The North
YORK AS VIEWED FROM MY WHEELCHAIR
One of the many side streets in the city
The city has been here since roman times although a local tribe the Brigantes had been living in a settlement here for many centuries prior to this. The modern city retains much of the character and architecture of all the people who have lived here down through the years since then. It is a busy thriving shopping centre with a wealth of individual and unusual shops as well as more well known stores. Although many of the streets are cobbled we found it easier to wheel along them rather than the narrow pavements and much of the centre is pedestrianised. You can park in any of the municipal car parks for an unlimited period of time for free if you are a blue badge holder. Unfortunately the main visitor centre is not wheelchair accessible however there is a level entrance to the one situated in the station over the river. There are plenty of wheelchair friendly attractions to visit. Although because of the age of the buildings many of the cafes and restaurants have steps there are still plenty of accessible places to eat especially in good weather as many have outside eating areas.
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 North and the UK click here.
York Art Gallery
My first stop was the Art Gallery this has a stair lift to the upper gallery (although at the present time July 2006 this is awaiting repair). A new vertical lift is to be installed for 2007 that will give much better access. There is an interesting collection of art to view. Entrance is free and there is a small cafe and an accessible toilet on site.
York Minster
The first Minster on the site was a wooden church built in AD627. This burnt down in AD741 and was replaced by a new church until the present Minster was started in 1080. Gradually over the centuries it became the building you can see today. The majority of the Minster is accessible with ramps in places to assist you and I was warmly welcomed for Evensong into a space already set aside for wheelchair users.
Part of the large Roman exhibit
The Yorkshire Museum which holds a large collection of its own (including many Roman artifacts) also hosts visiting exhibitions. It has a ramped entrance and a lift to all floors. If you are part of a group of 10 or more and have visual impairment and are able to prebook, the museum will provide a guide to give an audio and tactile tour please contact Janine tel: 01904 650333 or e-mail janine.taylor@ymt.org.uk . It is housed in a building on the old St.Marys Abbey site. The gardens surrounding it are also accessible and well worth seeing. There is also an accessible toilet on site.
One of the shops in Kirkgate Victorian Street
There is also the Castle Museum in the city that is housed in the old debtors prison. As not all the museum is accessible wheelchair users are given free entrance. Access to Kirkgate a reconstruction of a Victorian street is via a lift operated by a member of staff. This will be replaced in 2007 by ramped access which will allow more independence to wheelchair user visitors. This exhibit has been revamped this year (2006) and now includes a 24 hour day/night lighting cycle and audio effects to create a more realistic atmosphere. It is also possible to visit the cells where the prisoners were held. The cafe is not accessible but provision can be made to bring you refreshment if you wish. There is an accessible toilet and a small shop on site. As with the Yorkshire museum a tactile tour for groups with visual impairment can be arranged with at least 3 days notice please contact Janine tel : 01904 650333 or e-mail janine.taylor@ymt.org.uk .
The wheelchair accessible carriage at Jorvik
The Jorvik Centre which contains an overhead railway that takes you around a reconstruction of Viking York has a specially adapted carriage for wheelchair users. (Please book in advance Tel: 01904 643211). The wheelchair users companion does not pay the entrance fee. The centre is situated on the site of the excavations of the viking remains that were carried out by the Yorkshire Archaeological Trust. It also houses a small exhibition of Viking artifacts.
The Narrator of the Ghost Walk
There are several companies offering walking tours of the city that are accessible for wheelchair users. We chose the Original Ghost Walk (Tel: 01904 764222) that takes place at 8 pm each evening and starts at the Kings Arms public house on the river embankment adjacent to the Ouse Bridge. There is a small concession in the fee for wheelchair users. The walk takes you in and around various sites in the city where spirits have been observed, accompanied by skillfully told tales of the ghostly encounters.
One of the platforms in the Station Hall
The National Railway Museum which is the worlds biggest railway museum is situated in Leman Road. There is wheelchair access to most of the museum via ramps and lifts and free disabled parking by the city entrance. There are several cafes and a restaurant as well as a shop and admission is free. The accessible toilet in the Station Hall is larger and easier to use than the one in the Great Hall. There is so much to see here you really need a whole day to explore it thoroughly.
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The York Wheel showing the ramps to the carriages
New for 2006 and adjacent to the Railway Museum is the York Wheel, a scaled down version of the London Eye. This is an excellent way to get a birds eye view of York. Wheelchair users need to be accompanied for safety reasons but if you are visiting alone (or as in my case your companion does not wish to try the ride) then a member of staff can accompany you. In this case it will assist the staff if they have prior notification of your visit so that they can arrange sufficient staff cover.
Castle Howard
Approximately 15 miles East of York is Castle Howard the magnificent home of the Howard family (the Earls of Carlisle). The majority of the estate and house are accessible for wheelchair users. At the entrance there are several craft shops, a cafe and a very small designated disabled toilet. There is a land train to take you to the house and lake if you prefer not to walk.
Boarding the land train
Access to the upper floor in the house is via a stair lift that is operated by a member of staff. If you are with a party of other wheelchair users prior notice will ensure sufficient members of staff on hand to assist you. There is a restaurant and shop on the ground floor of the house. There is also a very small designated disabled toilet ( it is not large enough to accomodate assistance should you require it). The walled Rose garden is particularly beautiful. There is such a lot to see here you will need to allow sufficient time to view it all.
A V1 Flying bomb at Eden Camp
Approximately 5 miles further along the A64 at Malton is the Modern History Theme Museum of Eden Camp. It is situated on an old prisoner of war camp site and is housed in the original huts. It covers 6 acres and holds a wide range of wartime exhibits as well as memorials to various groups of war heroes. There is a cafe and shop on site with adjacent disabled parking spaces. The designated disabled toilets are situated in with the Ladies and Gents. We recommend use of the one situated just inside the entrance to the Ladies hut as this is the larger and more inviting of the two. Again there is plenty to see and it is well worth a visit.
Express By Holiday Inn have two hotels one in the city and one two and a half miles east of the city on the Malton road. They both have disabled rooms with roll-in showers and disabled parking on site. Also in the city is Hotel 53 York (Formerly The Quality Hotel York). This has five good sized wheelchair accessible rooms all with roll-in showers and alarm cords. It also has two functions rooms that are accessible via a wheelchair lift. They can also provide hire of mobile hoists, mobile shower chairs and other equipment that you may need, by prior arrangement and for a small charge. Free parking is available opposite the hotel in the municipal car park. Special offers on room tariffs may be available at certain times so it is worth checking each hotels website.
I hope this will encourage other wheelchair user visitors to visit the beautiful city of York, for more information about the city click on york tourism.