Hi, I need to begin planning for my mother-in-law's trip to visit us from the states. We are in Surrey England.

She has a disability involving nerve damage in her feet. She can walk for short distances and stand for short periods. If she overdoes it she will have great pain in the following days.

She owns a motorized scooter which we are advising her to leave at home.

Shall I look to rent a wheelchair for her while she is here? Does anyone have an inexpensive source for that?

Are there particular thigns I should know?

Should I try to plan trips into London using this tube site:

http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk/user/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en

In the advanced options you are able to mark for it to search for routes involving the least walking, etc.

I want to be able to take them places and show them things while they are here but I want to make it as easy on everyone as possible.

Thanks!

Angie, I am not any good on the London with a wheelchair advice I am afraid but I rented a wheelchair from a relative from our local Red Cross - it was either free or very inexpensive (I can't remember which I am afraid.. I think I gave a donation) but it was very basic - not one you can operate yourself with wheelbars - you had to be pushed.

You could try asking at your local Red Cross centre, perhaps?

I know you can rent them privately in London from the private hospitals but they are very expensive.

I have also "hired" a push wheel chair from the Red Cross at least twice. I'm pretty sure that they ask for a payment as surety while you have the chair, but that there is no actual charge for it. What then happens is that you are encouraged to donate the surety when you return the chair.

If your mother in law cannot walk up stairs, then I would be very very careful to confine yourself to those stations that show up as wheelchair friendly on the tube. Any that are not designated that way will have fairly steep stairs at some point, probably from the booking hall level to the street level.

The other way to do it would be to find a place to stay that is very central and do not use the tube at all. Some buses and taxis may be wheelchair friendly.

Hi,

This link,if you haven't already found it might be useful.
Wendy

Thanks, that looks great!

Angie

I haven't done a London disability page primarily because I don't feel I've spent enough time there to qualify as an authority.

But a couple of things - 1 do not I repeat do not tell mom to leave her scooter at home. If it is one of those light weight ones then by all means have her bring it. If it isn't have her rent a light weight collapsible here in US.

Most of the London Tube system is inaccessible. The good news is all London cabs are required to have a lift - the bad news? about 1/2 the drivers don't know how to use them. Victoria Station has some problems but you should be able to manouever your way through the station. There is a wheelchair assistance office and they can be extremely helpful.

The british museum is accessible but somebody has to go in and they will direct you to the accessible entrance.

One of the hardest things for people with foot problems is lifting themselves off low toilets. If your home doesn't have a tall toilet (and most don't) you can purchase a toilet seat riser (available in the medical supply section of boots). Here in US about $20 so that's about 10 pounds.

The boats that go up and down the thames have a few that are accessible. You'll have to check on times. The London eye is wonderfully accessible and they offer a discount for the wheelchair person.

Tower of London was inaccessible in 2004. Don't know about now.

Most of the theatres have some accessible seats. I seem to remember the exception to that was the place playing the Complete Shakespear in 2 acts and the complete history of the world in 2 acts. Don't even know if that is still running. Lion King was accessible.

Most of the streets have cutaway curbs so getting around isn't going to be terribly difficult.

And once again - to make the visit the most comfortable for your mother in law have her bring her scooter. The thing that is hardest for those of us with disabilities is feeling like we are a burden. Having people push us in a wheelchair definitely defines being a burden.

Hampton Castle and Brighton are amazingly accessible. Hampton actually has a power scooter you can rent.

thanks, we'll take all of this into consideration. I am unsure whether her scooter would fit in the back of my van... I also do not think it is lightweight...I'll look into that though.

Thanks for the other pointers too!

Angie

Angie I hope you will pop back in to slow travel and let us know what you find. You can see that this is the kind of information that is invaluable.

Not to brag on Mary, but she knows accessibility like no one else. She is always happy to share.

From the short time I have spent in London I do know that the tube would be difficult to access, and that many of the taxi's are equiped with lifts. From what I have seen many of the museums have lifts. Public restrooms are hard enough to find...with wheelchair access would make it really hard!

I am anxious to hear how the trip goes. I know that y'all will have a wonderful time- and hopefully be able to see the town.