In May my husband and I visited London for a long weekend. We travelled to London via train and booked the wheelchair assistance via Journey Care so the staff at Carlisle and London train stations were there to meet me with a wheelchair ramp to get me on and off the train. Once into London we used the bus just across the road from Euston to get to our hotel near Marble Arch.
My husband Nathan was fortunate enough to win a competition so we stayed at a beautiful boutique hotel called The Arch, just off Marble Arch. The disabled bedroom was allocated to us and it was lovely and spacious and the bathroom had a walk in shower and lovely sparkly tiles! The wheelchair access was really good to the restaurant and bar area. The hotel staff went out of their way to help us both from opening doors and getting us food and drinks. It was literally a 5 minute walk onto Oxford Street and so near to Selfridges that obviously a girl had to go in there to try out the make up and perfume stands!! It saved me doing my make up anyway!!!
On the Saturday afternoon we went to see West Ham play at their home ground. To get there we went via the tube. When we got to the station next to West Hams Ground at Stratford there were disabled mini buses to take disabled people and a carer to the ground by an amazing team of volunteers. What a great idea! The wheelchair access at the Football Ground was really good. Large disabled toilets, a great location behind the goal for wheelchairs and their carers and lifts to get around the stadium. We had a great time at the match and decided after the match to stop for dinner and drinks at Westfield shopping centre at Stratford. We knew there was disabled access there with it being a modern shopping centre, wheelchair accessible toilets and plenty of places to eat before our evening entertainment!!
In the evening we had disabled tickets to see Take That play the O2 Arena. We went their via tube and it was so easy! The O2 Arena is my favourite arena to see Take That perform live. One of the wheelchair ramps is next to the stage on the side on the floor so it's a fantastic view. There is at seat service for food and drink from the venue staff and there is a disabled toilet very near the ramp so it makes the whole evening stress free and we can both sit back and enjoy the show! Take That as always were out of this world. After the gig we decided to have a drink in the O2 bar to let the crowds go down then 45 minutes later headed back into London via the tube!
On the Sunday we were meeting friends early afternoon at the O2 to have food and drinks before Take That at the O2 (Yes again!). We pre-booked a table at a Mexican as on concert days it gets really busy. We got there 3pm and it was a great time as it wasn't too busy and got seated straight away. I went to the concert with my friend Ren that night and like the previous night we had an amazing view of seeing Take That and a fantastic evening together! I just absolutely love the O2 Arena!!
On the Monday my husband and I went to China Town as every time I go to London it's a must. To be honest there are so many Chinese restaurants it's hard to say I have a favourite and wheelchair access varies to get in and out of them. So I look for ones without a step or a low step and those that do dim sum. I've only found one restaurant that has a disabled toilet but I get round it as I enjoy the food then leave and find a bar for a toilet if need be! In the afternoon we went to Covent Garden to listen to some live music and have some drinks. It's by Punch and Judy and people look down at the entertainment and it seems like there is no wheelchair access. However if you ask security staff they can take you down a lift so you can enjoy the entertainment on the ground floor. There's also a disabled toilet down there to. Wahey!
In the evening we went for dinner at the Wardolf Hilton just off Covent Garden. All the staff were really helpful. Once entering the hotel there is a chair lift, but the staff helped so access wasn't a problem. We had a lovely evening there.
The next day we walked back to Euston from Covent Garden area and took just over 30 minutes which wasn't bad at all. London can seem huge and daunting for a wheelchair user but the tubes are improving with more wheelchair accessible stations, the buses have ramps to get onto and it's actually pretty easy just to walk between places to. All it takes is a little bit of planning :-)
We hope to visit London again soon!!
Judith
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