair-accessible.
Northern Ireland
16. Titanic Belfast
The building is surrounded by a paved plaza, which is fully accessible. The new attraction is designed with wheelchair users in mind, with integrated loop systems for hearing impaired visitors on all audio, and with regular seating areas throughout.
17. Ulster Museum, Belfast
Although parts of the building are listed, renovation works in 2009 has made the museum extremely accessible – with the overwhelming majority being suitable for wheelchair users. Exhibits are also displayed at an accessible height. Free personalised guided tours can be arranged for visitors with sensory disabilities.
18. Grand Opera House, Belfast
Most areas of the building – the oldest theatre in Belfast – are wheelchair accessible and staff are extremely helpful in offering good seating options for wheelchair users or mobility issues. There is a café bar and restaurant and guide dogs are welcome throughout.
19. Giant’s Causeway, Portrush
The new Visitor Centre has been designed in consultation with Disability Action and other major access organisations to ensure good access for all. Features include hearing loops, an “interpretation area” suitable for visually impaired and wheelchair users, as well as a fully accessible clifftop path.
20. The MAC, Belfast
Belfast’s new arts venue has music, theatre, dance and art on the menu, with accessible seating and wheelchair access, captioned performances for deaf visitors, audio described performances and touch tours. There are MAC “Navigators” – identifiable by their brightly coloured T-shirts – on hand throughout the venue to help with information and access needs.
Source: Telegraph
