ACCESS

Accommodation
The National Accessible Scheme: Throughout Britain, the Tourist Boards are inspecting all types of places to stay on holiday or business that provide accessible accommodation for wheelchair users and others who may have difficulty walking.
More information on the National Accessible Scheme
Search for NAS-inspected serviced accommodation
Search for NAS-inspected self-catering accommodation

Arts and Attractions
Artsline
54 Chalton Street
London NW1 1HS
Tel: 020 7388 2227
Fax: 020 7383 2653
Email: artsline@dircon.co.uk
Web: www.artsline.org.uk
London's information and advice service for disabled people on access to the arts and entertainment. A helpline open to all visitors from London, outside London and overseas.Open Mon-Fri 9:30-5:30pm.

The National Trust
36 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AS
Tel: 020 7447 6742/3
Fax: 020 7447 6701
Email: lmkvaw@smtp.ntrust.org.uk
Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
An annual 60 page booklet for disabled visitors is available free in return for minimum postage and self-addressed adhesive label. Booklet describes access and facilities at National Trust properties, and is available in large print and on tape: National Trust Membership Department, Freepost MB1438, Bromley, Kent BR1 3BR.

Society of London Theatre
32 Rose Street
London WC2E 9ET
Tel: 020 7557 6700
Fax: 020 76799
Free guide, information and advice on access to West End theatres.
Email: enquiries@solttma.co.uk
Web: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk


MOBILITY AIDS

Where to hire self-powered wheelchairs and other mobility aids, as well as adapted self-drive vehicles.

All Handling (Movability) Ltd
492 Kingston Road
Raynes Park
London SW20 8DX
Tel: 020 85422217
Fax:020 8359 4410
Contact: Joan Whipps
Disabled products and aids distributors. Hire and buy of powered wheelchairs, batricars, scooters, stair lifts and invalid aids.

Wheelchair Travel Limited
1 Johnston Green,
Guildford,
Surrey GU2 6XS
Tel: 01483 233640
Fax: 01483 237772
Email: info@wheelchair-travel.co.uk
Web: www.wheelchair-travel.co.uk
Self-drive rental minibuses/minivans with lifts; also cars/wagons with hand controls and left-foot throttles. Tours of London and other cities for wheelchair users. Taxi services airport, hotel and cruise terminal transfers.


NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

A range of organisations providing a variety of services and advice.

RADAR Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation
12 City Forum
250 City Road
London EC1V8AF
Tel: 020 72503222
Fax: 020 72500212
Email: radar@radar.org.uk
Web: www.radar.org.uk
RADAR is a major national cross-disability organisation run by and working for disabled people. Campaigns and advises on independent living, civil rights, employment, education, housing, mobility, leisure, social security and access.

British Red Cross
9 Grosvenor Crescent
London SW1X 7EJ
Tel: 020 7235 5454
Fax: 020 7245 6135
Email: information@redcross.org.uk
Web: www.redcross.org.uk
The British Red Cross provides a number of services for vulnerable people. These include medical loans for the short-term loan of equipment like bath seats, commodes and wheelchairs; also transport and escort for those unable to make essential journeys unaided.

RNIB Royal National Institute of the Blind
105 Judd Street
London WC1H 9NE
Tel: 020 7388 1266
Fax: 020 7388 3160
Web: www.rnib.org.uk
RNIB's holiday service provides general and more detailed information for visually impaired people. Produces a guidebook of mainstream hotels, which have been recommended by visually impaired people for visually impaired people around the UK, at the cost of £4.99. Copies are available in large print, Braille and on tape.

RNID The Royal National Institute for Deaf People
19-23 Featherstone Street
London EC1Y 8SL
Tel: 020 7296 8000
Helpline: 0870 6050 123
Fax: 020 7296 8199
Email: helpline@rnid.org.uk
Web: www.rnid.org.uk
RNID is the largest charity in the UK representing deaf and hard of hearing people.

SCOPE
6 Market Road
London N7 9PW
Tel: 020 7619 7100
Fax: 020 7619 7392
Web: www.scope.org.uk
Information and advice for people with disabilities.
Contact the Cerebral Palsy Helpline:
Tel: 0800 626 216 or Email: cphelpline@scope.org.uk
Scope only provides services in England and Wales so if you are contacting SCOPE from elsewhere, you may be limited in the advice or information offered, however SCOPE will do their best to help.

TOURS

William Forrester
1 Belvedere Close
Guildford GU2 GNP
Tel: (01483) 575401
Contact: William Forrester
Prize-winning tour guide, and co-author of 'Access in London' (Nicholson's 1996) a guidebook for disabled visitors. Tour guide for individuals and groups, particularly wheelchair users like himself, offers advice and will help organise your itinerary. Study tours of English Country Houses, tours to Bath, Oxford, Warwick, Stonehenge, Coventry, Stratford, Winchester and Salisbury; specialist tour of British Museum/The Houses of Parliament/Westminster Abbey and day tours of London by taxi. Fees on application.

The Original London Walks
PO Box 1708
London NW6 4LW
Tel: (0207) 624 3978
Fax: (0207) 447 1932
Email: london@walks.com
Web: www.walks.com

TRANSPORT

Tripscope
The Courtyard Evelyn Road
London W4 5JL Tel: (0345) 585641 (Voice/Textphone)
Fax: (0181) 9943618
Web: www.tripscope.org.uk
Free information and advice about travel and transport for elderly and disabled people, those caring for them and organisations working on their behalf.

Public Transport and Taxis
For national train information, contact the individual operators. Contact details are available from RailTrack. London Transport provide advice and information to London's visitors, particularly those with a mobility impairment, on how, where and when to travel on London's buses and Underground. Timetables, leaflets and maps are available in large print, audio and Braille formats, free of charge.

London Transport Unit for Disabled Passengers
172 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 9TN
Tel: 020 7918 3312 (Voice/Minicom) or Tel: 020 72221234
Fax: 020 7918 3876
Email: it.udp@ltbuses.co.uk
Web: www.londontransport.co.uk
Contact: Ian Seabrook/Peter Wright

Low-floor buses, including double-decker buses are being introduced, which drop to pavement level and also have a motorised ramp, plus a space for passengers in a wheelchair.

Stationlink is a fully accessible bus service, which runs on two circular routes connecting all main line termini - route SL1 (clockwise) and route SL2 (anticlockwise).
Mobility Buses are wheelchair accessible and operate in many parts of Greater London on routes linking residential areas to accessible shopping centres (Shopmobility scheme) and other places of interest.
Tel: 020 7918 3312

Airbus provides services between London and Heathrow and also connects with Stationlink at Victoria and Euston. Tel: Tel: 020 8400 6655

DLR (Docklands Light Rail) stations are all equipped with lifts, escalators and ramps. There are designated wheelchair bays on every train.
Tel: 020 7918 4000

London Black Taxis (which are no longer exclusively black) are licensed and regulated by the Public Carriage Office which is part of London's Metropolitan Police. The majority of these taxi cabs are wheelchair accessible. Unlike unlicensed 'minicabs' black taxis can pick passengers up when hailed in the street, and are available when their distinctive yellow 'For Hire' sign at the front of the taxi is lit.

Radio Taxi Cabs Tel:
Tel: 020 7272 0272
Mountview House, London N4
Open: 24 hours a day


Dial-a-cab
3-11 Brunswick Place NW1
Tel: 020 7253 5000
Fax: 0207-250 0581
Open: 24 hours a day


TRAVEL