With gorgeous gardens, fascinating cultural venues and unique attractions to explore in Gloucestershire, people of all ages and abilities have plenty of fun places to visit that are inclusive for all.
In this hot list, SoGlos rounds up 17 of the most accessible attractions for a day out that every family member can enjoy.
Cotswold Farm Park in Guiting Power
Home to a collection of adorable rare breed farm animals, as well as wildlife walks and outdoor play areas, Cotswold Farm Park in Guiting Power is a wonderful day out for little ones and grown-ups.
Offering a multi-sensory experience ideal for guests with learning disabilities, listening posts for visually impaired visitors, wheelchair access throughout the park and wheelchairs available to borrow, it offers fun and educational activities for everyone.
The Museum of Gloucester
From Roman ruins to the Birdlip mirror, the Museum of Gloucester has an impressive collection of historical artefacts, as well as paintings and artwork, all within its beautiful Victorian building in the heart of Gloucester.
With level access on both floors, a Changing Places toilet and plenty of room around the exhibitions, its ideal for wheelchair users — plus, staff at the museum have disability awareness training to make visitors feel safe and welcome, too.
Westonbirt Arboretum in Tetbury
With 15,000 trees from all over the world, Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury is a nature lover's paradise. Along with walking routes of varying difficulty, the fully accessible STIHL Treetop Walkway lets visitors marvel at all the beautiful colours from 13 metres up in the tree canopy.
Assistance dogs are welcome to come along and mobility scooters are available to hire for free when booking tickets.
Gloucester Cathedral
The jewel in Gloucestershire’s architectural crown, Gloucester Cathedral is both breath-taking and accessible. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy wandering its famous cloisters and taking in the stunning stained glass windows.
The cathedral offers disabled parking spaces, accessible toilets, self-operated lifts and wheelchairs to borrow, as well as a hearing loop in operation throughout. There are sensory boxes available, featuring tactile, olfactory and audio objects, ideal for people with complex disabilities, and a Traditions Box to borrow, designed for people living with dementia.
Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford
The whole family can enjoy a roarsome day out at Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford. Come face to face with giraffes with ramp access to the giraffe house, see Asiatic lions in their enclosure with windows that are all viewable from a wheelchair or take a leisurely trip around the park and see what other animals you can spot.
As well as being flat with plenty of wide open space, Cotswold Wildlife Park also has a Changing Places toilet and free wheelchair hire. Plus, registered blind visitors can come along free of charge.
Batsford Arboretum in Moreton-in-Marsh
The beautiful Batsford Arboretum in Moreton-in-Marsh has a multitude of colourful trees, shrubs and bamboo, including an impressive collection of Japanese flowering cherry trees.
While some parts of the arboretum are tricky to access from a manual wheelchair, electric wheelchair and mobility scooter users should have no problems. Wheelchair users aren’t charged entrance fees to the arboretum and less mobile visitors can hire an all-terrain Tramper mobility scooter for £2.50 for a two-hour slot. Disabled parking and toilets are both available, too.
Cattle Country Farm Park in Berkeley
Fluffy bunnies, cheeky piglets and friendly goats are just some of the cute animals to meet at Cattle Country Farm Park in Berkeley, with paths around the park and most of the farm trail being wheelchair accessible.
On top of that, wheelchair users receive free admission; there are concessionary rates for disabled visitors; and assistance dogs are welcome to come along, too. Less mobile guests can also book a wheelchair in advance to use on their visit.
Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe
The historic Sudeley Castle allows visitors to feel like Tudor royalty for a day, as they explore the former home and final resting place of Henry VIII’s sixth wife, Catherine Parr.
There is an accessible route through the garden, though manual wheelchair users may need some assistance on gravel areas. Staff can also provide directions for guests who aren’t able to use the grass bank to access the church. The church itself, the pheasantry and adventure playground are all accessible and there are disabled toilets inside the castle, too.
Slimbridge Wetland Centre
With level access on all paths around the site, step-free entry to most hides, a wheelchair accessible wild safari and an accessible observation tower and observatory, Slimbridge Wetland Centre is an ideal day out for wildlife lovers.
There are also mobility scooters to hire from £10 per day, plus designated disabled parking spaces, a Changing Places toilet, as well as fixed and portable hearing loops in key locations across the site for anyone hard of hearing — fully-trained assistance dogs are welcome, too.
Corinium Museum in Cirencester
Cirencester’s award-winning Corinium Museum tells the story of the Roman capital of the Cotswolds, with thousands of artefacts from tools to jewellery on display.
It offers full disabled access, with lifts to upper floors; step free access to the Roman Garden, shop and cafe; and Braille interpretation for many of the museum’s interactive exhibits. There’s also a hearing loop in reception, the shop and the lecture theatre.
Perrygrove Railway in the Forest of Dean
For a joyful afternoon aboard a quaint vintage train, families can explore beautiful woodlands at Perrygrove Railway in the Forest of Dean.
The trains are wheelchair accessible, with ramps at two of its stations and a designated area in some carriages. Its treehouses are also wheelchair-friendly, so every family member can take in the exhilarating views from the tree tops!
Birdland Park and Gardens in Bourton-on-the-Water
Flamingos, parrots and penguins are just some of the colourful creatures to see at Birdland Park and Gardens in the picturesque Bourton-on-the-Water.
Set on a flat picturesque garden, it proudly describes itself as one of the most accessible attractions in the Cotswolds, with wheelchair access throughout, guide dogs welcome and wheelchairs available to hire for free when reserved in advance, for visitors who need them.
Cotswold Motoring Museum in Bourton-on-the-Water
Get a chance to see the famous TV toy car Brum, alongside an extensive collection of vintage cars, bikes and toys at the Cotswold Motoring Museum.
With disabled and wheelchair access throughout museum, much of the surrounding area in Bourton-on-the-Water is flat too, making it ideal for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.
Jet Age Museum in Gloucester
Showcasing Gloucestershire’s aviation heritage, the Jet Age Museum in Gloucester holds an exciting range of aircraft, from the early days of flight right up to the modern day. Some of its volunteers have even flown in the aircraft on display!
The free attraction is ideal for disabled visitors too, as the museum offers disabled parking spaces, level access to all the indoor attractions and the cafe, as well as accessible toilets which are suitable for wheelchair users.
Nature in Art in Gloucester
With displays from artists in residence rotating weekly, along with the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 exhibition available until Sunday 7 April 2024, there's plenty of inspiration to be found at Nature in Art in Gloucester.
Set in an impressive manor house, there's a ramp leading up to the entrance of the building, making it easy to access, as well as a lift to get wheelchair users to the second floor galleries. There's also three disabled parking spaces directly outside, a disabled toilet located in the education centre and a brightly lit, open-plan cafe to head to for lunch after browsing.
National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks
Plenty of native wildlife is waiting to be spotted at the National Waterways Museum in Gloucester — with adjustments made to ensure those with disabilities can join for the adventure.
There are accessible toilets located on the ground floor of the museum and all the exhibits are well-spaced to allow plenty of room for wheelchair and mobility scooter users to get around. The second floor of the museum can be accessed via lift and guide dogs are permitted. There's also an enhanced audio facility on each individual display for the visually impaired.
Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester
A certified Disability Confident organisation, Kingsholm Stadium provides all the facilities required for disabled guests to get in on the action and excitement of live sport.
Home of Gloucester Rugby, the stadium is easily accessible with all entrances featuring wheelchair access gates, as well as disabled parking spaces. Two stands at the stadium also include a number of front row spaces for disabled visitors and their carer/helper; and stewards are on hand at each match to help assist and direct spectators to the disabled toilets at the Malvern Tyres stand.
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