Top UK Attractions for Families Living with Disabilities

While there are still many attractions in the UK that have yet to catch up with the needs of families living with disabilities, there are plenty that have been working tirelessly to ensure that these requirements are met. As a result, there are lots of top tourist venues for families needing wheelchair access to visit with relative ease.

Last year, the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain awards identified several top attractions that provided good facilities for disabled visitors and one of the shining examples was the Science Museum.

Based in London’s South Kensington, the museum is a fascinating collection of exhibits, many of which are interactive and there is something here for all the family. The judges in the Rough Guide awards were quoted as saying, “They have been very creative with the way exhibits work for disabled visitors and children. Everything is at just the right height for wheelchair users, exhibits are interactive and they have made sure that all visitors, whatever their disability, can participate in the fun.”

Across the capital, the London Eye clearly prides itself on the facilities that it offers disabled visitors. Both the Eye itself and the London Eye River Cruise offer wheelchair access and disabled toilets as well as fast tracking and even discounts in some cases for their disabled guests. The London Eye also hosts disability events, such as the Gowrings Mobility Matters Roadshow.

Outside of London, Cornwall’s Eden Project is well known for the disabled facilities that it provides and it too was recognised by the Rough Guide awards, winning the Reader’s Choice category.

The Eden Project has worked hard to achieve this recognition and is rightly proud of its achievements. It has liaised closely with Sensory Trust to find creative solutions to common problems and now, many of its festivals and attractions are the most accessible in the United Kingdom.

Up from Cornwall and across to Wales, the Welsh Tourist Board lists many attractions that are disabled friendly. These include the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerlon and tours of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

In Scotland, many of its popular tourist attractions receive excellent reviews from its disabled visitors. Among these is one of the most visited of all, Edinburgh Castle. The castle provides wheelchair access and even a free courtesy car to the top for those with restricted mobility.

Further north in Aviemore, the Cairngorm Funicular Railway and Ski Centre may not sound like the most likely of disabled friendly attractions but it has made every effort to make families and individuals welcome. There is easy access for wheelchairs and scooters here and the views from the top of the railway make it truly worthwhile.

Back in England, there are many venues with ever improving facilities. The National Railway Museum and Blackpool Tower are worthy of mention as is Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol. Amongst other provisions, the SS Great Britain has wheelchair access, allows guide dogs and an assistant or carer goes free when accompanying a disabled guest.

Although many attractions still have a lot of work to do, those listed above, together with many other are great examples of the progress made in making the UK’s top tourist destinations so much more accessible.

This article was written by Gowrings Mobility, a leading supplier of wheelchair accessible vehicles.