Travel with confidence this summer

Planning your day trips or summer breaks ready for August and onwards? We know it can be difficult to plan around your needs and as it is Changing Places Awareness Day, here are some of the places you can visit this summer where there are Changing Places facilities, making it even easier to travel with confidence.

For those visiting the South West...

If you’re heading to the South West of England over the summer, there are plenty of fun, accessible places across Somerset, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall.

On the outskirts of Bristol is Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm. This award winning zoo is open seven days a week and is committed to being as inclusive as possible, they have multiple accessible toilets, including a Changing Places facility and a host of accessible features across the site.  If you’re travelling to the farm via the motorway, there is also a Changing Places facility at the Gordano Services off Junction 19 and another in nearby Clevedon.

In Gloucester you can enjoy the great outdoors with a visit to WWT Slimbridge. With 800 acres of wetlands to explore and accessible pathways and hides throughout, everyone can join in and delight in nature here. The site has its own Changing Places facility and often has portable accessible toilets during their larger events and activities too.

Further south in Dorset, Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth is a wonderfully accessible place to stay. The hotel has its own Changing Places toilet and shower room and uses WelcoMe, a tool that enables guests to let the hotel know before they arrive about their individual needs, making your stay even easier! Not only is there a Changing Places facility and a host of other accessible amenities at the hotel itself, but you are covered when you are out and about exploring the surrounding area. You can find Changing Places toilets at the Lower Pleasure Gardens in Bournemouth centre, just a short stroll from the hotel and another at Boscombe Pier.

Elsewhere in Dorset is Moors Valley Country Park and Forest one of the biggest attractions in the region, who also have their own Changing Places facility.

For those visiting the South East...

The South East of England is a great place to go for the summer, not only do you have the New Forest which is beautiful all year around but also the incredible beaches of Brighton and further on into Sussex.

One place to visit in this region is the Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium. With two floors of fun, demos and experiments, there’s plenty here to keep you entertained during the school holidays. They have their own Changing Places facility on site and with the beaches of Dorset close by, there are several others nearby should you want to explore further.

If you want to be outdoors in the sunshine, spend a day at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, which is in Cranbrook, Kent. It is home to a leading collection of conifers and over 12,000 specimen trees, creating a wonderful setting for walks and more. The site has its own trampers and mobility scooters for visitors that would rather use them, a Changing Places facility and several adapted activities.

For those visiting the North West...

If you’re a Beatles fan, you have to add Liverpool to your list of places to visit this summer. Strawberry Field, which lends its name to the song is one such place that should be on your radar. They have a Changing Places facility on site, as well as a host of other accessible features and offers a real insight into the Liverpool that John, Paul, George and Ringo grew up in.

No doubt you’ll want to spend some time soaking up the rest of the city and you’ll find other Changing Places facilities at nearby Calderstone Park and another at Sefton Park – perfect for relaxing in the sun this summer.

For those visiting the North East...

Yorkshire and the North East is another great destination for a summer get away, full of bustling cities like York and Leeds and lovely sea side towns, the North East has plenty to offer all year around. One place the whole family will love is Yorkshire Wildlife Park, 

 which can be found in Doncaster and has a Changing Places facility. If you’re going to be based in or around Doncaster, there are other facilities to be found at the shopping centre, so you can plan more than one day out and have peace of mind.

For those travelling further afield

For an adventure that feels further away than it is, why not plan a break in the Channel Islands? Jersey is full of wonderfully accessible places and the island has two publicly accessible Changing Places facilities in St Helier, one at the town hall and the other at Millennium Town Park.

Want some inspiration for places to stay and things to do? Click here.