Britain for the disabled

Advice, tips, resources, and tours for disabled, handicapped, and physically challenged travelers who want to take a European vacation

Though they've been making enormous strides in the past twenty years, Europe certainly won't win any medals for accessibility.

This really is not their fault. When the ancient Romans, medieval masons, and great Renaissance architects were designing their buildings, they weren’t exactly thinking of wheelchair ramps, sturdy handrails, or easy risers on those tight spiral stone staircases inside bell towers. But don’t let any disability stop you from traveling. 

All the big cities have made an effort to accommodate people with disabilities over the past few years, at the very least putting in, wherever possible, ramps at museum and church entrances. 

Hotels have also come a long way in the past decade. The vast majority of hotels rated three-stars and above now have at least a few handicap-friendly rooms easily accessible on the first floor. 

While ASL is understood by even fewer people over there than in the U.S., mutes might want to pick up a nifty set of laminated “phrase sheets” with tiny cartoons of everything related to travel—from chickens to banks to train stations—so you can just point to a pictogram to get your message across. 

There is also no end of organizations dedicated to helping you plan and execute your trip, doling out specific advice before you go, and providing opportunities to travel. The most important are listed in the "Links" section.

It also might make sense to join a guided tour that caters to travelers with disabilities. » more