London for the not-so-mobile
July 22, 2024 11:56 AM Subscribe
My mom and I are going to London in September. Mom's mobility is limited. She can walk 1/4 mile (400 meters) or so then has to pause or sit for a few moments. She will not use a mobility aid of any kind. Given this, can you help me understand accessibility at the following sites: Tower of London, British Museum, and Buckingham Palace (specifically the tour that includes the state rooms). I'd also appreciate any other notes you have about visiting London for someone with limited walking ability.
https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/essential-information/accessible-london
Try this site, it has advice on accessibility in London x
posted by Sunflower88 at 12:34 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
Try this site, it has advice on accessibility in London x
posted by Sunflower88 at 12:34 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
I sprained my knee on a trip to London in 2006, and I sure hope things are better now than they were then. Specific problems I encountered that you may want to engineer your trip to avoid:
* Cobblestone sidewalks
* Tube stations without elevators or escalators
* Non-retrofitted stairs into and inside buildings
* The usual Very Long Walks Unrelieved By Places to Sit in airports, in my case Heathrow
And this was just two days' worth; I hurt myself shortly before my departure.
posted by humbug at 1:00 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
* Cobblestone sidewalks
* Tube stations without elevators or escalators
* Non-retrofitted stairs into and inside buildings
* The usual Very Long Walks Unrelieved By Places to Sit in airports, in my case Heathrow
And this was just two days' worth; I hurt myself shortly before my departure.
posted by humbug at 1:00 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
If your mother really needs a rest every 400 yards and refuses a walking aid consider bringing walking stick with seat anyway, use it to walk yourself and if she needs to sit she can.
Central London is full of uneven pavements, steps etc. the popular sites do not have seating every couple of hundred yards and while many sites may have a few folding seats if you ask you can’t book them and they are first come, first served.
The underground stations are sprawling messes with long corridors and steps. You can plan a tube journey without steps but it’ll take longer and you still have to walk to wherever the lift is.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:15 PM on July 22 [11 favorites]
Central London is full of uneven pavements, steps etc. the popular sites do not have seating every couple of hundred yards and while many sites may have a few folding seats if you ask you can’t book them and they are first come, first served.
The underground stations are sprawling messes with long corridors and steps. You can plan a tube journey without steps but it’ll take longer and you still have to walk to wherever the lift is.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:15 PM on July 22 [11 favorites]
I can tell you a bit about the British Museum (although not how to get there in the first place - I echo people's warnings about the Tube, with its crowds, its steps and its long corridors).
First things first: there are two entrances. The main one at the front (Great Russell Street) is the one you've seen in all the pictures. It tends to be busier and have a longer queue; I'd suggest using the back (Montague Place) entrance if possible. That said, there's seating outside at the front (associated with food trucks), which might be useful to know.
Here's their general accessibility guide and a map of the museum. The Great Court, in the middle of the ground floor and easily reached from both entrances, has seating; it's primarily there for people to sit and eat what they've just bought from the Court Cafes, but it's pretty informal, and I can't see it being any kind of problem for your mum to take the weight off her feet there for a few minutes.
There are other food and drink places scattered about, all with seating, and there's also seating in some of the galleries. I haven't managed to find anything listing in one place all of the locations where museum visitors can sit down, but here's a list of all the galleries; if you click through to one you're interested in, you'll find it has an "Accessibility" section, and if there's seating in the room, it'll say so there. Here's the Waddesdon Bequest accessibility information, for instance.
Regarding the galleries, some will be busier than others; when I've visited, the biggest crowds have usually been in the Ancient Egyptian section and the paid-for exhibitions.
Also, in case you're not aware - it's an absolutely huge museum. Don't try to get through it all! (I'd advise the same to anyone.) Pick out a few galleries ahead of time, maybe even just one. Entry is free; better to see one gallery and really enjoy it than to try to rush round a dozen and end up exhausted.
It's also a really fantastic museum! I hope you do manage to visit, and to enjoy your visit.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 1:34 PM on July 22
First things first: there are two entrances. The main one at the front (Great Russell Street) is the one you've seen in all the pictures. It tends to be busier and have a longer queue; I'd suggest using the back (Montague Place) entrance if possible. That said, there's seating outside at the front (associated with food trucks), which might be useful to know.
Here's their general accessibility guide and a map of the museum. The Great Court, in the middle of the ground floor and easily reached from both entrances, has seating; it's primarily there for people to sit and eat what they've just bought from the Court Cafes, but it's pretty informal, and I can't see it being any kind of problem for your mum to take the weight off her feet there for a few minutes.
There are other food and drink places scattered about, all with seating, and there's also seating in some of the galleries. I haven't managed to find anything listing in one place all of the locations where museum visitors can sit down, but here's a list of all the galleries; if you click through to one you're interested in, you'll find it has an "Accessibility" section, and if there's seating in the room, it'll say so there. Here's the Waddesdon Bequest accessibility information, for instance.
Regarding the galleries, some will be busier than others; when I've visited, the biggest crowds have usually been in the Ancient Egyptian section and the paid-for exhibitions.
Also, in case you're not aware - it's an absolutely huge museum. Don't try to get through it all! (I'd advise the same to anyone.) Pick out a few galleries ahead of time, maybe even just one. Entry is free; better to see one gallery and really enjoy it than to try to rush round a dozen and end up exhausted.
It's also a really fantastic museum! I hope you do manage to visit, and to enjoy your visit.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 1:34 PM on July 22
I'm an American just back from a trip to London. Mr. Blah has been recovering from a foot injury + surgery, so this accessibility issue was important to us, though he's much more mobile than you describe for your mother. I endorse the Visit London site that Sunflower88 links to; the site was extremely useful for our entire trip.
But Friend, I hate to pile on: I have to report that the entire city was generally way less accessible than I'd hoped. Shockingly so, in many cases. From Tube stops with no elevators, to streets with no curb cuts, to ancient sidewalks that are very uneven, to cobblestone streets, to "yes we have elevators but they're out of order" and "yes we have a ramp in our main entrance but also then this entire site is extremely large and there are no benches." The crush of people on the sidewalks in the tourist areas. Really, honestly, almost no benches inside the museums. ...I could go on and on.
Will she use a mobility aid at the airport, like the wheelchair service airlines/airports offer? Without exaggeration: at Heathrow, on United, it was a 20-minute walk from security to our gate. And that doesn't even include the walking from curb to ticketing area to security.
This was all very much on my mind during our trip because of Mr. Blah's foot, but even more so because my mom had wanted to go on this trip with us. She ended up dropping out for other reasons, but at virtually every event/site/experience we attended, I'd think "Wow, it's a great thing my mom isn't here because she wouldn't be able to physically handle this."
The good side I can report is we requested an accessible hotel room; that was a success, with mobility aids in the bathroom and other nice touches.
My guess is that the only way to make this possible for your mom would be to dish out the maximum amount of money for bespoke tours, car + driver, and concierge-level service everywhere you go.
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:11 PM on July 22 [8 favorites]
But Friend, I hate to pile on: I have to report that the entire city was generally way less accessible than I'd hoped. Shockingly so, in many cases. From Tube stops with no elevators, to streets with no curb cuts, to ancient sidewalks that are very uneven, to cobblestone streets, to "yes we have elevators but they're out of order" and "yes we have a ramp in our main entrance but also then this entire site is extremely large and there are no benches." The crush of people on the sidewalks in the tourist areas. Really, honestly, almost no benches inside the museums. ...I could go on and on.
Will she use a mobility aid at the airport, like the wheelchair service airlines/airports offer? Without exaggeration: at Heathrow, on United, it was a 20-minute walk from security to our gate. And that doesn't even include the walking from curb to ticketing area to security.
This was all very much on my mind during our trip because of Mr. Blah's foot, but even more so because my mom had wanted to go on this trip with us. She ended up dropping out for other reasons, but at virtually every event/site/experience we attended, I'd think "Wow, it's a great thing my mom isn't here because she wouldn't be able to physically handle this."
The good side I can report is we requested an accessible hotel room; that was a success, with mobility aids in the bathroom and other nice touches.
My guess is that the only way to make this possible for your mom would be to dish out the maximum amount of money for bespoke tours, car + driver, and concierge-level service everywhere you go.
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:11 PM on July 22 [8 favorites]
Here's an accessibility review of the Tower of London from YouTube
posted by knapah at 2:45 PM on July 22
posted by knapah at 2:45 PM on July 22
I have to agree that London is not a great city for the less mobile.
However, you can use the City Mapper app to plan routes that involve less walking or no stairs (step free).
Buses (that are not crowded) are a good option for getting from A to B that do not involve stairs. There's the step on and off, but once you're in, you can get seats on the bottom bit.
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:44 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
However, you can use the City Mapper app to plan routes that involve less walking or no stairs (step free).
Buses (that are not crowded) are a good option for getting from A to B that do not involve stairs. There's the step on and off, but once you're in, you can get seats on the bottom bit.
posted by unicorn chaser at 4:44 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
Try the Roll Mobility app for a preview of places you want to go. There seem to be a lot of sites tagged in London.
I recently accompanied my own mom-with-mobility-issues to some U.S. art spaces. Afterwards I wanted to leave a review to warn other people, and the Roll Mobility app was recommended elsewhere.
posted by cocoagirl at 5:16 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
I recently accompanied my own mom-with-mobility-issues to some U.S. art spaces. Afterwards I wanted to leave a review to warn other people, and the Roll Mobility app was recommended elsewhere.
posted by cocoagirl at 5:16 PM on July 22 [1 favorite]
England is damp and chilly, and it makes joint pain and tiredness worse. I would buy her an electric heating pad for naps and sleep. Purchase it when you get there, since you need it to be compatible with the power outlets, and it will blow a converter plug.
Definitely bring her a light sturdy seat that you can carry all day, and open out for her to sit on. I think you need something more stable than a walking stick chair because the pavements / cobblestones are often uneven.
And make sure her shoes are very firmly attached to her feet, buy them well ahead of time and break them in to ensure she's super accustomed to them, and that they have flat soles that aren't too thick (to prevent rolled ankles off a platform style shoe sole).
I know she's stubborn, but if you can talk her into a cane I would REALLY try. The uneven pavements are a pretty big tripping risk, extra balance is good. Maybe show her YouTube videos of people walking around in the areas you plan to visit, so she sees how uneven the pavement can be and how very very long the tube stairways can be?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:40 PM on July 22
Definitely bring her a light sturdy seat that you can carry all day, and open out for her to sit on. I think you need something more stable than a walking stick chair because the pavements / cobblestones are often uneven.
And make sure her shoes are very firmly attached to her feet, buy them well ahead of time and break them in to ensure she's super accustomed to them, and that they have flat soles that aren't too thick (to prevent rolled ankles off a platform style shoe sole).
I know she's stubborn, but if you can talk her into a cane I would REALLY try. The uneven pavements are a pretty big tripping risk, extra balance is good. Maybe show her YouTube videos of people walking around in the areas you plan to visit, so she sees how uneven the pavement can be and how very very long the tube stairways can be?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:40 PM on July 22
Also just back from a trip to London with someone who had a transient issue with walking and we decided to take the Uber boat (can tap on/off with an Oyster card or credit card) along the Thames from Greenwich to Battersea Power Station. Plenty of seats on board and you can a new perspective on some of the key sights of London!
Another tip is that the accessibility of each Tube station is clearly outlined on the map; from memory there were two different designations that made it easier to plan. More information here: https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/wheelchair-access-and-avoiding-stairs
posted by unlaced at 11:51 PM on July 22
Another tip is that the accessibility of each Tube station is clearly outlined on the map; from memory there were two different designations that made it easier to plan. More information here: https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/wheelchair-access-and-avoiding-stairs
posted by unlaced at 11:51 PM on July 22
As many have said, don't expect it to be good, but the buses are great! TFL has accessiblity maps which show which stations are step free or nearly step free, but as mentioned above with CityMapper you can also specify and it can plan for you. The buses seem scary but aren't, and have the best coverage of all transport. They all have announcement boards for the next stops, and mobility-access seats in several spots on the ground floor of each bus, so you know you can get a seat. (People will offer, but you can also ask). If you have contactless payment card you don't need an oyster card and it automatically charges you the cheapest daily fee for your usage - you do need one card per person though.
posted by london explorer girl at 8:35 AM on July 23
posted by london explorer girl at 8:35 AM on July 23
there is useful information for sightseeing and tours with London Tours
https://london.tours/
posted by David1982 at 2:37 PM on November 23
https://london.tours/
posted by David1982 at 2:37 PM on November 23
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posted by beccaj at 12:26 PM on July 22 [2 favorites]