Wheelchair accessible holidays in the UK: Don’t let a wheelchair stop you from exploring – some cities have never been more welcoming

City road breaks and wheelchairs have been pretty terrible bedfellows, especially in the UK.

Not long ago, “accessible” meant little more than a hotel room in an outbuilding with no view, access only to the ground floors of historic buildings, and al fresco dining in restaurants and bars without ramps.

While there is still work to be done before UK cities can lay claim to rival European champions (and multiple accessibility award winners) Barcelona in terms of wheelchair accessibility, things are improving.

Paul and Erica Crompton have spent the past few years documenting the UK wheelchair city-breaking scene and sharing their experiences on their Hope Zine website (hopezine.com).

Paul became a wheelchair user 21 years ago after a car accident. Since then, he and Erica have traveled the country testing and evaluating cities and communities for accessibility. Here are five of the best…

CHEERS TO CHESTER

Paul and Erica Crompton have been documenting the British wheelchair city-breaking scene on their Hope Zine website for the past few years. Chester (above) is said to be one of the most accessible cities in the country

Chester, the first British city to win the European Access City Award, is doing an admirable job of overcoming Rome’s wheelchair restrictions. Even the “Rows” (Chester’s unique joinery shops above street level) are accessible from four locations.

An hour’s drive from Chester, the Jodrell Bank Observatory (jodrellbank.net) impressed Paul and Erica by giving priority to wheelchair users during the planetarium show. Caretakers also get free access to the entire attraction.

STAY TONIGHT: Just outside the village, Crabwall Manor stands out for its wheelchair accessible spa facilities, including a lift for access to the pool and plenty of stairs and railings. Double B&B from £108.90 (crabwallmanorhotel.com).

GOOD OLD YORK

Paul and Erica note that York Minster (above) has a wide ramp that makes it easy for wheelchair users to enter the building, and there are clean and easy-to-find disabled toilets

Another northern city that belies its medieval, Georgian and Victorian architecture, York offers a wide range of wheelchair-accessible attractions.

Level entrances and lifts make the National Railway Museum (railwaymuseum.org.uk) accessible, while Paul and Erica chose York Minster (yorkminster.org) for its wide ramp, which makes it easy for wheelchair users to enter the building and also clean and make disabled toilets easy to find.

STAY TONIGHT: Set in 1,000 acres of lakes and woodland outside York, Sandburn Hall offers excellent disabled facilities, including bathrooms with adjustable mirrors. Double B&B from £128.20 (sandburnhall.co.uk).

BRIGHTON BELLS

This coastal town is characterized by wheelchair accessibility. The i360 Ferris wheel (brightoni360.co.uk) has a ramp and lift connecting the top of the ride to the beach level, as well as convenient disabled parking with a level underpass leading directly to the beach level. If you need to rent a wheelchair, you can rent it here.

For nightlife, many of the liveliest bars and pubs are wheelchair accessible, including North Laine Brewhouse.

STAY TONIGHT: The Hilton Brighton Metropole has five accessible rooms, some with sea views. Double B&B from £86 (hilton.com).

POWER TO PERTH

Do the famous Enchanted Forest Walk in beautiful Faskally Wood (above) outside Perth – volunteers along the way can help push wheelchairs on steeper terrain

The historic Scottish town impressed Paul and Erica thanks to the accessibility of the town’s famous Enchanted Forest Walk (enchantedforest.org.uk) in the beautiful Faskally Wood north of Pitlochry. In the evening there is a spectacular sound and light show. Volunteers along the route can help push wheelchairs on steeper terrain.

STAY TONIGHT: Blairmore Farm has two wheelchair accessible cottages with ramps between rooms. Parking is right outside the front door. From £400 for a two-night minimum stay (blairmorefarm.com).

THE FORMS OF BELFAST

Check out the exhibits at the Titanic Belfast Museum, which has fully accessible sections and galleries

The museum is dedicated to the sinking of the Titanic (titanicbelfast.com), and has fully accessible sections and galleries, as well as numerous disabled toilets.

Paul and Erica were also particularly impressed with Billy’s Blue Badge Tours (touringaroundbelfast.com) where a black taxi takes visitors around the Peace Wall and the murals of the Falls and the Shankill Road. The cabin is large enough to accommodate wheelchairs rather than cramming them into the hold.

STAY TONIGHT: The Belfast Holiday Inn in the heart of the city center has 14 wheelchair accessible rooms. All public areas are also suitable for wheelchair users. Double B&B in accessible room from £72 (ihg.com).