The UK has many world-renowned museums, reflecting the country’s own rich history as well as its generations of collectors. The great news is that many of these remarkable treasure houses are accessible to those of us who use mobility scooters and wheelchairs. Here is our pick of just a few of our favourites around the country.
The National Museum of Scotland
We’re going to begin our journey around Britain’s museum collections north of the border. The National Museum of Scotland is a real celebration of Scottish history. From ancient artefacts like the 12th century Lewis Chessmen (made from Walrus ivory and discovered in the Outer Hebrides in the 1800s) to the embalmed body of the world’s first cloned sheep, Dolly, there is a incredible array of exhibits to explore. The museum itself is fully accessible, with lifts available for all floors. There is free Blue Badge parking in four designated public parking spaces on Chambers Street.
The Titanic Museum, Belfast
A short hop over the Irish Sea now to Belfast, and the home of one of the most iconic stories of our time. Not Game of Thrones (which is filmed here), but the birthplace of the ill-fated Titanic. The Titanic was built here in 1908 and today the museum dedicated to it is a wonderful tribute to this tragic tale. Across nine spectacular galleries the museum tells the story of the liner and the ship yards where she was built. The museum contains interactive exhibits as well as original artefacts from the ship itself. The team there have done a great job of making sure that the entire exhibition is fully accessible. There are lifts to all floors and there are also ten designated parking spaces across the two floors of the underground car park, although you will have to pay.
The Churchill War Rooms, London
Beneath the streets of Westminster in London lie the Churchill War Rooms: the hub from which Winston Churchill and his team fought and won the Second World War. For an underground war time bunker spread out across a labyrinth of rooms and tunnels, the War Rooms themselves are remarkably accessible, and the team at the Imperial War Museum (of which this is a part) have done an incredible job of opening them up to as many visitors as they can. They recommend that you use the front entrance via Birdcage Walk by St James Park to enter, but that once you’re inside the complex it is accessible throughout.
The National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
Now to Wales, and the fascinating National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. Wales has an incredible history of innovation and industry, and the museum tells the story of the impact of the industrial revolution on the country over the centuries. One of the highlights of the collection is a replica of one of the world’s earliest trains, Richard Trevithick’s Steam Locomotive of 1804. The museum also does a great job of making it accessible to all visitors, with lifts to all floors, level flooring and accessible toilets. There is a limit on the number of mobility scooters allowed in at any one time, but just give the team at the museum a call on 029 2057 3600 before you visit to discuss your needs. You will also find five designated parking bays for Blue Badge holders outside on East Burrows Place.
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff
Staying in Wales, we had to give a final mention to Wales’s most popular heritage attraction: the fantastic St Fagans National Museum of History. Set in the grounds of Fagans Castle and gardens, the museum is home to around 40 buildings from different historical periods. It’s a place where you can see craftspeople working in the forges and workshops of the museum, or see practical farming demonstrations involving local breeds. In many ways it is the very best kind of museum, because it is somewhere that history feels fully alive and a part of the present.
Of course, this is an old site, and there are some uneven paths and tricky slopes. But it is also very accessible, with dedicated Blue Badge parking and access to most of the site (with the exception of a few buildings). There is also a motorised vehicle which can pick you up and take you around the site too, but you will need to give the team a call on 029 2057 3500 a couple of weeks beforehand to book it.
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.
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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.
