The Copthorne Tara Hotel in London has recently published new information about it’s adapted rooms which includes basic information such as:
Larger bedrooms featuring adapted facilities throughout. Double and twin beds are available and most of them offer the option of an interconnecting room.
All of the adapted bedroom doors open and close electronically, allowing ample time for a wheelchair user to pass through. Door locks are electronically actuated by a key card and the bedside control panels allow operation of the radio, TV and room lights.
Wheelchair accessibility is excellent. Vehicles can stop within feet of the main entrance which is level and has automatic sliding doors. The lobby area is completely level and there is a lower section at the front desk to facilitate wheelchair users.
Conference & Banqueting facilities are also accessible with assisted listening systems available for those with hearing impairments.
The hotel was chosen as the hotel with the best adapted facilities in the UK at the M&IT Awards 2006.
This hotel can be booked at a discounted rate through Tourism for All after registering with the website and the Copthorne Tara have also provided a more detailed 2 page PDF factsheet about facilities for disabled people at the hotel.
Want to have your say about the best Halloween attractions in the UK?
“The Screamie Awards, or Screamies as they are affectionately called, are a new award to recognise the immense talent and ingenuity that are prevalent in the exciting scare and haunted attraction industry.
Voted for by the public, these awards are a true recognition of what the customers like are a great independent way of identifying some of the best attractions and events around the country.”
The Screamies 2009 are split into 5 categories:
* Best Year Round Scare Attraction
* Best Seasonal/Halloween Event
* Best Seasonal Attraction or Maze
* Best Family Attraction/event
* Best International Attraction
You can vote either through the online voting process or via email on the voting page.
Although they have a Best Family Attraction/Event they could also have a Best Inclusive for All Attraction/Event, who knows maybe the Screamies 2010 will bring this option….
Still need more ideas about what to do this Halloween?
Although the Haunted Attractions web site doesn’t have any specific information for disbaled people it is a great place to start the search for your perfect Halloween fun. You can serach their seasonal attraction listings as well as their year round listings. From there you can go through to the individual attractions websites to look for the relevant information and facilities that you require.
There’s inclusive entertaiment for all the family this Haloween at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey from the 21st October – 1st November.
“The whole family can enjoy spooky entertainment this Halloween as wicked witches and naughty Goblins take over the Park! New for 2009 ‘The Black Forest Haunt’, escape from Transylvania…if you dare!
Plus a mythical Fiery Faun will be weaving enchanting tales of his homeland using magic and fire to delight the younger members of your family.
With rides in the dark and the chance to get up close and personal with the Zoo’s spiders, snakes and glow-in-the-dark scorpions there’s so much fun to be had it’s scary!”
Chessington World of Adventures has a guide for disabled people on their site.
Why not pop along to Liverpool this Halloween and join a Shiverpool Ghost Tour who’s moto is “We scare because we care!”. Shiverpool Ghost Tours also care about scaring disabled people and handily give information regarding access on their two routes.
The Hope Street Shivers Tour is “fully wheelchair accessible, and there are disabled toilet facilities on the tour route. For those with mobility issues, this tour is a none strenuous walk however it does involve some walking and time on feet listening to stories.”
On the second tour named Auld City Shivers they state “This tour is non wheelchair accessible due to a very narrow staircase leading to the attic of Ye Hole in Ye Wall. Hope Street Shivers is fully wheel chair accessible tour. For those with mobility issues, this tour is a none strenuous walk however it does involve some walking and time on feet listening to stories as well as a narrow staircase at Ye Hole in Ye Wall.”
Although the Auld City Shivers Tour isn’t accessible for wheelchair users at least they make the effort to say so and privide an alternative route. It’s a shame that more information and facilities aren’t provided for people with other disabilities, however they do also say “Wherever possible Shiverpool always try to accomodate those with mobility issues or disabilities and make our tours inclusive for everyone. Please let us know when you book if you have any disabilities or mobility issues.”
The Scare Witch Trials can be found at dungeons in London, Edinburgh and York from the 17th – 31st October and according to the Dungeons website you have to:
“Keep your wits about you as you as you pick your way through clawing bony branches of the Dungeons’ creaking woodlands where the Scare Witch darts between the shadows ready to pounce on the lost and unwary.
Should you make it through the darkness of the Dungeons’ hellish Halloween forest alive prepare to face the Witch-finder General in the Dungeons’ 17th century courtroom.
Be prepared to stand trial as he searches out the witches amongst you and quake in your boots as those in the dock before you are sentenced for horrendous witch crimes. What will be found guilty of? Turning yourself into a frog on Fridays? Being too pertinent with peculiar potions? Or cackling continuously over a cauldron?”
Finding information for disbled people on the Dungeons website isn’t all that easy but if you type “disabled access” into the Dungeon’s FAQ search engine it comes back with some information such as:
Yes, All the dungeons have wheelchair access, however certain rides are not suitable for disabled customers.
Please see below for full details for York Dungeons disability access:
The York Dungeon is unsuitable for battery powered electric wheelchairs or mobility scooters, however we do have a standard manual wheel chair on site which can be used (subject to availability). This wheel chair would need to be pushed by an accompanying carer. Therefore it is necessary for you to be able to transfer from an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter to the manual chair. We have two flights of stairs, both sets of stairs have stair lifts and again you must be able to transfer from the wheel chair to the stair lift to gain entry.
The York Dungeon is situated in a Grade 2 Listed building and this does cause some restrictions for guests with mobility difficulties.
Please call the York Dungeon directly on 01904 632599 and speak to a member of staff prior to booking or arrival to check suitability. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions regarding access to the York Dungeon.”
Halloween is coming up so we’ve decided to take a look at what inclusive fun can be had for disabled people. In london the “London Eye, will be transformed with its landscape changed into a spooky forest complete with a bubbling bog of no return for children who’ve been naughty. From Saturday October 24th to Sunday November 1st, two very peculiar witch sisters will be teaching children a lesson about the perils of misbehaving with Witch Trick encouraging children to be naughty and Witch Treat trying to save them from her wicked sister.”
Information for disable people, including wheelchair users and people with visual and hearing impairments can be found on the London Eye website.
Halloween is upon us again and so it’s time to start looking at what’s on over this fun filled period around the UK. First off is the Peak District and Derbyshire’s Spookyshire events. Various different celebrations will be undertaken throughout the region and here’s a look at a few of them.
Celebrate Halloween in style at Gullivers. All the usual rides and attractions, plus a fantastic firework display. Pop into Halloween shows throughout the day to see special characters. The perfect evening for the whole family. Booking is advisable as space is limited. Children in fancy dress receive £1 off admission before 2pm.
For information for disabled people please download the Gulliver’s Word Document or find it in their site under “What is Gulliver’s”
You can also find more theme park Halloween fun at Alton Tower’s Scarefest from the 17th October – 1st November. For information for disabled people please visit their Disabled Access page where you can also download a leaflet.
For a truly haunting half term come and enjoy a week of tricks and treats at Chatsworth’s Farmyard Halloween Hoot. For the brave there’s all kinds of evil excitement to keep the little horrors happy including making monstrous masks and cards or taking one of the daily ‘Fright Flights’ through the haunted Warlock Wood. Just watch out for the sinister Spellweaver that lurks amongst the trees. Most activities free upon normal farmyard admission fees. Fright Flights can be booked on the day for an additional charge.
Come face to face with animated ghosts and ghouls in the Haunted House. Take a Haunted Hayride round the Freaky Forest and play Trick or Treat on the Witch in the Wood.
• Most of the centre is accessible to wheelchairs and push-chairs. Disabled toilets and baby changing facilities are also available.
• Sorry – dogs are not permitted, except for guide dogs. Please do not bring your dog and leave him in the car.
For more events in the Peak District and Derbyshire please visit the Spookyshire page where you can also find symbols to indicate facilities for disabled people.
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