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Permalink Reply by George Perfect on August 4, 2017 at 12:21

My wife and I were frequent visitors to London before we moved to France - I was born there and one of our sons lives there. Our usual visit was a "long weekend" of 3-4 days duration as trundling round any big city (at least the way we do it) can be pretty wearing and generally tiring.

We have stayed in a variety of hotels across the city and found most to be "generally OK" when it comes to wheelchair access both in the room and throughout the hotel's public areas. One or two hotels we wouldn't book again due to things like lifts that are too small or difficult access, for example, to the restaurant or breakfast room.

Before I became disabled I was an even more frequent visitor to London (work called me there for 2-3 days most weeks) and I always used to love walking across London - at any time of day or night. Like most cities, it's best discovered 'on foot' (should that be 'on wheel' these days?). Our usual itinerary involves a mix of sightseeing (I'm an avid photographer) a little shopping and catching a show or concert.

We have walked/rolled across the city enough in one day to completely flatten the batteries of my wheelchair. Fortunately, there are better way to get around and across the city if needed. Here's a quick summary of our experiences:

+ Bus: Most, if not all London buses are wheelchair accessible with an on-board ramp that slides from the bus onto the pavement and the drivers are generally very well trained and helpful. As buses can be found on almost every street in London and the London Transport website provides a very useful map and route planner this is our favourite way of getting around. The negatives are (1) there is only ONE wheelchair space per bus - if it's already occupied you have to wait for the next bus (2) the dedicated wheelchair space is often used by other passengers to store luggage, baby pushchairs etc - normally no more than a cause for delay as these items are moved but it does occasionally let the 'nastier' side of city life become visible.

+ River Bus: Yes - the river buses are wheelchair accessible - even to the heaviest electric wheelchair! The staff are unfailingly helpful and this is a great and very comfortable way to get across the city. Just beware that at low tide the floating pontoons from which you board the boat might mean that the access ramp becomes VERY steep. I once had a main fuse blow while trying to climb a very long, steep ramp from the pier near Borough Market. That is an unusual problem though and the helpful staff will advise you.

+ Taxi (Black Cab): Can't speak for ride calling services but ALL London Black Cabs are wheelchair accessible - again, yes , even to a large electric wheelchair. The drivers are unfailingly helpful and - to our amazement - will even stop when flagged down on the street. No anti-wheelchair bias we've ever seen and all the drivers we've encountered have been unfailingly cheerfully helpful while assisting me in and out of the cab. Slight concern I've seen reported elsewhere though never encountered personally, unless you call for a cab (say by phone) the meter is not allowed to be turned on until all passengers are aboard. Negative: a large electric wheelchair just about fully fills the space in the passenger compartment - if you have someone with you, they'd better be pretty 'bendy' as there'll be nowhere, for example, to put their feet! Also, the height of an electric wheelchair (at least mine) means that I can't sit upright while in a cab but must spend bent forward - something to be wary of if that is difficult for you.

- Underground (Tube): Never tried it as last time I looked (admittedly about 4 years ago) few stations and platforms are wheelchair accessible. LT promise that the situation will improve - but as the "problem" was supposed to  have been completely solved in time for the 2012 Olympics I won't be holding my breath - especially when more comfortable alternatives are available.

? Trains: I've only used the InterCity services to get to London (and around the UK). My experiences have been variable. At best, you can book online, fill in a questionnaire describing your needs turn up 20 minutes before the departure time and helpful staff escort you to the door nearest your place and help with the temporary ramp need to get on board. At worst, the ONE space (yup, it's a disgrace!) available per train has been double-booked and you get told you'll have to take your chance waiting for the next train - unlike buses maybe 4 hours rather than 4 minutes away. If faced with this situation, there is another wheelchair space in First Class - don't be afraid to *insist* that the company honours your ticket and upgrades you. I've also had experiences where train staff have been trying to board me and other passengers fight to get on at the same time (clearly, they don't understand trains have other doors) - I've had people truly climbing over me in a corridor and injuring me while dragging luggage across me.

? Own car: On the plus side if your car is taxed in the disabled class it is exempt from the London Congestion Charge (NOTE: just carrying or displaying a blue badge is no good - this is a case where the CAR is exempt - not you). On the negative side, traffic moves V-E-R-Y slowly in London and parking charges are astronomical. But if you want to drive to London from elsewhere, park at a hotel then use public transport to get round the city (as was our usual practise) this works very well.

+ Getting round: Generally speaking, I'd award London 8.5/10 for accessibility. Most pavements are adequately ramped at every junction and throughout all the 'touristy' parts of the city ground is flat, paved and easily accessible. Parks, public spaces, shops, concert venues and theatres are almost universally accessible - with the few that aren't being the exception. Some can be a little "challenging" to access (eg; Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club) but staff are helpful and some, sadly, make no attempt (I'm talking about you - Comedy Store, Leicester Square - I used to be a regular ... no more!) - larger theatres are generally (though not universally - see my rant elsewhere on this site about one such) accustomed to wheelchair patrons and access and seating is usually good - though as ever it pays to book in advance and make sure you SPEAK with somebody (ie; don't just book online or at a ticket agent) to make sure arrangements will meet your needs AND you will be placed somewhere you can see the show!

If you are someone who needs a wheelchair to get around and wants to visit London I'd say get on and do it. Of course, do some research but among large European cities London is pretty good - maybe not as "Barrier Frei" as Berlin but a whole lot better than many French cities or other towns and cities across the UK.

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