Tips for Disabled Visitors to London
London has huge amount of things for disabled visitors to see and do! Although tackling the city can seem daunting when planning your trip, with just a few simple tips London becomes truly manageable to visit with a disability. So here’s a guide to help you make the most of your visit to London.
Getting Around
Simply getting around the city can seem a challenge, but with more and more of London’s public transport network adapting to better suit the needs of disabled travellers it may be easier than you think. In general buses are far more accessible than the Tube and provide an easy and cheap way to get around the city. Almost all buses have wheelchair ramps and spaces reserved for wheelchairs – occasionally a bus may have a broken wheelchair ramp and you’ll need to wait for the next one, but this is rare. There are great bus links all over London, linking all the major transport hubs including airports with the heart of the city.
Many taxis are now suitable for wheelchair users, but it’s a good idea to pre-book taxis rather than rely on black cabs as that way you can be sure they’ll have the access you need. If you’re a student or planning to stay in London or the UK on a more long-term basis, it might be worth considering investing in an adapted vehicle for you and your family – check out Allied Mobility for a great range of accessible vehicles to suit your needs.
All the Best Attractions
London is bursting at the seams with incredible things to do! It has more top notch museums than any other city in Europe, an incredible theatre district, and fantastic shopping… so make the most of it! You’ll want to make sure you pace yourself though, it can be exhausting trying to see everything the capital has to offer, so build in time to relax and grab a bite or take a nap back at the hotel – your body will thank you! Also it’s a good idea to plan the more exercise intensive activities for the morning, as you’re likely to have more energy then. Almost all, if not all, of the most famous tourist attractions will have accessible entrances – it’s just a case of finding them. For example, the British Museum has a wheelchair lift at the main entrance on the south side of the building on Great Russell Street or flat access on the north side.
Plan, Plan, Plan
The best way to prepare yourself for your trip is to plan everything as far in advance as possible. By booking your hotel as early as you can you ensure you have as much choice as possible as to the room type and location, as well as potentially securing a much cheaper price. For the theatre, the best way to ensure you’ve got accessible seats is to contact the venue directly and book your tickets through them, as other vendors may not be able to guarantee it. Plan your itinerary and routes from A to B, working in rest time so you don’t exhaust yourself. Once you’ve done your planning, relax and enjoy – you’ve put in the hard work now so your trip to London can be carefree.
Category: Travel