As many families continue to tighten their belts this summer, planning cheap accessible days out in London is now easier than ever with the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain. The Guide is available to read and download online for free now at www.motability.co.uk/accessibleguide. Attraction reviews include top tips for those planning their fully accessible trip.
Packed with over 200 reviews of attractions across the UK, the guide features many free attractions, including the newly reopened Young V&A, Spitalfields Market, Tate Modern, and Greenwich Park.
Young V&A
This impressive space for children and families may be known to some as the V&A Museum of Childhood, but following a major redevelopment, opened 1 July 2023, the once social history museum has been transformed into an inspiring space for the next generation of artists, designers, performers, and practitioners.
Across three galleries — Play, Imagine and Design, the Young V&A will encourage visitors to unlock their creativity and connect with inspiring objects, projects, and people from across the V&A’s vast collection of art, design and performance.
Access to the main entrance is up a gentle slope, which leads to a hallway where wheelchairs can be borrowed. The welcome desk near the main shop has a portable hearing loop and can provide help for visitors with disabilities. The permanent galleries on two mezzanine levels are accessible by a large passenger lift at the rear of the museum, and there’ also a ramp from the ground floor to the upper ground floor galleries. The exhibits are well-spaced so there’s room to move around.
Spitalfields Market
A wonderful example of how even old structures (Spitalfields has been around in some form since the thirteenth century) can be made accessible. The hustle and bustle of the market under the glorious Victorian roof is charming – while there is much to taste, try, and buy, a day spent soaking up the atmosphere is an experience in itself.
The main market area has excellent level access throughout. Weekends and holidays can mean the space can be very busy, but arriving early is a good way to avoid the main throng. Accessible toilets can be found at the Wollstonecraft Gate and open seating area by the cafés has benches that are fixed, but at a good height for seating wheelchairs at either end.
Tate Modern
Opened in 2000 as the world’s largest modern art gallery, astonishingly it has since doubled in size and today welcomes nearly six million visitors each year – making it the UK’s most popular visitor attraction. Amongst the thought-provoking installations, families with disabled members may be particularly intrigued by “Untitled 1993” by Rudolf Stingel, which allows people who are visually impaired to touch and mould the thick pile carpet on the wall.
Disabled parking and mobility scooters are available when booked in advance and the building is modern and well designed for those with access needs. The galleries are large and spacious, with plenty of room to manoeuvre, benches are located throughout the displays and concourses, and lightweight gallery stools can be carried around too.
Greenwich Park
London’s oldest royal park, and quite possibly its most beautiful. The park is celebrated for its rich history dating back to Roman times, but it’s the stunning views from the hilltop that keep it a firm favourite amongst Londoners and visitors. Those in wheelchairs may find the steep hill in the centre of the park challenging, but as the Rough Guide to Accessible advises, the best bet is to drive to the upper park, taking the Blackheath Gate entrance on Charlton Way for nine bays where Blue Badge holders can park free for up to four hours. There are a number of wheelchair accessible toilets around the park.
The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain has been created in partnership with Motability Operations Ltd, the company behind the Motability Scheme. The Motability Scheme enables over 650,000 customers to get on the road and the Guide supports the ethos of empowering disabled people to enjoy everyday freedom.
A new, refreshed ninth edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is now available to view for free via www.motability.co.uk/accessibleguide. Engage on social media using Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
