How to Find Genuinely Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation in the UK

Finding somewhere to go on holiday should be exciting, shouldn’t it?

But when you’re a wheelchair user, searching for somewhere suitable to stay can feel like an enormous task before you’ve even thought about what you want to do while you’re away.

The biggest problem I’ve found is that there simply isn’t enough genuinely accessible accommodation available. And when you do find somewhere suitable, it can be incredibly expensive.

I understand that adaptations and specialist equipment cost money, but that doesn’t make it any easier when the places that would work for you are outside your budget.

Then there’s the question of what accessible actually means.

Over the years, I’ve come across properties advertised as wheelchair accessible because they’re on the ground floor or have a wet room, even when other parts of the accommodation aren’t suitable for wheelchair use.

So, if you’re looking for wheelchair accessible accommodation in the UK, here are some of the things I’ve learnt to check before booking.

What Does Wheelchair Accessible Accommodation Actually Mean?

I think one of the biggest problems is that accessibility can mean very different things to different people.

For some accommodation providers, having a ground-floor bedroom or a wet room seems to be enough to describe a property as accessible.

But what happens if you can’t get through the door in your wheelchair? Or there’s a step between the bedroom and living room?

I once found somewhere advertised as accessible, only to discover that you had to go up a flight of stairs to reach it.

When I questioned this, I was told that everything was on one level once you were inside!

Which is wonderful, but doesn’t really help if you can’t get inside in the first place.

Wheelchair users don’t all have the same requirements, either. Some need specialist equipment or assistance with transfers, while others need enough space to move around and use the facilities independently.

What matters is whether the accommodation works for the person staying there.

Check the Entrance, Parking and Outside Areas

One thing I’ve learnt is that accessibility needs to start before you reach the front door.

It’s worth finding out where you can park, how far away the entrance is and what the ground is like between the two.

We once stayed somewhere that hadn’t mentioned the gravel outside.

Getting my wheelchair from the car to the door was incredibly difficult because wheelchairs and gravel really don’t mix!

Even if the accommodation itself is beautifully adapted, the journey from the car can make arriving and leaving unnecessarily difficult.

I’d always recommend checking for steps, slopes, gravel, uneven paving and narrow gates.

If the property has a ramp, it’s also worth asking about its gradient and whether it’s suitable for your particular wheelchair.

Photographs of the outside areas can be incredibly useful here.

I’ve talked before about the things I wish more places told you before you visit, and many of those same principles apply to holiday accommodation.

The more information a provider shares, the easier it is to make an informed decision.

Make Sure the Bedroom Works for You

A bedroom might look lovely in photographs, but there are practical things worth checking.

For me, having enough space around the bed is important. I need to be able to move around comfortably and have room for Ash to help me when necessary.

Bed height is another thing people don’t always consider.

We once stayed in a lovely accessible lodge for the night, but the bed was so low that I found it incredibly difficult to get off.

Something as simple as that can make a big difference to how manageable your stay feels.

I also look for plug sockets in useful places.

When you rely on equipment, having somewhere suitable to plug things in is important, yet it’s something that can easily be overlooked.

Depending on your requirements, you might also need to ask about space for transfers, whether the bed can be accessed from both sides or if specialist equipment can be accommodated.

Look Beyond the Wet Room

A good accessible bathroom can make an enormous difference.

For me, a level-access shower is essential, along with a suitable shower stool or chair.

Grab rails are always useful, and the height and positioning of the toilet and sink matter too.

However, simply having a wet room doesn’t mean the bathroom will work for everybody. There needs to be enough space to manoeuvre, and the facilities need to be positioned somewhere you can actually use them.

One of my favourite examples of thoughtful accessibility is the barn conversion we return to in Cornwall every year.

It’s been designed to be accessible, with an open-plan layout that gives me plenty of room to use my wheelchair.

And the wet room is wonderful.

If I could design my own accessible bathroom, I’d genuinely use theirs as a blueprint.

It even has a body dryer, which makes showering so much less exhausting for me.

That might not sound like a huge thing to somebody else, but when you live with limited energy, reducing the effort involved in everyday activities can make such a difference.

The barn doesn’t have every piece of specialist equipment imaginable, although the owners can help arrange equipment hire when needed.

What it does have is a layout that works brilliantly for me.

Don’t Forget About the Living Room and Kitchen

This is something I don’t think gets enough attention.

Accessible accommodation often seems to focus on the bedroom and bathroom, while the rest of the property gets overlooked.

But you’re going on holiday to enjoy yourself, not just to sleep and shower!

One of my biggest frustrations is the seating.

So many accessible properties seem to have hard, easy-to-clean sofas that might be practical and hard-wearing but are incredibly uncomfortable.

Others have sofas that are much too low.

At home, I’ve had my sofa raised to make getting up easier, so trying to get off a particularly low sofa while I’m away can be a real struggle.

That’s why I love that our Cornwall accommodation offers different seating options, including a sofa, recliner and other chairs.

It means there’s usually somewhere I can sit comfortably.

The kitchen is another area worth checking.

We recently stayed somewhere that was accessible in several respects, but I wouldn’t have been able to use my wheelchair properly in the kitchen area.

The owners explained that their accommodation primarily catered for people staying with carers, which helped explain the layout.

And there’s nothing wrong with accommodation being designed around those needs.

However, it wouldn’t necessarily suit somebody who wants to use the kitchen independently.

Ask Questions Before You Book

I’ve contacted accommodation providers before booking, and I’ve received some really helpful answers.

I’ve also had answers that didn’t tell me quite as much as I’d hoped!

Personally, I think the more information available, the better.

If you’re unsure whether somewhere will meet your needs, don’t be afraid to ask for additional photographs, measurements or clarification about particular facilities.

Some useful things to check include:

• Whether there’s step-free access from the parking area to the property and throughout the accommodation.
• Doorway widths and whether there’s enough space to manoeuvre your wheelchair.
• The height of the bed, toilet, sink and seating.
• Whether the shower is level-access and what shower seating is provided.
• Whether the kitchen and living areas are accessible.
• What equipment is included and whether additional equipment can be hired.
• Whether there are suitable plug sockets for any equipment you use.

I’d also recommend asking for photographs of the actual accessible accommodation you’ll be staying in, rather than relying on general promotional pictures.

Booking platforms can be particularly frustrating because their accessibility filters don’t always explain what facilities are available.

A tick beside wheelchair accessible doesn’t tell you whether there’s gravel outside, a low bed or a step between rooms.

If you’re booking an accessible hotel room, it’s worth confirming directly that the particular room you need will be available, rather than assuming a general accessibility request guarantees it.

And if a provider can’t answer an important question, I’d rather know that before arriving than discover a problem when it’s too late.

Don’t Feel Guilty About Booking Somewhere With More Than You Need

One place that really impressed me was South Newlands Farm, near York.

What stood out was that the owners had actually spoken to disabled people about what would make their accommodation easier to use.

They’d listened to those experiences and used them when designing the properties, and I think you can tell.

But not everybody needs the same facilities.

When you’re searching for accessible accommodation, you might come across properties with specialist equipment or adaptations that you don’t personally need.

And I think it’s easy to feel as though you shouldn’t book somewhere like that if you won’t be using everything available.

But accessible accommodation isn’t always offered with lots of different options.

Sometimes it’s a case of all or nothing.

If a property has more adaptations than you need but is also somewhere you can stay comfortably and safely, there’s nothing wrong with choosing it.

You know your own needs better than anybody else.

And just because somebody else might require different equipment doesn’t mean your accessibility requirements are any less important.

The same applies the other way around. Don’t feel pressured to book somewhere simply because it’s advertised as accessible if you know the layout or facilities won’t work for you.

Finding Accessible Accommodation Shouldn’t Be This Difficult

I wish finding wheelchair accessible accommodation was as simple as choosing a destination, picking somewhere you like and booking it.

Unfortunately, my experience has been that it often involves a lot more research, questions and compromises.

There are some wonderful places out there, and I’ve been lucky enough to stay in accommodation where the owners have clearly put a great deal of thought into accessibility.

But there are also plenty of places where the word accessible doesn’t tell you nearly enough.

For me, the most important thing is finding somewhere that works for your individual needs, where you can be comfortable and actually enjoy your holiday.

Because that’s what holidays should be about.

Have you ever struggled to find accessible accommodation, or stayed somewhere that really got accessibility right? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

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