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At Tourism for All, it is our aim to connect our users with the best organisations and establishments for those with additional needs, which is why we thought we’d offer a helping hand in finding things to do once the warmer weather really kicks in. So, we thought we’d pull together our favourite accessible gardens across the UK.
Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list, there are plenty of attractions all around the country offering accessible gardens, green spaces and more, but here is a little taste to get your inspiration flowing. So, whether you need step free access, level paths and smooth grass or perhaps signs in Braille or large print or even just how far it is from the car park to the actual attraction. We’ve considered all these things when putting together this list, so whatever you need from your day out, you’ll find it.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
While you might remember this as being the base of the Olympics when it came to the UK in 2012, it has now been revamped to hold a football stadium among other things including London’s newest park. The information centre has a ramped entrance and a portable hearing loop system, plus the park is pathed with easy and moderate slopes and every 50m you’ll find benches. There is also a mobility service operating at the park which has a number of mobility scooters, manual wheelchairs, buggies and more available for hire, sighted guides are also available, so if you’re in London, be sure to take a trip here.
You can take a look at a full guide here.
Knebworth House park and gardens, Hertfordshire
Just over the border from London you’ll find Hertfordshire and there, Knebworth House with is acres of green space. The gardens are pathed throughout with both loose chippings and the more common paving slabs, plus handrails on some of those with steps or steeper inclines. There are also benches dotted around the grounds to visitors to use.
The facilities include accessible toilets, blue badge parking and facilities for service animals, so why not make a family day trip out of it? The whole estate is delightful and includes everything from a Walled Garden and Rose Garden, Deer Park, Adventure Playground and a maze.
Take a look at a guide here.
Botanic Gardens, Sheffield
Originally opened in 1836, this historic botanical garden has plants from all over the world making it a haven for nature lovers. It has a number of accessible features including surfaced paths and guides that are available in both large print and braille.
Beeston Castle, Cheshire
The gardens of this historical site offer breaktaking views and an incredible wooded section that will delight children and nature lovers alike, in fact it is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, bats and foxes. There are two routes around the gardens, both of which have easy, moderate and steep sections. The carpark has blue badge parking and there are concessionary entrance fees to carers.
You can find a guide here.
Midsummer Common, Cambridgeshire
While this one is a bit of a wild card, it doesn’t list accessible toilets or parking actually onsite, though there are both nearby, it is a pretty area that is home to the annual Midsummer Fair, which is one of the UK’s best known and oldest annual fairs. The gardens have wide paths, suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, as well as a number of paved surfaces and benches at convenient locations.
You can see a guide here.
