Enjoy a spot of sightseeing with an accessible tour in London. Take a guided tour of top London museums, explore on foot with a fun-filled walking tour or relax on the Thames during a river tour.
Find out more about the accessibility of your tour and whether it is wheelchair accessible and suitable for visually or hearing impaired customers below.
1. Tower of London
Discover the dark and fascinating history of the Tower of London on an accessible tour in London.
Join a monthly guided tour around the iconic London landmark with a British Sign Language interpreter. Or go on a self-led tour using the British Sign Language Digital Visitor Guide.
"Vocal eyes trained" wardens lead descriptive tours for visitors who are blind or have visual impairments. Hear fascinating descriptions of the Crown Jewels and the historic White Tower.
Find out more about accessibility at the Tower of London.
2. Shakespeare’s Globe exhibition and tour
Learn all about the legendary 17th-century playwright during a fully accessible tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
The Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition and Tour offers step-free access to all areas of the magnificent theatre and features low-level display cases for wheelchair users. The exhibition also has descriptive text panels and recorded commentaries alongside braille panels for visually impaired visitors to the world-famous theatre.
Afterwards, catch one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays performed live on stage or stop at Swan at The Globe for a spot of afternoon tea in London.
Find out more about accessibility at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
3. London Taxi Tour
Join an experienced cabbie for a London Taxi Tour around the capital. Take your pick from a huge range of landmark-packed London tours, including a Harry Potter Tour, a London Blitz Tour and a Royal London Tour.
Each accessible taxi has wheelchair ramps and solid grab handles designed to aid those with restricted mobility. The taxi can accommodate additional passengers so that you can enjoy the views with family and friends.
Find out more about accessible tours with London Taxi Tour.
4. Natural History Museum
Drop by the Natural History Museum to discover a huge collection of delights from across the natural world, from ancient dinosaurs to faraway galaxies.
Learn about popular displays with the museum's downloadable audio-described tours, some of which are narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Join a British Sign Language tour around the fascinating spirit collection, which includes specimens collected by Charles Darwin.
Contact the Natural History Museum to inquire about British Sign Language interpreters for free public programmes.
Take the little ones to the autism-friendly Dawnosaurs event, which allows kids to visit the museum before opening hours and take part in exciting activities.
Find out about accessibility at the Natural History Museum.
5. National Portrait Gallery
Admire a stunning collection of portraits at the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square, which displays artworks from the 16th century to modern times.
Join the free monthly deaf-led tour and British Sign Language interpreted talks, as well as monthly picture description talks.
Find out more about accessibility at the National Portrait Gallery.
6. Blue Badge Tourist Guides
From walking tours to tours by public transport, London’s enthusiastic Blue Badge Tourist Guides are fully trained and qualified to escort visitors around the capital. The company matches visitors with suitable tour guides for a range of London tours based on bespoke interests and access requirements.
Find out more about accessibility options with a Blue Badge Tourist Guide.
7. Houses of Parliament
Tag along with a guide for a wheelchair-friendly tour of the iconic Houses of Parliament, which gives you an insight into more than 1,000 years of political history. Most of the tour route is step-free, and lifts are available for sections with stairs at the start and end of the tour.
British Sign Language interpreters can also be requested in advance for your tour, and a screen-based version of the audio tour and hearing assistance systems are available across the venue.
After your guided tour, tuck into a light bite in the Jubilee Cafe or opt for a tasty afternoon tea with beautiful views of the river Thames.
Read more about accessibility in the Houses of Parliament.
8. Cutty Sark
Learn all about the maritime history of the Cutty Sark during a tour of the world’s oldest surviving tea clipper in postcard-perfect Greenwich.
Prebook an audio-described tour with staff historians or sign up for the quarterly British Sign Language tours. Large-print and braille guides are available, and some exhibits have tactile features.
Read more about accessibility at the Cutty Sark.
9. St Paul’s Cathedral
Step inside the breathtakingly beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral to visit one of London's most iconic landmarks.
The cathedral offers a range of guides and tours for visitors with disabilities, including "touch tours" and a British Sign Language tour with subtitles on the multimedia guide. Audio description guides that encourage visitors with visual impairments to touch carvings and sculptures are also available.
Find out more about accessibility at St Paul's Cathedral.
10. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Immerse yourself in the wizarding world of Harry Potter with a behind-the-scenes tour at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, where you can see original sets, props and costumes from the world-famous film series.
Much of the tour is accessible to wheelchair users, including the Great Hall and Privet Drive, but some areas of the venue are difficult to navigate, and a small number of attractions are not accessible. British Sign Language-interpreted tours can be arranged at no extra cost to make your trip even more magical.
Find out more about accessibility at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
11. TootBus London
See some of London’s most famous sights from the comfort of a wheelchair-friendly bus with TootBus London. All of the buses are wheelchair accessible and have driver-controlled ramps to board. Get on and off the bus at dozens of stops to explore the city at your own pace.
Find out about accessibility on TootBus.
12. Tower Bridge
No trip to London is complete without a visit to the spectacular Tower Bridge. Join a British Sign Language guided tour to discover the world-famous bridge’s towers and Victorian Engine Rooms, and soak up the awe-inspiring views from the glass walkways.
If you’re visiting London with kids, the exhibition also hosts quieter autism-friendly sessions for families. Little ones can explore the attraction at their own pace before taking part in arts and crafts.
Find out more about accessibility at Tower Bridge.
13. Design Museum
Lovers of all things fashion, architecture and design should head to the Design Museum in South Kensington.
See the latest exhibition on a British Sign Language or audio-described tour. Sign up for the Design Museum's Access List to be notified of upcoming accessible tours.
Find out more about accessibility at the Design Museum.
14. City Cruises
Set sail on the Thames during a river boat tour with City Cruises. Spot some of the capital’s most famous landmarks, such as the London Eye and Shakespeare’s Globe.
Two manual wheelchairs can be accommodated on most sightseeing cruises; however, all passengers must be able to walk onto the boat with the aid of a companion. Before your trip to London, contact the reservation team to discuss the best boat to travel on and reserve your wheelchair space.
Wheelchair users and their companions are entitled to 50% off sightseeing cruise tickets, while registered blind passengers travel free of charge.
Read more about accessibility on City Cruises.
15. British Museum
Retrace more than two million years of human history at the widely accessible British Museum. Discover an incredible collection of objects, from the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies to Parthenon sculptures, with a downloadable British Sign Language guide.
This London museum holds object handling sessions every day, as well as touch tours of the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery for partially sighted visitors.
Find out more about accessibility at the British Museum.
16. Accessible sports stadium tours in London
Get an inside look at some of the capital’s most impressive sports grounds with a stadium tour in London.
Some of the popular London football venues offering accessibility-friendly tours include the Wembley Stadium Tour, Arsenal Emirates Stadium Tours and Chelsea FC Stadium Tours.
Follow in the footsteps of sporting legends on a tour of the fully accessible Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or explore the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, which can arrange a step-free tour route for visitors with disabilities.
Companions and carers
Many tourist attractions offer free or discounted entry for companions and carers. If you require private care during your trip to London, agencies can supply personal assistants for the duration of your stay.
- Hartwig Care provides personal assistants on a short-term and long-term basis.
- Independent Living Alternatives (ILA) provides information and support for people with disabilities in relation to personal assistance.
AccessAble
Visit the AccessAble website for comprehensive information on accessible attractions, buildings and venues in London.
For more accessibility information, check out the top accessible attractions in London or take a look at this guide to accessible London.
