Top 5 accessible venues

While London continues to improve its accessibility through inclusive design throughout the city, I thought I'd share with you some of my top accessible venues. There is something for everyone, so take a look:

1. Hackney City Farm - Ideal for animal lovers

An East London treasure tucked away in Bethnal Green, Hackney City Farm is accessible from the London Overground and is completely free! Cosy up to goats, sheep, donkeys, rabbits and even guinea pigs. The adored animals rotate with a farm in the Kentish countryside. There are wheelchair ramps to assist you and a volunteer/member of staff will assist those who would like more help to access the farm.



2. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - Ideal for sports fanatics

Considered the most accessible venue in the UK, host to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012. Lizzie’s park is an old hand in embracing everyone. This particular venue is perfect for a cheap venture on a sunny day. In addition to sporting events like the rugby league and paralympic championships, the park boasts arts and culture projects involving local communities, including poetry performances, a mobile artist studio, free workshops and festivals. What’s more, you can even relax and unwind on a boat tour around the park’s river (wheelchair assisted access).



3. Barbican Centre - Ideal for artsy types

The Barbican’s relationship with their customers and the arts continue to strengthen as they cultivate extraordinary theatre, dance, collections and film. Representing what makes London exceptional, they promote education and experimentation through workshops, screen talks and festivals. Located centrally, they have their own cinema and screen independent films and blockbusters, available at affordable prices. The Theatre offers radio signal amplification devices, double door entrance, lifts, assistance for dogs in the auditorium.



4. Southbank Centre - Ideal for culture vultures

The Southbank Centre regularly hosts free events, performances, and exhibitions. The hall offers a wide range of cultural events. Their mantra is ‘the arts must be available to all of us – and this lies at the heart of all we do.’ Hugging the Thames riverside, it is situated not far from Westminster and Waterloo stations. The venue is bursting with restaurants, shops, boat tours, book fairs and international food markets. You can also enjoy live music from leading musicians performing everything from jazz and blues to folk where hearing enhancement equipment can also be accessed.



5. The Electric Cinema - Ideal for film buffs

The landmark cinema is over 100 years old, yet refuses to be outdated. The cinema screens subtitled movies regularly and offer discounted tickets every Sunday and Monday. Furthermore, the Octavia Foundation listed the cinema in the ‘Top 10 Accessible Venues in West London’ and noted: “The cinema itself is beautiful with comfortable leather seating and footstools”. Located on Portobello Road, this cinema experience is not to be missed!