The 12th November was Purple Tuesday. This fantastic annual event is part of a campaign encouraging organisations of all sizes to become more accessible and improve their ability to meet the needs of customers and visitors with disabilities.
The failure of businesses to provide a positive experience for disabled people is an issue all throughout the year. However, the problem often becomes even more apparent over the festive period.
We’re sorry to already be bringing up Christmas in November! But families and groups of friends will already be excitedly planning days out to celebrate the holidays. Unfortunately, for people with reduced mobility, or other disabilities, planning to attend an event or attraction can be less than enjoyable. Rather than looking forward to spending time with loved ones, they are worrying about whether the venue will have wheelchair access or appropriate toilet facilities.
That’s why, feeling inspired by the wonderful work of the Purple Tuesday campaign, we’ve put together this guide to accessible activities, attractions and events in Yorkshire throughout the rest of the year.
Here are our top three recommendations for wheelchair-friendly activities and attractions with facilities for disabled people:
1) National Railway Museum, York
The National Railway Museum has been a popular attraction for both Yorkshire locals and visitors for years! Not only does it offer free entry and a variety of events and exhibitions to suit all ages, but they have also worked to make the museum inclusive and accessible to all.
Key Accessibility Information
| Facilities | Information |
| Disabled Parking? | Yes — accessible parking can be found next to the main entrance and is free of charge. |
| Wheelchair Access? | Yes — the main entrance has an access ramp and all areas of the museum can be accessed by lift or ramp. |
| Disabled Toilets? | Yes — accessible toilets can be found in the entrance foyer and the Great Hall. |
| Seating? | Yes — seating areas can be found throughout the Great Hall, Station Hall and South Yard. |
| Changing Places? | No — they do not have a full Changing Place, but accessible changing facilities are available. |
| Support Dogs Allowed? | Yes — support dogs are welcome throughout the museum. |
As well as ensuring they have the facilities disabled visitors need to have a comfortable day out, the National Railway Museum has also implemented additional changes to improve the visitor experience. Here are some examples of what’s on offer:
- Large print and braille museum maps for visitors with visual impairments
- A fixed hearing loop for visitors with hearing impairments
- Visitor Centre staff are trained on providing dementia-friendly visits
- Quiet mornings and adapted queuing systems can be arranged to support visitors with Autism.
What’s On?
If a trip to the National Railway Museum sounds right up your street, take a look at the full event listings on their website.
2) Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield
If you prefer spending time in the great outdoors, then the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) is another great option for a family day out. The 500-acre park has been putting the spotlight on art from around the world for 40 years and entry is free!
YSP has a mixture of both modern and classic art and sculptures
Key Accessibility Information
| Facilities | Information |
| Disabled Parking? | Yes — designated accessible parking spaces are available, but parking charges do apply. These charges help to fund the YSP charity. |
| Wheelchair Access? | Yes, in some areas — level access, paving and ramps have been installed where possible. An accessible shuttle bus also runs between different galleries. |
| Disabled Toilets? | Yes — accessible toilets can be found in the YSP Centre, Longside Gallery, The Weston and YSP Learning. |
| Seating? | Yes — seating areas can be found at The Weston, YSP Learning, the YSP Centre and the Longside Kiosk. There are also various picnic areas marked on the park map. |
| Changing Places? | Yes — there is a Changing Place facility at YSP Learning. |
| Support Dogs Allowed? | Yes — support dogs are welcome throughout the park. |
Much of the park is now accessible. Unfortunately, there are some areas which can still only be accessed via steps and forest areas which are not paved.
As the park is so large, you are still able to plan a day trip which is completely accessible. You can download the park map before your visit, or contact their visitor team for advice.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, and having the option to access unpaved or wooded areas would benefit you, then you should consider trying an active user wheelchair.
This rigid K-Series wheelchair has mountain bike wheels and a free wheel device to suit off-road terrains
Active user wheelchairs can be adapted to be much more robust and manoeuvrable than other types of wheelchair. If you’re interested in finding out more, please get in touch.
3) Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds
The Royal Armouries Museum is a must-visit for any history buffs, but also has a lot to offer for the whole family. Entry is free every day and they’ve made a lot of changes over the years to improve accessibility. Plus, they always welcome feedback on anything they can do to further improve the experience for visitors with disabilities!
Key Accessibility Information
| Facilities | Information |
| Disabled Parking? | Yes — designated accessible parking spaces are available in the coach park and the adjoining multi-storey car park. |
| Wheelchair Access? | Yes – all access routes to the entrance have a level access path and all galleries are accessible via lift. |
| Disabled Toilets? | Yes — accessible toilets can be found across four floors: the ground floor, first floor, second floor and fourth floor. |
| Seating? | Yes — there is seating in all gallery areas and portable, folding chairs can be provided for any visitors who have difficulty standing for long periods |
| Changing Places? | No — unfortunately, there are currently no Changing Places within the museum. However, a Changing Place can be found at the nearby Assisted Living Leeds which is an approx. 6-minute walk away. |
| Support Dogs Allowed? | Yes — support dogs are welcome throughout the museum. |
Sensory backpacks are also available free of charge. They are specially designed for children and young people on the Autism spectrum and include devices like ear defenders and soothing sensory toys.
Summary
Yorkshire is home to a range of accessible activities, events and attractions. The National Railway Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Royal Armouries Museum are all wheelchair-friendly and provide facilities for disabled visitors. Contact us for further recommendations, or to hire a mobility scooter or wheelchair to help you to get out and explore all that Yorkshire has to offer!
Graeme has worked alongside the public sector for much of his working life, helping departments improve efficiencies and deliver on projects. In his role at Vivid.Care, Graeme used his experience to tackle some of the most challenging issues in the healthcare sector, from falls through to winter pressures. He was also a guest speaker and a number of different conferences, including at the Falls Prevention Summit in London.
