Category Archives: Days Out

Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Accessible getaways: Best accessible Christmas activities with kids

For children, Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. So, if you’ve got little ones of your own, or grandchildren visiting, what can you do to make their Christmas even more special?

To help you out, we’ve picked some of our favourite Christmas kids’ accessible activities. From an Elf Emporium and Gingerbread House to a trip to one of the UK’s biggest shopping destinations, there’s plenty to choose from. Here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to the best accessible Christmas activities with kids.

Quingo Scooters - santa's grotto and elf emporium

Santa’s Grotto and Elf Emporium

The Milky Way Adventure Park near Clovelly in North Devon offers a magical and fun-filled day out for all the family this festive season.

In Santa’s Grotto and the Elf Emporium on 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 December you can meet Father Christmas, decorate gingerbread, write a letter to Santa and make Reindeer food. In the lovely Buzzlewick’s Elf Emporium, Buzzlewick the elf and friends will be helping father Christmas to sort and load children’s letters ready for him to take back to the North Pole. As well as lots of festive fun, there are plenty of other activities to take part in, including Ziggy’s Blast Quest, indoor Droid Destroyer dodgems, a mini train ride and an indoor pay area. It’s very popular and so booking is essential. You can book online here.

quingo scooter - Blenheim Palace light trail and Alice in the Palace
Editorial credit: Fulcanelli / Shutterstock.com

Blenheim Palace light trail and Alice in the Palace

If you want to put a bit of sparkle into your Christmas with kids, then an accessible light trail is a magical way to spend a few hours. One of our favourites is at the spectacular Blenheim Palace.

We particularly love this one because of its incredible scale. There’s an aerial light show, an illuminated waterfall, and even glowing flowers among the snowdrops. It’s stunning. There’s also a wonderful Water Terrace light finale, family rides, hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows to choose from.

There’s also Alice in the Palace – a topsy-turvy wonderland that brings the magic of Alice In Wonderland to life.

The team at Blenheim have done a great job of making this place as accessible as possible. However, our advice, as always, is to just give them a quick call to make sure they have everything you need for your visit.  You can get in touch with them on 01993 810530.

The Gingerbread House

York Mansion House is bursting with festive fun and flavour this year – it’s being transformed into a Gingerbread house!

Bring the family along for the day and immerse yourselves in the delightful displays and decorations. It really is a feast for the senses that includes a Gingerbread Trail and dressing up for kids, mulled wine for the adults. And, of course – gingerbread.

The Gingerbread house is accessible and open until 22 December. You don’t need to book in advance. But we recommend visiting the Mansion House website for more information about prices and opening times, before your trip.

Quingo Scooters - Father Christmas in his grotto

Visit Father Christmas in his grotto

Shopping is pretty much unavoidable at this time of year. And if you’re in the London area, there’s a good chance that you’ll find yourself at the gigantic Westfield shopping centre at some point. Of course, picking up those last-minute Christmas gifts with kids in tow can get stressful. So why not book at trip to Santa’s Snowflake Grotto while you’re there?

We’ve picked this one out for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s just a fun experience for the little ones. They get to meet Santa in his cabin, receive a gift and even make their own Christmas decoration.

But of course, we’ve also chosen it for its accessibility. The team at Westfield have made the attraction as accessible as possible, and any helpers get in for free. They recommend that once you’ve booked your ticket, just drop them a line at [email protected] to let them know of any other special requirements.

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, Days Out, Holidays, Quingo Scooters

Accessible getaways abroad: Accessible Christmas Markets

Is there anything better to get you in a festive mood than a Christmas market? They bring together everything that is best about the time of the year. Great food and drink, local handicrafts and a warm atmosphere. And because they are often outside, they are one of the most accessible activities you can enjoy this time of year.

But while we’ve seen a rise in the number of the markets over recent years, they’re not all created equal. And at a time of year when time and money is at a premium, you don’t want to be wasting either. So, to help you out, here is Quingo Scooters guide to the very best and most accessible Christmas markets out there.

Christkindlesmarkt, Nuremberg

Nuremberg is home to the Christmas market to end all Christmas markets. Germany is synonymous with Christmas markets, and you are spoiled for choice right across the country. But this is beautiful market in the city’s Hauptmarkt is the real deal.

It’s been around since at least the 17th century, but it could be far older. It is rich in tradition, from the Christkind parade that kicks it off, to the stalls themselves. These are packed with plenty of local delicacies and handicrafts. The space between them is also easily navigable on your scooter.

If you’re looking for a souvenir, then we recommend you find a rauschgoldengel. These golden angel decorations are the symbol of Christmas here. And while you’re hunting for one, buy yourself a Nuremberg sausage to keep you going!

For more information on how to get around Nuremberg, head to the city’s official site here.

Vánoční trhy, Old Town Square, Prague

Truly one of our favourite destinations on the planet, we’ve featured a getaway in the Czech capital before in Accessible Getaways Abroad: Accessible Prague.

Prague is great at any time of the year, and although it can get seriously cold, it’s well worth heading there for Christmas. Of course, expect plenty of crowds – this is Prague after all, and the Old Town Square is busy 365 days a year. But don’t let that put you off.

Prepare for a sensory overload. This is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, and when the Christmas market is running it is a riot of light, colour, sights and smells. You can buy anything here, from ceramics to wooden handicrafts. There is even a stable with a real live donkey!

If you’re feeling peckish, try some pastries (trdelník) or roasted hams (pražská šunka). And of course, there is always plenty of great Czech beer or warm mulled wine on hand to wash it all down.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Christmas Market Prague

St Nicholas Fair, York

Something a little closer to home now, and a market in one of the UK’s most beautiful and historic cities. York’s St Nicholas Fair is a traditional Christmas market that is full of local Yorkshire delicacies from local producers. It recently won an award for Best Large Speciality Market, and we think it’s well deserved.  

Once again, you’re surrounded by the smell of mulled wine and warm mince pies as you browse the stalls. But what makes York so special is the stunning medieval surroundings. It’s hard to imagine a more Christmassy setting. And if the market isn’t enough, you could also head to The Grand Hotel on Station Rise to have Afternoon Tea in The Grand Boardroom (with Christmas carols!). There are accessible lifts to all floors.

St Nicholas Fair is fully accessible and runs through to 22nd December.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Christmas Markets York
Editorial credit: Ms Deborah Waters / Shutterstock.com

The Christmas village, Hafnarfjörður

We can’t talk about Christmas markets without mentioning this very special town in Iceland. It might not be one of the biggest Christmas markets, but we love it for its uniquely Icelandic atmosphere. Hafnarfjörður is now Iceland’s third largest town and is close enough to central Reykjavik to be easily accessible. It truly comes to life around Christmas, when it opens its own Christmas village in the old town.

This must be one of the few Christmas markets where you can relax in a geothermal pool before heading off to browse the stalls. These feature plenty of traditional Icelandic crafts, as well as lots of local delicacies to keep you going. We recommend the delicious laufabrauð flatbreads, or some tasty piparkökur ginger snaps.

The market is only 20 minutes by bus from the centre of Reykjavik and is completely accessible to all.

Did you know?

Dresden holds the record for the oldest official Christmas market – they first held one there way back in 1434!

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

Days Out

Quingo Scooters Accessible Luxury Retreats

Sometimes we all just need to get away from it all to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. And while a cheap flight and a few day’s holiday somewhere can make a big difference, there’s nothing quite like going for it and really pampering yourself at a luxury retreat.

The great news is there are plenty of wonderful options here in the UK, and many of them cater to those of us with mobility needs. Here is Quingo Scooter’s guide to some of the very best accessible retreats in the country.

The Grove, Pembrokeshire

Nothing says ‘retreat’ like a country manor, and The Grove in Pembrokeshire in Wales is one of the UK’s finest. It has everything you could possibly wish for: great food, a stunning location and comfy rooms. These are old buildings (some of them date back to the 15th century), so not every part of this wonderful historic property is fully accessible. However there is dedicated parking outside the reception, ramped access to the entrance and the restaurant and lounge, and the hotel’s gorgeous Bramble suite are all fully accessible for those of us using a scooter. The team there are also incredibly helpful, so make sure you ask if there’s anything you need during your stay.

QUINGO SCOOTERS ACCESSIBLE LUXURY RETREATS 2 - The Grove
Editorial credit: yackers1 / Shutterstock.com

Ye Olde Bell, Nottinghamshire

This former coaching inn has been looking after weary travellers for around 500 years and so the team there are pretty used to helping you to rest and recuperate. It was probably considerably less luxurious back in days of the English Civil War when it was first built, but today it is just the perfect place to refuel and pamper yourself. The food is healthy but hearty, and there is also a spa here for those of you looking to really kick back and relax. The good news is that all of the ground floor is accessible, and there are also eight ground floor rooms with parking directly outside. 

Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye

Where better to go to get away from it all than the Isle of Skye? This beautiful house was once the home of the Chief of Clan Donald, but today it is luxury hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant. It is by far and away the best restaurant on the island, with an endlessly inventive menu, but the hotel itself is also truly special experience. There are three accessible rooms (one with an adapted bathroom), and the dining room, drawing room and bar are all also on the ground floor for those of us who use a mobility scooter.

Seaham Hall, Durham

What an incredible place this is: nestled on a cliff top in the north east of England, Seaham Hall was the birthplace of Lord Byron’s daughter, before becoming a military hospital and then this wonderful hotel and restaurant. The building itself has an accessible room on the ground floor, as well as lifts and level access throughout most of the public areas. There is also dedicated Blue Badge parking close by the entrance: the main car park has 1 bay, while there is also another car park nearby with 6 more.

Holbeck Ghyll

Anyone who has been to the Lake District will know that, as beautiful as it is, it can sometimes get a bit crowded (especially during the busy summer months). But we love the area, so we were particularly happy to find this hideaway close to one of the Lakes’ busiest spots in Windermere. It’s a gorgeous hotel, with one of the best restaurants in the area and views that are truly spectacular. There is ramped access to the hotel itself, and the whole of the ground floor is accessible (including the restaurant). There is also a specially adapted ground floor bedroom, and you’ll also find a designated Blue Badge parking space right outside the entrance too.

QUINGO SCOOTERS ACCESSIBLE LUXURY RETREATS 3

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

Days Out

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaway Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a truly unique city. Its architecture is defined by the granite that gives it its nickname, and the culture of the place is very much wrapped up in the city’s long maritime history. Here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to Aberdeen, the hidden jewel of the north east of Scotland.

Enjoy the unique architecture of St Machar’s Cathedral

If there is one thing you’ll notice when you head to Aberdeen (apart from the wind), it’s the city’s stunning buildings. The city is largely built out of granite, and one of the most impressive buildings is the ancient St Machar’s Cathedral. The first Norman cathedral was built on this site in 1131, and the building’s stunning stained glass windows and fortified frontage are well worth a look. The walls do contain a dark secret though – when William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) was hanged, drawn and quartered, one part of him was buried in the walls.

There is no accessible toilet (you’ll have to use the one at The Hub in St Machar’s Drive nearby), but other than that there is level access via automatic doors into this medieval building. Once you’re inside there is access throughout, with the exception of the gallery. The cathedral doesn’t have its own car park, but there are often spaces next to the churchyard itself.

Have a peaceful moment in Johnson Gardens

If the dark drama of St Machar’s is all too much then we recommend spending a few hours among the colourful blooms of the Japanese themed Johnson Gardens. It’s been part of Aberdeen’s daily life since the thirties and it is a wonderful place to come and enjoy some natural peace and quiet in the heart of the city. It’s especially beautiful at the moment as the spring flowers come into bloom. There is relatively level access throughout the gardens, but look out for a few steep slopes. The paths are a mix of tarmac, cobbles, and some chipping. It has its own car park, but no designated Blue Badge holder spaces.

Soak up some of Aberdeen’s maritime heritage

Of course the sea is an ever present influence in Aberdeen, and there are few better places to get a sense of this history than the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. It is a fascinating way to learn more about this city’s long and often dramatic relationship with the sea, and includes collections that cover everything from ship building to fishing and of course, the oil and gas industry. It is also almost fully accessible to those of us using a mobility scooter, with ramps and lifts throughout. It doesn’t have its own parking, but there are designated Blue Badge spaces at the Shiprow NCP car park nearby

Get hands on with history and culture at Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Aberdeen’s main art gallery is currently closed for a huge refurbishment, but many of its treasures are on display at the Aberdeen Treasure Hub. This unique place is where the city stores many of its collections when they are not on display in the city museums and galleries, and is a fascinating opportunity to see everything from objects that are a part of the city’s maritime history through to some of its most famous paintings. It is only open on Wednesdays and Thursdays but it is well worth making the time to visit this fascinating (and fully accessible) experience. You will need to book in advance though, so just give the team a call on 0 3000 200 293 to arrange your visit.

Eating out in Aberdeen

There are plenty of great places to eat out in Aberdeen, and if you are looking for something cheap and cheerful then you can’t do much better than Jo Jo’s Coffee Shop. It’s fully accessible and just a fantastically friendly place to enjoy lunch (and we also recommend their afternoon tea). If you’re after something a bit more up market then head to the No 1 Bar & Grill on Queen’s Terrace. It’s still pretty informal but they serve a great range of modern Scottish dishes (think lots of fresh fish and steak) and it’s level and accessible too.

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

Days Out

Quingo Scooters Accessible Spring Gardens

We are, without doubt, a nation of garden lovers. Last year alone, the British spent something in the region of £5 billion on their own gardens: and it seems we are just as passionate about visiting other people’s too.

With the recent warmer weather, there can be no better time to think about visiting one of the UK’s many stunning public gardens. There are some spectacular ones to visit, and most will now be beginning to burst with fresh green shoots and spring flowers as the weather improves. Fortunately many of our nation’s wonderful gardens are also fully accessible, so here is Quingo Scooters’ guide to some of the very best.

1. Chirk Castle, Wrexham

One of the greatest joys of this time of year is the reappearance of the snowdrops, and Chirk Castle in Wrexham is one of the very best places to enjoy them. The ground floor of the castle is accessible and there are six free Blue Badge parking spaces very close to the reception. But while the castle is well worth exploring, for us it was the gardens and grounds that are the real star of the show at Chirk Castle – there are accessible paths throughout and the woods there are blanketed with thousands of snowdrops at this time of year.

Alnwick garden - Quingo Scooters
Editorial credit: wonderlustpicstravel / Shutterstock.com

2. Bicton Botanical Gardens, Devon

We head a little way south now to Bicton in Devon, which is home to some wonderful botanical gardens. Of course, they are great to visit at any time of the year but particularly now when they are less crowded than in the summer, and the plants are beginning to bloom as the weather warms up. The site is generally accessible to those of us using mobility scooters although there are some steep slopes to look out for. There are also eight handy disabled parking spaces close by the entrance.

Bicton Botanical Gardens

3. The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

We absolutely love Alnwick. Not only does it have an incredible castle (and a vast bookshop housed in a former railway station), it also has these beautiful gardens to explore. They’re actually in the grounds of the castle itself and this is a great time to visit as the Cherry Orchard comes into bloom. It is mostly accessible too, with level paths, and there is ample parking for Blue Badge holders nearby, just off Denwick Lane. The gardens are great to explore, and there is even an accessible tree house, if you are feeling adventurous! If you need any help organising your visit beforehand, just call the team on 01665 511350 and choose option 1.

4. Sezincote House & Garden, The Cotswolds

This really is an extraordinary place: an Indian style palace in the heart of the Cotswolds. While some of the garden is sloped, it is possible to see a lot of the gardens on your scooter and to explore the beautiful grounds, which include even more Indian style architecture hidden away among the plants. As well as the fascinating buildings it is also packed with plenty of rare plants and trees that will keep any keen gardener busy. There are however no dedicated Blue Badge parking spaces on site, so we’d advise emailing the team at Sezincote before you visit to make sure that all your accessibility needs will be met when you arrive.

5. Springhill, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

It couldn’t be more appropriately named: the gorgeous Springhill Estate in Northern Ireland is a riot of spring colour at the moment, with snowdrops and other spring flowers just beginning to appear. There are plenty of nature trails to explore here (as well as a stunning 17th century house) and much of it is accessible for mobility scooter and wheelchair users. There is Blue Badge parking available close to the entrance as well as an accessible toilet, but just give the team a call on 028 8674 8210 if you have any other questions about access.

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