Tag Archives: attractions

Quingo Accessible Days Out: The Eden Project

Here at Quingo Scooters we love finding brand new places for an exciting, interesting and accessible day out! Today we’re heading to Cornwall, to the Eden Project.

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The Eden Project

Described by some as the eighth wonder of the world, The Eden Project is an exciting and inspiring playground where you can explore our relationship with nature.

The complex is made of two big enclosures consisting of adjoining domes that house thousands of plant species. Eden’s Rainforest Biome is home to the largest rainforest in captivity. Additionally the Mediterranean Biome, with its many aromatic plants, is a definitely experience for the senses. Inside these two biomes are plants that are collected from many diverse climates and environments.

The Eden Project also has an outside botanical garden, which is home to many plants and wildlife native to Cornwall and the UK in general. These plants provide an important and interesting backstory, for example, some have a prehistoric heritage.

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What’s on?

There are many exciting things happening at The Eden Project depending on when you choose to visit, but here’s a few things going on at the moment.

Dinosaur Uprising – Running from 23rd July until the 4th September, this exhibition enables you to uncover fascinating facts about land-roaming giants, monsters from the deep and ancient creatures of the skies. You can come face to face with some life-size moving dinosaurs and marvel at their monstrous features. This is great for the whole family.

Festival of Food – This runs from the 9th-11th September, and can’t be missed for the foodies out there! The line-up of includes demos by famous chefs, such as Phil Vickery and John Whaite. There is the chance to sample delicious food and drink from local and regional producers including Knightor Wine, Buttermilk and The Wonky Kitchen. There are different chef demonstrations on different days, so be sure to check the website for scheduled events to make sure you catch the right one!

Storytelling – This runs every day in high season at 12pm and 2pm. Fascinating tales are told by The Eden Project’s wonderful storytellers in the lovely surroundings of the Citrus Grove inside the Mediterranean Biome. The tales range from local Cornish folk stories to fables about rainforest plants all the way from the amazon. Another great exhibition for the whole family and those that love to hear a good story!

Accessibility

The Eden Project is fully accessible to all. Upon arrival there are shuttle buses that run from the car parks, and a Land Train operates from the Visitor Centre to the base of the pit. These are free and can accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Inside The Eden Project there are lifts from the highest point on site to the lowest. All toilets throughout are fully accessible and have dedicated facilities for people with multiple disabilities.

The Eden Project have their own access guide which is great for reference before your visit. In there are recommended routes around the site for wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible attraction, we’d be delighted to hear from you. You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

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

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

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

Quingo Accessible Attractions: Kew Royal Botanic Gardens

Quingo Scooters are always encouraging users to get out and about to visit interesting or unusual places on their mobility scooters, especially places that you didn’t think were accessible enough. Over our series of blog posts we’ve been sharing with you some extremely accessible attractions to explore on your mobility scooter.

Today we’re heading to south-west London, where you can see the world’s largest collection of living plants and keep every member of your group entertained!

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Kew Royal Botanic Garden

The impressive Kew Royal Botanic Gardens are set over 300 acres in the borough of Richmond, around 30 minutes from central London. Any gardeners out there are sure to love this day out, as there are more than 30,000 species of living plants – the largest collection in the world. One of London’s top tourist attractions, it is now on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. When you’ve finished exploring the Gardens there’s also Kew Palace to discover.

The gardens also have lots of history surrounding them. In 1913, the Tea House that sits in the Gardens was burned down by suffragettes Olive Wharry and Lillian Lenton during a series of arson attacks in London. In the Great Storm of 1987, Kew Gardens lost hundreds of trees. You can find out lots more about the Gardens when you visit – perfect for those who love a bit of history!

There’s loads to do at Kew Gardens, and there’s definitely something to suit everyone on your day out.

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What’s on?

  • The Wind in the Willows: You’ll definitely get a taste of nostalgia as you discover Kenneth Grahame’s classic story of life on the riverbank. At this incredible outdoor theatre production you’ll get to meet Ratty, Mole, Badger, Otter and the infamous Toad. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Kew Gardens’ lake, the show is packed full of music and laughter for the whole family. You can see the show at 11.30am to 6pm Wednesday to Friday and 11.30am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Bee Urban: At this collection of drop-in sessions you can learn all about the life of a beekeeper and what it’s like to inspect honey. You get to try on the kit, learn the waffle dance and get crafty! This is suitable for the little ones in your group, and there’s no need to book. These sessions take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
  • Georgian Cookery Demonstrations: Love cooking and history? This is the right exhibition for you! Here you can find out what type of food King George III was eating during his time at Kew Palace at these drop-in cookery demonstrations in the Kew Palace Kitchens. The cooks use authentic Georgian recipes and ingredients to replicate the exact dishes served to George III. This runs on various dates up to the 2nd October, exact information can be found on the Kew Gardens website.

 Accessibility

Accessibility around Kew Gardens is excellent, with numerous tarmacked paths and clear signage to the different areas. Most of the buildings in the Gardens have level or ramped access for mobility scooters.

Within easy reach of all the main attractions there are accessible toilet facilities, and their location is clearly marked on the visitor information map. All of the cafes and both shops in the Gardens are fully accessible with level access.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

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

About Quingo

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

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

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

Quingo Accessible Attractions: Penhurst Place and Gardens

Quingo Scooters are always encouraging users to get out and about to visit interesting or unusual places on their mobility scooters, especially places that you didn’t think were accessible enough. Over our series of blog posts we’ve been sharing with you some extremely accessible attractions to explore on your mobility scooter.

Today we’re taking a trip to the South East of England to the county of Kent. The second most populous county in the South East, Kent is drenched in history and incredible views. In particular, we’re focusing on the village of Penhurst, a civil parish in the Sevenoaks district of Kent. Just West of Tonbridge, the village lies in beautiful countryside and was once owned by Henry VIII. The village is full of old timber-framed buildings and converted oast houses, with traditions such as cricket and the village fete still very much part of the community today. Nearby, you’ll discover a fantastic day out at Penhurst Place and Gardens.

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Penhurst Place and Gardens

Penhurst Place is an extraordinary historic building, with something that will fascinate everyone! It is the ancestral home of the Sidney family, and was also the birthplace of the great Elizabethan poet Sir Phillip Sidney. This original medieval house still remains as one of the most complete surviving examples of 14th century domestic architecture in England.

Open to the public for viewing, the house and gardens are fully accessible and make for a fantastic day out. As well as things to see – including the 10 rooms in the house including the impressive medieval Baron’s Hall – there is also something for the little ones in your group. They will be incredibly impressed at what the toy museum has to offer, and then afterwards they can try their hand at the maize maze!

After everyone’s taken in the history and sights of the house and gardens, they can enjoy something to eat and drink at the Porcupine Pantry or Garden restaurant. Or if you prefer to bring your own food and go al fresco, picnics are welcomed to enjoy in the grounds.

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Accessibility

For mobility scooter users, Penhurst Place offers a variety of alternative routes and experiences to make sure you get the most out of your visit. On arrival, make sure you grab an accessibility leaflet which will show you all the recommended mobility scooter routes. You can also download one from the internet before you go if you prefer.

The entrance to the House is accessible by portable ramps, and the Gardens have been made fully accessible for mobility scooters and wheelchairs – the route mostly consists of tarmac and grass paths.

Parking for visitors with disabilities is right next to the visitor entrance, Porcupine Pantry café and the gift shop, and has a concrete path to the entrance. All eateries and the gift shop are fully accessible, and there is an accessible toilet next to Porcupine Pantry.

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

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

About Quingo

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

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

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

Where Are The Best Accessible Restaurants In London?

Whether you’re wanting a weekend treat, celebrating something special, or simply want an easier option for dinner – Quingo Scooters know how important it is to find somewhere to eat that is completely accessible where you can feel entirely at ease.

You may be a local resident to the capital city, or maybe you’re just visiting for a short break. It can sometimes feel slightly daunting to choose just one restaurant out of the pack without knowing how accessible it will be for your mobility scooter. In this post we give our recommendations for some of the most accessible restaurants in London, to make that choice a little easier.

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Gourmet Burger Kitchen – 160 Portobello Road, Notting Hill

If you fancy a good old American style burger, this is the place for you! The extensive range of burgers and other dishes are freshly prepared and made to order, portions are generous and catering for vegetarians is also provided. There is level access to the restaurant from the street, a lowered payment counter and fully accessible toilets. Gourmet Burger Kitchen is a chain of restaurants up and down the country, so you can find an alternative restaurant near you.

Criterion Restaurant – 224 Picadilly, Mayfair

The Criterion is one of London’s oldest restaurants, having opened in 1874. It is a Neo-Byzantine-style restaurant serving Modern European dishes, and is open for both lunch and dinner. Inside the Criterion you’ll find the iconic long bar, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle staged the first meeting between Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. On top of amazing food, this restaurant is full of history and spectacular architecture! There is accessible entry to Criterion, and there are fully accessible toilets.

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Mela – 152-156 Shaftesbury Avenue, Covent Garden

If you’re someone who loves Indian food, but also likes trying new things, then this is a great option for you. Rather than focusing on a specific region, Mela’s menu features dishes from all over India. This means you’ll find some unusual treats like lobster pepper fry curry and potatoes stuffed with cashew nuts. Mela also keep the fat and oil content in their dishes to a minimum, which is an added bonus. There is both assisted and non-assisted mobility scooter access available, and the toilets are fully accessible.

Petrus – 1-3 Kinnerton Street, Knightsbridge

For something a little bit more extravagant, or for a special celebration, try Michelin star restaurant Petrus. This modern French dining restaurant is one of Gordon Ramsay’s, boasting theatrical dishes and a very extensive wine list. The wine even features as the centrepiece of the restaurant, a glass encased wine room.  This restaurant is very accessible for mobility scooters – there is level access to the restaurant and there are fully accessible toilets.

Share your accessible restaurant with Quingo!

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

About Quingo Scooters

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

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

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

Accessible Outdoor Places to Visit in London

Here at Quingo Scooters we know how much fun it can be to spend the day doing something different, or visiting a place you thought maybe wasn’t accessible enough. Now that summer is coming into full swing, you’d probably much rather be spending time outdoors on a lovely day instead of being indoors.

In this blog post we’re taking a look at the best outdoor attractions to visit in central London – and of course, they’re all fully accessible. Whether you live near the capital and have everything on your doorstep, or you live further afield but fancy a trip to London for a nice day out – there’s always loads to do! From theatres to zoos, many of London’s outdoor attractions are accessible for mobility scooters.

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Kew Gardens – Richmond

The impressive Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is set over 300 acres in the borough of Richmond, around 30 minutes from central London. Any gardeners out there are sure to love this day out, as there are more than 30,000 species of living plants – the largest collection in the world. There are many attractions on at the gardens and loads of things to do to keep every member of your group entertained. The gardens are fully accessible, as are the glasshouses and galleries. There are eight designated extra wide parking bays in the car park which are nearest to the ticket kiosk.

WWT London Wetland Centre – Barnes

Recreating 105 different habitats from around the world using a mosaic of pools, ponds and lakes, the WWT London Wetland Centre offers something really different. New technology and TV monitors let you explore the wilderness areas of the reserve. There are free guided tours and bird feeds daily, and loads of lakes, ponds and gardens to explore. The majority of paths have tarmac and are accessible for mobility scooters. Other accessible features include low level access to the ground-floor hides and a fixed hearing loop in the audio-visual theater.

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Shakespeare’s Globe – Bankside

Located on the bank of the River Thames, this reconstructed open-air theater brings the world of Shakespeare to life using interactive exhibits and demonstrations. A full theater programme runs between May and September at Shakespeare’s Globe, and all the details of what’s on can be found on the website. The entrance to the exhibition is via a ramp, and the theater has a provision for mobility scooter and wheelchair users.

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo – Battersea

Located in the borough of Wandsworth, the zoo is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea. Definitely a great one to keep the younger members of your group entertained, the Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is home to all sorts of animals – from farmyard favourites to monkeys, birds and reptiles. There is also a contact area where children can see all the animals up close and stroke them. The zoo is fully accessible, made so by ramps throughout the attraction. There’s always a different exhibition taking place at the zoo, so make sure you check what’s on in order to plan your trip the best way possible!

Share your accessible attraction with Quingo!

If you want to share your mobility scooter accessible attraction, we’d be delighted to hear from you. You can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.

About Quingo

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

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

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