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Now the summer holidays are here, no doubt you’re looking for things to do to keep the whole family entertained. If you have additional access needs, it can be a real struggle to find something that suits everyone, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best accessible places for a day out that the whole family can enjoy – no matter what your age or ability.
Animal attractions
Sometimes there is nothing better than going to a zoo or a similar attraction – animals are always a hit, no matter what the age of your group and many zoos, aquariums and farm parks have a host of accessible facilities. They are typically great for those with sensory conditions because of the low lighting and many offer quiet sessions to make it even better – safari parks also offer accessible shuttle buses to get you through the enclosures and you can even get up close and personal with some of the animals.
Alpacaly Ever After
Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5TZ
Here you can meet rescue alpacas and llamas from around the country in a beautiful location by the Lake District. On arrival, you can meet the animals that live there and even take them for a walk. The site is flat and suitable for all and there are walks that can be adapted for wheelchair users or those with mobility aids.
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 8QB
Set on a sandy beach on the Isle of Wight, the island’s original zoo is well loved and has level access, making it easy to navigate. The sanctuary has a wheelchair available to hire and works with Island Mobility, who offer mobility aid hire across the island.
Jersey Zoo
Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BP
Home of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey Zoo is accessible by wheelchair and mobility scooters and assistance dogs are welcome to join you during your visit. The zoo is also sensory inclusive, as they have partnered with Kulture City and offer a range of items including sensory bags, headphones and quiet areas.
WWT Slimbridge
Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT
It’s not a zoo but if you are someone who loves being outdoors and seeing animals in their natural habitat, this is a great option. During the summer they also host a range of additional activities, so every visit is different. The site is mostly level and has accessible hides, as well as portable hearing loops available for visitors to use. The site is also home to a Changing Places facility.
Visit a National Trust property
If you’re a member of the National Trust, you can visit as many as you like without having to worry about paying an entrance fee each time, making them a great option for a budget day out. The majority of sites are also dog friendly and provide a fascinating insight into times gone by. There are loads of accessibility features at sites across the country, but take a look at some of these and plan a fun day of discovery alongside their additional summer activities.
Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum
Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4LP
Located on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, this estate has been in the same family for over 500 years and features a host of treasures, while the museum has a vehicle for every occasion. Visitors can take advantage of a shuttle buggy to navigate the site or hire a tramper to explore on their own.
Petworth House and Park
Petworth, West Sussex GU28 9LR
This 17th century house has one of the finest art collections housed by the trust and is connected to both the Gun Powder Plot and the Napoleonic Wars making it a fascinating place to spend the day. There are accessible routes around the house and surrounding grounds, as well as level access throughout the house.
Mount Stewart
Newtownards, County Down BT22 2AD
As the home of the Londonderry family, Mount Stewart has barely changed through the generations. The majority of walks are accessible for wheelchairs and the house features a lift for viewing the upper floors.
Stourhead
Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6QD
The house and world famous gardens are a real treat. The house features a stairclimber for wheelchair users and a shuttle bus to help you around the grounds. Wheelchairs and trampers are also available to hire and information is available in Braille as well as other formats.
Calke Abbey
Derby, Derbyshire DE73 7JF
This unstately stately home has a vast and unique collection and a host of events and shows throughout the year to enjoy. This site also has Braille guides available and has level access around the site, as well as trampers and wheelchairs available for hire.
Parks, gardens and outside attractions
When the weather is good, sometimes you just want to be out in nature enjoying the sunshine, luckily there are a host of lovely outdoor attractions across Britain for you to enjoy from National Parks to Royal Parks and more.
Helmsley Walled Gardens
York, North Yorkshire YO62 5AH
Located beneath the ruins of Helmsley Castle, these gardens have been in use for generations, serving Duncombe Park before falling into disrepair and being restored in the 1990s. The garden offers complimentary tickets for carers and personal assistance and has staff with disability awareness training as well as level access around the gardens.
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest
Ashley Heath, Dorset BH24 2ET
The award winning Moors Valley has a host of activities on site as well as lakeside walks and bike rides to enjoy. The site has tours that are autism friendly and in BSL, as well as adapted sections at all the activities so everyone can join in.
Hestercombe Gardens
Taunton, Somerset TA2 8LG
Open daily, Hestercombe is a unique combination of beautiful gardens that are brimming with wildlife and dating back to the 1280s. Visitors are welcome to bring their carers and their assistance dogs with them. There are guides available to show you accessible routes around the gardens and all terrain trampers available to hire.
Wyre Forest
Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY14 9XQ
The largest woodland Nature Nature Reserve, Wyre Forest offers plenty of ways to explore. There are trampers available for hire via Countryside Mobility Scheme to give you more ways to enjoy the forest. Visitors can also make use of accessible facilities and the various additional activities taking place over the summer.
Adventure activities
While schools out why not get your blood pumping with an adventure or two? There are adventure activities to be found all over that cater for all ages and abilities and many of them offer family sessions, so you can all get involved and challenge yourselves.
Healing Waves
St Martin, Jersey JE3 6JR
This charity based in the Channel Islands helps individuals access to the ocean in a safe way with surfing, paddle boarding and flow rider sessions as a part of Surf Therapy. You’ll find friendly experts on hand throughout your session and adapted equipment so you can make the most of your day out on the waves.
Sandcastle Waterpark
Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 1BB
As the UK’s largest indoor waterpark, Sandcastle Waterpark offers a host of fun and games. There are 18 slides including the longest indoor roller coaster waterslide in the world and what’s more, they are incredibly accessible. The park is autism friendly and offers special sessions to make the site as comfortable as possible, as well as sessions for guests with mobility requirements and hearing and visual impairments.
Historical days out
As we’ve already mentioned some National Trust properties but there’s so much more to Britain’s heritage and cultural history. From castles to museums and just about everything in between. Though by their nature some of these attractions struggle to accommodate everyone all over their sites, they are working to offer a great experience to all their visitors.
The Royal Mint Experience
Mid Glamorgan CF72 8YT
The Royal Mint welcomes thousands of visitors a year and their unique tours take visitors behind the scenes of coin-making in an interactive and fun exhibition. There are facilities throughout the exhibition to help guests with additional needs.
Jersey War Tunnels
St Lawrence, Jersey JE3 1FU
As the only part of the British Isles to be occupied by the Nazis during WWII, Jersey is a great place to learn more about the war. The tunnel complex is fully accessible for a variety of needs including wheelchairs and scooters. Just be aware that some of the surfaces might be slippery.
Find more accessible things to do across the UK here.
Related
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary occupies a very special location, right on a beautiful sandy beach in Sandown Bay, on the east coast of the island.
Our mission is to rescue and rehome alpacas and llamas from all over the country and give them a wonderful new home with the very best of care, while bringing people in touch with the landscape and the natural world through outstanding alpaca and llama experiences, accessible to all and surrounded by the beauty of the Lake District World Heritage Site.
Jersey Zoo opened in 1959 and is the headquarters of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, founded by author and naturalist Gerald Durrell.
Slimbridge Wetland Centre is run by WWT, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust – the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity, which was founded by Sir Peter Scott. All of WWT’s Wetland Centres – including Slimbridge, exist to fulfil founder Peter Scott’s vision of connecting people with nature, so Slimbridge make it their principle that wetlands and wildlife are accessible to everyone.
Arlington Court is an unexpected jewel on the edge of Exmoor, a complete family estate held by the Chichester family for over five hundred years. The collection consists of treasures for all tastes, from model ships to shells, collected over several generations. The house itself, built in 1823 and extended in 1860, has an austere facade. However, inside the cosy rooms purvey a homely, family atmosphere.
Explore magnificent Petworth House with its extraordinary collection of art and sculpture and stunning state rooms, set in beautiful grounds and parklands in Petworth.
Explore the historic house at Mount Stewart in County Down, Northern Ireland and discover the famous garden, cared for by the National Trust.
When Stourhead first opened in the 1740s, a magazine described it as ‘a living work of art’. The world-famous landscape garden has at its centrepiece a magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, mystical grottoes, and rare and exotic trees, and offers a day of fresh air and discovery.
The National Trust's Calke Abbey is a country house estate set among 600 acres of countryside and gardens in Ticknall, Derbyshire.
Visit this beautiful and historic walled garden in the North York Moors Discover our vibrant borders, glasshouses, apple orchards and stop for a delicious lunch or coffee and homemade cake at The Vine House Café. Built in 1759, the garden sits beneath the imposing ruins of Helmsley Castle and has been welcoming visitors to North Yorkshire for over 25 years.
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest is jointly owned and managed by Dorset Council and Forestry England, working closely with a number of onsite concessions.
Open daily near Taunton in Somerset, Hestercombe is a unique combination of beautiful gardens, all saved from disrepair and restored to their former glory over the last 20 years.
Wyre Forest is the largest woodland National Nature Reserve in the country and can be found to the west of Birmingham.
Healing Waves is a charity based in Jersey Channel Islands. We enable individuals with physical, neurological & mental health challenges to access the ocean in a safe way, to participate in surf, paddle and flowrider sessions.
Sandcastle Waterpark is the UK’s largest Indoor Waterpark with more than 18 fantastic slides and attractions including Master Blaster, the longest Indoor Roller Coaster waterslide in the world. There’s something for all the family including Thunderfalls family waterslides, Ushi Gushi Action River, Aztec Falls waterslide and Typhoon Lagoon wave pool. The Caribbean Storm Treehouse, Fort Riptide, Treetops Water Chute and HMS Shipwreck provide fun for our very young visitors. With an adults only Spa area, a private Cabana for those who want to enjoy a VIP experience and much more, Sandcastle Waterpark is a great day out for all the family.
The Royal Mint Experience based in Llantrisant; South Wales is the only place in the world where you can watch the United Kingdom’s coins being made. The Royal Mint Experience welcomes around 200,000 visitors each year.
In 1940, Nazi Germany invaded the Channel Islands, starting 5 years of gruelling occupation. As a unique tourist attraction and experience, Jersey War Tunnels is the only place in the island where you will find the full story of this Occupation – the hardship, heartache and heroism, in the words of the people who were there.
