Accessible days out with kids

We've rounded up some amazing accessible family days out with the kids. We've got lots of ideas: from outdoor activities, theme parks and even winter sports - check out our suggestions below.

Energetic fun for everyone

Outdoor activity centres

Bendrigg Trust is a residential activity centre specialising in high quality courses for disabled and disadvantaged people. They are specialist providers of outdoor activities for those with disabilities. Activities are offered for all the family including climbing, abseiling, caving, canoeing, orienteering, sailing, sensory rooms and cycling – plus lots more.

Calvert Trust enables people with disabilities, together with their families and friends, to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure in the countryside. Their specialist equipment enables all abilities to take part in activities, including hoist facilities for the riding school and pontoon for water activities, climbing supports and adaptive equipment such as paddle grips – and all accommodation is fully accessible – ensuring you and your family have a great time taking part in any activity you want. They have centres in Exmoor, Kielder and the Lake District.

Thames Valley Adventure Playground for Children and Adults with Special needs is another great place to take your family where you can all have fun together. Based near Maidenhead, the centre caters for all types of special need and is packed with outdoor and indoor activities, including a play castle for you to explore, crazy golf, a sensory garden, a treetop trail and indoor soft play – plus lots, lots, more!

Adrenaline-fuelled fun

Theme parks

Merlin provide a complimentary carer’s pass for a disabled Merlin Annual Passholder. They're responsible for lots of great attractions including Thorpe Park, London Dungeons, LEGOLAND, Chessington World of Adventures, SEA LIFE and more...

Horse-riding for everyone

Riding for the Disabled Association is a charitable organisation dedicated to providing horse riding activities to people with disabilities. If you’re a family that loves horses, this is right up your street! Find out more about what they do here: https://www.rda.org.uk/

Fly for the day!

Indoor Skydiving

This is a great activity for anyone that enjoys an adrenalin rush!

iFLY provide indoor skydiving experiences and have many regular customers who are physically disabled. They can’t always guarantee a flight, but they do their best to ensure everyone can.

Winter Sports

Skiing for all abilities

Disability Snowsport UK is a charity that works to make sure anyone with a disability, be it learning, sensory or physical, can ski or snowboard alongside other people. They provide exciting and life-enhancing activities for individuals or groups who require adaptive equipment and/or special instruction and support. Venues include Chill Factore, Tamworth, Hemel Hamstead, Braehead and Hillend.

Read about Abbie's wish to ski at a Disability Snowsports UK centre [check wish story has been migrated].

A room with a view

London Eye

Take in the beautiful and enchanting sights of London via the London Eye!

The London Eye has great reviews on its wheelchair access, and with Waterloo Station only a short distance away, (the station also has step-free access) this is a great day out for all the family! Their website has the full details, but all applying disabled guests are also able to bring a carer free of charge when reasonable documentation of disability is provided. For those with hearing impairments, the London Eye also has T-loop facilities available in many languages – check out their website for more information.

For more tips on planning a trip to London, see Wishgranter Dawn’s top tips for a wheelchair-friendly visit to the capital.

The National Trust

The National Trust is a conservation organisation with days out for the whole family across the whole of the UK. Staff and volunteers at the Trust do everything they can to ensure everyone enjoys their visits and have ensured most properties have a good degree of access and all properties have adapted toilets.

With days out across the UK from beaches, gardens and parks, to grand houses and castles, there’s plenty to keep everyone occupied.