Back to London for more accessible sights. I love my Capital City.
We were back in London again the other week and I thought it might be useful to other ‘wheelers’ if I expanded on my first London post, https://wheeliebigadventures.com/2-nights-in-london-travelling-around-my-capital-city-as-a-wheelchair-user/
It was another trip for another University’s Open Day. I won’t mention which University to preserve its blushes, but it was out of London. The campus was great and the course itself got the thumbs up. But when Sprog No.2 asked about the social scene. The answer was “we’ve got good links with the local leisure centre and the library also lends DVD’s”. The killer being that “…it [the library] even gets…the latest titles”.
Needless to say, this University has dropped off Sprog No.2’s UCAS form. Shame really. From a father’s perspective, I could see a lot of pluses to a rural campus.
Go South young man. Go South
Okay, I know the saying is ‘Go West young man’, but…We caught the intercity train again from Wigan North Western into Euston.
There isn’t really a great deal to say about the train journey. It was up to the usual standards of the station staff at WNW & Euston, and the Virgin Trains ‘onboard’ crew. Big ‘shout out’ to @VirginTrains
For those wheelchair users who haven’t done an intercity journey yet, then based on my experiences, you have absolutely NOTHING to fear. I’ll do a separate train post explaining what happens, but it’s a doddle.
Out of Euston and we’re ‘breaking up the Band’
This trip was always going to be me on my own during the day, and then meeting up at night. I have my Batec Mini, https://batec-mobility.com/en/products/handbikes/batec-mini-en so I’m as ‘happy as a pig in shit’. Let the exploring begin with @BatecMobility
On Day 1, I tackled the British Museum, then rolled around the West End and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Day 2 was the Tower of London, the Monument, the ‘Walkie-talkie’ (20 Fenchurch Street – home to the Sky Garden), St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Milennium Bridge, the Tate Modern And the National Gallery; and, Day 3 was Borough Market and then Home.
Yes, I was breathless. But nowhere near as knackered as if I’d tried to push myself. But come on, time to be realistic. In my mind, I perhaps could have done this 2-3 years ago, (in reality…could I fuck). But with the massive fall off in my physical condition over the last 12-15 months, this is now an impossibility.
But a complete eventuality with my marvellous Batec Mini. This is what I bought it for. And the ’Cheshire Cat’ is back in the building.
What are London’s streets like for rolling?
On the whole they’re great rolling surfaces with great kerb cuts, (I was going to put good, but changed my mind – credit where credit is due etc). Actually, the pavement surfaces were better than I recalled. Credit to the Mayor of London @SadiqKhan
General caveat – I’m in a manual wheelchair with a Batec, (electric add-on). I do not know how a Powerchair would cope.
From July’s visit, I hadn’t recollected how many of the shops, pubs, coffee shops etc., in the area between the British Museum, Theatre District and St Paul’s, are inaccessible for a wheelchair user. Or at least for this weakling. This is due to a step or stepped entrance. I would have said that the average step height was c. 15cm (6”).
To give these shops the benefit of the doubt, they might have access ramps, (again only really useful if travelling with a carer, to ask them to lower the drawbridge). But if they don’t…
At least one shop that I saw had a clearly wheelchair labelled doorbell that you could ring so the staff inside knew you were outside and wanted to get in. 10/10 to Starbucks in this respect.
I’m sure there are other options though – it’s a World City for God’s sake. Just keep your eyes peeled.
Wheelie adventurously & useful things I want to share from my Day 1-Day 3 sights
British Museum
Wow. As you’d expect for any capital City museum, you could spend days in here, if you are that way inclined. I’m a bit of a Philistine though, so…
Despite what their website said, wheelchair users could use the main entrance. From what I could see, all of the lifts – platform or otherwise, and throughout the museum – were fully operational.
The video below is of a ‘standard’ platform lift to show what to expect as a wheelchair user. Watch the guy in black with the red lanyard round his neck. He saw me before I saw him – this is the level of attentiveness you get.
I just went for the Great Court. Having a coffee under the watchful, beady eye of a 150’ tall, 150 year old totem pole, ‘did’ it for me. But the GC is something else. It converted the Museum’s inner courtyard into the largest covered public square in Europe – a two-acre space enclosed by a spectacular glass roof.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Despite being spoiled by Cathedrals in Venice, Rome & Florence, https://wheeliebigadventures.com/3-nights-in-venice-italy/, https://wheeliebigadventures.com/3-nights-in-rome/, https://wheeliebigadventures.com/3-nights-in-florence-my-wheelchair-accessible-break/ the interior of St. Paul’s is still special to me. I’m a Brit for God’s sake.
There are renovation works ongoing at the moment and, because of this, wheelchair & pushchair access is via a great, snaking accessibility ramp. 10/10. If it’s not going to be a permanent feature, it should be. No photo. Sorry.
Millennium Bridge
Great rolling surface and as a Thames crossing, it’s a great contrast to Tower Bridge. OK, it does the same thing that all bridges should do, but…When you cross from St. Paul’s, heading towards the South Bank, if you look to the left, there are great views of the skyscrapers in the City of London.
Tate Modern
I like the Tate because it has a great airy feel to it. Ideal for 2 or 3 year olds to run riot in. But in a true Philistine way, I had too much of a polished concrete thang.
The viewing platform on Level 10 does offers great views over London…if you can stand up. But the railings and cages mean that the view from a wheelchair is obscured somewhat, (reminiscent of a prisoner’s view of London, a.k.a. London behind bars. Maybe it should be a modern art installation?)
Sky Garden
This is my biggest regret from this trip. I only ‘discovered’ the Sky Garden on the train down to London. The Sky Garden is on the upper floor(s) of 20 Fenchurch Street, (the ‘Walkie-talkie’). Have a look at their website and I’ll let you decide on the views. https://skygarden.london/
You need a ticket to get in. But relax…the tickets are free. Booking the tickets isn’t a ‘must’, but it’s a bloody good idea to avoid disappointment like I felt.
The Sky Garden was fully booked on the days of our visit, (and for a good few weeks ahead – take heed). But, they hold back some free tickets for weekdays, (they DON’T do this at the weekend). Despite our trip being at the weekend, I thought what the hell, I’ll try to blag it. No go on this one. Very friendly security guard on the door, but a definite NO GO without a ticket.
The National Gallery
I love this place – Philistine or not. Loads of art. Lots of religious art, (aargh). But then the Impressionists make an appearance. And what an impression. Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Monet’s Irises. Throw in some Manet, Toulouse-lautrec and Gaugin, and I’m a happy man. Everywhere is rollable and accessible, (and free when you’re disabled). https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
Borough Market
A.k.a. Foodie Heaven, http://boroughmarket.org.uk/
Despite being mad-busy, I managed to get around most of the market with my ‘HGV’ of Batec+Wheelchair+Phoenix TwinSet, (I hadn’t realised that my ‘egg in the nest’ was so prominent until I saw this photograph). I couldn’t access some of the shops on the periphery of the Market – step to get in etc. – but BM itself was accessible, even for a balding bloke with his ‘HGV’.
I wanted to use the Batec and see where I managed to get to. I wasn’t disappointed. I hope you enjoy the read. And I’ll have a crack at answering any questions on the above.
Bye for now. David
