In Travel Features

The National Autistic Society estimates that around 700,000 people in the UK have autism, if you include the families and friends of those people, that is several million people who are living and dealing with autism every single day. With this in mind, wouldn’t it be great if everywhere had autism friendly days or selected times?
Luckily, over the past few years, there has been a surge in awareness for autism with many attractions, shopping centres and more offering autism friendly events and activities. Supermarkets for instance now have autism friendly hours making it so much easier for people to cope with the sensory overload that is doing a food shop.

We thought we’d put together a few suggestions of autism friendly activities for those of you looking for something to do and not really sure where to start.

  • Visit a theme park

    You might not think that theme parks with all the bright colours, flashing lights, noise and movement would be a good idea if you’re on the autism spectrum. Many theme parks offer special rates for children and young people with autism and their carers. There are also fast passes available that allow you to queue jump or go on rides at certain times of day when it is slightly quieter to help those who struggle in crowds. Many of the most popular theme parks in the UK will have discounts, offers and activities that are specifically geared towards being autism friendly, so be sure to check with the park to see what facilities they have.
  • Spend the day in the capital

    Again, you might think that spending the day in London would be a big no-no but actually many of the city’s top attractions cater for those on the autism spectrum. The London Eye  and the Tower of London, among others, have special discounted rates and some of the attractions even have a their own box office for guests with additional needs, making sure that you are on a tour that is suitable for you. Speaking of the Tower of London, there is a special guide for families with ASD.
  • Catch a film

    Cinemas across the country are now offering relaxed cinema screenings, which are autism friendly, these screenings are always clearly marked and are usually on the same day of the week, so helpful if you need to stick to a routine. Contact your local cinema to see when their relaxed screenings are.

You’ll be surprised by the amount of autism-friendly activities and attractions there are across the UK, hopefully these three suggestions will help inspire you!

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