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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.

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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…

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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: Museum of Liverpool

This week, Quingo Scooters are travelling to Merseyside as part of our Accessible Attractions series. Just a few short weeks ago we visited Liverpool as part of our Accessible Getaways series, and now we’re back to the north west!

The Museum of Liverpool reflects the significance of the city, known for its unique history and culture, this attraction is one you won’t want to miss out on.

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The museum and exhibitions

The Museum of Liverpool stands proudly next to Liverpool’s famous waterfront. Visitors can explore how the port, the city’s people, and its creative and sporting history, have shaped this city. The museum of Liverpool has many featured exhibitions currently on display, as well as some interesting displays upcoming.

  • Liverpool & Hong Kong Reflections – reflects on Liverpool and Hong Kong, discovering the similarities and differences between the two global cities. Both are home to prosperous ports and bustling streets, as well as diverse populations.
  • Reel Stories – a special exhibition including more than 40 original film posters and memorabilia, celebrating Liverpool’s starring role in film over the past 60 years.
  • Gerry and the Pacemakers – opening on Friday 14 July features more than 30 photographs; capturing the wit, warmth and energy of the Merseybeat group during their rapid rise to fame.
  • The Magic Clock – in partnership with Homotopia, the Museum of Liverpool will be marking the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexual acts in England and Wales (1967 Sexual Offences Act).

As well as exhibitions, the museum has a range of displays for visitors to learn more about the wonderful city of Liverpool.

  • Growing up in the city: in photographs – a display of rarely seen images shows snapshots of Liverpool children’s experiences growing up. Many images showcase friendships, family and a fun childhood; whilst others show a different reality, such as working to support their families, war-time evacuation and ill health.
  • There’s no place like Garlands! – open until early June 2017 this display showcases items from the museum’s LGBT collections. Garlands was Liverpool’s first after-hours gay club, it became one of the most popular venues for nightlife in Liverpool.

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Ticket prices and opening times

Entry to the museum is free of charge for all visitors, perfect for a great family day out without the expense! Museum opening times are 10am – 5pm daily.

Accessibility within the museum

The entrance to the museum is flat and also features automatic doors as well as lift access to all floors. Cloakroom lockers are available for visitors to store any personal possessions they don’t want to carry around with them. On all floors, there are accessible toilets labelled ‘changing places toilets’. For more information please visit the ‘Access’ page on the museum’s website.

 Getting there

For visitors travelling by train, the closest station is James Street. Only a few minutes away from the museum, the station is served by the Wirral Line trains only. Moorfields station, served by the Northern and Wirral Lines, is 5 minutes away from the museum. Liverpool Central station is 15 to 20 minutes away, and is served by the Northern and Wirral Lines. The museum is 20 minutes from Liverpool Lime Street station – the main train station in Liverpool. For more information, please visit the Merseyrail website.

By bus, the nearest station is at Paradise Street close to the Liverpool ONE complex. Some bus services drop off at the Pier Head, just by the museum. For more information visit the Merseytravel website.

Visitors travelling by car should follow signposts for the Albert Dock from the motorway and other main routes into the city centre. For more information on planning a route by car, visit the AA Route Planner website.

There are six blue badge parking spaces directly opposite the museum entrance by the Great Western Railway Building. These spaces need to be pre-booked by calling 0151 478 4545. There are car parks in the nearby Liverpool ONE complex opposite the entrance to the Albert Dock. Q-Park Strand Street has 2000 underground spaces, Q-Park Gradwell Street has 560 multi-storey spaces and Q-Park John Lewis has 580 multi-storey spaces. For more information, visit the Museum of Liverpool’s website 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, 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.

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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.

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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: Steven Joseph Theatre

Wherever you travel in the UK, you’ll be greeted by a treasure trove of fantastic cultural attractions which you can explore as a mobility scooter user. It’s hard to know where to check out first, so Quingo Scooters is putting together a guide to the UK’s most accessible attractions to help you decide.

We’re taking you on a trip to the seaside this week, as we head to the town of Scarborough. This North Yorkshire town is known for its golden sandy beaches, thrilling amusements and breath-taking historic ruins, but one of its highlights is undoubtedly the Steven Joseph Theatre.

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Take in a show

The Steven Joseph Theatre has served as one of Scarborough’s top cultural sites for decades. It was originally opened as a small ‘theatre in the round’ on the first floor of a public library in 1955 by actor Steven Joseph. It flourished but struggled to find a permanent home until the existing Steven Joseph Theatre was set up in an old Odeon cinema in 1996 and it has thrived ever since.

You can visit the Steven Joseph to take in a range of shows from kid’s pantos to gripping dramas. It has two stages, the first of which is ‘The Round Theatre;’ a unique circular space, where you can get a 360 degree view of all the action on stage. It also has ‘The McCarthy Theatre’ – a more traditional stage. Shows expected to come to the Steven Joseph this year include Little Voice, Grimm’s Tales, Cyrano and Charlie and the Light Fantastic, so you’re sure to find something for every member of the group.

If you check out the Steven Joseph Theatre website’s what’s on page, you can find a full list of its existing and upcoming productions, along with details on showing times and ticket prices. The Steven Joseph Theatre also boasts a shop, where you can pick up fantastic handcrafted items made by the finest local artisans. It also contains restaurant/bar space, where you can relax with a meal and a drink in the intermission, whilst waiting with baited breath for your show to commence once more.

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Accessible venue

The Steven Joseph is a great attraction for any mobility scooter user, as it is incredibly accessible. You can get to the Steven Joseph Theatre with little fuss, as it is situated a few minutes away from Scarborough train station. There are accessible parking bays located on nearby Albemarle Crescent, while if you’re a blue badge holder, you can park for free on Hannover Road just 20 metres away from the theatre. Check out the website’s visiting us page to find more information on the different ways of getting there.

You will be able to navigate your way around the Steven Joseph Theatre with ease. The building is accessible by ramp, which is located on the right side of its entrance. You can then take another ramp from the entrance up to the box office, allowing you to book tickets to whatever show takes your fancy. There are also accessible toilets dotted around the Steven Joseph Theatre.

The Theatre is just as accessible inside as it is outside. There are lifts to the shop, restaurant/bar and both The Round Theatre and The McCarthy Theatre. There are accessible seats in both theatres, located close to the lifts. You can also request accessible seating on the front row of both theatres by contacting staff at least 24 hours before you arrive. Visit the website’s access page, to find out more about accessibility at the Steven Joseph Theatre.

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: Hampton Court Palace

In ages gone by, our monarchs built grand residences across the UK, so they could live in the true luxury befitting of their status. Many are still standing, providing you with plenty of great days out as a mobility scooter user. But where do you begin? Here’s where Quingo Scooters comes in. We’re bringing the UK’s top accessible attractions to your attention and we’ve got a great one for you in this post.

Join us, as we go to one of the country’s most stunning royal residences – Hampton Court Palace. Based at Hampton, Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, Hampton Court Palace is a massive complex, where you can experience what life was really like for the crème de la crème of English history.

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Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace was built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, one of King Henry VIII’s favourites, in 1515. When Wolsey inevitably fell out of favour, Henry seized the building and it housed various monarchs over time, with George II being the last King to reside there. The palace was renovated many times, but most notably by King William III, who had aspirations of making it a rival to the Palace of Versailles in France, turning Hampton Court Palace into a true architectural marvel in the process.

To visit Hampton Court Palace today, is to familiarise yourself with the magnificence of royal living. It has a number of fascinating attractions for you to explore, including its iconic Great Hall, known for their splendid tapestries. The complex also houses the Chapel Royal, which is legendary for its beautiful ceiling, and also features a replica of Henry VIII’s crown. Other highlights include its Cumberland Art Gallery, which displays magnificent works from the Royal Collection and Henry VIII’s state apartments, which shed light on the personality of one of England’s most notorious rulers.

You cannot visit Hampton Court Palace without also spending time in its lush gardens. Spread across 60 acres, these green spaces possess winding paths, bubbling fountains, magnificent trees – including solid walls of yew and over one million flowering bulbs, making for a truly magical experience. You can go to Hampton Court Palace at any time of the year, from 10am to 6pm in summer and from 10am to 4.30pm in winter. Depending on the time of year, adult tickets start from £18 and you can find out more on the tickets and prices section of the official Hampton Court Palace website.

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Touring the palace

Hampton Court Palace is open to all visitors, and it’s one of the region’s top accessible attractions. It is easily reachable by train, as you can get a 35 minute train which will take you from London Waterloo to Hampton Court, and these services run every half hour. You can also get there by car, as it lies on the A308 and is well sign posted. It has on-site parking, with nine accessible spaces available for blue badge holders, and you can learn more on the getting here page of its official website.

You will have no problem getting around Hampton Court Palace, as it’s extremely accessible. There is level access from the parking area to its main entrance with the accessible parking spaces located just 50 metres away. There is level access throughout the ground floor of Hampton Court Palace, with a wide lift going up to the state apartments on the first floor. There is also level access in the gardens, with various flat paths available, as well as to the Palace’s information centre, where you can find out more about the venue.

There are also three fully accessible shops at Hampton Court Palace, where you can buy a souvenir to remind you of your time at this fascinating site. These are the Palace Shop, the Garden Shop, and the Tudor Kitchens Shop, while you can visit the Tudor Kitchens themselves and learn about the culinary traditions of our ancestors, via a ramp. Hampton Court Palace further includes various accessible toilets around the complex. You can learn more by visiting the accessibility page of its 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.