Action for Blind People

Action for Blind People give free and confidential support for blind and partially sighted people.

rnib.org.uk
0303 123 9999
helpline@rnib.org.uk

 

Blue Badge Parking Map

The Blue Badge Parking Map can show you where to park in over 100 towns and cities across the UK.

parkingforbluebadges.com

 

Blue Badge Scheme

Information about applying for the badge and how to find Blue Badge parking bays near you.

gov.uk/blue-badge-scheme-information-council

 

Bus pass Scheme England

People of state pension age and disabled people are eligible for free off-peak travel on English local buses. You can get a pass from the local council. Some councils offer extra benefits like peak-time travel.

gov.uk/apply-for-disabled-bus-pass

 

Disabled Persons Railcard

A concessionary railcard that costs £20 yearly, but gives you one third off most standard and first-class rail fares if you have a disability (plus an adult companion, if train travel proves difficult). The website also has a useful link for booking assistance with individual rail operators.

disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk
0345 6050 525
railcardhelp@nationalrail.co.uk

 

Guide Dogs

As well as offering trained guide dogs, this organisation helps people who are blind or partially sighted to enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else.

guidedogs.org.uk
0800 781 1444
information@guidedogs.org.uk

 

National Express

National Express aims to run an accessible coach network – their adapted coaches have a wide entrance, lift access, level flooring and a large toilet. You can see the full details on their website.

nationalexpress.com
08717 818 181

 

National Rail

Search for any station using the ‘Stations & On Train’ page and you’ll see a handy station floor plan with images of facilities including platforms, to help with route planning.

nationalrail.co.uk

 

ShopMobility UK

Most towns and shopping centres have a ShopMobility scheme that lends manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and scooters.

shopmobilityuk.org

 

Transport for London (TFL)

The TFL website provides transport accessibility information and a journey planner that allows you to find a route that suits your mobility needs. TFL also offer a range of accessibility guides and maps, including audio and large print versions, step-free tube maps and information on assisted transport services.

tfl.gov.uk

BSM Driving Lessons

Information about learning to drive with BSM.

bsm.co.uk

 

RAC Route Planner

To help you find your quickest way from A to B. You can also get live traffic updates along a selected journey or a specific location.

rac.co.uk

 

Driving Mobility

A charitable network of centres who give advice and assessments to help people achieve independent mobility as drivers, passengers and wheelchair users.

drivingmobility.org.uk

 

Fuel Service

This mobile app helps disabled drivers who can’t leave their cars when refuelling. It notifies the station so someone can help. Not all stations are signed up, but the number is growing. You can get it on an iPhone, Android or Windows phone.

fuelservice.org

 

Disabled Motoring UK

A charity and member organisation campaigning for improvements in access for disabled motorists, passengers and Blue Badge holders.

disabledmotoring.org
01508 489 449
info@disabledmotoring.org

 

Contact

A charity for families with disabled children that publishes a guide called ‘Holidays, play and leisure’ with advice on planning holidays. You can download the guide for free from their website.

contact.org.uk
0808 8083 555

 

Ableize

An online directory of links to further information and services, including travel, recreation, sports, holidays and accommodation.

ableize.com

 

Charlotte’s Tandems

Charlotte's Tandems lend tandems and tag-along bikes for free to people with disabilities or additional needs, so that they can ride wherever, with whomever, and whenever they like.

charlottestandems.weebly.com

 

Omio

This website helps travellers easily compare and combine all modes of transport to the cities and towns they want to visit across the UK and Europe.

omio.co.uk

 

AccessAble

Heavily detailed access information for restaurants, hotels, cinemas, tourist attractions, pubs, train stations and more.

accessable.co.uk
01438 842 710
hello@AccessAble.co.uk

 

Disability Horizons

A disability lifestyle website with an audio version of every article. The great travel section covers practicalities, news, issues and reviews of places to visit – not all, but plenty of the content is UK-focused.

disabilityhorizons.com

 

Disabled Ramblers

Disabled Ramblers organise and run a programme of supported disabled rambles each year. They campaign for better access while fully preserving the character of the countryside.

disabledramblers.co.uk

 

RNIB

Advice on leisure activities and holidays for those with visual impairments, including a list of accessible museum and gallery events.

rnib.org.uk

 

Euan’s Guide

Euan's Guide has disabled access reviews by disabled people and their families and friends. The guide features hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and more.

euansguide.com
0131 510 5106

 

National Autistic Society

Features some advice on planning holidays and days out when you have a child with autism, plus lists of holiday providers and accommodation suitable for adults with autism. It also has the extensive Autism Services Directory, which lists organisations who offer play and leisure services.

autism.org.uk

 

Special Needs Kids

The ‘Leisure & activities’ section on this website has some useful suggestions for days out for families with children who have special needs.

special-needs-kids.co.uk

 

Wheel:Life

A helpful directory specialising in leisure and lifestyle, in association with HugeDomains.com (a social networking site). Useful organisations, accommodation, activity holidays and tour operators are listed and there's a particularly good section on disabled sporting associations.

wheel-life.com

 

Accessible Countryside

A basic website with an extensive database of things to do (not all are outdoors) and facilities to help you do it. It’s very useful if you have the time to explore it, including an impressive list of accessible sports organisations.

accessiblecountryside.org.uk

 

Accessible Derbyshire

Offers inspiration for places to go in Derbyshire – from scenic viewpoints to shopping centres, and farm shops, museums and gardens. It also details local accessible sporting activities, Changing Places toilet locations, and an overview of ways to travel around the county.

accessiblederbyshire.org

 

The Outdoor Guide

This website dedicated to walking, and fronted by Julia Bradbury, offers inspiration, information and maps for routes across the UK. It also includes sensory walks and a selection on walks that are good for wheelchairs.

theoutdoorguide.co.uk

 

Phototrails

This website offers photo tours of walking routes in the UK. It also has plenty of detail on trail lengths, gradients and facilities en route. All trails have been awarded an accessibility rating.

phototrails.org

 

The Bimblers

A travel and lifestyle blog for wheelchair users, with candid and personal reviews of places to stay and things to do.

thebimblers.com

English Heritage

Owners of over 400 historic properties, English Heritage have an Access for All policy. Their site has an Access Guide featuring properties with good provisions for visitors with limited mobility and sensory needs.

english-heritage.org.uk

 

Visit England

The English tourist board runs an Access for All scheme on their website which includes mini-guides to short breaks across the country, and practical information. Their National Accessible Scheme rates the accessibility of accommodation in England. It also helps tourism businesses make improvements in access and the information they give to visitors.

visitengland.com

 

Experience Community CIC

A not-for-profit organisation that gives video guides, photographs and written information about tourism, attractions, facilities and walks in Yorkshire for disabled and older people. They also organise day trips using accessible vehicles, tour guides and personal assistants.

experiencecommunity.co.uk

 

National Trust

Essential companions of disabled visitors get free entry to National Trust properties, with an annual ‘Admit One’ card. The members’ handbook has access advice and the website has good detail about each property. You can download access statements for some larger attractions too.

Predictably with heritage sites, certain properties have some inaccessible areas, but the dedicated Access for All team is working to make improvements. For particular needs provision, call the site ahead of your visit.

nationaltrust.org.uk
0344 800 1895
enquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk

 

The National Trust for Scotland

The largest conservation charity in Scotland looks after many places you can visit – from castles to coastlines. All their attractions have a basic level of access information on the website.

nts.org.uk
0131 458 0200

 

Visit Birmingham

The most useful regional tourist board website. The Accessible Birmingham section has tips on getting around Birmingham, including a link-up with Direct Enquiries to give you photo journeys of routes from the nearest public transport. Birmingham City Centre Partnership run two great schemes – Meet and Greet to help people get around and Wayfinder Talking Signs for blind and visually impaired people.

visitbirmingham.com

 

Visit Lancashire

This website has an online list of accessible accommodation and some access information for attractions, but the fairly comprehensive ‘food and drink’ listings section doesn’t include access details.

visitlancashire.com 

 

Visit Britain

Under ‘Accessible Britain’ in the ‘Getting around Britain’ section, you’ll find an overview of useful links.

visitbritain.com

 

Visit Scotland

The Scottish Tourism Board runs its own quality assurance scheme for disabled access. You can search for accommodation and attractions on the website, using accessibility criteria.

visitscotland.com info@visitscotland.com

 

Visit Wales

The website of the Welsh tourist board has links to a wide variety of accommodation and activities. When you search for accommodation or attractions, you can use the ‘provision for disabled visitors’ filter.

visitwales.com

 

Discover Northern Ireland

This website has suggestions for days out and itineraries, and lists of events and festivals in the different regions, plus links to accommodation and activities.

discovernorthernireland.com

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The DWP offer a rang of allowances and services for people who are ill or disabled and their carers.

gov.uk

 

Department for Social Communities

Information on social security benefits in Northern Ireland.

communities-ni.gov.uk

 

Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

Information about driving licenses, learning to drive, vehicle registration and car tax.

gov.uk
For Northern Ireland – nidirect.gov.uk

 

Veterans UK

Veterans UK give pensions, welfare and support services to members of the Armed Forces and veterans.

gov.uk

Disability Holidays guide

A good directory for booking accessible holiday accommodation and supported breaks, with lots of UK places.

disabilityholidaysguide.com

 

Disabled Access Holidays

An online travel agent, with a decent amount of accessible accommodation in the UK.

disabledaccessholidays.com
03333 355 615

 

Disabled Holidays

This holiday specialist has a user-friendly website where you can search for accommodation and filter by your access needs and region – there are plenty of UK options to choose from. They can help with booking for children and have tips on travelling with a child with autism.

disabledholidays.com 

 

Wallops Wood Cottages

Wallops Wood Cottages has ground-floor, accessible, self-catering holiday cottages. It’s located in the South Downs National Park in the beautiful Meon Valley.

wallopswoodcottages.co.uk

Hynt

An Arts Council of Wales initiative which offers specific access information to plan a theatre trip in Wales. If you’re a cardholder, you can get a free ticket for your carer at all participating venues.

hynt.co.uk
info@hynt.co.uk

 

SeatPlan

This website offers a decent level of access information for many of the UK’s major theatres. Each venue has a seating plan, with some photos of views from seats, and an Access section.

seatplan.com

 

Stagetext

A charity who offers captioning and live subtitling services to theatres and arts venues. You can search the What’s On page by region or date.

stagetext.org
020 7377 0540

 

Signed Culture

An organisation that promotes the use of BSL in the arts. The What’s On page has an eclectic but limited list of events.

signedculture.org.uk
admin@signedculture.org.uk

 

Vocal Eyes

A directory of audio-described events at theatres and museums around the UK.

vocaleyes.co.uk
020 7375 1043