Wheelchair-Friendly & Accessible Family Days Out in London
London’s amazing—but if your child uses a wheelchair, has reduced mobility, or needs extra practical support, navigating the city can feel like a logistical nightmare. That’s where we come in.
At KidRated, we believe brilliant days out should be available to all families. So we’ve rounded up the best accessible attractions in London — from museums with step-free access and carer-friendly ticket policies, to venues with accessible loos, lifts, and calm, easy-to-navigate layouts.
You’ll also find useful tips, reviews, and links to trusted access guides at the bottom of the page — all to help you plan with confidence and enjoy the fun, not the faff.
Quick Inspiration
Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark in Greenwich is wheelchair accessible, with lifts to all floors and accessible toilets. Some areas of the Main Deck are not step-free, but virtual access is provided.
Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow, and most powered wheelchairs can be accommodated if they fit the lift. A maximum of three wheelchair users are allowed on board at once, so booking is advised.
Assistance dogs are welcome, staff are trained in disability awareness, and sensory or accessible guides are available.
Sea Life London Aquarium
SEA LIFE London Aquarium is fully wheelchair accessible, with step-free entry, lifts to all floors, and accessible toilets (including baby changing) throughout.
Up to 10 wheelchair users are allowed at once; manual wheelchairs are available with a refundable deposit. Assistance dogs are welcome, carers enter free with valid documentation, and sensory lanyards are offered for hidden disabilities. Some areas have low lighting or uneven floors.
London Transport Museum
There’s also plenty of wheelchair access (although the cobbled streets of Covent Garden aren’t great); lifts to all floors and subtitled audio-visual exhibits.
Guide dogs are welcome and water bowls available on request. Plus described tours are available for blind and partially sighted visitors. However, booking is essential
London Eye
The London Eye and the London Eye River Cruise are fully accessible with wheelchair access and disabled toilets. However, only 2 wheelchairs are allowed per capsule and a maximum of 8 in total at any one time. So, it’s a good idea to book your wheelchair space in advance.
Carers go free; assistance and wheelchairs are available on request; guide dogs are welcome and staff are lovely and really helpful.
Tower of London
The Tower of London has limited wheelchair accessibility due to cobblestones, steep slopes, and many historic staircases. Step-free entrance is available, and the Crown Jewels exhibit offers level access.
There’s a lift to the White Tower basement and ramps in the café and shop, but most towers and walls are not wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets—including a Changing Places facility—are provided.
Manual wheelchairs are free to borrow from the Welcome Centre, and guide dogs are welcome. One carer enters free per disabled visitor with valid documentation
Discover Children’s Story Centre
Discover Children’s Story Centre in London is fully wheelchair accessible, with step-free access to all entrances and a lift serving all floors.
There are accessible toilets on each floor, including a ground-floor toilet with a height-adjustable changing bench and ceiling track hoist. Assistance dogs are welcome, and there are blue badge parking bays nearby, One free carer ticket is available per disabled visitor with valid documentation..
Quick Inspiration
Tate Britain
The is one of London’s most famous art galleries. Concessionary admission and carers go free for special exhibitions. Guide dogs are welcome. Large print gallery plans with braille text available from the Information desks
Touch tours are available but advanced booking is required. Hearing loops are available and there are a range of free talks and workshops for those who have learning disabilities.
Wheelchairs are available and there are limited parking spaces for blue badge holders on Atterbury Street and Millbank. Also parking spaces on site but must be booked in advance.
The Fashion and Textiles Museum
Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey is fully wheelchair accessible, with a step-free entrance and ramp, wheelchair-accessible ticket desk, and a lift to the mezzanine level. All areas can be accessed by level floor or lift. There are wide aisles in exhibits, accessible toilets (with grab rails and baby changing) on the ground floor, and portable stools for seating.
Assistance dogs are welcome, large-print exhibition guides and magnifiers are available, and one free carer ticket is included per disabled visitor. There is no on-site parking, but an NCP car park is five minutes away. The museum can get busy, so visiting after 3PM is usually quieter
The Museum of the Home (formerly The Geffrye Museum)
Museum of the Home is fully wheelchair accessible, with step-free entrances, ramps, lifts to galleries, accessible toilets (with baby changing), and manual wheelchair loan.
Assistance dogs are welcome, and Blue Badge drop-off is possible. Some historic spaces, like the Almshouse rooms, are not accessible, but alternatives are provided. Entry is free.
Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a renowned arts venue that sets out, above all, to reach out to young people by hosting a range of fantastic workshops, courses and other projects.
It boasts accessible toilets, dedicated wheelchair spaces and balcony handrails that have been lowered to offer a better view. Plus infrared-assisted hearing system in both theatre spaces; an induction loop and braille/tactile signs.
Assistance dogs are welcome and captions and audio-described events often take place. If you’re driving, there are seven blue badge spaces (book in advance).
V&A Museum of Childhood
There is so much to see at this and all for free. The museum is packed with childhood-related objects and artefacts from the 1600s onwards, interactive exhibits and family events.
Talks and arts activities can be adapted, with warning, to suit a range of needs. Other facilities include ‘touch tours’; induction loop; assistance dogs welcome and wheelchairs are available.
Pre-bookable parking spaces available for blue badge holders
The Science Museum
The Science Museum is a vibrant, energetic place where children can discover so much more about science in a fun and interactive way.
Lifts, ramps and accessible toilets. Induction loops available. Wheelchairs available to borrow. Braille information books. Cinema has four wheelchair spaces and an infrared system – headsets available on request
RAF Museum
The RAF Museum London is fully wheelchair-friendly, with step-free access, lifts to all levels, wide aisles, accessible toilets (including a Changing Places facility), and accessible parking near the entrance.
Manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters are free to borrow. Assistance dogs are welcome, and quiet rooms are available. Sensory backpacks, baby changing facilities, and seating throughout support families and visitors with additional needs. Entry is free.
Houses of Parliament
Houses of Parliament This is where all the country’s important decisions are discussed and a great way to learn about what goes on in Parliament.
Audio tour commentary specifically for seven to 12 year olds in the style of a ‘live’ news broadcast with time travelling reporters. Screen-based version of the adult audio tour available in British Sign Language. Tactile tours for blind and partially sighted visitors offered on request.
Accessible for wheelchair users, lifts in some areas. Carers go free on all tours. Most children go free on audio tours. Visitor assistants on hand throughout the tour route to answer questions. No parking available.
Westminster Abbey
The Abbey has been the venue for all coronations since William the Conqueror.
Portable audio guides available in a range of languages. Transcripts available for deaf visitors. Touch tours can be arranged. Disabled visitors and carers go free. No parking spaces available
ZSL London Zoo
The Zoo is wheelchair accessible. Disabled toilets and wheelchairs are available but deposit is required. Guide dogs are not permitted. There are six disabled parking bays near the entrance
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of London’s most popular destinations.
Wheelchairs available to hire for free and lifts to most floors. Audio descriptive guides and free, guided audio description tours as well as braille and large-print guides.
Guide dogs are welcome. Free touchscreen BSL multimedia guide to all the galleries. No step-free access to the Earth Lab.
Small number of parking spaces on site for blue badge holders – must be booked in advance
Princess Diana Memorial Playground
TThis was specially created so that it was accessible for able bodies and less able bodied children. Situated in the north west corner of Kensington Gardens, it was opened in 2000 and you really get the sense that Princess Diana would love to have such a delightful area named in her memory. The pirate ship is not to be missed.
Relaxed Performances & Screenings
There are numerous theatres around London that put on ‘relaxed performances‘ for those with learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Condition, and sensory and communication disorders. These performances usually tone down the voice and movement and small changes are made to lighting so that everyone feels more comfortable in an unfamiliar environment.
Click here to read Simon London’s (KidRated co-founder) experience of attending a relaxed performance of War Horse with his goddaughter Elvi.
Mousetrap Theatre Projects
Autism Friendly Film Screenings
Useful Websites
- The Accessible Guide is a great guide for planning a family day out for those who have disabilities. With over 100 family-friendly attractions, there’s bound to be something that fits your needs.
- Euan’s Guide features reviews for disabled people about places with disabled access. It includes reviews of attractions, but also places that are visited as part of everyday life, for example train stations, or post offices.
- Share Community is a charity helping disabled adults gain independence through training, wellbeing programmes, and inclusive activities in London and the surrounding areas.
- The National Autistic Society is a great website providing tons of advice, information and support for people with autism and aspergers. They also provide information about autism-friendly events.
- Ambitious about Autism are the national charity for children and young people with autism. They provide services, raise awareness and campaign for change and opportunity. They aim to make the ordinary possible for people with autism. The website also provides a forum where people can share their experiences and offer advice to each other as well as providing details about events.
- The Autism Directory is literally what is says on the tin. It is a directory of support that is out there for families with autism. The directory covers entries from all over the UK and is starting to attract entries from all over the world. They provide information about loads of things, from autism friendly hairdressers, to treatments and therapies available.
- Disabled Go is the leading website for access information and they provide access information for thousands of venues across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. They help to make planning day to day life that much easier.
- Genetic Disorders UK is a registered charity with a vision to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by genetic disorders.
- Special Needs Kids’ Disabled Sports page is a great directory of websites about special needs sports throughout the UK from wheelchair basketball to sailing and horse riding.
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