Tag Archives: accessible attractions

Attractions, Days Out, Quingo Scooters, Reviews

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: National Railway Museum York

Quingo Scooters is travelling north this week for our Accessible Attractions series; to an attraction sure to bring back the nostalgia of the days before modern cars and motorbikes. A great day out for the whole family or even with a group of friends!

We’re taking you to the National Railway Museum in York, on display are thousands of amazing objects and over 300 years of fascinating history. The museum includes some railway legends you truly wouldn’t want to miss out on.

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Railway legends

The museum has many great locomotive legends on display within the great hall, here are just some of the highlights:

  • Mallard – designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, the Mallard broke the world speed record for steam locomotives in 1938. It is yet to be beaten! Built in 1939, she carried passenger trains on the east coast mainline until 1963.
  • Replica Rocket – it’s rare that someone hasn’t heard of Stephenson’s Rocket. Engineered by George Stephenson and his son Robert, they were amongst the very first locomotive engineers.
  • Shinkansen – Japan’s high-speed railway revolution resulted in the bullet train – the forerunner of high-speed trains. The train would reach speeds of just over 130mph. The ‘Series 0’ Shin-kansen was built in 1974 and when Shin-kansen opened in 1964 it was a radical re-imaging of the passenger railway.
  • Duchess of Hamilton – the streamlined Duchess is an incredible piece of 1938 built Art Deco opulence. It was seen as a modern machine for a modern age.
  • Class 31 – designed to replace steam as part of the British Railways Modernisation Plan of 1955. The locomotive’s diesel engine was developed from the engines used in ships.
  • SECR ‘D’ class No.737 – the elaborate livery on this locomotive was created to help give the newly formed South Eastern and Chatham Railway a positive image.
  • Eurostar – the power car is at the centre of a new exhibition that acknowledges the historic role the train has served in connecting the UK with mainland Europe. As a marvel of modern engineering the average speed operates at 186mph, and is part of the series as the train that holds the current UK rail speed record of over 208mph.
  • Evening Star – was the last steam locomotive to be built for British railways. It was one of a total of 999 ‘standard’ locomotives designed for a wide variety of uses, from tank engines for local passenger trains to large freight engines.

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What else is on?

In addition to the impressive collection of locomotives, visitors can listen to over 1,000 hours of recollections from 20th century railway workers. Hear stories from divers, preservationists, signal operators and more. Read the tales of anticipation, mischief and adventure as part of the museum’s Trainspotting season.

In Search Engine – the museum’s library and archive centre – visitors can find answers to their railway questions, discover more about the collection or relax with a railway magazine. Located in the archive are many artefacts such as:

  • Drawings and papers from railway works and companies
  • Records of individuals and families
  • Technical tests and records
  • Timetables
  • Magazines
  • Accident reports
  • And many more!

Opening times and entry

The National Railway Museum is open from 10am to 6pm daily (March – September) and 10am to 5pm (October – February), except on 24, 25 and 26 December. The museum has free entry, which gives visitors all the more reason to go! For more information go to the ‘Visit’ section of the website.

Accessibility

There is level access to the entrance of the museum from the main entrance. Other entrances don’t have level access so the main one is the best route in. There is no level access to the locomotives within the museum, but the Great Hall has level flooring suitable for scooter users. There are a variety of level changes throughout the museum, some exhibits are accessible by ramps. There are accessible toilets within the venue, the accessible toilets are located within the foyer entrance and the Great Hall. For more information visit the ‘Accessibility’ section of the website.

Getting to the museum

For visitors travelling to the museum by rail, the nearest train station is York. It is a few minutes away from the museum.

Visitors travelling by bus can use the Rawcliffe Park and Ride, which picks up and drops off just outside of the museum.

By car, visitors should aim their journey towards York. Once in the city, the museum is clearly signposted from all approaches. The car park for the museum is located on Leeman Road (£9 a day). Accessible parking is free and available outside the City Entrance. For more information on travelling to the museum, visit the ‘How to get here’ section of the website.

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, Reviews

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: ZSL London Zoo

Quingo Scooters are back with another Accessible Attraction for you and your family to enjoy! We’re in the capital this week discovering what more London can offer us.

If you’re an animal lover, this attraction is perfect for you! Set in the heart of London the ZSL London Zoo is perfect for a fun-packed day out with family or friends.

Quingo Scooters ZSL london zoo 2

Welcome to the wild

Within Regent’s Park sits a bustling zoo filled with animals and nature from all over the world. Set between heritage-listed buildings and beautiful gardens, the zoo boasts over 800 incredible animal species to discover. Visitors have the privilege of enjoying interactive experiences, displays, feeding times and talks all at no extra cost!

The newest edition to the ZSL London Zoo is the Land of Lions exhibit, three walkways cover the 2,500sqm exhibit, meaning you can get closer than ever to these mighty creatures. For the first time, big cat lovers can be immersed into an interactive activity, in order to help the veterinary team as they come to the rescue.

Some of the most popular animals, adored by many, are meerkats. They live in families, stand guard and babysit. Travel to southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert from the centre of London to learn about these adorable creatures.

Observe the monkeys in their natural habitat at the Bolivian inspired exhibit, it holds no boundaries between the animals and visitors. Getting up close and personal to your favourite animals has never been easier, so you can enjoy monkeying around…

Quingo Scooters ZSL london zoo 3

Meet your favourite animals!

At the ZSL London Zoo, visitors have the chance to meet their favourite animals. An unforgettable experience to cosy up to some of the world’s most incredible animals. Meet and greet is available with many of the animals, such as:

  • Penguins
  • Giraffes
  • Kangaroos
  • Meerkats
  • Rainforest creatures

There’s even more to do at the London Zoo, daily events occur frequently – whether that be a talk or a feed there’s sure to be something to do! Demonstrations occur throughout the day, such as:

  • Early Birds
  • Penguin Beach Live
  • Tigers Live
  • Lunch with the Otters
  • Going Underground
  • Giraffe High Tea
  • And many more!

Ticket prices and opening times

For visits up to 29 October 2017 prices (at the gate) are: £29.75 for adults, £22 for children (3-15 years), free for children under 3 and £26.80 for concessions; all include a voluntary 10% donation. Online ticket prices vary, as of 30 October 2017 the prices will be changing. We advise to check online before visiting the zoo. For more information visit the Ticket Prices page.

ZSL London Zoo is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. From 1 April 2017, the zoo is open from 10am, last entry at 5pm and closes at 6pm. From 4 September, the zoo will be open from 10am, last entry at 4.30pm and closes at 5.30pm. from the 21 October 2017, the zoo is open from 10am, last entry at 4pm and closes at 5pm. From the 30 October 2017, the zoo will be open from 10am, last entry at 3pm and closes at 4pm. For more information visit the Opening Times page.

Accessibility

The zoo is more than 170 years old and contains many old buildings, 12 of the buildings are listed. The majority of the zoo is accessible for scooter users, lift access is available in the Tiger Territory for people wishing to access the higher viewing platform. The aquarium has scooter friendly access via an entrance to the left of the main doorway. The Lubetkin penguin pool has limited access however, there are plenty of areas to still watch and enjoy the animals.

The zoo paths are generally tarmac with level or ramped access to most of the buildings. The slopes leading to the two tunnels in the zoo are rather steep.

Accessible toilets are located throughout the zoo site; toilets for men and women are located opposite BUGS and in the Children’s Zoo. Men’s only toilets are located by the aquarium, women’s only toilets are located near the African Aviary and zoo entrance.

There are six disabled parking bays near the zoo entrance, five are in the small car park opposite the entrance and one bay is immediately in front of the entrance. There is pay and display parking on the Outer Circle and in the zoo car park. For more information visit the Accessibility page of the website.

Getting to the zoo

Visitors travelling to the zoo by tube can use Camden Town and Regent’s Park stations, within walking distance of the zoo. Baker Street station can also be used as well as a short bus ride. Regent’s Park station is 20 minutes away from the zoo, Camden Town 15 minutes and Baker Street is 30 minutes away or a short bus ride.

Camden Town has Northern Line connections, Regent’s Park has Bakerloo Line connections and Baker Street has Jubilee, Bakerloo and Metropolitan Line connections.

By bus, the 274 service runs from Marble Arch and Baker Street to Ormonde Terrace. The C2 route should be picked up from Victoria station, Oxford Circus or Great Portland Street to Gloucester Gate. For more information on tube or bus services, visit the Transport for London website.

Visitors travelling by car should first follow directions for the centre of the city, before following directions for Regent’s Park.

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, Reviews

Quingo Scooters Accessible Attractions: Churchill War Rooms

Each week at Quingo Scooters, we bring to you a fresh attraction in our Accessible Attractions series. Throughout the UK, we are lucky to have incredible attractions for all ages! This week we’re taking in some of Britain’s history with a trip to the capital.

With so many attractions to choose from in London it can be hard to pick just one. But we think we’ve cracked it this week! Heading to the Churchill War Rooms, we review some of the most iconic moments of one of Britain’s most historical figures.

The Churchill War Rooms

These really do define the story of Winston Churchill’s life and the stories hidden beneath the streets of Westminster. Visitors can explore the underground bunker that protected the staff and secrets at the very heart of Britain’s government during the Second World War; as Churchill and his inner circle plotted the route to Allied victory.

Visitors can also walk in the very same footsteps as Churchill himself, taking in a glimpse of what life was like during the tough days and nights of the Second World War. The War Rooms are where Churchill and his War Cabinet met to discuss the War, as well as plans and tactics. The Map Room has remained exactly as it was left on the day the lights were switched off in 1945.

The Bunker

Visitors can discover more about the stories of the staff who spent thousands of hours working on vital projects from 1938 onwards in the Cabinet War Rooms. Featured are historic images, objects and interviews from the men and women who worked in the underground bunker. They reveal what it was like to work secretly alongside Winston Churchill during the Second World War.

The city bunker invites visitors in to discover the story of Winston Churchill’s remarkable 90-year life. From his lonely childhood, to his military career and two periods as Prime Minister; the award-winning museum has many interesting interactive activities.

Churchill’s life

Another interesting part of the attraction is that you can hear extracts from Churchill’s rousing wartime speeches, as well as reading some of the hundreds of devoted letters Churchill exchanged with his wife Clementine. Personal objects, such as his paintings, favourite cigars and the door of No. 10 Downing Street are included.

A 15-metre-long interactive table, chronologically conveys major world events and Churchill’s activities during his life. It features thousands of documents, images, animations and films available to bring Churchill’s story to life.

Quingo Scooters Churchill War Rooms 2

Prices and opening times

The prices are as follows (including a 10% voluntary donation): adults £19, children (aged 5-15) £9.50, concessions £15.20, carers and children under 5 can enjoy free entry. The museum is open every day from 9.30am – 6pm, including bank holidays. Summer opening hours (5 June – 27 August) are 9.30am – 7pm every day. The museum is closed on 24, 25 and 26 December.

Accessibility

For scooter user visitors, we recommend that you enter the museum via the front entrance on Birdcage Walk by St James Park. Once inside, the Churchill War Rooms are accessible for scooter users. Within the museum, there is a lift to the basement level and accessible toilets. For more information, visit the website here.

Quingo Scooters Churchill War Rooms 3

Getting there

Within the centre of London there are many forms of travel for tourists. If you are travelling by tube, the nearest stations are Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle Line) 8-10 minutes from the museum, and St James’ Park (District and Circle Lines) 7-10 minutes from the museum. For more travel information plan your journey with Transport for London.

The nearest train stations are Charing Cross (10-15 minutes from the museum), Victoria (15-20 minutes) and Waterloo (15-20 minutes). For more information on rail services around London visit the National Rail website.

For visitors travelling by bus, the routes that can be used are: 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 87, 88, 109, 148, 159, 184, 211 and 453. Plan your journey using the Transport for London website.

If you’re travelling by car, there are no designated parking spaces for the museum use. Metered parking is available in the local area, charges apply from 8.30am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday. The nearest car parks are Abingdon Car Park, Great College Street SW1P 3R, and Trafalgar Car Park, Spring Gardens SW1A 2BN. The museum is within the London Congestion Charge zone. Visit the website here for more details on how to pay the charge.

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 Accessible Attractions: The Roman Baths

Quingo Scooters brings to you another edition in our Accessible Attractions series. We’ve narrowed it down from over hundreds of attractions around the UK to just one. This week we’re going to a historical city buzzing with plenty of interesting historical facts…

On a trip to the South West of England, we’re taking you to Bath to discover the outstanding architecture of The Roman Baths. Situated in the heart of Bath, the baths were constructed around 70 AD.

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The history of the baths

The Baths were founded upon natural hot springs, the steaming water played a key role throughout its history. The Baths were built as a grand bathing and socialising complex and is now one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world.

Each day, 1,170,000 litres of steaming spring water reaching 46°C fill the bathing site. The Romans believed that this was mystical work of the Gods, however we now know that the water source – which comes from the King’s Spring – fell as rain water around 10,000BC.

The Great Bath is lined with 45 sheets of lead, and is filled with hot spa water. It once stood in an enormous barrel-vaulted hall that rose to a height of 40 metres, the bath is 1.6 metres deep which was perfect for the Romans to bathe in. visitors to The Bath would have been able to sit on benches within The Bath as well as having access to small tables for drinks or snacks.

The Great Bath that lies below street level can also be viewed from the Terrace, decorated with statues and shadowed by the great Abbey. Visitors can explore the remains of the ancient heated rooms and changing rooms, as well as the tepid and plunge pools.

The Romans built a temple high over the courtyard in honour of the goddess Sulis Minerva, visitors can stand before the fearsome Gargon’s head carved into the pediment – if they feel brave enough!

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Prices and opening times

Prices vary depending on the time of year, between January to June and September to December prices are; adults £15.50, students £13.75, senior citizens (65+) £13.75 and children (6-16) £9.80. In July and August prices are; adults (9am-5pm) £17, adults (5pm-9pm) £15.50, students £13.75, senior citizens £13.75 and children £9.80. for more information on ticket prices, click here. The Roman Baths are open every day – except 35 and 26 December. The opening hours vary throughout the year, and include special late evening entry during mid- June, July and August. For more information on opening times, click here.

Getting to The Baths

The Roman Baths are in the centre of Bath, The Baths are 100 miles (160km) west of London and 10 miles (16km) east of Bristol. Bath has great coach and rail connections from London and most major cities within the UK.

By bus or coach, National Express operates a regular bus service from London Victoria, Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The dropping-off point is at the bus station, just 5 minutes away from the Baths.

By car, the quickest and most straightforward route is likely to be is the M5 and M4 approaching Bath from the north and using the Lansdown Park and Ride – marked park and ride north. Further information of parking within Bath can be found here. For disabled badge holders, there are parking bays in a number of locations within the city centre.

By train, visitors can travel into Bath using the Bath Spa station. There are frequent high-speed connections to London Paddington, for a slower cheaper service there is alternatively London Waterloo. The Roman Baths are less than ten minutes away from the station.

Accessibility within the Baths

Due to the Baths being six metres below street level, there are a number of steps throughout the site. Recently, two lifts and improved handrails have been updated at the site. The Baths ask that visitors make the staff aware of any limited mobility and they will direct visitors to the most accessible route.

There is level access from the Abbey Church Yard entrance to most of the ground floor areas; including the 18th century Pump Room, the Sun Lounge which overlooks the hot spring and the outside Terrace which overlooks the Great Bath. There is also level access to the main Roman Baths shop from Stall Street.

Access to the teaching space, mezzanine displays, lower museum, Great Bath and East Baths is via four accessible lifts. There is one accessible toilet close to the Roman Baths entrance and one at the beginning of the Kings Bath corridor. For more information on accessibility, click 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, Tips and Advice

Quingo Accessible Attractions: Haynes International Motor Museum

At Quingo Scooters we’re rejuvenating our Accessible Attractions series with another spectacular attraction for you to visit. This week we’ve discovered one for the motor heads amongst our readers!

We’re taking you to Sparkford in Somerset, to the UK’s largest collection of great cars from around the world, at The Haynes International Motor Museum. Buckle up your seatbelts, you’re in for a fun ride…

Quingo Haynes International Motor Museum 1
Editorial credit: Dave Goodman / Shutterstock.com

The museum

As the UK’s largest collection of cars; the museum boasts 400 amazing cars and bikes from the dawn of motoring in the late 1800s, to the classics of the 1950s and 60s. Keep your eyes peeled for beautiful Bentleys and Rolls Royces, to world renowned supercars such as the Jaguar XJ220.

The museum currently offers 19 individual exhibitions, with frequent tours, talks and activities for families, children and car enthusiasts. Each exhibition covers a specific period in the motoring industry, such as:

  • The Dawn of Motoring – displaying some of the oldest vehicles throughout the museum. With references to motoring pioneers such as Volta, Barsanti, Matteucci, Benz, Daimler and Olds.
  • Minis and Micros – a collection of the museum’s smallest vehicles, including those from Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, India and (former) East Germany. Displaying quirky European ‘bubble’ cars which became popular in the 1950s within the British motor industry. Following on, this resulted in Britain presenting the Mini to the world.
  • Custom and Bespoke – since motor cars were introduced onto the roads they have been customised/modified by their owners. This collection displays how owners interpret ‘different’.
  • Supercar Century – within the display are popular supercars such as a 1930 Bentley 4.5 Litre, 1973 E Type Jaguar and a 1995 Dodge Viper. The range is one of the most desirable and exclusive within the museum – certainly not one to miss!
  • Ferrari: The Man, The Machine, The Myth – high performance brands such as Ferrari have become innovators within sports and racing cars. As one of the most expensive and beautiful brands in the world, the collection is a homage to the innovation behind Ferrari’s brand.
Quingo Haynes International Motor Museum 2
Credit: Haynes International Motor Museum/ Unsplash

Accessibility

The museum is generally a ground floor attraction with a range of hands-on exhibits, the first-floor Motorcycle Mezzanine level has lift access up from the rest of the museum. There are accessible toilets within the reception area, at the AA display and in the Supercar Century exhibition. There are ramps within the Red Room and the Auto Games Area, as well as a large ramp for access to the Café 750. There are 7 blue badge bays within the car park, located just a few metres away from reception. For more information visit the accessibility section of the website here.

Prices and opening times

Ticket prices for adults (aged 16+) are £14.50, children (aged 4-15 years) £9 and children (under 4 years) are free. Concessions (disabled adult, senior citizens over 65 years, students, forces and disabled senior citizens) are £13.50 and disabled children (aged 4-15 years) £7. The museum is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm from 2 March to 28 October (Monday-Sunday), and 9.30am to 4.30pm from 29 October to 1 March (Monday-Sunday).

Planning a visit

Travelling to the museum is very accessible. For people planning to visit by rail, the main line station at Castle Cary is 5 miles away from the museum and has a high-speed link between Paddington and Penzance. The line also has a daily route between Bristol and Weymouth with regular stops at Yeovil. For more information visit the National Rail website here.

By bus, there are regular bus services to Sparkford Village from Castle Cary and Yeovil. Further information can be found on the Travel South West website here.

For visitors travelling by car, the museum is situated just off the A303 near Sparkford on the A359 Sparkford to Castle Cary Road. High profile brown tourist signs from all the major trunk roads provide easy to follow local directions.

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.