Arts, Crafts & Galleries

Every region of the UK has its own local arts scene, some are more arty than others, for instance areas of Devon are incredibly proud of their arts and crafts scene, with towns such as Totnes famed for their independent shops selling locally made crafts and gifts. Everywhere you look you’ll find evidence of the UK’s love of the arts, from Bristol’s graffiti, to London’s galleries, to the architecture of Dundee, which is the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design. It is perhaps not surprising when you consider the UK’s rolling countryside and coastal views, they have been inspiring creative mind for centuries.

It isn’t just Devon that feature locally made gifts, there are many regions of the UK hosting craft fayres and events that focus on home and hand made goods. It is a huge movement in the UK and there is something very special about finding the perfect, unique gift for your loved ones. If you’re looking for somewhere to indulge our artistic side, you’ll find plenty of opportunity to join a course or workshop, or just attend an event and see how the professionals do it.

If you’re not into paintings and that sort of thing, don’t worry, the arts stretch much further than that. You can join in on one of the UK’s literature festivals where all your favourite authors host panels and workshops, drawing you into their fictional worlds. Some of the more famous ones, such as the Hay on Wye festival, Bath’s Children’s Literature Festival and YALC, take place annually and often sell out quickly. Many of these literature festivals take place at indoor venues and have accessible facilities, such as accessible toilets, level access and are suitable for wheel chair use.

Because of the rich heritage of the UK, you’ll find that wherever you look, you’ll find galleries featuring the very best of the UK’s artists, from painting to sculpture and more. Some of the world’s best known galleries can be found in the cities of the UK. Many galleries have been adapted to make them inclusive, even those that are housed in some of Britain’s oldest buildings. You’ll find lifts, wheelchair access, hearing loops and more, many of them are even welcoming of service animals, meaning that anyone can enjoy a few hours admiring some art at their leisure. Some galleries also offer ‘autism friendly’ opening hours where the exhibits are lit in a more comforting way and attendees can walk around in silence without having to worry about any other external stimuli.

As well as established galleries and venues, there are a number of arts bodies that organise exhibitions and performances in towns and cities all over the country and of course, the world famous music festivals, from Glastonbury to Reading and Leeds. The music festivals in the UK range from small park based gatherings to huge sprawling fields attracting the top acts in the music industry. The UK’s music festivals work hard to make sure their sites and the performance areas are accessible, so don’t shy away from them if it’s something you’ve always wanted to experience.

You’ll find art and craft events and attractions all over the country that are accessible and have a range of facilities to make sure you have a great time.