Accessible guide to north west England

For action-packed activities and adventures, Calvert Lakes adventure breaks have got you covered. Try abseiling in your wheelchair or the wheelchair obstacle course, a theatre break by the lake, zip-wiring at speed, or wildlife encounter with experts. Take adapted bikes around a nature reserve or have a go at bushcraft skills – including fire-making and spending the night in a bivouac shelter. There’s access to a hydro pool and sensory rooms, plus, accessible accommodation.

Take a 1.5-mile trek (2.4km) suitable for wheelchair users and people with learning difficulties and then hand-feed a herd of friendly alpacas. Alpacaly Ever After also run alpaca meet and greets for people unable to trek, and if you come along in September, you might even meet some baby alpacas (crias). There are three locations where you can meet the alpacas, all of which are accessible. Facilities include free accessible parking and accessible toilets.

Whether you’re a regular on the slopes or tentatively learning to navigate the piste, Manchester’s Chill Factore supports all skiers getting on the snow. Home to Disability Snowsport UK, a national charity providing adaptive skiing for people with any requirements, it features adaptive equipment, such as sit skis, and specialist instruction and support. The location is accessible with Changing Places and accessible toilets, lifts and more.  

Be blown away by this high-octane thrill with iFLY Manchester. There’s no parachute, no jumping, and no aeroplanes, and you’ll be accompanied by two instructors, so no matter your ability or courage levels, the sky is the limit. Access to ground floors, lift and wind tunnel are made easy, and briefings are available in British Sign Language. There are iFLY centres in London, Milton Keynes and Basingstoke, too.

Among the bright lights of Blackpool’s seafront, you’ll find water shoots and a whole lot more fun at one of the biggest indoor water parks in the country. Gold winners of the VisitEngland Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award, Sandcastle makes sure that everyone has the best possible experience. There are hoists, water wheelchairs and floatation aids, fast-track queues, subtitles and audio-commentary on key videos, hearing loops, Braille, a quiet room, Changing Places wet room, and so much more. The “relaxed” accessibility evenings offer a welcoming environment, plus, all staff are accessibility awareness trained, too.

Manchester is home to not only one but two of the best known football teams of all time. Take an accessible tour of Old Trafford, Manchester United’s iconic football ground, or Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. Both have accessible features, though it’s recommended to reach out beforehand to discuss specific access requirements.

Part of the University of Manchester, this accessible museum, art gallery, shop, park and gardens hosts contemporary exhibitions and regular collections. The museum is calm and relaxed, with facilities including accessible toilets, ear defenders and wheelchairs to borrow, large print information and accessible parking, plus there are designated “Quieter Hours”.

Covering an expansive of 1,600 square metres, this light-filled contemporary art gallery celebrates the life and work of northern artist Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and others. The biggest all-purpose built exhibition space outside of the capital, the site is accessible to wheelchairs and scooters with ramps to all areas. It has a Changing Places toilet, induction loops, a sensory garden, and more.

For an arts centre and theatre with a difference, head to Theatre by the Lake. Set beside the banks of the beautiful Derwentwater, Keswick, there’s a good stock of quality productions with BSL and relaxed performances for people who prefer a more easy-going setting. The theatre is wheelchair accessible with drop counters, a lift and accessible toilets on each floor. The site is dementia friendly and you can take a pre-performance familiarisation tour. Facilities include infra-red headsets, caption and audio described shows and more.

Explore the iconic Royal Albert Docks, with world-class museums, crafts shops and restaurants. Step back in time and discover The Beatles Story. The museum hosts a treasure trove of memorabilia, including John Lennon’s original piano, and reconstructions of familiar locations, like Abbey Road. The Beatles Story is accessible with wheelchair hire, accessible toilets and more. 

Close by is the Tate Liverpool, with its regular collection and rotating exhibitions. There’s level access throughout, Changing Places and accessible toilets, ear defenders to borrow and other accessible facilities. 

Finally, no visit to The Docks would be complete without a visit to the Maritime Museum to learn about Liverpool’s nautical past. The museum is accessible with subtitles, British Sign Language, audio descriptions, relaxed sessions and other facilities.  

Discover 1,000 acres of glorious Cheshire countryside – including a special Japanese Garden – at Tatton Park. Manual wheelchairs and electric buggies (gardens only) are available to hire. Blind or partially sighted visitors can borrow braille and large-print guides to explore the house and gardens. Wheelchair users can access the entire ground floor, and there is access to a stair climber for those looking to visit upstairs. If you’d rather stay on the ground floor, there is a photograph album of the upstairs rooms. In the gardens, there is step-free access to most areas, with wheelchair-friendly paths. 

Doubling for Mr Darcy’s Pemberley in 1995’s Pride and Prejudice, the National Trust’s Lyme Park is a romantic lead in its own right, thanks to its swoon-worthy setting at the gateway to the Peak District. Hire a Tramper to explore its stunning gardens and parkland, but be sure to book in advance as it’s popular. The ground floor of the hall has step-free access and there are accessible toilets.  

With 50 miles of accessible routes crafted by Miles without Stiles anyone with a wanderlust for the countryside will love these accessible routes. Routes are graded into three types: for all (people in their own wheelchairs, with clear paths), for many (for assisted wheelchair users, rougher paths), for some (strong/confident wheelchair users, off-road wheelchairs, routes may have low steps or breaks). You can hire an all-terrain mobility scooter known as a tramper, with Lake District Mobility. The 2.2  kilometre Walls Drive, Ravenglass, route delves into Roman history and takes you through two World Heritage sites. You can also take the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, a VisitEngland Gold award winning attraction, for a seven-mile (11km) steam train adventure. Some carriages are wheelchair accessible, assistance dogs are welcome and most staff have disability awareness training.

Get back to nature and canoe your way over Lake Windermere, then light your own fire and cook up a three-course bushcraft feast for lunch. Afterwards there’s options to paddle back or hop on an accessible powerboat. Ablenet offer other activities for people who are blind and wheelchair users, including sailing on the lake. There’s lots of systems in place to support mobility such as gantry hoists, as well as use of mountain trike wheelchairs.

Welcome to one of the UK’s biggest zoos! Meet Chester Zoo’s amazing animals, including lions, elephants and giraffes, and discover their fascinating habitats. 

The zoo welcomes visitors with wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with plenty of support on hand to help them enjoy their day. Pathways are accessible and wheelchairs and electric scooters can be hired on site. Accessible toilets are available across the site. Wheelchair users can take a ride on the Lazy River Boat Trip. For guests with issues with queuing, speak to a member of the team – many staff members are trained to recognise the Sunflower Lanyard and offer support.  

This stunning National Landscape is ripe for exploring. Hire a Tramper (an electric all-terrain wheelchair) from hubs across the Forest for a fantastic new way to see its wild landscapes. There are four tailored Tramper Trails to tackle, including one through Pendle Sculpture Trail and another through Gisburn Forest. 

Get into the Great British outdoors and have some great fun at family-friendly Bewilderwood. Guests with additional needs, or their carers, can take advantage of a short pre-visit to assess the park and see if any accommodations can be made to play structures. Craft and storytelling activities are fully accessible to physically disabled guests. There is a small number of accessible swings. 

Escape into blissful nature in one of 12 cottages located on Brickhouse Farm in Lancashire’s stunning countryside. You’ll find each cottage is wheelchair accessible, with disability aids available and ceiling track hoists, which are free of charge. For added relaxation, take a dip in the accessible hot tubs. There are some amenities that can be hired, on a first come first served basis, including a riser recliner armchair, profiling bed, air flow mattress and more. Brickhouse Cottages received a Silver Award for Accessible and Inclusive tourism at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023. Find out what’s in each of their 12 holiday cottages.

Shops, restaurants, a cinema and even an aquarium: it’s all here at the Trafford Centre, one of the UK’s largest shopping centres. There’s free wheelchair hire, while mobility scooters can be rented for £3 an hour. Disabled toilets and assisted change facilities can be found throughout the centre. Take advantage of Quiet Hour on Wednesdays between 10 and 11am, when all shops and restaurants aim to create an autism-friendly experience with dimmed lights and quieter music.