Midlands
IN AND AROUND NOTTINGHAM WITH A WHEELCHAIR
Market Square
These pages are being updated during 2010 and until they are complete we strongly advise you to check with the accommodation and attraction providers included for more current information.
N.B. Attenborough Nature Reserve, Wollaton Hall and the Innkeepers Lodge have already been updated.
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.
Nottingham Castle
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.
Brewhouse Yard Museum
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.
St Barnabus Cathedral
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 Centre
Attenborough Nature Centre and Reserve is located approximately four and a half miles from the centre of Nottingham on the A6005. Situated on a former quarry site and managed by the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust the site encompasses a variety of wetland habitats and lakes, interspersed with hard surfaced trails.
The attractive outside eating area at the Centre
The Nature Centre is accessed via a ramp and houses a cafe, small exhibition, a shop and a very good designated toilet.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
Wollaton Hall
Wollaton Hall Visitor Centre
Wollaton Hall is 3 miles from the city centre just off of the A609. The Hall is an Elizabethan Mansion built at the latter end of the 16th century which houses a Natural History Museum with a large number of exhibits. The grounds extend to over 500 acres of gardens and parkland, that is also home to herds of fallow and red deer.
Our researcher checking out the exhibits within the Natural History Museum at Wollaton Hall
There is a shop and information desk at the Hall and a cafe, small exhibition and shop at the Visitor Centre.
Wollaton Hall Deer Park
There is a network of good surfaced paths within the gardens and parkland but please note some of these have long steep gradients so manual wheelchair users might require some assistance.
N.B. The Industrial Museum which is adjacent to the main car park is now only open on one Sunday a month for working steam events.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
Rufford Abbey
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.
Sherwood Pines Forest Park
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.
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.
PLACES TO STAY
All accommodation included has been assessed by one of our wheelchair user researchers for accessibility. Please note however whilst we have tried to ensure that the accommodation included will meet most wheelchair users needs we strongly advise you to consult with each provider about your own specific requirements. For accommodation inspection gradings e.g. Diamond ratings, follow the links to each providers own website.
Holiday Inn by Express Nottingham City Centre
Holiday Inn by Express, Nottingham City Centre
There is an excellent Holiday Inn by Express 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 within approx 5 mins wheeling distance.
The en-suite shower room at the Holiday Inn by Express
The designated accessible bedrooms have an en-suite wet-room which has good wheelchair turning space.
For more detailed accessibility information about the hotel and a link to their own website please click here
Innkeepers Lodge Nottingham
The entrance to the Lodge
The hotel is located adjacent to the Wollaton Park Toby Carvery at Wollaton Vale, approximately 3 miles west of Nottingham City Centre. It has one twin bedded, ground floor, designated accessible room with an en-suite wet-room. The room is quite spacious and there is wheelchair access to the desk/dressing table.
The hotel guests' lounge
Hotel guests also have use of a communal lounge. It is important to note that internal access from the hotel to the restaurant where breakfast is served is via stairs. Step free access is externally either by car to the lower car park or via a steep slope. However there is also a designated toilet within the restaurant.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here