Category Archives: Attractions

Attractions, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Valencia

The Romans founded Valencia originally as a kind of retirement home for their bravest warriors. And it’s not hard to see why plenty of people would have fought hard to try and end up here.

It’s a beautiful, historic city and one of the oldest on the Iberian continent. It is also often unfairly overlooked, thanks to its noisy Catalan neighbour, Barcelona. So, here is Quingo Scooters’ take on the best things to do in the city of Valencia.

Gaze in awe at some incredible Gothic architecture

Valencia is a city built on trade and La Lonja, the silk exchange building from the late 1400s, is an excellent illustration of how wealthy it has been over the years.

The stunning barley sugar style twisted columns in the Hall of Columns are a remarkable architectural achievement and well worth seeing.

This is also a cool and calm place to spend time if the heat of the city gets too much. There are a couple of very small steps at the entrance that should be easily negotiable with a mobility scooter.

The Silk Exchange - Accessible Valencia
Editorial credit: Photeaud / Shutterstock.com

Browse in one of Europe’s largest covered markets

Although it is from a very different era, Valencia’s Mercado Central is an equally stunning piece of civic architecture. The building is art nouveau, and huge: there are over a thousand different stalls to explore.

You’ll need to access it via the side entrance but once you’re inside it is largely accessible for those of us who use a mobility scooter.

This is a fantastic place to explore and get a sense of the thriving heart of the life of the city. It is the perfect place to browse for gifts or even for something to eat or drink. We recommend a cooling glass of the local almond drink, horchata, to refresh you.

Visit one of the best modern zoos in the world

Valencia’s zoo is relatively small but is perfectly formed. The BIOPARC Valencia, as it’s known, really is a zoo with a difference. It is fully accessible, and has been designed to make you feel as if you are actually right there, in among the animals.

This isn’t the kind of zoo where you feel like you’re separated from the natural habitat they have created. Instead, you might suddenly find yourself face-to-face with a hyena (alarmingly close!), only to realise that it actually on the other side of a cunningly-designed hidden trench. An incredible experience.

BIOPARC Valencia - Accessible Valencia
Editorial credit: Helena G.H / Shutterstock.com

Relax on the Green River

Once, the city of Valencia had a river, which devastated the city in a flood in the 1950s. The solution that the city came up with is a lesson in sound and sensitive city planning.

The city authorities moved the river, and transformed the bed that remained into the Jardi del Turia. This ‘green river’ is now a network of interlinked parks, sports pitches and level paths that gently embrace the historic heart of the city.

There is ramped access down to it, and then an accessible and level surface for many kilometres once you are on the ‘river’ itself.

Did you know?

Valencia was where the famous Spanish leader El Cid finally met his end, during a siege in 1099.

Getting to Valencia

Although not as many fights go to Valencia as nearby Barcelona, it is still relatively easy to get to from the UK. You can fly from Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester and the London airports.

Once you’re there, the airport is very accessible to those of us who use scooters, with barrier free access to all areas. There is also an excellent assistance service available too, although you will need to get in touch with the team beforehand to arrange. Find out more here.

Transfering from the airport into the city itself is also straightforward. There is the option of taking one of the two wheelchair-accessible metro lines (lines 3 and 5). Alternatively, there are also regular accessible buses with ramped entrances that connect with the city centre.

If you’d like more general information about getting around within the city itself, this site is a great place to start planning your journey.

Travelling with scooters

The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.

Share your accessible getaways abroad with us

Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847

Attractions

Quingo Scooters Accessible Venues

The UK is blessed with a rich musical heritage, as well as plenty of wonderful venues in which to enjoy some of the world’s leading performers. The great news is that many of these venues are also very accessible for those of us who use a mobility scooter. So, here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to just a few of the best.

1. Brighton Centre, Brighton

This is a fantastic arts and music venue that has really put accessibility for all at the heart of everything it does. There is great lift and ramp access throughout for those of us who use mobility scooters and they have recently increased the size of their viewing platform within the auditorium to accommodate even more people with different mobility needs. There are accessible toilets, and you can also use the lay-bys outside the venue to drop off and pick up, although the team there recommend that you don’t park there as there is a strict time limit. There is the usual on street Blue Badge parking available nearby however, and you can find out more about the days and times that this is available here.

2. Cecil Sharp House, London

For those of you who love folk music, the Cecil Sharp arts centre in London really is unmissable. The venue itself is beautiful, and even though it is an old building the team have done a wonderful job of ensuring that there is step-free access to every floor. There is lift access from the Gloucester Avenue car park, where you will also find three spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders. Highlights this summer include a performance of Appalachian Ballads in June and a performance in July from fiddle player Ryan Young, the Scots Trad Music Awards ‘Up And Coming Artist of the Year’.

The Lowry Manchester - Quingo Scooters

3. The Lowry, Manchester

We travel north to Manchester now, which has become a thriving home to the arts and media. One of the jewels in Manchester’s crown is The Lowry, a spectacular building in its own right and a space designed to be as flexible as possible for all kinds of different performances. The team there have also done a great job of making it as accessible as possible to all, with access throughout and reserved wheelchair spaces in all three of their auditoriums. They recommend that visitors with mobility needs park at the nearby Lowry Outlet car park where there are a number of Blue Badge holder spaces on the ground level. Just give the team there a call on 0843 208 6000 if you have any questions before your visit.

4. Grand Theatre and Opera House, Leeds

Heading over the Pennines now to Yorkshire, and the wonderful Grand Theatre and Opera House in Leeds. It’s home to the spectacular Opera North of course, whose season of performances culminates in staging of Aida in June. However The Grand is also a great place to see everything from ballet to musical theatre: the performance of West Side Story this April should be unmissable. There are stairs in the auditorium but there is also lift access to many areas (with the exception of the Upper Balcony). There is also reserved space for wheelchair users as well as accessible toilets. Find out more about Blue Badge parking nearby, here.

5. The Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

For our final stop, we head north to the vibrant city of Glasgow. While its close neighbour and Scotland’s capital Edinburgh might steal the limelight with its annual festival, Glasgow is a thriving arts centre with a rich creative tradition all of its own. One of the best places to experience live music here is the Royal Concert Hall. It’s on Sauciehall Street, right in the centre of town and is home to a broad range of performances throughout the year. One of the highlights this year is a performance of Handel’s Messiah. There is level access throughout most of the venue, including designated spaces for wheelchair users in the auditoriums and you can take your scooter into the public areas of the venue too. There is also Blue Badge parking at the Concert Square car park near to Buchanan Bus Station.

Editorial credit: cornfield / Shutterstock.com

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847

Accessible Routes, Attractions

Quingo Scooters Accessible Art

We feel that one of the most important things about art, of any kind, is that it should be able to be enjoyed by all. And so while we are fortunate in the UK to have some of the best art collections in the world, it is also great to see that so many of our most interesting galleries are accessible to everyone. Here is Quingo Scooters pick of some of the best.

The National Gallery, London

We had to start our round up with the National Gallery in London: it is one of the most famous art galleries in the world, and is packed with some incredible treasures of European art in particular. Whether you want to enjoy the impressionism of Claude Monet or the elegance of portraits by Thomas Gainsborough, there are some wonderful paintings to enjoy here, and the great news is that the gallery is fully accessible. The Getty, Sainsbury Wing, National Café and Pigott Education Centre entrances are all level and accessible, and there is one Blue Badge parking space outside on Orange Street. You will need to give the team a call on 020 7747 2590 a couple of days before to book it though.

Accessible Art: Quingo Scooters
Editorial credit: Alex Segre / Shutterstock.com

The Tate Modern

Staying in London for a while, we are also huge fans of the Tate Modern. It has a world class collection of modern art, all housed in a spectacular building that was once the Bankside Power Station on the banks of the Thames. Of course, the endlessly changing installations in the vast Turbine Hall are always worth taking a look at, but we also loved the dimly-lit and strangely peaceful room containing the vast paintings by Mark Rothko. The Tate Modern is completely accessible with 12 Blue Badge spaces outside. You will need to book a space a day in advance however, so give the team a call on 020 7887 8888. From there, enter using the level access at the South Entrance of the Blavatnik Building.

Victoria Art Gallery

Millions of visitors come to Bath every year, and it really is no surprise. It is one of the most historic and beautiful cities in the UK, and it is also home to the wonderful Victoria Art Gallery, which is fully accessible. It houses a great collection of art that ranges from the 15th century to the present day, and it is a fantastic place to spend a few hours. There is a ramped entrance on Bridge Street and a lift to all floors.

Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art

We head north now to Glasgow, a city with a rich artistic and cultural life. The city’s Gallery of Modern Art is housed within a impressive neoclassical building and it has five large exhibition spaces that house an ever-changing variety of shows. It’s also fully accessible to those of us who use a mobility scooter, with a ramped entrance, accessible galleries, shop, library and cafe.

Accessible Art: Quingo Scooters

The Whitworth Gallery, Manchester

This is a real treasure: a gallery that is full of world class contemporary and historical art, that still feels very much a part of the local community too. The gallery has close links with organisations across the city that encourage local people of all ages to come and participate in the life of the gallery, and we feel that this spirit of openness really shines through when you visit. There are three Blue Badge spaces near to the Park Side entrance, as well as seven more on Denmark Road close to the entrance. There are accessible entrances to the gallery and lifts inside, as well as accessible toilets.

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Attractions, Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: 5 of The Best British Beaches

As an island nation, the UK has had a long love affair with the seaside. A trip to the beach is as British as, well, fish and chips. But it’s also something that those of us who use a mobility scooter may have avoided in the past. The perception was that many beaches might not be all that accessible, and that sand or pebbles aren’t best suited to four wheels. Happily, things are changing, and here, as part of our Accessible Attractions series, Quingo Scooters is heading to the beach. Don’t forget your bucket and spade!

What’s On

With over 10,000 miles of coastline in the British Isles, it’s fair to say there’s plenty of choice out there. But here are just five of the best and most accessible beaches in the UK.

  1. Broadhaven Beach. Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is breathtakingly picturesque. In fact, many of Wales’ beaches are stunning, with the kind of wild beauty that you’d usually expect to have to fly to the south of France to see. Broadhaven is one of our favourites, not least because it is so accessible. When the tide is out, it’s big and flat, with plenty of room for you to explore on your scooter. The sand is lovely and firm, but if you’re feeling nervous about taking your scooter out onto the beach itself you can also hire all-terrain beach wheelchairs to get around in. We recommend you give Haven Sports Surf shop a call on 01437 781354 or visit their website here to book your all-terrain chair. There’s a car park with 200 spaces (although no dedicated ones for Blue Badge holders, unfortunately). If you’re travelling by car just follow the B4341 west of Haverfordwest, or you can also take a train to the nearest station at Milford Haven.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: 5 of The Best British Beaches Stunning sunrise landsdcape of idyllic Broadhaven Bay beach on Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales

  1. Gyllyngvase Beach, Cornwall

Another gorgeous stretch of sand as well as rock pools that are perfect for exploring. There’s plenty of parking nearby (around 100m from the beach) with Blue Badge spaces, as well as straightforward level access onto the beach itself. Again, if you’re not too keen on taking the scooter out onto the sand then you can hire Sand Chairs from the cafe Gylly Beach Cafe. Just incidentally, they also have fantastic cakes and bread (fresh from their bakery on the beach) as well as some delicious dishes for later, after a hard day out on the sand. Gyllyngvase Beach is simple to get to: the M4, M5 and M6 will all bring you into Cornwall, and then follow the A30 to Truro, following signs for Falmouth. Once you get to Falmouth just follow the signs directing you to the beach. There are also plenty of regular rail services into Falmouth Town train station.

  1. North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland

Of course, one of the biggest draws for any visitor to North Berwick is that’s it’s only 25 miles or so from the beautiful city of Edinburgh. But North Berwick itself is well worth a visit, not least for its accessible beach. The town itself is very historic and was once a fashionable resort for the wealthy inhabitants of the Scottish capital up the road. Today, its harbour is still a lovely place to take in the magnificent Firth of Forth, which features some spectacular islands such as Fidra, The Lamb, Craigleith, and of course Bass Rock which is home to thousands of puffins and gannets. But you’ll also fall in love with the beach here. We recommend heading to the Beach Hut on the Harbour that belongs to Beach Wheelchairs where the team will be happy to hire you one of their all-terrain chairs for the sand. There is free parking right on the harbour (although there’s only five spaces, there are designated Blue Badge spots). Find out more here. North Berwick is easy to reach from Edinburgh, which has its own international airport and there are extensive rail connections from Edinburgh Waverley station to North Berwick. There’s an hourly train service run by Abellio Scotrail, or if you’re looking to drive then just follow the A1 east.

  1. Langland Bay, Gower Peninsula, Wales

Another beautiful Welsh beach, this time on the Gower Peninsula. This one is lined with colourful beach huts for that classic seaside feel, and the best thing about Langland is that is completely accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy it. The nearest parking is at Langland Bay Road, where you’ll find 265 spaces. Blue Badge holders have designated bays and a concessionary price: you can park for four hours for £1.50 or all day for £3.00, and if you want to venture out on the sand then you can also reserve an all terrain wheelchair by calling 01792 655 844 to find out more.

If you tire of the stunning beaches at Langland, we also recommend taking time to check out the gorgeous Clyne Gardens. They’re free, open all hours and contain several National Collections of plants (including the tallest Magnolia in Britain!), all within some lovely parkland. Langland Bay beach is easily accessible from Mumbles. There are hourly trains from Cardiff to Swansea and then Mumbles is a short taxi ride away. If you’re coming by car, then Langland Bay is a five-minute drive from Mumbles. Take the M4 and then junction 42 for the road to Swansea Bay.

  1. Bournemouth Beach

Bournemouth’s sea front is one of the most famous and most popular beaches in the UK and with good reason. One of the most accessible beaches we’ve come across, Bournemouth council have made a real effort to open the beach up for the enjoyment of all. A great place to start for more information is the dedicated accessibility page here. One of the best features of the beach is the accessible Beach Huts.

Each one has enough room for four wheelchair users, as well as an electric scooter charging point, designated Blue Badge parking bays, level wooden pathways to the beach and a Changing Places facility with a bed, toilet, sink, shower and tracking hoist. If you’d like to book one, or just find out more, give them a call on 01202 451781.

The cliff tops above the beach are also accessible to scooter users via cliff lifts. The views are spectacular and the lifts themselves are also quite an experience: the first ones were built in 1908! It’s £1.50 for an adult and any carers go free. Once you’re at the top, we really recommend you pop in to the Russell Cotes Gallery and Museum. It’s one of the last Victorian homes built in Britain and it is a fascinating time capsule.

Bournemouth is easily accessible by car. From London, take M25, M3, M27 and then the A31 and the A338 to Bournemouth. Bournemouth’s train station has regular services from London (see here for more details) and the town also has its own international airport. For more information on getting from the airport into town, read about the shuttle service here.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: 5 of The Best British Beaches sea at Bournemouth

About Quingo Scooters

The Quingo Scooters range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme, which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this, or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up-to-date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up-to-date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.

Accessible Routes, Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: Whinlatter Forest Park

The British countryside offers a wonderful range of options for those of you looking to explore new places on your mobility scooter. In the latest in our series of articles on accessible routes, Quingo Scooters heads to one of the most fascinating parts of the English Lake District – Whinlatter Forest.

Whinlatter Forest Park

Whinlatter Forest Park is billed as ‘England’s only true Mountain Forest’ and is a fantastic place to explore, whatever your accessibility needs. The Lake District itself is a stunningly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whinlatter is an important part of this landscape and it has been carefully managed by the Forestry Commission over many years so that it’s a place that balances the needs of a huge diversity of wildlife with the many visitors who enjoy it every year. So, as you travel around the forest, keep an eye out for Roe deer, badgers and foxes.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: Whinlatter Forest Park | Quingo Scooters Badger

And don’t forget to look up too: there’s a good chance you’ll see Osprey from the special viewing point at Whinlatter.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Routes: Whinlatter Forest Park | Quingo Scooters Osprey

However, we’ve found that one of the most relaxing ways to spend a few hours at Whinlatter is simply to pass the time in Siskins Café. There are an incredible variety of birds that use the bird feeders outside the windows, including siskin (and if you’re lucky you might even see a red squirrel trying its luck on the feeders!).

There is a one-mile marked trail at Revelin Moss, which is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies, and has great views of Grisedale Pike. There are other short walks, which are easy access and staff at the centre will be pleased to help advise you which will be the most suitable.

If you fancy something different, Rough Riderz is a 4-wheeled mountain bike club. It offers people the opportunity to experience the thrills of downhill mountain biking on specially designed 4-wheeled mountain bikes. You can find out more information, including taster days, on the Rough Riderz website.

Accessibility at Whinlatter Forest Park

Considering this is such a wild and rugged landscape, Whinlatter Forest Park is surprisingly accessible, not least because of a new scheme that offers the use of off-road mobility scooters known as ‘trampers’. These are offered by Lake District Mobility and their website is a great place to start your adventure around Whinlatter. You can sign up to be an annual member of their scheme, which costs £10, or get a two-week taster membership for £2.50. Give them a call on 01768 778469 to book and discuss your needs.

Whinlatter Forest Park itself has number of a designated Blue Badge spaces near the main building. The parking spaces are up a slope (it’s not too steep) but there is also the option to be dropped off outside the rear of the main building too, where you will also find an accessible toilet as well.

For more general accessibility information about Whinlatter, take a look at their dedicated page here.

Getting there

Because of its relatively remote location, the easiest way to get to Whinlatter is by car. From the M6 just take the A66 towards Cockermouth and then turn west at Braithwaite on the B5292 towards Lorton. The Visitor Centre is signposted from there. During the summer you can also take the bus from Keswick to Whinlatter and we recommend taking the Honister Rambler (bus number 77 or 77A) that goes via the spectacular Honister Pass. The Visitor Information Centre and the Forest Shop are both open every single day over the summer, from 10am-4pm, while the Siskins Cafe is open from 10am to 5pm every day.

Share your accessible route with Quingo!

If you’ve been to visit any great accessible routes on your Quingo or would like us to write about a particular place you have visited, we’d be delighted to hear from you! You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.

Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC).  AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.