Getting to Britain with access or disabled needs

Airports

All British airports are fully accessible to mobility, hearing or visually impaired or disabled passengers, and although some airport services might differ, standards don't.

Note: If you need any assistance from airport or airline staff at any stage of your journey, you should always let the airline know at least 48 hours before you fly.

You can also find specific information about facilities and assistance at Heathrow, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports on the BAA special needs pages.

Other airport special assistance pages:

• Gatwick Airport
• London Luton Airport
• Cardiff Airport
• Manchester Airport
• Liverpool Airport
• Newcastle Airport

Eurostar

The Eurostar high-speed train service links Paris, Lille, Brussels with London and Ashford, and is a great way to travel to Britain. If you have mobility, hearing, visual or disabled needs, here's some information that may help you on your Eurostar journey to Britain.

For up-to-date information about special assistance, disabled access, wheelchair fares, guide dogs and mobility scooters check the special assistance pages of the Eurostar website.

Travelling from the station

Public Transport

Eurostar's final destination in Britain is St Pancras International in the heart of London. The station is fully accessible and well served by public transport, with London buses and 6 tube lines running in and out of central London. St Pancras International also provides national rail train links all over the country.

For information on rail routes, visit our Rail and Train page.

Taxis

A taxi rank is situated next to the arrivals area at St Pancras International. London's black taxis can take wheelchair passengers, and should provide a ramp designed to carry most manual and powered wheelchairs.

* Taxi drivers will assist both wheelchair and non-wheelchair users getting in and out of the car if it is safe to do so.

* Taxi drivers must accept guide dogs and are trained to recognise them, so guide dogs must have their harness and tags displayed.

Eurotunnel

If you want to bring your car to Britain, Eurotunnel is a great way to travel. The Eurotunnel shuttle train carries passengers and their vehicles between Calais and Folkestone in Kent through the Channel Tunnel.

It’s a particularly good choice for less able-bodied passengers as all drivers and passengers stay in the comfort of their vehicle for the duration of the journey between the France and the UK.

For full details of special assistance on Eurotunnel crossings check the Eurotunnel special assistance web pages.

Ferry

Travelling by sea is a great way to get to Britain with your own car or as a foot passenger and standards of accessibility are constantly improving across Britain's ports.

Before booking your journey, check with the ferry company, cruise operator or travel agent that they will be able to help with any requirements you have (e.g. check if there are ramps, lifts and accessible toilets).

Most ferry companies require passengers with particular mobility, hearing, visual or disabled needs to be accompanied by an able-bodied companion.

If you speak to a member of ferry staff at the port you are leaving from, they should be able to assist you onto the ferry and arrange for you to be assisted off the ferry at your destination.

For more information on getting to Britain with special needs check out the Directgov website.