This winter marks two important disability awareness days – Purple Tuesday (12 November), a global social movement to improve the customer experience for disabled people and their families, and the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December).
To mark these disability awareness days, here are some of England’s best accessible travel experiences including award-winning attractions, outdoor adventures and adapted accommodation options.
Attractions and Experiences
ROARR!, Norfolk
Jurassic adventure is in store at ROARR!, Norfolk’s dinosaur-themed adventure park, named as the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 silver Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award winner. Offering dozens of dinosaur attractions and rides, ROARR! endeavours to provide facilities accessible to all guests, including its indoor and outdoor play zones. The wheelchair hire in the park is free; mobility scooters are available to hire, along with ear defenders and guests have access to a quiet room if they need to take a break. An accessibility chart, available online, also details accessibility information for each attraction which can be viewed in advance of planning a visit. Attractions highlights include Dippy’s Splash Zone, the Predator High Ropes, Dippy’s Theatre performances and travelling back in time within Valley of the Dinosaurs.
Colchester Castle, Essex
Built on the site of the Roman Temple of Claudius, Colchester Castle is the largest Norman Keep in Europe and a flagship venue for Colchester and Ipswich Museums. As part of its accessibility ethos, Colchester Castle offers quieter ‘relaxed visits’, large print guides and QR-activated audio description. Disabled visitors qualify for a concession and may be accompanied by a companion free of charge. ‘Calm at the Castle’ sessions run on the first Sunday of the month, providing an opportunity for those with ASD to explore the museum when sensory stimulation is minimised. Ear defenders, visual guides and twiddlemuffs are available from reception free of charge. Permanent displays chart the rise and fall of the Roman Empire along with other significant moments from Colchester’s history, while the current show, Gladiators: a Day at the Roman Games takes visitors back 2,000 years to the world of the gladiatorial arena.
Roman Baths in Bath, Somerset
The Roman Baths is one of the finest historic sites in northern Europe. It was once a religious spa where the people of Roman Britain came to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva and bathe in the waters of the natural thermal springs. Today, visitors can explore the Roman Baths complex and see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva. The site is 90% accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with hearing or visual impairments can enjoy the site using the British Sign Language or fully descriptive audio tour and tactile models. The Roman Baths also provides information for visitors with autism and potential claustrophobia.
LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, Berkshire
At the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort there are over 55 rides and attractions where guests can fly through the treetops to escape fearsome dragons, ride the thrilling rapids with a Viking fleet and join LEGO® divers on a magical underwater adventure. The Resort offers a Ride Access Pass, which is a virtual queuing system designed to help guests who require extra assistance or are unable to queue due to a condition or disability. LEGOLAND Windsor Resort also has a Total Sensory Space, the first dedicated sensory facility of its kind in a theme park. The calming environment was created with guests’ needs in mind, proving a relaxing space away from the excitement of the Resort’s rides, live shows, and attractions.
Eden Project, Cornwall
The world-famous Eden Project in Cornwall aims to provide a great experience for all ages, abilities and backgrounds. The Eden Project is an educational charity with a mission to create a movement that builds relationships between people and the natural world. The team works hard to make the site as accessible as possible for everyone and have won multiple awards for accessibility and inclusivity. Eden has a dedicated Access Team and visitors are able to pre-book an Access Guide to support their visit. The site offers a range of complimentary mobility aids including wheelchairs, powered chairs and an all- terrain Tramper mobility scooter as well as electric golf buggies driven by volunteer stewards. For people with visual impairment, Eden has a Braille guide book available on site and a text reader that can be borrowed to read and interpret signs.
Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire
Alton Towers Resort has invested in providing a fun-filled and inclusive escape for guests of all abilities. This year, working with AccessAble and the Business Disability Forum, the team has overhauled and improved services in many areas. Alton Towers Resort has further expanded current services such as changing space facilities, Ride Access Passes, wheelchair hire, hearing loops and ear defender hire, mobility scooters, accessibility maps and installation of quiet spaces to support those with sensory issues. Through the new online Accessibility Guide, which is available to review before visiting, guests are able to plan their Alton Towers trip in advance to get the most out of their experience.
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol
Founded in 1999, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in North Somerset is an animal park and education centre based in Wraxall, North Somerset, six miles from the centre of Bristol. Home to big zoo animals, the 100-acre park features species of international conservation importance and contributes to European breeding programmes and research efforts. Noah’s Ark has partnered with Bristol’s Mobility Centre to offer wheelchairs to reserve free of charge as well as mobility scooters for hire. The zoo’s long-term ‘Ark for All’ project includes facilities such as a Changing Places toilet, accessible play equipment, including a wheelchair accessible roundabout, and Hearing Induction Loop installed in the Ark Arena.
The Blackpool Tower and Sandcastle Waterpark, Lancashire
The Blackpool Tower has stood tall over the Fylde Coast for over 125 years. It is home to a number of attractions including The Blackpool Tower Eye viewing platform, a circus with adventurous acts from all around the world and a dungeon which brings together an amazing cast of theatrical actors, special effects and stages. The Blackpool Tower offers accessibility for visitors with reduced mobility, guide / assistance dog access and free-of-charge carer passes. Also located in Blackpool, Sandcastle Waterpark is the UK’s largest indoor waterpark with over 18 slides and attractions set in a tropical climate. Having won multiple VisitEngland access awards, Sandcastle Waterpark welcomes guests with a wide variety of access needs with all staff having received accessibility and autism awareness training. Sandcastle Waterpark offers a range of facilities including Water Ambassadors, pool accessible wheelchairs, wide access gangways, four poolside wet rooms, poolside lockers, private treatment room and accommodation for assistance dogs. Each of the Merlin Blackpool Cluster attractions – Madame Tussauds, Blackpool Tower Dungeons, Blackpool Tower Circus – offer accessible options for guests.
The Deep in Hull, East Yorkshire
The Deep in Hull is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world, home to magnificent sharks, turtles, penguins and the UK’s only Green sawfish. The Deep is committed to accessibility for all visitors, continually updating and adding to its wide range of tools and information to ensure an accessible family day out. The aquarium offers complimentary use of mobility aids, including electric scooters, wheelchairs and walking aids, and sensory packs available to borrow containing ear defenders, crayons, a picture to colour in, a small sensory toy and a printed social story. Each week (during term time) The Deep holds Tranquil Tuesdays, where sounds are turned down and lights are brighter from 3pm until closing time. The aquarium also runs Quiet Day events twice per year during which they provide presentations with BSL interpretation.
Countryside and Coast
Accessible short breaks in the North York Moors, Yorkshire
The North York Moors Accessibility Project inspires people with accessibility requirements to take short breaks in the region, known for its spectacular scenery and centuries of history and heritage. Eight North York Moors attractions and four accommodation providers worked with VisitEngland to develop their access and provide disability awareness training for key staff. The region’s attraction highlights include taking a historic train journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, visiting the Whitby Abbey ruins and enjoying the magnificent Helmsley Walled Garden. Visitors can explore the area by car, wheelchair-friendly trails, adapted bikes and trampers. Accessible accommodation options include the Inn on the Moor Hotel and a range of self-catering cottages which have all been audited by a professional access advisor.
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire
Established in 1946, Slimbridge was the first of nine Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) Wetland Centres across the UK. The centre aims to provide nature connection for all visitors with each season bringing star species and spectacles to life. Slimbridge has accessible paths, hides and exhibits along with wheelchairs and mobility scooters available for loan / hire and a Changing Places facility.
Mylor Sailing & Powerboat School, Cornwall
The Mylor Sailing and Powerboat School in Cornwall aims to offer fully inclusive sessions for budding sailors, ‘from absolute beginners to salty seadogs’ aged six and above. The sailing school was named the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award Gold winner at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022. Running year-round accessible sessions out of Mylor Yacht Harbour in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, all staff have received disability training for boats and equipment. The team pride themselves on making sailing and powerboating as inclusive as possible with adapted facilities, boats and equipment to allow everyone to get on the water.
Beach Wheelchairs, across England
Whether it’s a lazy day on the sand, or a brisk outing along the shore, locals and visitors alike can hire beach wheelchairs at locations across England to explore the coastline. In Lancashire, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs offers specialised beach wheelchairs which cater for all needs, including harnesses, a hoist, a Rotunda and specialised cushions. Elsewhere in England, Great Yarmouth introduced specially designed beach wheelchairs in 2014 with large pneumatic wheels which slide over sand to make the beach more accessible, and in Cornwall there are 17 locations offering beach wheelchair hire including Fistral Beach in Newquay and Porthminster in St Ives. Meanwhile in Bournemouth, along with beach wheelchair hire available at five locations, Boscombe Beach offers three dedicated wheelchair accessible beach huts available for hire.
Calvert Trust outdoor adventure holidays in Exmoor, Kielder and the Lake District
With over 40 years’ experience in delivering accessible outdoor adventure holidays for adults and children, Calvert Trust’s three centres in England allow their guests to discover ‘it’s what you can do that counts’. Calvert Trust’s adventure holiday centres in Exmoor, Kielder and the Lakes offer accessible education and adrenaline experiences such as high rope courses, archery and bushcraft sessions as well as water-based activities like kayaking, motor boating and sailing. The centres are also home to inclusive accommodation, facilities and grounds, with Calvert Kielder offering 10 accessible self-catering log chalets including the special Sky Den, created by George Clark’s Amazing Spaces Channel 4 TV programme.
Accessible Accommodation
Hoe Grange Holidays, Peak District
VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2024 Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award Gold winner Hoe Grange Holidays offers eco-friendly, self-catering holiday accommodation on a working farm in the Peak District. The team is passionate about providing high-quality wheelchair-accessible holidays with a wide range of specialist equipment and outstanding accessible facilities including an accessible hot tub. Hoe Grange Holidays also have two Boma 7 off-road wheelchairs for hire. Both can be used on the High Peak Trail, around the farm or on local tracks and trails. Hoe Grange Holidays also welcomes guests with autism and learning difficulties, providing a peaceful haven away from crowds.
AbleStay, London
London’s first fully accessible holiday home, AbleStay House opened in South West London in September 2022. AbleStay House is a contemporary single storey home, situated in a quiet residential tree lined road. The newly renovated house is fully adapted for wheelchair access with level access and high-quality adaptations including ceiling track hoist, profiling beds and an accessible bathroom. The house also has a bright open plan kitchen, dining and living area. The owners launched the property to offer physically disabled people and their families the opportunity to explore the capital city. The house is five minutes’ walk to local shops and neighbourhood restaurants, and from the nearby Worcester Park accessible train station there are regular trains into London Waterloo.
The Bull Hotel, Buckinghamshire
Located in Buckinghamshire, The Bull Hotel is a 17th Century four-star property with beautiful, landscaped grounds and award-winning restaurant and bar. The property combines warm British hospitality with modern comforts. Accessible facilities include two adapted bedrooms with roll-in showers and folding seats, hoist rail, hearing loop system, pillow alarm, flashing fire alarm, Braille controls and assistance dog access. Buckinghamshire’s Stoke Mandeville Hospital is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of the Paralympic movement, and since 2019 the county has been home to the National Paralympic Heritage Centre, a free museum celebrating Britain’s extraordinary Paralympic heritage.
Rudding Park, Yorkshire
Set in 300 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland, Rudding Park is one of the most beautiful hotels in Harrogate. The luxury hotel has 90 bedrooms and suites, including a number of accessible rooms, a destination spa, two restaurants, a kitchen garden, private cinema and two golf courses. Rudding Park is committed to ensuring its facilities are accessible for all, including the indoor swimming pool and hydrotherapy pool.
The Londoner, London
The Londoner opened in autumn 2021 to offer an urban resort on the south west corner of Leicester Square. The Londoner is home to 350 bedrooms and suites, six concept restaurants and bars, including a rooftop lounge and tavern, a private guest residence and an urban wellness retreat. The hotel has 18 accessible rooms, two of which have hoist tracks, and public areas have wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
Mellwaters Barn Cottages, County Durham
Mellwaters Barn Cottages is centrally located in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within easy reach of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Durham and York. The cottages were designed by a wheelchair user meaning that access is exceptionally good, and the purpose-built footpaths make the farm accessible too so that everyone can enjoy the views. The owners’ personal experience with dealing with disability means that everyone, including those who use a wheelchair or are less able to walk without help, can enjoy a stay at the cottages.
Cottage in the Dales, Yorkshire
This 18th Century collection of three luxury holiday cottages in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park has won a number of accessibility and inclusive building awards for The Dairy. As well as accessible and inclusive facilities, the cottages offer warmly lit fires, premium toiletries, access to local produce and complimentary electric car charging.
Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages & Lakeside Hub, Lancashire
Located in the tranquil Lancashire countryside, yet only 20-minutes’ drive from Blackpool, Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages were purpose built in 2013 to provide holiday accommodation for families, friends and carers. The owners’ personal experience with adapting and catering to disability means that those who use a wheelchair or are less able to walk without help can enjoy a stay at the cottages. All cottages are wheelchair accessible and there are additional facilities available including accessible hot tubs, shower trolleys and profiling beds. There is also a private fishing lake with a jetty and BBQ, a hydrotherapy pool with electric H-track hoist and an accessible sensory room offering a safe, calming environment for people of all ages.
Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth
The recently renovated Marsham Court Hotel is a relaxing four-star hotel offering high-quality accommodation in a wonderful location on the beautiful Dorset coastline with views across Bournemouth Bay. It is the first hotel in the UK to have installed a Changing Places toilet and shower, meaning everyone can have their needs met in a dignified and hygienic way. The hotel has also added a sensory room, a specially designed environment for guests, young and old, who have a wide variety of different needs. It can be used for relaxation and de-escalation for those with processing difficulties.
Missy’s House, Northamptonshire
Located in the Northamptonshire countryside, Missy’s House is a five-bedroom former wood-mill complete with three beautiful accessible bathrooms designed and supplied by inclusive design specialists Motionspot. The focal point of the accessible holiday home is its double-height, open-plan, wheelchair accessible kitchen and sitting room, providing the perfect rural retreat.
