Midlands
IN AND AROUND BIRMINGHAM WITH A WHEELCHAIR
Victoria Square
Birmingham is a busy and diverse city offering many different kinds of tourist attractions and is a great place to shop. The streets and public places are wheelchair friendly and on-street parking is free for disabled badge users.
For accessible places to stay in the area please scroll to the bottom of the page and for a wider accommodation search for other areas of the Midlands and the UK click here.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Just a short distance from Victoria Square is Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, disabled visitors can use a side entrance with a lift to gain access to the building. There are disabled toilets (although there is not a lot of space to manoeuvre a wheelchair) and a restaurant/tearoom. All floors are accessible via the lift and as there are many exhibits you need to allow sufficient time to see it all.
St. Philips Cathedral
The cathedral was built between 1709 and 1715 however, not as a cathedral originally it was the parish church of the "New Town". It is an impressive building and the Burne-Jones windows are particularly beautiful. Entrance is free but donations are welcomed.
National Sea Life Centre
The Sea Life Centre is ramped throughout, has disabled toilets, a cafe, and a gift shop. It gives a fascinating insight into all kinds of sea creatures and has an otter sanctuary. There is free disabled parking in a multi-storey car park just across the other side of the canal, it is well signposted from the city centre. It is also possible to take canal side walks from here.
The Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens are made up of many small gardens as well as tropical houses (some containing exotic birds) and a central lawn. One of the smaller gardens is devoted to the senses and contains plants to touch and smell, so is particularly suitable for those with visual impairment. There are disabled toilets on site and a restaurant. The gardens are set on a sloping site and some of the paths are quite steep but you can loan motorised chairs from reception.
A Wild Flower Meadow in Birmingham Nature Centre
The Nature Centre (that covers six and a half acres) is situated in Pershore Road not too far from the city centre and on the site of the original Pebble Mill. It is fully wheelchair accessible and is home to over one hundred and fifty different species of animals. The centre has been landscaped to demonstrate a wide range of British habitats such as woodland and the meadow shown in the photograph above. There is a disabled toilet and cafe on site.
A Journey Through Cadabra at Cadbury World
Cadbury World is situated at Bourneville about fifteen minutes south west from the city centre. Apart from a small part of the packaging plant it is fully accessible to wheelchairs including the specially adapted car you can see in the picture above. It would appeal to people of all ages but it is particularly enjoyable for children. There is free parking, disabled toilets, a shop and a restaurant.
On the eastern side of the city is the Thinktank, it is a museum of science and discovery. It is wheelchair accessible and has lifts to all floors and a cafe. The site also contains The Imax Theatre which has a screen four storeys high and twenty metres wide.
There are two Travel Inns, three Travelodges and several Express by Holiday Inns (please note that the disabled facilities at the latter include wheelchair accessible showers and the room price includes a continental breakfast) within easy distance of the city centre.
Birmingham has a lot to offer and is a great place to visit whatever your age.