Midlands
IN AND AROUND NOTTINGHAM WITH A WHEELCHAIR
Market Square
Nottingham is a busy vibrant city with a wealth of shops and a lot of history to be discovered. It is very hilly however which means wheelchair users might need a strong pusher. It is the home of Boots the chemist, Paul Smith, D. H. Lawrence and its world famous Nottingham lace. There are numerous places to eat that are accessible and offer a wide variety of cuisine.
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.
Nottingham Castle Grounds
There is little of the castle left to see but the grounds have beautiful gardens and the surface of the paths is good although some are steeply inclined. Entrance to the grounds is through the medieval gate house at the top of Friar Lane which opens at 8 am each day.
An Exhibit in the Castle Museum
The Castle Museum and Art Gallery is housed in a 17th century mansion built on the rock summit in the castle grounds. It has been open since 1878 and contains four floors of important works of art and antiques. It is possible to park at the summit if you use a wheelchair to avoid the steep slope, please ring in advance on 0115 915 3700.
The Tales of Robin Hood
The Tales of Robin Hood Experience is situated near the castle in Maid Marion Way. It has full disabled access and there is a lift to the first floor. The adventure ride has carriages hung from an overhead rail. Wheelchair users access these via a ramp and there is room in the carriage for a carer as well. There is a shop, cafe, archery and film shows as well as a disabled toilet.
The Brewhouse Yard Museum
The Brewhouse Yard Museum of Nottingham Life is housed in a row of seventeenth century cottages at the foot of the Castle rock. However the history of the site goes back much further to a time when it was part of Nottingham Castle. It is only possible for wheelchair users to access the ground floor of the museum but there is plenty to see including the caves that are tunnelled into the rock at the back of the cottages. These caves were all joined in the second world war to form an air raid shelter for the staff that worked there. There is a video continually playing that gives an insight into the displays housed on the upper floors. Although there is only partial access it is well worth a visit. There is a disabled toilet in the grounds (RADAR Key operated) but unfortunately at the moment it is extremely difficult to access unaided, although we understand there are plans to address this.
Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem Inn
Next door to the museum is an inn that claims to be the oldest inn in England dating back to 1189. There are two accessible courtyards with tables and wheelchair users can access the bars on the ground floor that are part of the rock caves at the foot of the castle. It serves meals as well as light snacks and its own ale called Olde Trip.
The Lady Chapel at St Barnabas
The Catholic Cathedral of St Barnabas is situated in Derby Road but wheelchair access is through the garden end in Wellington Circus. The interior is beautifully ornate and you are welcome to visit but please remember that it is a house of prayer and observe silence as you make your way round.
Attenborough Nature Centre
Attenborough Nature Reserve is approximately four and a half miles from the centre of Nottingham on the A6005. Situated on a former quarry site there are lots of pools and small lakes surrounded by easily accessible paths. The Nature Centre has good access and houses a cafe, small interactive exhibition, a shop and a very good disabled toilet.
Wollaton Hall Industrial Museum
Wollaton Hall is 3 miles from the city centre just off of the A609. The Industrial Museum is adjacent to the main car park in the park courtyard stables and has good access. There is a cafe in the courtyard, a gallery, a small shop and a disabled toilet. Exhibits range from a very large beam engine to lace making machinery as well as transport.
Accessing Wollaton Hall
At present disabled access to the Hall is limited to the first floor and is by using a stair climber as shown (dry weather only). It is necessary to transfer from your own wheelchair to theirs and then back again once inside. At present the first floor is being altered and over the coming months a wheelchair lift is being installed (due to be operational Easter 2007), consequently the exhibition is limited. It is possible for wheelchair users to park to one side of the main entrance to avoid the steep driveway. Due to the on-going building works the Hall is only open weekends and Bank holidays, however the stable courtyard site is open as normal.
Conversing with the Sculpture at Rufford
Rufford Abbey and Craft Centre is approximately 16 miles Northeast of Nottingham on the A614. There is a craft shop, a gallery, a gift shop, a cafe, a restaurant, a sculpture trail and lots more. There is free car parking and a disabled toilet. It is possible to access most of the paths throughout the extensive grounds with a wheelchair but not the abbey remains.
The Forest Trail at Sherwood Pines
Sherwood Pines Forest Park is near Clipstone on the B6030 approximately two miles from Rufford. There is a forest trail approximately a mile long that is suitable for wheelchairs and is marked by white posts. There is a disabled toilet, small shop and a cafe that serves meals as well as light snacks.
Express by Holiday Inn Nottingham City Centre
There is an excellent Express by Holiday Inn in the city centre at Maid Marion Way but unfortunately it does not have its own car park, however there is the Euro Car Park On Upper Parliament Street that has 4 accessible spaces on level 9 next to the information office, the guests can reach the hotel by requesting to be escorted up the ramp or they can take the lift to level 7 and go out onto Market Street, turn left and left again onto Upper Parliament Street and the hotel is approx 5 mins.
The en-suite shower room at Express by Holiday Inn Nottingham
Nottingham is an interesting holiday destination and offers a wide range of tourist attractions. The surrounding countryside offers a variety of activities especially in the forest parks.