The Science Museum caters particularly well for disabled visitors with written
material available in large print, a special Makaton language resource for
those with communicative disabilities and information in Braille. The museum
holds accessible events, including events for deaf audiences, deaf-led tours
of galleries, SIGNtific family events and audio-described events for
partially-sighted or blind visitors. Specially trained staff members are
always on hand. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible and disabled
visitors receive concessionary prices for the IMAX 3D cinema – with support
workers admitted for free.

2. Cadbury World, Birmingham

A large print guide is available and concessions are offered for visitors with
disabilities. Visually impaired visitors have the opportunity to touch and
feel key props at various stages of the exhibition. There are audio tours
and subtitles on video presentations. Wheelchairs are available and the
Cadabra ride has a specially adapted mobile car, which can seat one
wheelchair user and one companion.

3. The Chill Factorᵉ, Manchester

Chill Factorᵉ is home to Disability Snowsport UK, a national charity providing
adaptive skiing for individuals with all disabilities. By using adaptive
equipment and specialist instruction and support, they are able to cater for
people with very limited mobility. The majority of the attraction is
accessed at ground floor level. There is an additional restaurant, bar and
conference facilities on the first floor which are accessible by lifts or
stairs. Accessible toilets and large print information are available.

4. The National Children’s Museum, Halifax, Yorkshire

Set up in 1992, this is a museum dedicated to helping inspire children to
understand more about themselves and the world around them. Groups including
a disabled child can book a free service where a member of staff helps to
plan the visit, meets the party and looks after them. Those with sensory
impairments can enjoy interactive exhibits which they can smell, touch,
press and pull, including a Wonder Walk with scented plants for visually
impaired visitors.

5. Curve Theatre, Leicester

The venue has level access throughout, lifts to all floors and wheelchair
lifts in backstage areas. The theatre offers a number of performances which
incorporate British Sign Language interpretation, audio description and
on-screen captions. Customers requiring particular assistance are entitled
to a free ticket for their companion. The theatre’s layout has also been
designed with disabled people in mind – with extra disabled car parking
spaces, low counters and induction loops throughout.

Wales

6. St Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff

Traditional crafts and activities bring St Fagans alive, in workshops where
craftsmen still demonstrate their traditional skills such as bread baking
and crafts involving wood fires and animals – excellent for those with
learning difficulties or sensory impairments. Dedicated disabled car parking
and ramps are provided to nearly all buildings. A motorised Disabled Tour
Vehicle (DTV) is available to transport visitors around the site.

7. Caernarfon Castle

It’s not easy to make a medieval fortress accessible to people with
disabilities, but, thanks to the input of a local access group, Caernarfon
Castle now has a purpose-built ramp which allows wheelchair-users to access
all the inner wards. Disabled visitors are welcome free of charge – along
with their carers.

8. Clwyd Special Riding Centre, Wrexham

Whether you’re a confident equestrian or an absolute beginner, Clwyd’s Special
Riding Centre welcomes over 200 people of all ages with special needs every
week who benefit from the pleasure and stimulation of riding,
carriage-driving and equestrian vaulting – described as like gymnastics on
horseback. This unique venue also provides residential riding holidays for
groups of people with special needs from all over the UK and abroad.

9. Coasteering, Pembrokeshire

Coasteering specialists Celtic Quest in Pembrokeshire can tailor their
daredevil activities to suit just about anyone, including deaf, blind,
hearing-impaired and sight-impaired children and adults, as well as those
with learning difficulties and limited mobility. Their coasteering kit makes
you so buoyant, you don’t even need to be a strong swimmer.

10. Red Kite Spotting, Cambrian Mountains

Bwlch Nant yr Arian forest park in the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales is one
of the best places in Wales to spot red kites. Some of the Waymarked Walks
are specifically built for people with restricted mobility to enjoy the
amazing views of the lakes and mountains. The Vale of Rheidol railway near
Aberystwyth offers an unforgettable journey through the beautiful Rheidol
Valley by narrow gauge steam train. It offers wheelchair users the chance to
sit back and enjoy some of Wales’ most spectacular scenery, including the
beauty spot of Devil’s Bridge.

^{A red kite (Photo: AP)}

Scotland

11. Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh

The Garden welcomes disabled visitors and goes out of its way to ensure
everyone enjoys their visit, providing special scooters and wheelchairs to
those with mobility issues. There’s seating at regular intervals throughout
the gardens, as well as water points for assistance dogs. All reception
spaces have low counters and for those with sensory impairments there are
pens and paper and magnifying glasses at the Visitor Welcome centre.

12. Riverside Museum, Glasgow

The museum has large electronic touch-screens for visually impaired people and
also includes BSL for those with hearing problems. There are also tours
audio descriptions. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible and Guide and
Assistance dogs are welcome.

13. Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh

Despite being a boat, she is entirely wheelchair accessible with ramps and
lifts throughout. Staff also go out of their way to help those with sensory
and learning impairments.

14. Culzean Castle and Country Park, Maybole, South Ayrshire

The castle and many parts of the gardens and out buildings are accessible to
wheelchairs and there are disabled toilets across the estate. Also motorised
scooters can be booked in advance. Large-print room guides are available and
there’s an induction loop in the auditorium.

15. Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of Scotland’s most popular free
attractions. Lots of staff have ​been trained in British Sign Language and
all audio-visual presentations have subtitles and are at an accessible
height for wheelchairs. The galleries are specially designed to allow for
wheelchair access between displays and cases, making it fully wheelchair-accessible.

Northern Ireland

16. Titanic Belfast

The building is surrounded by a paved plaza, which is fully accessible. The
new attraction is designed with wheelchair users in mind, with integrated
loop systems for hearing impaired visitors on all audio, and with regular
seating areas throughout.

^{Titanic Belfast (Photo: Getty)}

17. Ulster Museum, Belfast

Although parts of the building are listed, renovation works in 2009 has made
the museum extremely accessible – with the overwhelming majority being
suitable for wheelchair users. Exhibits are also displayed at an accessible
height. Free personalised guided tours can be arranged for visitors with
sensory disabilities.

18. Grand Opera House, Belfast

Most areas of the building – the oldest theatre in Belfast – are wheelchair
accessible and staff are extremely helpful in offering good seating options
for wheelchair users or mobility issues. There is a café bar and restaurant
and guide dogs are welcome throughout.

19. Giant’s Causeway, Portrush

The new Visitor Centre has been designed in consultation with Disability
Action and other major access organisations to ensure good access for all.
Features include hearing loops, an “interpretation area” suitable
for visually impaired and wheelchair users, as well as a fully accessible
clifftop path.

20. The MAC, Belfast

Belfast’s new arts venue has music, theatre, dance and art on the menu, with
accessible seating and wheelchair access, captioned performances for deaf
visitors, audio described performances and touch tours. There are MAC “Navigators”
– identifiable by their brightly coloured T-shirts – on hand throughout the
venue to help with information and access needs.