Category Archives: Days Out

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: The Alnwick Garden

This week, Quingo Scooters are heading to Alnwick, Northumberland as part of our Accessible Attractions series. Alnwick Garden, a complex of former gardens for Alnwick Castle, offers a fun and exciting day out. This day is a must for any lovers of nature and adventure!

Situated in the heart of Northumberland and north of Newcastle, the revived gardens offer entertainment for the whole family. The Duchess of Northumberland’s vision for a forgotten plot has been transformed into a magical experience full of enchantment and imagination. Home to one of the largest wooden tree houses in the world and a poisonous garden, there’s plenty to do at Alnwick Garden.

Quingo Scooters Alnwick Gardens 2

What’s On

The Alnwick Garden is home to one of the most innovative gardens in Britain. As well as displaying seasonal flowers and plants in its impressive grounds, guests can also explore treetop pathways and see magnificent water features throughout. There are also activities for all to enjoy throughout the park.

  • A Garden of Fairytales: Inspired by the Grimm fairytales, this interactive experience invites guest to save Beauty from the garden’s Evil Queen. Solving clues along the way, guest travel along a magical journey, in which benches sing, frog princes talk and magic mirrors guide your way. Live actors play fairytale characters and direct guests on their quest. This experience is magical for the whole family.
  • Christmas At Alnwick Garden: Beginning in late November, Christmas starts to arrive at Alnwick Garden. Throughout the end of November and December, you can expect to see many Christmas treats. From Christmas Markets and ice skating, to disco party nights and mixology courses, there’s something here for everyone. Different activities are available most days and more information can be found here.
  • The Treehouse Restaurant: With a gradually sloping pathway up to the entrance, this offers a unique dining experience for the whole family to enjoy. With wooden pathways, twinkling lights and a log fire, it’s a magical experience situated in the trees of Alnwick Garden. Showcasing local produce, the menu always has seasonal delights. Here you can enjoy The Duchess of Northumberland’s own “Deadly Jane” range of cocktails, a fine selection of wine and beer, and regular live music.

Opening Times and Entry

The Alnwick Gardens are open daily, excluding 25 December. Opening times vary by season. The summer opening times are 10am-4pm (31 March-31 October). The winter opening times change more frequently due to seasonal festivities and can be found here. Ticket prices vary, with carers obtaining free entry.

Quingo Scooters Alnwick Gardens 3

Getting There

The Alnwick Garden is just off the A1 in the heart of Northumberland. It is easily accessible by car, train and bus. If you are travelling by car, the route is well signposted and the main car park is off Denwick Lane. There is free blue badge parking provided. Buses connect the gardens to Newcastle and surrounding towns. If you are travelling by train, the Alnmouth stop is 4 miles away from the Alnwick Garden, with connecting buses and taxis available from here. More information can be found here.

Accessibility

Alnwick Garden has smooth, solid surfaces, with wheelchair accessible routes throughout. There are pathways to all areas of this garden, including the rope bridges, treehouse and waterfall. Alternative routes have been created, with slopes and gradual inclines being used as a replacement to stairs. Lifts are also available. There are fully accessible toilets throughout the gardens, as well as seating provided all through the gardens. Before you visit, you can get support for your trip through speaking to a member of staff at 01665 511350 and choosing option 1.  More information about Alnwick Garden’s accessibility can be found here.

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.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

This week, Quingo Scooters are heading to London as part of our Accessible Attractions series. A reconstruction of the 1599 Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is a must for any lovers of history or literature!

Situated on the Thames, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is a unique celebration of the world’s most popular playwright. Whether you want to discover more about Shakespeare and his London or see his plays staged, there’s always something interesting to see. Using performance, tours and galleries, the Globe creates an authentic and detailed experience of Shakespeare in performance.

Quingo Scooters Globe Theatre
Photo: Tom ReedyWikimedia Commons

What’s On

Activities at the Globe range from plays to presentations, both permanent and temporary.

  • Globe Tours (all year, 9.30am-5pm): Take a guided tour around the Globe Theatre, which departs every 30 minutes. The tour allows guests to examine Sam Wanamaker’s epic reconstruction of the 1599 Elizabethan theatre. It explores both historical and contemporary elements, to deliver a modern experience of Elizabethan theatre. In summer months, guests can discover the Sam Wanamaker indoor theatre. Based on Tudor and Jacobean theatre, this small space is designed with intricate detail to the period.
  • Exhibition (all year, 9am-5pm): Throughout the year, the Globe is home to many temporary and permanent exhibitions and galleries. Here you can explore the life of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Currently, the ‘Festival In Focus’ exhibition displays photographs of over 600 performers. View them on stage, see audience reactions and discover backstage stories. Produced by a group of leading theatre photographers, it provides a candid insight into the diverse and vibrant performances at the Globe.
  • Performances: No trip to the Globe is complete without a show. From mid-April to mid-October, you can enjoy performances in the open-air theatre. In the colder months, the indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is home to several exciting plays. This winter is no exception, showing plays including ‘The Secret Theatre’ (16 November-16 December 2017) and ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ (11 January-3 March 2018)
Quingo Scooters Globe Theatre
Photo: Txllxt TxllxTWikimedia Commons

Opening Times and Entry

The Globe Theatre’s standard opening is 9am-5pm daily, excluding 24 and 25 December. Prices for this vary seasonally. For performances, opening times and prices vary. The Box Office is open from 10am-6pm daily.  Additional information on opening times can be found here and information on prices can be found here.

Getting There

Situated on the South Bank of the Thames, the Globe is accessible from the Waterloo and Southwark Bridge. There is limited parking possible on New Globe Walk and the surrounding area with a blue badge. There are Underground stations close by, with Blackfriars and Mansion House 10 minutes away, and London Bridge, Southwark and St Paul’s 15 minutes away. If you are travelling by bus, there are several nearby bus stops and a coach stop by Southwark Bridge. Additional information can be found here.

Accessibility

There is flat access to Shakespeare’s Globe and accessible entrances can be found on New Globe Walk. The entrance to the Exhibition is accessed via a ramp on Bankside. Ramps and lifts to all floors are found within the theatre, as well as accessible toilets throughout. Guests travelling to the Globe can use the Access Information Line, operating from 10am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Here, you will find advice in specialised services, as well as more information. This can be found at 020 7902 1409 or [email protected]. You can view or download the Globe Theatre’s full accessibility information here.

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.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: The Queen’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Quingo Scooters once again take you to one of the UK’s incredible attractions as part of our Accessible Attractions series. This week we’re heading to Edinburgh to marvel at some of the world’s greatest works of art!

Located at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, The Queen’s Gallery at the Palace of Holyroodhouse is home to a rotating collection of art. The location of Holyrood Palace makes it an excellent choice for a day visit, or a couple of hours during your visit to the city. Whether you want to explore the grounds or enjoy the exhibitions in the gallery, there’s always something exciting to see.

Quingo Scooters The Queen's Gallery 2

What’s On

The history of both the country and the Royal family is presented through ever-changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection. Here are a few things to enjoy:

  • Shadows of War (4 August-26 November): This is the first exhibition to focus exclusively on Roger Fenton’s pioneering photographs of the Crimean War, taken in 1855. Fenton focused on creating moving portraits of the troops and images of the stark, empty battlefields, showing the impact of war to the public for the first time and creating the genre of war photography through subtle and poetic interpretations of battle.
  • Exclusive Evening Tour, Palace of Holyroodhouse (2 December 2017-2 January 2018): This special Christmas tour of The Queen’s official residence in Scotland highlights the Palace’s dramatic past and its important role in the present. An expert will escort you to rooms not usually open to the public. Your ticket will also include a glass of champagne, a copy of the official guidebook and 20% discount in the shops. There is limited availability.
  • Recitals for Wrigglers (22 October): A family recital in the unique setting of the Great Gallery. The whole family can enjoy the classical music and popular nursery rhymes amongst iconic portraits of Scottish royalty.

Entry Times and Prices

The Queen’s Gallery is open daily all year, excluding 25-26 December. The opening times are seasonal: April-October 9.30am-6pm (last admission at 5pm) and November-March 9.30am-4.30pm (last admission 3.30pm). Ticket prices vary and can be found here.

Quingo Scooters The Queen's Gallery 3

Getting There   

Located on the Royal Mile, the Queen’s Gallery is accessible by all major transport links. If you’re travelling by train, the exhibition is 15 minutes away from Edinburgh Waverly. The 6 and the 35 buses stop near the gallery and there is a public car park adjacent to The Gallery. There are several blue badge parking spaces available on Horse Wynd, just outside the Palace. Open-top bus tours stop nearby and coach parking is provided free of charge. More information on finding the exhibition can be found here.

Accessibility

The attraction is accessible by automatic doors at ground level, with lifts to the gallery. The Gallery and shop have polished wooden floors, with a stone floor in the lobby. All circulation and gallery spaces are fully accessible and have respite seating available in The Gallery, café and Mews Courtyard. Accessible toilets are also available throughout.  You can view or download The Queen’s Gallery’s full accessibility information here.

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.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: The Titanic Experience, Belfast

Quingo Scooters are travelling to Belfast as part of our Accessible Attractions series. If discovering historic artefacts, as well as learning about maritime history interests you, the Titanic Experience is for you!

Situated in the heart of Belfast, the experience is beside the historic site of this world-famous ship’s construction. Over six-floors, you are taken through the story of the RMS Titanic, from construction and launch to its tragic end. A must-see on any trip to Belfast, this experience has become one of Northern Ireland’s top attractions. These innovative and interactive galleries retell the Titanic story in a fresh and insightful way for a captivating day out.

Quingo Scooters Titanic Experience 2

What’s On

The self-guided Titanic Experience features 9 interactive galleries that explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the Titanic and its history, through the city and the people who built her. The history is brought to life across a series of attractions:

  • The Maiden Voyage Gallery: Capturing the excitement of the launch, this gallery transports visitors from four embarkation ports, Belfast, Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown to the Titanic’s deck promenade. In addition to seeing and hearing the ocean, you’ll meet Fredrick Dent Ray, a dining room steward and survivor through inventive technology. You’ll also be able to see an original first class luncheon menu, as well as the last letter ever to be written on board the Titanic.
  • Titanic Slipways: Harland and Wolff’s 1907 slipways were re-designed to accept the huge hulls of the new Olympic-class liners. Behind the Titanic Experience, you can now travel down the slipways where the Titanic was built and launched over 100 years ago in 1911.
  • Afternoon Tea (Available on Sundays): After a busy day of exploring, step back in time to a period of elegance and luxury with the Titanic Sunday Afternoon Tea. Set in the opulent surroundings of the Titanic Suite, you’ll be able to pose for pictures on the stunning replica of the Titanic’s staircase. Serving a selection of tea and treats, with a children’s menu available, this Afternoon Tea is an experience not to be missed!

Entry Times and Prices

The Titanic Experience is open daily all year, excluding 24-26 December. The opening times are seasonal: January-March 10am-5pm, April-May 9am-6pm, June-August 9am-7pm, September 9am-6pm, and October-December 10am-5pm. Ticket prices vary and can be found here.

Quingo Scooters Titanic Experience 3

Getting There

Located in the heart of the Titanic Quarter, the Titanic Experience is just a short journey from Belfast City Centre with easy access to public transport. It is a short 5-10 minute journey from George Best International Airport, and around a 30 minute drive from Belfast International Airport. It is accessible by train, bus, coach tours and cars, with blue badge parking available on the second level. More information can be found here

Accessibility

The Titanic Experience has been named on SAGA’s leading accessible attraction list and is surrounded by a fully accessible flagged Plaza. The building has four entrances, all with level access. While the main door is revolving, the other three entrances are automatic bi-parting. Ticket desks all have lowered counters, and the building houses 2 scenic lifts, situated in the Atrium, which take visitors to all levels. All circulation spaces and galleries are fully accessible and have seated rest spaces throughout. You can view or download the Titanic Experience’s full accessibility information here.

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.

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art

This week, Quingo Scooters are heading to Gateshead as part of our Accessible Attractions series. Pushing the boundaries of creativity, the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art is the biggest gallery of its kind in the UK!

Situated on the scenic south bank of the River Tyne, next to the Millennium Bridge, the BALTIC offers a diverse range of visual arts, restaurants, and events. With their ever-changing calendar of activities and exhibitions, you’re always in for a unique and exciting day out!

Quingo Scooters BALTIC 2

What’s On

The BALTIC aims to present a varied, dynamic and international schedule of contemporary visual art, to give a compelling insight into contemporary artistic practice. Offering new exhibitions three times a year, attractions include:

  • Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2017 (29 September- 26 November 2017): Since 1949, New Contemporaries has organised a touring exhibition for graduates from UK art schools. It’s nationally and internationally recognised as a barometer for excellence, and will be making its BALTIC debut this year.
  • Blake in Gateshead (permanent): The BALTIC’s only permanent art work has a powerful light beam at its centre which, when lit, reaches two thousand metres into the sky. According to its artist, the piece was designed to add to Newcastle’s list of famous bridges: “to build a bridge, a bridge of light in Gateshead”.
  • Baltic Live Antoine Hunter: Where Our Roots are Planted (13 October 2017). San Francisco’s award-winning dancer Antoine Hunter visits this region for the first time, and is joined by 20 participants for a group live performance. Both American and British Sign Language will feature within the creative process.
  • Six Restaurant (permanent): Situated on the top floor of the BALTIC, Six is home to a rooftop restaurant, showcasing local food. Accessible by glass lifts, offering scenic views of the River Tyne, the fine dining restaurant sits within a glass box, suspended between the four towers of the building. Six offers unrivalled panoramic views of the Newcastle skyline that are sure to delight all visitors.

Opening Times and Entry

The Baltic is open every day from 10am to 6pm, except Tuesdays when it’s open 10.30am to 6pm. Entry into the centre is free. It is closed on 25, 26 December and 1 January. On 24 and 31 December BALTIC closes at 5pm.

Quingo Scooters BALTIC 3

Getting There

The centre is located on the Gateshead side of the River Tyne, close to both Newcastle and Gateshead city centre. It is close to Newcastle Central Station as well as Gateshead bus exchange.

Visitors travelling by car will find parking spaces available at the BALTIC car park, with free parking for blue badge holders.

There are local bus and metro routes available to transport visitors, as well as a coach drop off point next to the centre.

Accessibility

The centre has two entrances. While one is below street level and accessible via a ramp, there is a second entrance on street level on South Shore Road. There is level access throughout the centre, as well as lifts to all floors. Accessible toilets can be found on all floors, except Level 5.

You can view or download BALTIC’s full accessibility information here.

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.