Guide to Britain for disabled travellers

Getting to and from the airport 

 

 Ramps for wheelchair access
 Wide paths
 Disabled toilets
 Disabled seating in check-in areas

Train

Both Heathrow and Paddington stations are step-free between the train and the platform.Heathrow Express trains are accessible for wheelchair users.

Bus

National Express buses from Heathrow are able to carry wheelchairs weighing up to 23kg. They must be stowed in the cargo hold.

Tube

At Heathrow Terminals 123 and Terminal 4 tube stations there is step-free from the train to platforms and ticket offices. There is a lift to the airport. Staff help is available on request. 

Heathrow Terminal 5 tube station has no step-free access, but staff can offer help to passengers where possible. See Getting around in London  below for more information about travelling by tube.

 Ramps for wheelchair access
 Wide paths
 Disabled toilets
 Disabled seating in check-in areas

Train

Gatwick Airport train station has step-free access and a ramp to help you board the train. Gatwick Express staff can offer help if you speak to them at the station, or contact them in advance.

Bus

National Express buses from Gatwick can carry wheelchairs weighing up to 23kg. They must be stowed in the cargo hold.

 Easy wheelchair access
 Disabled toilets
 Disabled seating throughout the airport
 Low-level information monitors

Train

Stansted Airport train station has step-free access and a ramp to help you board the train.   If you know when you will be travelling, you are advised to contact the station in advance to discuss assistance.

Bus

National Express buses from Stansted are able to carry wheelchairs weighing up to 23kg. They must be stowed in the cargo hold.

 Wheelchairs available to borrow
 Disabled toilets
 Assistance boarding and leaving the plane

Train

Luton Airport Parkway train station has step-free access with lifts and escalators from street level to all platforms.

You should contact the station in advance if you think you will need staff assistance boarding a train. 

Bus

National Express buses from Luton are able to carry wheelchairs weighing up to 23kg. They must be stowed in the cargo hold.

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Getting around in London 

London Underground (Tube)

• All tube stations have an extra-wide entrance barrier so passengers in wheelchairs can get through.
• Many of London's biggest tube stations are completely step-free, including Kings Cross, Heathrow Terminals 123, London Bridge, Wembley Park, Green Park and Stratford. See a full list of step-free stations here.
• There are ramps to help wheelchair users to get on the tube at 16 stations including Earl’s Court, Oxford Circus, King’s Cross and Westminster
• All London Underground staff can assist customers with disabilities, if you need help you can just approach them when you arrive at a station. 
• To travel on the Tube, you will need a ticket - there is no discount available if you do not live in Britain. The easiest way to travel is with either a Travelcard or a Visitor Oyster Card.

Bus

• Every London bus can carry wheelchairs as big as 70cm x 120cm.
• All London bus routes apart from 9 and 15 can be lowered to pavement level to allow disabled customers to easily get on.
• All buses have an easy access ramp, which can be used by wheelchair users to get on
• You can travel on London buses for free if you are a wheelchair user, but everyone travelling with you needs a ticket.

Taxi

• All licenced taxis (black cabs) in London are accessible for wheelchairs.
• By UK law, all taxis and private hire vehicles have to let you travel with your guide dog or other assistance dog.
• Minicabs must be booked in advance. Accessibility can vary so check in advance or when booking
• TheLondon Taxi website offers more detailed information on taxi travel around London.

London Overground and Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

• All stations on the Docklands Light Railway have level access between the platform and the train.
• 38 stations on London Overground are step-free from the street to the platform
• Every London Overground train has designated spaces for wheelchair users, and priority seats
• If you know where you will be travelling, you can contact the station 24 hours in advance and explain what your needs are, to make sure they are able to help you. However, staff will do their best to help you whether you have booked or not.
• See more information about the accessibility of  London Overground services.

General London travel tips

• Assistance dogs are welcome on all public transport in London, as long as they do not block exits and entrances for other passengers.
• To plan your journey on London transport, pick up a tube map from any station once you're in London, or view it online. Stations with step-free access to platforms are marked with a white symbol, and stations with completely level access onto the tube are marked with a blue symbol.
• Transport for London’s online Journey Planner also provides an option for planning step-free route
• More detailed guides, including a guide to avoiding stairs, are also available online, as are video guides to using tubes, buses, trains and taxis in London.
• If you have a Blue Badge and are driving in London, you can register so that you do not have to pay the Congestion Charge. More information here. 

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Getting around in Britain 

By train

• Step-free access is available at many major train stations around Britain. 
• If you know which station/s you will be travelling to, you can search on nationalrail.co.uk for detailed information about their accessibility.
• This map shows which of the biggest train stations have step-free access.
• The Disability Onboard website has trips and information about travelling on trains in Britain for disabled customers.

• Britain's train travel discount scheme for disabled passengers is only available to people who permanently live in England, Scotland or Wales. However, if you are a wheelchair user or are visually impaired, you may be able to get some discounts on train tickets when you buy them at a train station ticket office. There is more information here.
• Also consider a BritRail Pass, a pass for unlimited train travel in Britain that's only available to visitors from overseas. It can work out much cheaper than buying inpidual tickets, depending on how much you'll be travelling.

Local buses, taxis and car hire

• By law, all buses in Britain will have to be wheelchair-accessible by 2017.
• Right now accessibility varies depending on the area you’re visiting and the type of buses they have. Over 60% of buses in England are already wheelchair accessible (as of December 2013).
• Transportdirect.info can help you plan a journey around Britain depending on your needs.
• By law, taxis have to accept passengers in wheelchairs and assistance dogs whenever they can. They legally cannot charge you more than any other customer.  
• Wheelchair-travel.co.uk has information about hiring an accessible car on your holiday
• If you are travelling from Europe and have a Blue Badge, you are allowed to park in disabled parking spaces in Britain.
• You may also be able to park for free or for a discount in some car parks, or to park on roads that do not usually allow parking.
• The FIA Disabled Travellers website has more information about how you can use your Blue Badge.

By bus / coach

• National Express buses can carry wheelchairs weighing up to 23kg. They must be stowed in the cargo hold.
• There is priority seating at the front of the vehicles reserved for customers who might have difficulty getting on or off.
• Drivers will be happy to load your luggage onto the coach if you are unable to do so yourself.
• You should contact National Express at least 24 hours before you travel if you want to take a wheelchair with you, or need staff to assist you in any way.
• More information is available here.

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Visiting Britain's top attractions

What do I need?

• In order to visit attractions with a disabled ticket, or get a free ticket for a carer, you should carry an ID card (such as a disability card) with you, as you may be asked to show it to a member of staff
• If your card is not in English, you should also carry an English translation with you
• You can usually get an English translation from your local town hall

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Visiting National Trust properties 

With a National Trust Touring Pass you can visit over 300 stately homes, gardens and castles in England and Wales.

How accessible are National Trust properties?

 Most properties are suitable for wheelchair users and disabled customers 

 A carer can enter National Trust properties for free when accompanying a wheelchair user

 Assistance dogs are welcome in all of the properties

• Many properties have wheelchairs that can be borrowed on your visit, but this varies by location 
• It may be easiest to contact the properties in advance if you know which you will be visiting
• To use disabled parking spaces, you must display a relevant Parking Card, marked with the international wheelchair symbol
• You can look up any inpidual place in more detail here including information about accessible toilets, and parking

 

Some of the most popular places to visit with the Pass are:

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Visiting English Heritage properties 

An English Heritage Pass lets you visit over 100 of the most important places in English history: castles, abbeys, Roman ruins and prehistoric monuments. 

How accessible are English Heritage properties?

 English Heritage are working on improvements to make sure properties are suitable for wheelchair users and disabled customers wherever possible

 Assistance dogs are welcome in all of the properties

•  Many properties have wheelchairs that can be borrowed on your visit, but this varies by location
•  It may be easiest to contact the properties in advance if you know which you will be visiting
• To use disabled parking spaces or get reduced parking prices, you must display a relevant Parking Card, marked with the international wheelchair symbol 
• You can look up any individual place in more detail here including information about accessible toilets, and parking

 

Some of the most popular places to visit with the Pass are:

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Useful links 

Disabledholidays.com - Information about accessible holiday accommodation 

Disabledholidayinfo.org.uk - Guides to help you plan and find suitable accommodation, including a UK-wide accommodation search

Disabledgo.com - A guide on accessible accommodation, and leisure activities including restaurants, hotels, libraries and more

Accessibleguide.co.uk - This guide provides lots of additional links to helpful resources

Tourismforall.org.uk - A nationwide charity with information about where to stay, visit, eat and drink in Britain 

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