Spinnaker Tower added to UK rough guide of most accessible attractions

Imaginative new features are helping transform the experience of days out in the Southeast for disabled visitors according to the new Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, which includes 17 attractions from the Southeast in a new 2016 edition.

A wheelchair accessible roundabout at the Thomley Activity Centre in Buckinghamshire, a tactile model of the Emirates Spinnaker Towers in Portsmouth, and a wheelchair accessible golf buggy at Aerobility in Surrey are just a few of the new installations creating a more immersive experience for visitors with disabilities visiting the Southeast. With comprehensive details of the UK’s top attractions with a range of features to ensure they are inclusive, the Guide celebrates the innovation, fun, and creative design that make great days out accessible.

Emma Bowler, reviewer and foreword author of the Guide, said: “Gone are the days when people thought a ramp was all it took. Attractions around the UK have really upped their game since the first edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, and are being increasingly creative as they recognise the diverse needs of disabled visitors.

“The Guide is really valuable resource and has done the hard work — digging out gems and dismissing those who have merely added a disabled parking space , and making sure that your day out is truly inspiring.”

The sixth edition of the fully refreshed and enhanced Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is now available online and has been developed in association with Motability Operations Ltd, the company that operates the Motability Car Scheme for disabled people.

Aimed at making each day out worry-free, all attractions featured in the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain have been assessed in detail by the Rough Guides team of reviewers, who either have a disability themselves or visited the attraction with a disabled friend or relative.

Some of the more unusual accessibility features highlighted in the updated 2016 edition of the Guide include vibration plates for sound to be felt, and pre-visit stories to aid those with autism. There are also tactile maps, wheelchair accessible bikes, golf buggies, accessible roundabouts and tree houses, and motion sensors to experience lights and sounds. Country parks, castles, cathedrals, and sports stadiums also offer creative options to improve accessibility.

The guide includes over 175 reviews of attractions, museums, parks and more throughout the UK, and almost 500 miles of scenic drives with accessible stops and sights.

The Guide reviews are free to read and use at accessibleguide.co.uk and the website also has additional practical information to aid your days out such as visitor reviews, special offers, and the curated ‘Days Out Blog’ for further inspiration.

More information on the guide can be found at www.accessibleguide.co.uk.