Tag Archives: Brighton

Accessible Routes, Days Out

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: A Day Out In Brighton

Of course, the British love a trip to the seaside, often even in the face of some less than perfect weather. So, here in the latest instalment of our Accessible Getaways series, Quingo Scooters looks at the many things that you can get up to in the beautiful seaside town of Brighton.

Visiting Brighton

As seaside resorts go, Brighton is one of the nation’s favourites. It’s a short hop down from the capital and makes for a great day out for all. With a couple of historic piers, its stunning Pavilion and of course the gorgeous front itself, there really is something for everyone. Best of all, Brighton is a truly open and accessible city. A great place to start your trip to the South Coast is to look at their website Visit Brighton here. We also recommend considering hiring an All-terrain Wheelchair if you’re planning to head out onto the pebbles.

Here are our top three things to do in Brighton.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: A Day Out In Brighton | Quingo Scooters Brighton Museum

  1. Brighton Museum

Of course, the Pavilion itself is a must-see: it is a fantastic fairy-tale concoction that is well worth a visit. But within the Royal Pavilion gardens we also highly recommend you head along to the Brighton Museum. It has a collection of exhibits as diverse and eccentric as the city itself and is a fantastic starting point for anyone wanting to get a taste of this bohemian city. There are level paths leading to the entrance through the gardens and the whole museum is accessible. There are 30 Blue Badge parking spaces at the nearby Lanes Car Park, and 6 at the NCP on Church Street. Find out more here.

Quingo Scooters Accessible Getaways: A Day Out In Brighton | Quingo Scooters Brighton Pride 2018

  1. Pride 2018

Brighton is rightly proud of its rich and diverse culture, and the annual Pride celebrations are a truly inspiring celebration of LGBTQ equality in particular. This year’s event takes place in August, and as always there will be a real focus yet again on making it as accessible as possible for all those attending. If you’re thinking of going along, then a great place to start is their accessibility page online, here. It’s the place to reserve an early parking space in the event’s Blue Badge car parks, get a Freedom Pass for the town’s accessible toilets or even book a changing area if you’re getting into costume for the parade itself!

  1. Sea Life Brighton

Who doesn’t love an aquarium? Sea Life has been around for a long time, and their experience and expertise really shows. It has a fantastic display of animals, and the great news is that the whole of Sea Life is accessible, with the exception of the Ocean Display in the auditorium. This can still be viewed from elsewhere, however. You’ll find an accessible entrance to Sea Life by heading through the underpass that leads from the beach (there’s a ramp down to the beach too). There is on-street parking along the seafront, but there are also the 30 Blue Badge spaces at the NCP car park at the Lanes nearby. There’s also a great report on the facilities at Sea Life here.

Where to stay

From sea front hotels to little B&Bs or self-catering apartments, there’s a huge range of accommodation options in Brighton. The Hilton Brighton Metropole is huge, and is fully accessible, but we’re big fans of the fabulously funky B&B Snooze too. It has steps up to the main entrance but there is access via the restaurant.

Eating out

As you’d probably expect in a place as diverse and cosmopolitan as Brighton, there is plenty of choice when it comes to eating out. For a quick, budget friendly bite to eat we recommend Eatalio for a great twist on Italian street food.

If you fancy treating yourself to something a bit different, then try out the highly acclaimed Terre à Terre. It’s vegan, but even if you’re not then it’s still well worth exploring. It’s one of the few purely veggie restaurants to regularly turn up on lists of the UK’s best eateries. The great news is that both these places are also accessible throughout.

Getting there

Brighton is only 50 minutes on the train from London Victoria, and it’s only half an hour from London Gatwick airport if you’re flying in. Driving is also straightforward, just follow the A23/M23 south from London.

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 Scooters Accessible Attractions: SEA LIFE Brighton

Discover the fascinating underwater world and its amazing creatures at SEA LIFE Brighton. With marine animals from all over the world, the world’s oldest aquarium continues to delight long after its 1872 opening. Featuring over 3,500 remarkable creatures and 6 Aquarium Zones, there’s a lot to see. This week, Quingo Scooters is heading to the seaside city of Brighton to delve into everything marine life.

From Arctic to tropical climates and fresh to salt water, this attraction covers all bases to bring you a dazzling variety of creatures. One minute you’ll find yourself face to face with a shark, and the next you’ll be surrounded by a shoal of fish in their ocean tunnel.

Quingo Scooters SEA LIFE Brighton 2

What’s on

At SEA LIFE Brighton, there’s a lot to see and plenty of activities and events. Here is Quingo Scooters’ pick of the best:

  • Claws: Did you know that crabs are among the sea’s most feared predators? Neither did we! You can learn more about why and all about crabs from around the world at this exhibit.
  • Feeding times: While at SEA LIFE, make sure to catch a feed. Throughout the day, there are several marine life feeds, accompanied by a fact-filled talk by a member of staff. From a turtle’s morning snack to being able to see a shark’s daily meal, these family-friendly shows are informative and interesting. With marine life facts and close encounters, it’s a must for any visit!
  • Victorian Arcade: With a variety of fresh and salt water creatures, this arcade forms the perfect start to your visit. Housed in the original Victorian architecture of the aquarium, this section has been home to marine life since 1872. With big fish displays and interactive rock pools, you’ll get an up-close view of sea life, from star fish to stingrays.
  • Rainforest adventure: This hot and humid section will transport you to a tropical climate. Here you’ll find water dragons, piranhas, terrapins and even an anaconda. Home to fish, reptiles and amphibians, this captivating experience gives a glimpse into life in the rainforest!
  • Auditorium and Ocean Tunnel: Surrounded by a 750,000 litre ocean display, this immersive experience gets you closer to the amazing creatures. As the world’s largest under-sea glass tunnel, you’ll be surrounded by shoals of wondrous animals. Showcasing 3 species of sharks, tropical fish, rays and rescued sea turtles, you’ll experience the ocean through the glass tunnels as sea life swims above your head.
  • Secrets of the reef: Sea life from the Maldives reefs are on display in this attraction, where you’ll be able to meet the regal tang and clownfish. With talks from experts, you’ll learn the threats to coral reefs and see how SEA LIFE is working to rebuild the Maldives’ coral reefs.
  • Café: Should you need a break from all the excitement, there is a coffee shop located in the Victorian Arcade. With snacks and drinks available here, it’s the perfect place to rest in-between exciting exhibitions.

Quingo Scooters SEA LIFE Brighton 3

Opening times and prices

SEA LIFE Brighton is open 7 days a week, excluding 24 and 25 December. Opening at 10am each day, the closing time changes seasonally, with full details available here. Entry prices start at £10.50 for a one day visit, with carers and under 3s entering for free. Full price lists and ticket types are available here.

Getting there

Situated in the heart of the city, SEA LIFE Brighton is connected to all major transport links. All main routes into Brighton will take you to the seafront, where the attraction is clearly visible. If you are travelling by car, the attraction is approximately 1.3 miles away from the city centre. You can find it by following the fish symbol on the brown tourist signs. Alternatively, you can follow signs for Brighton Pier. Blue Badge parking is in the parking bay located on Madeira Drive, approximately 100m from the entrance. By train, the nearest station is Brighton Train Station, 20 minutes away from the attraction. Local buses also service the area. More information on getting to the attraction can be found here.

Accessibility

Located by Brighton Pier, the SEA LIFE centre has plenty of Blue Badge spaces around the attraction, including on-street parking. You can access the attraction itself via ramps. There is an access ramp from the beach which takes you to an access tunnel leading to the attraction. This route is clearly signposted. Once in the courtyard, you’ll find double width doors at the entrance and lowered counters. Inside the attraction, there are level surfaces and accessible toilets throughout. Carers are given free entry. Further information on the SEA LIFE centre’s accessibility is available 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.