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Top 10 Accessible Experiences in London

London is one of the most exciting, diverse and visited cities in the world! With numerous tourist attractions and excellent accessibility, the capital of the United Kingdom is a popular choice for disabled visitors. Among the many accessible things to do in London, here are my Top 10 Accessible Experiences in London.

Top 10 Accessible Experiences in London

1.  Take a spin on the London Eye – The London Eye isn’t called the “eye” for nothing; it gives the best view in town! The spectacular ferris wheel is located on the South Bank of the River Thames and is the tallest ferris wheel in Europe. A spin takes 30 minutes so there is plenty of time to take pictures and no need to worry about motion sickness!  There is a London Eye wheelchair ramp to get on board, and you will need to avoid the stairs to the south at Westminster Bridge.

 

The London Eye is wheelchair accessible and is a great way to see the layout of London
The London Eye is wheelchair accessible and is a great way to see the layout of London

 

2. Visit the British Museum – Not many museums can legitimately be described as the best museum in the world….However, this is one of them! The British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of history. Greece, Egypt, the Middle East, the Far East, and the Americas…it’s all here. In fact, there is so much to see that you can easily spend an entire day here.  Using the wheelchair lift at the front of the museum or the flat entrance at the back of the museum make for an easy accessible visit.

3. Enjoy a relaxing evening in the Theatre – Going out to enjoy an evening in the theatre is a great way to end a day in London. Many visitors buy discounted tickets through the TKTS booth in Leicester Square, however, this is not the best option for disabled visitors.  When I have gone to the London theatre, I called the individual theatre and received accessible seats at a discount. In some theatres you may need to transfer to a normal seat, and in others you can stay in your wheelchair.

4. See British pageantry at its finest – The Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace is a ceremony unlike any other. It usually takes place daily from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year. It can be quite crowded so consider going early to get a good spot or maybe even going to the much less crowded preparation of the guards before and after, at the nearby Wellington Barracks. Oh, and don’t take it personally if they don’t crack a smile for your pictures. They are known for their ability to remain entirely focused while on duty no matter what you say or do in front of them.

 
If you can position your wheelchair or mobility scooter into the right spot, you can get a great photo like this one!

 

5. Tour the Houses of Parliament – A guided tour of Parliament is a “must do” for visitors interested in history, politics, art and architecture. Tours are available to visitors Saturdays throughout the year and on most weekdays during Parliamentary recess including Easter, summer and Christmas. The main entrance is step-free and located west of the building. The normal tour route involves steps so you will need to take a special route.

6. Discover the original Cabinet War Rooms – The Cabinet War Rooms were the secret underground headquarters that sheltered Winston Churchill and his government during the period of strategic bombing of the UK by Nazi Germany during WWII. Today, it also houses a museum covering the life of Churchill. The entrance on the west side of the Treasury building has level access and you can visit the museum located below ground by using the elevator. The Sage Accessibility Guide for London that comes with our Accessible London Trip Planning Servicescontains a map detailing the exact location of the elevator and the correct entrance to choose.

7. Get inspired at one of the top art galleries in Europe – The National Gallery in London is the home of one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world. It gives visitors access to over 2,300 paintings from altarpieces to the Impressionists as well as rotating themed exhibitions and displays. The Gallery is open 361 days a year and free of charge. There are four step-free entrances and all floors are accessible by elevators.

8. Visit one of the world’s greatest mysteries – While in London, don’t miss out on the surrounding areas. Accessible day trips are available either by train or private driving, allowing you to visit places such as Cambridge, Oxford, Greenwich and one of the world’s most famous monuments, Stonehenge. Thousands of years old, mystery still surrounds the massive circle of standing stones and earthworks. Who built it? How and why was it made?  You will learn all about this fascinating site during your visit.

 
Stonehenge is unlike anything I have seen elsewhere in Europe and definitely worth a day-trip from London

 

9. Cruise down the Thames River – A boat cruise on the Thames River  is not only on top of my list, it is also one of our clients’ favorites. The guided boat tour is one of the most relaxing and unique ways to see the city, combining major sights such as Big Ben, Tower of London, St. Paul’s, Parliament, London Eye, and many more. Wheelchair users can use ramps to get down to the boat dock where there is level access onto the boat. The tour is especially beautiful in the evening.

10. Be amazed at Westminster Abbey – With over one million visitors every year, the outstanding Gothic church of Westminster Abbey is a “must see” right in the heart of London. The building is over 700 years old and still offers daily services to the public. During your visit you might notice that the floor is a bit uneven. This is due to the interesting fact that many people have been buried underneath it. Some of the side chapels have single steps and the Henry VII chapel has about a dozen steps. To avoid the few steps on the group guided tour, I suggest using the 60 minute audio guide or taking a private tour. 

Did You Know?

Accessible travel planning is all we do! All our hotels, tours and transfers are accessibility tested and our guides are specialized in handling different disability needs. Whether you travel with a manual wheelchair, electric wheelchair, mobility scooter or just walk a little slow, we know exactly how to make your vacation a hassle-free, fun, memorable experience. If you are interested in knowing more, contact one of our Accessible Travel Planners via phone or email.

Give us a chance to plan one of your vacations…
you’ll never again travel in Europe without us!

 

Travel Wisely,

John Sage, Founder and President of Sage Traveling

Email: john@sagetraveling.com
Phone: US: 1-888-645-7920, UK: +44 20 3540 6155
Web: https://www.sagetraveling.com

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