Things to Do South West

It’s no wonder that the south west is one of England’s most popular holiday destinations, it has a varied landscape that includes a beautiful coastline as well as rural, countryside areas and some unique attractions that are perfect for day trips. There are plenty of accessible things to do and places to stay and with its easy pace, it is ideal for those looking for a wheelchair friendly or elderly holiday destination.

History and places of interest…

You can find historic monuments, such as Stonehenge, beaches in the areas of Cornwall, Dorset and Devon, two National Parks and lots of interesting events that are going on all year around. Plus, you have the cities of Exeter, Plymouth, Bath, Bristol and Wells, the smallest city in England, to name a few places you can go for museums, shopping and more!

Whether you’re heading for one of the cities in the region or planning to spend time on the coast or exploring the more rural areas, you’ll never be short of things to do and places to interest you. There are museums covering every topic imaginable, sites of scientific interest, shopping areas, iconic landmarks, national parks, regency towns full of Georgian and Roman heritage, bustling city centres, canals, animal parks and so much more. It is a great place to visit for nature lovers, city breaks and seaside holidays, wherever you go you’ll find top attractions and activities that will interest everyone in your party. There are plenty of wheelchair friendly options and places that are autism-friendly, plus a range of towns that pride themselves on being dementia friendly destinations.

Quiet and busy – the best of both worlds

The South West isn’t all gentle strolls and a slow way of life, it is a region that has a lot of exciting disabled friendly attractions and activities hidden away, as well as having a rich culture, so whatever kind of break you are looking for, you’ll find it in the South West.

Families can take their pick from a choice of accessible theme parks, adventure parks, farm attractions, wildlife parks and more. It is an ideal destination for anyone who likes history and wants to immerse themselves in the heritage of an area, many hamlets and villages in the south west have the same features that they did when they were first built, from the Georgian splendour of places like Bath and Cheltenham to the Victorian style sea fronts on the Bristol Channel and the chocolate box towns in places like Wiltshire, the Cotswolds and Devon. The Jurassic Coast that stretches through Devon and Dorset is the place for any dinosaur fan, with museums, fossils that are visible in the cliff faces and more! Perhaps the most famous music festival in the world takes place in Somerset – Glastonbury Festival, revellers come from all over the globe to enjoy the most exciting acts in music. The festival works hard to be as inclusive as possible, and you’ll find wheelchair access and more.

Of course, it is also a region that boasts countless interesting and beautiful natural attractions, thanks to the diversity of the landscape. The people of the area are incredible proud of their stunning surroundings and conservation is important, so you’ll be sure to find lots of attractions and activities that involve the natural environment.

Many of the top attractions are housed in venues that have gone the extra mile to make sure they are completely accessible, you’ll find audio guides, braille maps and enough space to bring mobility aids. There are even sensory gardens and parts of exhibitions and there are often ‘autism friendly’ hours to make sure that the environment is as friendly and inclusive as possible. Quite a few of the big local authority run attractions are free to enjoy as well as being accessible, so be sure to add them to your plans.

Whether you’re looking for a bit of culture, a trip to the beach or something a bit more exhilarating, you’ll find it in the south west.

Read Less