Accessible guide to London

Cricket fans will adore a tour of this iconic ground. Matches tend to sell out in advance but you can book a behind-the-scenes tour for a glimpse at the famous Ashes Urn, the Long Room, and the media centre from where you get the best views. Most of the tour is accessible, apart from the upper floor of the museum. The ground has accessible toilets, lifts, audio commentary and more. There is a visitor’s pack for those living with dementia, sharing details on meeting points and other useful information.

The home of cup finals and music concerts, take an accessible tour of Wembley which includes the pitch, back rooms, royal boxes and more. The stadium has a comprehensive service for guests with access requirements. Lifts and accessible toilets, turnstiles and food counters are at an accessible height, there are 310 wheelchair places and an equal number for personal assistants. You’ll find induction loops and British Sign Language (BSL) for concerts. There are sensory rooms for guests with autism and other needs.

Take in the vista of London’s docklands from 52m in the air as you climb London’s iconic dome shaped building, The O2 Arena. Free carer tickets are available for any climbers who need a carer to accompany them on the climb. On weekday mornings between spring and autumn, there are also wheelchair climb sessions that can accommodate one wheelchair user with up to nine friends and family members. 

The fast and furious sport of white water rafting awaits at Lee Valley White Water Centre, where you’ll soon be tackling the raging rapids like a pro. Staff receive disability awareness training. There are accessible changing room and shower facilities available, and guests can use a hoist to transfer into the canoes or rafts. 

Step into the world of Paddington Bear at this immersive attraction dedicated to London’s cuddliest resident. The Paddington Bear Experience is accessible for wheelchair users, and a complimentary carer ticket is available with every wheelchair or access ticket purchased. Guests may collect a sensory backpack with ear defenders, fidget toys and stress balls, and the venue recommends the 10am or 10:15am timeslot for a quieter experience. 

Hogwarts awaits at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, which offers the ultimate behind-the-scenes peek at the magic of Harry Potter. Both manual and electric wheelchairs are welcome at the Studio Tour. While the majority of the experience is wheelchair-accessible, certain areas are not: these include Diagon Alley’s cobbled street and the Great Hall’s slate floor. Sensory support bags and a sensory room are available for those with additional needs.

See your favourite film stars as you’ve never seen them before – made out of wax! Snap a photo with Doctor Who, Spider Man, Enola Holmes and many more celebrity figures at Madame Tussauds. 

The museum is designed to be fully wheelchair-accessible and guests must pre-book their wheelchair slot online at least 24 hours in advance. There are also wheelchairs available for hire. The attraction is spread across six floors with 324 stairs to navigate, so guests with limited mobility can speak to member of staff on the day of their visit to use the accessibility lift too.

Recognised by its green copper dome, St Paul’s Cathedral is open to all. Marvel at the carvings, sculptures, and mosaics, and then take the accessible lift down to the crypt. The new North Transept has step-free access and both wheelchair and mobility scooter users are welcome in the Cathedral. There are guided tours, induction loops and accessible toilets.

Founded by Benedictine monks back in 960AD, Westminster Abbey continues to be a place of worship and is steeped in history. You’ll find audio described tours created with VocalEyes, there is a hearing loop system, accessible toilets, wheelchairs to borrow, accessibility guides, material in Braille and all assistance dogs are welcome. Disabled visitors and careers get free admission. 

Greenwich is home to the world’s last remaining tea clipper, Cutty Sark. Explore parts of the original vessel and visit an interactive exhibition that gives you the sights, smells and sounds of life on board. The ship is wheelchair accessible with lifts available. There is plenty to support those with sensory needs , with large-print guides, signage in Braille, tactile models, audio presentations and more. The attraction is dementia-friendly, and a number of staff are trained in autism awareness and British Sign Language. 

The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, this 900-year-old former home of Queen Elizabeth II, and now King Charles III, is a popular royal attraction. Windsor castle is quieter after lunch and there’s an alternative entry for wheelchair users to access St George’s chapel. You’ll find an accessible cafe, accessible toilets and Changing Places dotted throughout. The castle also offers guides for blind and partially sighted people, and those with autism. While in the area, stop for a pint at Windsor’s very own brewery, Webrew. 

Set in trendy Shoreditch is the Bubble Club. This is an inclusive nightclub co-created by people with learning disabilities, boasting an always-friendly vibe. There are DJ sets playing anything from hip hop to pop, art activities, plus, you can hit the decks and learn to spin some vinyl. When you’re ready for a break from the music there’s a chillout space in the courtyard outside.

Everyone from Elton John to Jay-Z has performed at the Roundhouse, plus new emerging artists, and a programme of events including theatre, comedy, music, dance, and circus. There are accessible parking spaces, ramps, level access through powered doors and a lift. They also have an infra-red assisted hearing system and headsets, induction loops and signs in braille. Check their website for information on accessible performances, strobe lighting and queue skipping. 

Wellcome Collection is a free museum famous for its permanent exhibition, Being Human. The exhibition explores hopes, dreams and fears, linked with science. Inside, the library has quiet space with assisted study rooms and there are other rotating installations, exhibitions and free live access tours using audio- descriptions, speech-to-text and BSL. There are induction loops, changing facilities and more. 

Housed in a former power station is a huge collection of permanent and rotating exhibitions of contemporary national and international art. There are mobility scooters for hire and monthly BSL and touch tours. People who are partially sighted or blind can touch the installation piece: Untitled 1993. People with autism can plan a visit in advance with the step-by-step visual and written guide. Encounter the work of world-famous artists like Dali, Picasso, Warhol and Lichtenstein. 

Covering 11 acres, The Southbank Centre is one of the UK’s biggest arts’ centres showcasing the world’s leading artists and new talent. Its aim is to make musical performance, art, and events available to everyone. The ticket offices, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces are accessible to all, as are places to eat and drink, and links to public transport are step-free. Events held at the centre offer sign language, speech-to-text transcription, audio description and captioning. There’s also pre-event touch tours, relaxed performances and more. 

Step into a world of discovery at the most visited science and technology museum in Europe. Explore over seven floors from the far reaches of outer space, to the inner workings of the human body and the power of medicine. Exhibitions, places to eat and the ticket desk are accessible. The museum’s friendly staff are on hand to offer additional support during your visit if required. Around the museum there are hearing loops, sign language on selected films, large print books, tactile maps and more. Choose to visit during Early Birds or Night Owls hours for a quieter and more relaxed visit. 

Housed inside this legendary London landmark, Battersea Power Station is a fresh addition to London’s shopping and entertainment scene. The iconic Grade II listed building has accessible shops, bars and restaurants, as well as parks and entertainment. There are Blue Badge parking spaces in the Circus West Village and Electric Boulevard carparks and a range of accessibility features, including changing rooms with hoists, sensory packs, quiet rooms, step-free access and mobility scooter loan. 

Spitalfields is housed under a Victorian roof in trendy East London with an eclectic mix of vintage stalls, clothes, art, jewellery and more. Take in the sights, sounds and smells as you sample a host of tasty street foods. Blue Badge holders can park on double yellow lines on the street and access is good all around the market, keeping in mind that Sundays are usually busiest.

Home to 50,000 plants from around the world, there’s 320 acres to explore. Kew Gardens is mainly flat with tarmacked paths so there is relative ease of access. Highlights including The Temperate House, Alpine House and The Princess of Wales Conservatory. All are accessible by wheelchair and mobility scooter while The Palm House is accessible by wheelchair only. There are monthly BSL tours, dementia-friendly health walks and sensory tours for visitors who are partially sighted or blind. 

You don’t need to head to the countryside to experience farm life – instead, visit Stepney City Farm to meet its adorable residents, including sheep, goats, pigs and chickens. The farm has wheelchair-friendly paths throughout, and assistance dogs are welcome. 

Look beyond the city’s skyscrapers to this urban oasis, home to colourful water birds, mammals and geese from around the world. The London Wetland Centre’s paths are accessible for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, and both are available to rent on-site. There are nine accessible parking spaces (including one for electric vehicles), and most hides are wheelchair accessible. Check out the centre’s Sensory Map to find loud and quiet areas.

London is packed with accessible pubs and bars, though it’s worth calling ahead and asking about quieter times for those who are crowd and noise aware. London’s restaurant scene also has some accessible gems to try out, such as the step-free and wheelchair-friendly La Goccia in Covent Garden. For something a bit special, Hide in Mayfair boasts three floors each with its own unique twist and all accessible by lift. If Japanese fusion food is your thing, Roka in Canary Wharf and Charlotte Street have tables that are wheelchair height.