An inspiring new Guide published this Easter aims to support people with diverse needs in enjoying the best of Britain’s attractions – whatever their disability.
The revamped Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, now in its 10th year, has for the first time extended its reviews to include information for visitors with more hidden conditions such as autism or mental illness.
As well as details of ramps, accessible toilets and parking spaces, visitors can find out well in advance whether a venue offers features such as quiet mornings, picture stories or bespoke queuing arrangements.
The Guide has the enthusiastic backing of TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, a passionate advocate of the great outdoors.
Chris said:
“The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is a celebration of some of the best and most inclusive venues in the UK. From personal experience, I know that many people face particular barriers to enjoying a day out. The Guide equips visitors with all the information they need to set out with confidence, so they can simply concentrate on making the most of their day.”
The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain provides clear and helpful advice to highlight the very best inclusive and accessible days out for people of all abilities, from museums and art galleries, to wildlife parks and gardens.
Every venue is thoroughly checked out by Rough Guides’ team of reviewers, who either have a disability themselves or visited the venue with a disabled friend or relative.
Packed with over 180 comprehensive reviews, the guide is an ideal planning tool for anyone with access needs. The expanded Guide includes many new entries for 2018 including Windsor Castle, RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Monkey World, Hyde Hall, Essex, and Sandcastle Waterpark, in Blackpool.
The new edition places particular focus on accessibility for people with neuro-diverse and mental health conditions, and has drawn on advice from specialist organisations such as the National Autistic Society. It showcases many examples of best practice, with venues large and small providing imaginative solutions to the challenges posed by hidden disabilities.
Tom Purser, Head of Campaigns at the National Autistic Society, said:
“The National Autistic Society is delighted to be working on this new Rough Guide edition which has taken into account the needs of autistic visitors. With over 700,000 autistic people in the UK, it is vital that they are able to enjoy days out, just like anyone else.
“This has been a great opportunity for us to increase awareness of autism in partnership with organisations that are proactively making leisure activities more accessible to autistic people. It has been an inspiring collaboration and the National Autistic Society welcomes the open minds and attitudes with which Rough Guides are seeking to enhance the lives of people on the autistic spectrum.”
The refreshed and enhanced Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is now available online at accessibleguide.co.uk.
About Rough Guides:
Passionate for telling it like it is, Rough Guides has been inspiring travellers to explore the globe since 1982. A leading travel content provider, Rough Guide content is available in award winning guidebooks, inspirational gift books, innovative mobile apps, ebooks and in bespoke custom publishing guides and digital products. From maps and phrasebooks to round the world planners and pocket city guides, there’s a Rough Guide to suit everyone. They have over 250 authors and contributors and pride ourselves on accurate, up-to-date information and informed, contemporary writing. www.roughguides.com
