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Comedian Rosie Jones is on a mission to show how inclusive travelling the UK can be. After exploring England, Scotland and Wales to stress-test fun hot spots, adventure activities and notoriously inaccessible locations, Rosie has put together a guide to taking a short break in the UK. From wheelchair-friendly boat trips to countryside caving, accessible holidays in the UK have never been easier.
Please note: While the attractions listed in this article have achieved good levels of accessibility, please be sure to make your own checks and inquiries directly with the attractions before travelling to ensure your accessibility requirements can be met. You can also find independently assessed accessible accommodation across England.
Please note: There are varying restrictions in place across England to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. Please be sure to check our Know before you go page as well as individual attractions’ websites before travelling.
One of the city’s oldest and most iconic attractions, Brighton Palace Pier has been entertaining visitors for well over one hundred years. And despite its raised height, Brighton Palace Pier is accessible for all, thanks to a raised ramp and accessibility friendly features including braille menus and guide dog permissions.
One of Brighton’s most recognisable features, the British Airways i360 stands 162m tall and has unparalleled 360 degree views across the city, coastline and surrounding countryside. With step-free access, hearing loops at the booking desk and free tickets for carers, the i360 is constantly updating to meet a high standard of accessibility.
Brighton’s iconic cabaret venue, The Queens Arms, features an eclectic mix of entertainment, including drag queen comedy shows. With no stairs and exceptional table service, The Queens Arms prides itself on providing a top night out for wheelchair users.
No trip to Brighton is complete without a visit to the beach. And while its iconic pebbles might seem like a hindrance, there are two all-terrain beach wheel chairs for hire meaning you can get as close to the shore as you want without any hassle.
The Rings cottage is a fully accessible holiday cottage suitable for families, set against the backdrop of dramatic Scottish countryside. Decorated to account for those with sensory impairments and wheelchair-friendly throughout (thanks to lowered worktops, wide doorways and spacious rooms), The Rings cottage has been designed to enable holidays for all.
With 184 haunted locations and 260 ghosts (apparently), this award-winning guided tour of St Andrews is a great way to see historic sights while learning more about the paranormal. With a route accessible for both wheelchairs and mobility scooters, as well as allowances for guide dogs, the St Andrews Ghost Tour aims to be inclusive and informative for all.
Take to the skies with the largest gliding club in Scotland, located right next to Loch Leven. The Scottish Gliding Centre’s specially adapted glider means people with accessibility needs are able to enjoy this unforgettable experience too.
Get out on the water with a Lyneal Trust canal boat. Kitted out with ramps, hydraulic lift and even a conventional tiller, this boating experience lets wheelchair users gets hands on. Sail along Llangollen Canal (there’s plenty of pub stops along the way), and journey across the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Wales-England border.
Enjoy hearty breakfasts, afternoon tea and proper coffees at the quaint Pontcysyllte Tea Room, housed inside a former chapel. Despite the building’s traditional architecture, there’s ramp access into the tea room and plenty of space to spread out.
Filled with rare plants, feral goats and even a Roman temple, is a dramatic natural pier overlooking the Bristol Channel. Don’t be put off by the hills, the puddles or the sticky-out tree roots; you can easily explore Brean Down with an all-terrain tramper, available from the visitor centre and provided by Countryside Mobility - a previous winner of the VisitEngland Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award.
Let out some rage at Whistle Punks, an urban axe-hurling venue in Bristol’s city centre. Many of the staff have deaf-awareness training, and they even host exclusive sessions for those with mobility challenges and visual impairments, to make sure everyone gets the chance to hit a bullseye.
Adventure is a state of mind, and it can definitely be found on a trip to the Mendip Hills. Accompanied by caving expert, Marcus, who knows the best routes for all abilities in the group, you’ll descend into hidden caves to explore – whether that’s on foot or on your bum!
The vibrant flower-clad Double Gate Farm in Godney has a selection of fully accessible rooms, with adapted bathrooms and emergency call systems next to the beds. Many of the staff have had disability awareness training too, meaning there’s always someone on hand if you need any assistance. As part of an independent assessment by the National Accessible Scheme, Double Gate Farm was rated as suitable for: Older and less mobile guests; part-time wheelchair users; and assisted wheelchair users.
