Accessible Days Out

Accessible days out should be a common experience shared by everyone, but all too often reduced mobility prevents many elderly residents of the UK from getting out and experiencing the best of what the country’s attractions have to offer. This guide has been produced to offer the best ideas for accessible days out that families of all sizes and ages can enjoy as well as some great sources of further information so that you never miss out on a day out again.

UK advice
Luckily, living in the UK, there are plenty of accessible attractions and visitor centres that make days out with the grandchildren a comfortable and enjoyable experience, but sometimes it may be difficult to find somewhere near you or find out further information about days out and access features at certain attractions. As a result numerous sources of information have been created to help the country’s users of electric stair lifts and other such mobility aids find days out that suit them.

DisabledGo is just one example of such a source. With a fantastic Trip Planner feature and examples of places to go such as the cinema, parks and even sports centres to suit those with a disability or restricted mobility, it is great source of information to help you maintain your independence and enjoy the activities you love.

Similarly, Tourism for All provides information on accommodation and tourism services for older people and those with disabilities so that they can get the most out of such services across the UK and some select overseas destinations. As a national registered charity, all of their information is provided with their readers in mind and offers a clear and full guide to accessible days out in the UK. As well as offering information on accommodation, travel, and attractions they also provide further sources and information on activity holidays for disabled people, equipment hire, places where care is available, carer services and sources of finance towards the cost of a holiday for people on low income.

Ableize pride themselves on being the UK’s biggest directory offering disability, mobility and health resources with links and information on everything from access and travel to recreation and sports, all of which is laid out clearly in a format that is easy to navigate.

Then there is the Good Access Guide who also offer some great information. Their ‘Leisure Time’ tab has various individual sections to help you plan the ultimate accessible day out, with individual links to various days out with sub categories which can then be narrowed down by location. Take a look and see where you could be exploring.

The National Trust
Is there any conservation organisation as widely used as the National Trust in the UK? They have been known for maintaining the most beautiful places of historic interest and natural beauty and opening them to the public.

Alongside this work of maintaining exquisite attractions for visitors they have also worked tirelessly to ensure that these visitor attractions are accessible to all with a Facilities and Access section available on every place description so that you can check online beforehand what mobility precautions you may need to take. The National Trust visitors with disabilities guide offers further information and advice for those with disabilities and mobility restrictions to make the most of National Trust places including information on the Access for All Admit One Card that lets carers or companions enter for free.

Further afield
The UK is not the only place that offers accessible days out for the elderly as there are numerous websites and sources that offer such assistance and information all over the world. Accessible Europe offers information on accessible attractions and services all over Europe so that you can enjoy accessible days out whilst on holiday too!

While mobility is a subject that we all struggle with at some point or another, restricted mobility should never stop us from enjoying the very basic of life events. This guide looks to ensure that people across the country can access the most enjoyable of days out no matter their level of mobility before returning home to the comfort of their motorised riser recliner chair.

Image Credits: DisabledGo, Tourism for All, Ableize, Good Access Guide, National Trust (©National Trust Images/John Millar, ©National Trust Images/David Levenson), Accessible Europe

Are you interested in more travel-related content from Age Co Mobility?

https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/mobility-news/article/the-uk-s-top-accessible-beaches
https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/mobility-news/article/most-accessible-attraction-in-uk
https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/mobility-news/article/top-accessible-attractions-in-the-uk
https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/mobility-news/article/the-most-accessible-sports-venues-in-the-uk