Accessible accommodation

Holidays for the disabled traveller

A couple relaxing in the gardens of Ellwood Cottages in rural Dorset

England extends a warm welcome to the disabled visitor. Many more public places, including tourist attractions, are now accessible to wheelchair users and increasing numbers of hotels and restaurants are happy to accommodate people with disabilities and their carers.

Special discounts may be available at attractions, shows and concerts. Telephone the box office in advance to reserve special seating places or equipment.

Useful links

Two women, sat on a wooden bench, conversing in sign language within the formal floral surroundings of the Alnwick Garden

National Accessible Scheme
If you have particular mobility, visual or hearing needs, look out for our National Accessible Scheme. You can be confident of finding accommodation or attractions that meet your needs by looking for the relevant symbols. Properties and attractions displaying these symbols will have met the National Accessible Scheme criteria.

Tourism for All UK
Tourism for All UK is the  UK Voice for Accessible Tourism - a national charity dedicated to making tourism welcoming to all.

Their website offers information to help you find where you can go, stay or visit, and offer sound advice and assistance to the business or public body who needs to make changes to become more accessible. Tourism for All UK offers an active network, passing on info about the best, and seeking to help change the worst.

Artsline
This organisation provides information for disabled people about access to the arts in London. Their comprehensive database covers cinemas, galleries, museums, tourist attractions, theatres and other venues.

The National Trust (www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/)
The National Trust welcomes visitors with disabilities as well as assistance dogs. Most properties have a good degree of access. Unless otherwise mentioned in the relevant property entry, all properties have adapted WCs. Many properties provide manual wheelchairs for loan. Self-drive and volunteer-driven powered mobility vehicles are available at some larger gardens and parks.

The National Trust Magazine is available free on tape, as are several regional newsletters. Please contact their Access For All Office if you wish to receive these regularly.

English Heritage (www.english-heritage.org.uk/)
English Heritage have produced a pdf document containing information on many historic properties around the country offering good access for disabled visitors that you can download and print by clicking here

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