Accessible city breaks in the UK

When you have mobility issues, going away for a few days can be challenging, but it doesn’t need to be. More and more attractions and accommodation providers are offering accessible openings and rooms making it much easier to enjoy some time away.

A number of UK cities have excellent accessibility options, with some areas completely wheelchair accessible, shops with hearing loops and much more.

Here are a selection of the most accessible cities in the UK.

Edinburgh

Back in 2016, Edinburgh was one of the four UK hubs for Disabled Access Day and since then the businesses and residents have been working hard to maintain the accessibility. The transport options in Edinburgh are amazing, the tram network is 100% wheelchair accessible at all the stations and can be boarded from the middle carriage. There are special bells and disabled spaces on them, so that drivers are able to take more time for passengers to disembark. It isn’t just the trams, there are bus services that are wheel chair accessible and a whole range of taxi options, with vehicles that are wheelchair accessible. It doesn’t end there either, the main train station, Waverley Station has step free entrances with lifts as well as accessible toilets. The city centre features accessible toilets, including Changing Places toilets which have hoists.
Many of Edinburgh’s top attractions are fully wheelchair accessible as well as having hearing loops, additional seating and accessible toilets.

Glasgow

Well, we might as well stick with Scotland for the moment. Glasgow is another city that is good for accessibility. The sightseeing buses offer tours which are fully accessible to wheelchair users with a dedicated wheelchair space on the bus’ lower decks. While you’re out and about sightseeing, make sure to check out the museums. Many of them are fully accessible and have hearing loops installed. You’ll also find accessible toilets, ramps, steps and lifts within the main attractions. If you’re travelling to Glasgow by train, you can book rail assistance on Scot Rail up to three hours before your journey, all the trains have portable ramps and where stations aren’t accessible, they are happy to pay for a taxi between stations.

Liverpool

Liverpool is known for live music, art and culture and you’ll find that many of the museums and venues are completely accessible. Several of the museums in the city centre even have Changing Places toilets, as well as there being accessible toilets throughout the city. The public transport network are also accessible, with buses, taxis and trains all offering level access, wheelchair space and assisted boarding.

Chester

Chester has lots of great options for visitors who need additional accessibility access. The city centre has several accessible toilets, as well as the train station having level access and wide doors.
Sightseers will love the fully accessible bus tours and the elevated walkways, which are wheelchair and mobility scooter friendly. For those that want to travel around the city, you’ll find that all the public buses are accessible and there are taxi firms that are suitable for wheelchairs.
The main attractions in the city include the zoo which is fully accessible and have multi sensory attractions for those who are visually impaired or autistic, other attractions in the city are fully accessible as well as welcoming guide dogs and having hearing loops installed.

Lincoln

Lincoln is a great place to visit if you are someone that loves history and culture, the castle, which is one of the top visitor destinations in the city, has been made accessible, with hoists in the toilets and a lift that is in keeping with the building for those who want to climb to the top. While a lot of the streets are cobbled, these can be easily avoided by using the shuttle bus service which will take you to the top of Steep Hill and the public transport network which has routes all over the city and is completely accessible.

London

Many of the capitals attractions are fully accessible or offer additional tours for those with accessibility needs. There are discounts available for those travelling with carers and tours with specially trained guides for those who are visually or hearing impaired or have autism. Other attractions offer slots that can be booked so that those with accessibility needs can have quieter tours. The London Underground system is the process of being renovated to make it more accessible and the stations with level access and are wheelchair friendly are all clearly highlighted, other public transport options include the bus network, which have wheelchair spaces on all their vehicles and black cabs, all of which are required by law to be wheelchair accessible. If you want to use the trains and tube during your stay, you can request assistance at all stations using Passenger Assist, but they say to give 24 hours notice, so be sure to book this in before you head out.  London also has an accessibility scheme where public toilets and changing spaces are available throughout the city and visitors can request use of a key to accessible toilets and in private businesses.