Victoria & Albert Museum

Welcome back to Access London and Thank You once again for continuing to support disability access and awareness to the arts.

Located in South Kensington, along The Cromwell Road, The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is the home to a vast array of objects and exhibitions from Renaissance to Contemporary, all based around art and design. Some of its permanent collections include Jewellery, Fashion, Ceramics, Furniture, Sculpture, Paintings and Theatre and Performance. It also exhibits visiting and touring collections and exhibitions that change regularly throughout the year - there is currently a Postmodernism exhibition on until 15 January 2012.

Inside, the museum is somewhat of a warren of rooms and passages housed in smaller spaces than some of London's other large museums. This gives the V&A its intimate feel and works well. Although the individual rooms may appear smaller, there is still plenty of space to manoeuver wheelchairs and scooters around and all of the gallery assistants are very helpful.

The museum is open from 10am until 5.45pm daily but has late night opening on Fridays, until 10pm. The museum itself is free to enter and visit its permanent collection. Some of the temporary and visiting exhibitions have entrance charges - those with disabilities usually qualify for a discounted rate and a companion/carer is usually admitted free of charge.

The V&A has a Disability and Access Helpline that can be called for all general enquiries: 020 7942 2766, or email disability@vam.ac.uk
You can also book and hire wheelchairs which can be collected from the information desk. Please phone and book in advance on 020 7942 2002.

The gallery provides stools throughout which can be carried round for those who need regular breaks from walking. There is also sound enhancement equipment available for use on tours and lectures. Induction loops are present in retail areas, information point and desk areas and in the theatre and seminar rooms. The museum also runs a regular programme of BSL talks and tours - for more information on these, ring the access helpline on 020 7942 2766.

There is currently redevelopment going on along Exhibition Road (the road along which the level access entrance is to the V&A). Therefore the blue badge bays along this road may be out of use until the end of 2011. The disabled entrance to the museum can still be accessed though and is also being updated and improved.

Throughout the musuem, there are large print guides and braille information in front of some of the exhibits. There are also touch tour elements available throughout.

There are lifts to all floors of the museum, although I would advise picking up a map on your way in as these are few and far between once inside the main part of the exhibition and you may find yourself going a lot further away from the lifts than expected! There is a large ramped walkway up into the shop, as well as the main stepped entrance. Assistance dogs are welcome into the V&A.

All in all, the V&A is incredibly accessible to those with disabilities, is constantly improving the services it does offer and has extremely helpful staff, happy to assist if needed.

To find out where the nearest blue badge bays are in the area VISIT THIS SITE
To find out more about what's on at the V&A SEE THEIR WEBSITE HERE


COMING SOON: The Lion In Winter, London Coliseum, Menier Chocolate Factory & Pippin

The London O2 - Batman Live Arena Tour

Welcome back to Access London and thank you once again for your continued support for disability access and awareness in the Capital.

Today's post is dedicated to Batman Live! - a spectacular, stunt-filled extravaganza that has been hitting arenas around the UK. It is currently at the O2 Arena in London until the 4th September 2011.



The show features all the major characters from the famous comic book series including: The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, The Scarecrow, Two-Face, Lt Gordon, Robin and of course Batman himself, aka Bruce Wayne. Joining them on the stage are some really impressive set pieces that include, Gotham City, The Batmobile and even a hot air balloon!

Following the story of the loss of Robin's parents at the circus they worked at and the subsequent friendship between him and Batman, the story includes as many highlights as is possible in a 2 hour show. Although, in my opinion, it isn't really the story that is the reason to see this show but the amazing acrobatics and stunt work that is involved from beginning to end.

The screen that is used as the backdrop to the set is also very impressive and spectacularly used throughout - allowing the audience to be transported from the streets of Gotham city to the depths of the Batcave to the circus and asylum in a good old fashioned comic book fashion.

The show is running at The O2 Arena in London until the 4th September when it then moves onto Liverpool, Nottingham, Dublin and Belfast. The O2 has a dedicated Access Booking Line that can be used to book all events at the Arena. To book Access tickets for Batman Live, please call: 020 8463 3359. For all other ticket enquiries, please call: 020 8463 2000 or BOOK ONLINE

There is plenty of car parking available at The O2 and for disabled parking, you can book a dedicated disabled bay when you book your event tickets, just ask for details. From the car park's disabled bays, you need to cross a small O2 internal road and then it is a short journey to the entrance.

We found all the staff to be very helpful with wheelchair and scooter users and happy to help. There are dedicated wheelchair areas in Block 101 at the Arena, right next to the stage, so you have fantastic, close-up views of the show. When you book a wheelchair or scooter ticket, you are actually reserving a space in this area and not a specific location, so you will not receive a seat number, although the whole section is in clear view of the stage anyway. There are two ramps to access this area and event staff are always nearby throughout the show if you need any help.

Photographs can be taken throughout the show but, PLEASE TURN THE FLASH OFF AS THIS IS VERY OFF-PUTTING FOR THE CAST, especially when they are performing stunts.

All in all, an enjoyable night out for kids of all ages!!

The London Eye

Welcome back to Access London, thank you once again for your continued support for disability access and awareness in the Capital.

Today's post features one of London's most striking pieces of architecture - The London Eye. The London Eye is currently the world's largest observation wheel, standing at 135m high and rotating 32 capsules. It is located on the bank of the River Thames, just outside County Hall and opposite The Houses of Parliament.


The London Eye offers spectacular views over London, some of its most famous attractions and off into the surrounding counties. The London Eye offers many special deals such as the Pimm's Experience or the Champagne Experience. You can hire one of the capsules for special events or partys too!

The London Eye opperates between 10am and 9pm daily. You can queue and buy tickets on the day but for the best price and chance of getting on at the time you want, I advise you to pre-book on the official website. You can also book a combined ticket for the London Eye and London Eye River Cruise - the cruise will be featured in its own post coming soon.

If you pre-book ticekts, they need to be collected from inside County Hall, just opposite the Eye itself. The Hall has disabled access via a ramped walkway. You can also see the new 4D Experience inside County Hall which is included in your ticket price and worth seeing.


The Eye itself is completely accessible to those using a wheelchair or mobility sccoter. There are ramped walkways that take you up to the Eye itself. Once there the staff use a portable ramp so that wheelchairs/mobility scooters can get into the capsule. The Eye is actually stopped to allow safe access for disabled visitors. The capsules themselves are glass therefore whatever height you are sitting at, you will have unobstructed views across the river and city. Guide dogs are allowed onto the Eye.



There is a concession price of £15 for disabled adults and 1 carer/companion can go on for free for every disabled visitor. There are further concessions for disabled children and seniors. The regular price for adults is £18 and £9 for children.

There is a dedicated Access Line at the London Eye: 0871 222 0188 which is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

To book tickets online visit The London Eye Website

This is one London attraction not to be missed and is a great experience for the whole family to enjoy!

Fortnum and Mason - The Restaurants

Welcome back to Access London, thank you once again for your continued support for disability access and awareness in London.

Today's post is on the world famous and iconic London store - Fortnum and Mason. With a history dating back to the early 1700s and Royal Warrants being awarded over the last 150 years, Fortnum and Mason is certainly one of London's most recognised and oldest stores. Located on Piccadilly, almost opposite the Royal Academy of Arts, it is in a prime location. Its rear entrance is located on another prestigious London street - Jermyn Street.

Piccadilly has very wide pavements and pedestrian crossings making it an easy road in which to access Fortnums. Once inside, you are greeted with traditional British decor. Fortnums is famous for its food hampers and also their beautiful Christmas and other seasonal displays and products. There are several lifts within the store. If entering from the main Piccadilly entrance, the lift to the far left is the largest to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Fortnums has several restaurants, and a wine bar. Apart from The Gallery, which is not advisable for those in a wheelchair, all of Fortnums other famous dining areas are accessible to those with disabilities.

The Wine Bar is located in the basement and can be accessed by a lift.

To dine at any of the other restaurants I would highly recommend ringing ahead and booking, especially if you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter so that arrangements can be made for you.

St James's Restaurant
This is located on the fourth floor of the store and is probably the most famous of Fortnum's restaurants, offering a more formal dining experience. The restaurant serves lunch Monday-Saturday between 12noon and 2pm and Sunday roast on Sundays from 12 noon to 2.30pm. It also serves Afternoon Tea and High Tea between 12noon and 6.30pm Monday-Saturday. There is a more formal dress code for this particular restaurant. You can also enjoy the sounds of the house pianist most afternoons. There is plenty of space in St James's to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters. For details on pricing, menus and to make a reservation, please call 0845 602 5694.



The Parlour Restaurant
This restaurant is located on the first floor of the store and overlooks Piccadilly. It is open from 10am to 7.30pm Monday-Saturday and 12noon to 5.30pm on a Sunday and Bank Holidays. This is the place to truly indulge your sweet tooth. The Parlour serves gorgeous ice creams (I particularly recommend the Frosted Strawberries and Shortbread or the Walnut with Maple Syrup), delicious cakes, open sandwiches, the Ultimate hot chocolate for those colder days and tea in traditional teapots. It has a definite 50s, retro feel about the place. If you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, I recommend talking to someone on the reservations team about this so that more space around your table can be arranged. There are also disabled toilets very near by.



The Fountain Restaurant
This restaurant is located on the ground floor of the store and can be accessed from both instore and also directly from the Jermyn Street entrance. For those who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, I would recommend using the Jermyn Street entrance that leads straight into the restaurant. The Fountain has a deluxe brasserie atmosphere and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It opens for breakfast 7.30-11am Monday-Saturday, lunch 12noon-3pm, afternoon menu 3-5pm and dinner 5.30-11pm. There is a jazz guitarist that plays between 6pm and 9pm Monday to Friday. There is also a special jazz brunch on a Sunday that is served from 11am to 3pm. This restaurant also has disabled toilets located near by.



To make a reservation at any of the above restaurants and to discuss your access requirements, please call the reservations team on 0845 602 9654.

Whichever restaurant you choose to visit at Fortnum and Mason, you will enjoy an elegant experience. Don't forget, if you do go and would like to share a picture with Access London, please feel free to email it to: accesslondon.claire@gmail.com

COMING SOON: Love Never Dies, London Eye & River Cruise, The Wizard of Oz, Access London celebrates 25 years of Phantom of the Opera.

Umbrellas of Cherbourg & Cast Interviews

Welcome back to Access London, thank you all for your continued support for disability access and awareness in London. Today's post is the first of two on the Kneehigh production of 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' at The Gielgud Theatre.

I saw this show last night and had a fabulous time - lots of laughs and a few tears too. The production was originally performed in Leicester but then transfered to the West End early in the Spring. The tag line 'A French Romance That Just Happens To Be Sung' says it all. Set in Cherbourg in the 1950s, Umbrellas tells the tale of a young woman who falls in love, only to suffer the loss when her lover is called up to the army. Discovering she is pregnant, she must make the difficult choice of waiting for her love to return or to marry a rich businessman who asks for her hand in marriage.

This show is the most unique performance I have seen in a long time. It is very interactive with the audience at times and the set is imaginative and very cleverly crafted. The style of singing words, rather than songs and the talented performers make this show one not to be missed.

Sadly, Umbrellas is closing on 21st May so if you would like to see it, you need to be quick. I definitely recommend it for a night out with a differnce.

I am delighted to announce that for those wishing to see this show, I can obtain a great deal on tickets for you - £20 for top tickets. Simply leave a comment, email me at clairelouiseatroe@hotmail.com or contact me on Twitter @HorizonVA .

The Gielgud Theatre itself is located on Shaftesbury Avenue, just behind the Trocadero and 1 minute's walk from Piccadilly Circus. If you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, this theatre is accessible. As it is a basement theatre (stalls located at basement level), it is the dress circle that is accessible without stairs. There are two spaces for wheelchairs if you cannot transfer from your chair. If you can transfer, there are a few more options within the dress circle. The theatre are extremely helpful and you will be met by a member of the Front of House team on arrival who will assist you before and after the performance and also during the interval. There is an accessible toilet also. If you have any special requests relating to mobility and seating, please let them know at the box office. The Access Line is: 0844 482 5137 Alternatively, contact me with your requirements and I will try and help get the seats you require - I am a mobility scooter user myself and cannot manage stairs.

Access London has been fortunate enough to be able to speak with a couple of cast members and ask them a few questions about the show. First up, Cynthia Erivo, who plays Madeleine....

AL: You play Madeleine in Umbrellas. What is her part in the story and have you enjoyed playing her?
CE: I guess you could say she's the sort of underdog of the whole thing, she's the girl who notices everything but is never noticed. She's a nurse, she takes care of Aunt Elise and is very much in love with Aunt Elise's nephew, Guy. Does she get him in the end? You'll have to wait and see!!

AL: What themes and emotions are most prevalent in the show?
CE: Love, Loss, Life, Contentment, Compromise

AL: The show is based on the film by Jacques Demy - has there been any pressure to stay true to the film or, has the show had the freedom to do its own thing?
CE: Well the music has stayed very true to the original film the only real thing that we've had license to adjust were the words, just so that the phrases in English work a little better. The play itself, how it's set, is much freer than the film, simply because we are on stage, how we set it was pretty much up to us, the cast.

AL: Were you part of the original cast that played in Leicester? If yes, what were the main differences between performing there and on the West End stage?
CE: Yes, I was part of Umbrellas in Leicester. I suppose one of the main differences was the theatre itself, it was a little easier to mingle at the top of the show - we had two walk-ways, so getting in and amongst people was easy as pie, here it's a little different.
The show itself was constantly changing in small ways, whether it be, movement, entrances, costume, words....it's what's kept it fresh.

AL: How do you prepare yourself before performing?
CE: Physically, we do a vocal and physical warm-up that ensures that we don't hurt ourselves onstage and gives us a moment to get together as a company before the show starts.
I personally love listening to music whilst I get my make-up and costume on, I guess it gets me in the right frame of mind to do a show.
Once the show goes up, I have an on-going through thought that combines some of my life experiences to my character's, so that I feel like the things that she/I sing/say are completely connected. It might not always work, but I try my very best.

AL: If you could play any role(s) in musical theatre, what would it/they be and why?
CE: Hmmm...this is a hard one because I would be lying if I said there weren't many but, if I had to narrow it down, I think it's a toss-up between Effie in Dream Girls and Celie in The Colour Purple! I just think they are incedible roles, they have wonderful storylines and wonderful songs, both of these characters would be a huge challenge! What more could you want from a character?

AL: Do you have an album out with your solo work?
CE: I don't have an album out with my solo work just yet but, I am working on it and you can hear some of it on my myspace.

AL: What's next for you after Umbrellas?
CE: Well immediately after this show, I'm not sure, I'm in the middle of auditioning for a few things, so fingers crossed! I have a gig at the Indig02 on June 7th and I guess what happens after, I won't know until I know.


Access London would like to offer a huge Thank You to Cynthia for taking the time to answer our questions and also for being part of a cast that gave us a great night out. To listen to some of Cynthia's music, check out her myspace account HERE
You can also find her on Twitter @CynthiaEriVo

The second part of our Umbrellas post is live tomorrow, including an interview with another cast member, Chris Jenkins.

In the meantime, don't forget, you can contact me for a super price for Umbrellas tickets until May 21st. Alternatively, you can contact Chris Jenkins on his Twitter account @chrisjenko Simply say you have read this blog post and you are asking about the £20 ticket offer.

Until tomorrow, I will leave you with the promo video for The Umbrellas of Cherbourg...

The National Gallery - An American Experiment Exhibition - Part 2

Welcome back to Access London and the second part of my series on The National Gallery and its exhibition 'An American Experiment: George Bellows and The Ashcan Painters'.

If you missed the post yesterday, please feel free to scroll down and read it. It contains details of access requirements if you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter and also has an interesting interview with the Access Officer and Senior Information Manager at the gallery.

Today's post will focus more on the exhibition itself. Access London has been fortunate enough to interview the curator of the exhibition, here's what he had to say...

X7318, George Luks, Knitting for the soldiers: High Bridge Park, 1918, Copyright Photo Courtesy of the Terra Foundation for American Art, Daniel. J, Terra Collection, Chicago, 1999.87





AL: Who are you and what is your role at The National Gallery?
CR: I am Christopher Riopelle, Curator of Post 1800 Paintings at The National Gallery. T: 020 7747 2804 E: chris.riopelle@ng-london.org.uk

AL: What work and time is involved to bring an exhibition such as 'An American Experiment' to the UK?
CR: An American Experiment was put together in the relatively brief period of fourteen months from the time we propsed an exhibition on George Bellows and his colleagues to our collaborators on the project, the Terra Foundation for American Art, and I and my fellow curator, Katherine Bourguignon of the Terra Foundation, began to identify and solicit loans. From then, the usual tasks involved in mounting an exhibition with foreign loans kicked in; they simply had to be carried out by the various departments of the National Gallery on a speeded-up timetable.

x7315, William Glackens, Washington Square, 1910, Copyright New Britain Museum of American Art, Charles F. Smith Fund, 1944.03. Photo: Alex Morganti






AL: Why did the gallery choose this particular group of artists to dedicate an exhibition to?
CR: The purpose of our on-going collaboration with The Terra Foundation is to introduce aspects of the American painting tradition, little known here, to British and European audiences. There was broad agreement that Bellows is a remarkable artist, arguably the most innovative American painter of the early 20th Century, but that he is hardly known on this side of the Atlantic. This would be our opportunity to introduce him to a new audience, although it would always be a 'taste', rather than an exhaustive presentation. Because the exhibition was conceived as an introduction to Bellows, we also determined that we should show him in the context of his closest painterly colleagues, the so-called Ashcan Painters.

AL: Why were the 12 paintings in the exhibition specifically chosen to represent the painters and their style?
CR: We were particularly interested in showing Bellows as a landscape painter. This dictated our choice of paintings, especially the four views of Manhattan that hardly show Manhattan at all. We also wanted to show these artists as figurative painters and social commentators. As a major Bellows retrospective exhibition is coming to the Royal Academy in 2013, we did not want to duplicate works that will be shown there. With only one exception of a loan refused, because of the fragile condition of the painting, we were able to borrow all the works we asked for.

x7309 George Bellows, Blue Snow, The Battery, 1910, Copyright Columbus Museum of Art, Howald Fund Purchase 1958.035






AL: For those who have never heard of this group of artists before, how would you describe their style of art?
CR: These are realist painters dedicated to detailing the social scene in a rapidly changing and expanding America, and to forging a distinctive American school of painting. Their art of social realism is tinged with expressionism and with a new freedom in the handling of paint that had only recently been introduced into European avant-garde art.

AL: What influences and importance do you belive the Ashcan Painters had on 20th Century art?
CR: The importance of the Ashcan Painters for American art in the early 20th Century is universally acknowledged by American art historians. Because they have not been widely seen in a European context, we are still in the process of determining their wider importance of 20th Century art as a whole. Certainly Bellows' audacious handling of paint must place him among the innovators of painting technique in those decades.

x7314 George Bellows, The Big Dory, 1913, Copyright New Britain Museum of American Art, Harriet Russel Stanley Fund, 1944.21. Photo: Alex Morganti






AL: Can you sum up in 5 words or less what people can expect from this exhibition?
CR: Frankly, no. I find that too reductive. Visitors must find their own way, open their eyes to new artists they probably haven't known and, with the help of the exhibition catalogue, wall texts etc, make of it what they make of it.


Access London would like to offer a huge thank you to Chris Riopelle for taking the time to answer our questions and help us to open our eyes to artists we may not have heard of before. I would also like to thank Karen Bosomworth for allowing me to use images of some of the beautiful pieces that you can see at this exhibition.

An American Experiment is open to the public at the National Gallery until the end of May. It has free entry to all and is completely accessible to those with disabilities (please see previous post for more details on this).

Please feel free to leave a comment, follow the blog and help to spread the word on disability access and awareness in London.

COMING SOON: Pre-Theatre dinner, Tate Britain's Watercolour exhibition and The Royal Parks

Royal Afternoon Tea at The Cavendish and Concierge Interview

Welcome back to Access London, thank you all for your continued support of this blog and helping to promote disability access and awareness.

London has been enjoying some beautiful weather over the last few weeks, so plenty of opportunity for people to get out and enjoy the capital at its best. As I write this post, thousands of people are running the London marathon, raising lots of money for charity and good causes, I wish them all the best and hope everyone enjoys the day.

Regular readers may remember a post that I wrote last month about The Royal Afternoon Tea at The Cavendish Hotel (Access London's recommended hotel for 2011) that is running throughout April. Access London was lucky enough to enjoy this delicious tea last week and I would highly recommend it to our readers.

The Cavendish is in Piccadilly/Mayfair, on the prestigious Jermyn Street and opposite Fortnum and Masons. To celebrate the Royal wedding in a couple of week's time, The Cavendish have developed a Royal version of their afternoon tea to commemorate the big day.

The tea costs £15 per person and can be enjoyed in the beautiful and tasteful setting of the hotel's first floor lounge. Diners can enjoy the likes of smoked salmon sandwiches, fresh, warm scones with jam and cream, Prince William pear and almond tart, wedding fruit cake and Katie's chocolates.

The staff at The Cavendish are all extremely helpful, warm, welcoming and happy to assist in any way they can.

For those who use a wheelchair, mobility scooter or cannot manage stairs, the hotel can be accessed on Duke Street where there is also a drop off point. From here, the reception area is all on one level and the lifts to the first floor are close by. Upon arriving on the first floor, the lounge is directly in front of you and is all on one level. There is also a disabled access toilet near by.

Here is a short video Access London took of the lounge area and the beautifully presented Royal Afternoon Tea.



Access London were lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview the concierge at The Cavendish who do a fantastic job, ensuring the happiness and comfort of all the guests. To find out what they had to say....read on.

AL: Who are you and what is your role at The Cavendish?
MC: My name is Mo Charane and I am the concierge at The Cavendish Hotel.

AL: What services do the concierge team provide to guests?
MC: The service that we provide to our guests is to greet them on their arrival and then assist them throughout their stay. We make recommendations based on their needs and then provide all the information that they need and require. This information includes: travel routes, tours, dining, limousines and car hire, hairdressers, shopping, flowers, champagne, after hours haircut appointments, spa treaments, private jets, trips abroad and much more.

We make suggestions that best suit the guests and deliver the highest level of customer service. Our role is to provide a service that goes beyond the guest's expectations and offer them an unforgetable stay. We are the first and last point of contact at the hotel for our guests.

AL: What hours does the concierge team operate?
MC: We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

AL: How do you and the team ensure that you are best informed about London and its attractions to best serve your guests?
MC: We keep up to date with what is happening in London by trying it ourselves, for example, visiting a new restaurant. More often than not, we are recommending from personal experience.

AL: If a couple were planning a special, long-weekend break to London and stay at The Cavendish, what would you recommend that they see and do? How could you make it special for them?
MC: We try to take as much information as we can about the couple so that we can better understand them and what they enjoy doing so we can assess how best to make it special for them. This could be a very romantic dinner or special afternoon tea followed by one of London's best shows, or recommending the best places to shop. I always do my best to make it memorable for them.

AL: In 5 words, how would you sum up The Cavendish experience?
MC: Welcoming, Friendly, Innovative, Green, Accessible



Access London would like to offer a huge Thank You to Mo for taking the time to answer our questions and also to Fabricio Torres for helping to arrange the interview.

To book for your Royal Afternoon Tea, please contact The Cavendish on: 020 7930 2111 or email: restaurant@thecavendishlondon.com or see their WEBSITE

Please note that after April, The Cavendish will finish their Royal Afternoon Tea but guests can still enjoy their delicious Traditional Afternoon Tea.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, we hope you will return soon. Please feel free to post a comment, follow the blog and spread the word about Access London.

The Royal Wedding - Disabled Access

Hi Everyone. This is just a short, extra little post for this week, based on an article on the DirectGov website.



This month, the country, and London in particular, are all buzzing about the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton on Friday 29th April. The day has been created as an extra Bank Holiday to celebrate and many will be journeying into town to help the couple celebrate.

As you can imagine, London will be packed and even more busy than usual on this day. Many people are hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple. This will be difficult enough for able bodied people, as there will be large crowds along the whole route, but for people with disabilities, it seems an even more daunting experience.

DirectGov have issued details of locations along the route that have been reserved for people using a wheelchair and a carer (1 carer per disabled viewer will be allowed entry into these areas). There are several areas along the route, including Horse Guards Road, Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park.

For details on all the designated locations and the times that you can access them (they are generally accepting people on a first come basis from 07.30 onwards) then here is the link to the Direct Gov website and the article: The Royal Wedding


Access London would like to wish the couple a happy and special day.

If you are travelling up there for the day, have a fantastic time and enjoy the celebrations.

Our New Background & Theatre News

Hi Everyone, thanks once again for your continued support of this blog. Welcome back to Access London. I am actually away from London this week on a short holiday but really wanted to post some updates for you all.

Firstly, you may have noticed....we have a fabulous new background for our blog. I love the design and would like to offer a huge thanks to Damion from Degrafik designs for putting it all together for us :)
Hopefully you can recognise some of London's great attractions and highlights from the pictures, if not, then check out some of our previous posts or, stay tuned for more to come.

It would be great to hear your thoughts and feedback on our new background, so feel free to post a comment on this post or drop an email to: claire@horizon-va.co.uk

If you are a regular reader of Access London, you may remember I dedicated a post to the brilliant theatre version of Yes Prime Minister back in January. I was lucky enough to see it before it finished its West End run.

I am delighted to share the news that it will be back this summer in the West End for a limited run, and would definitely recommend going to see it.

Yes Prime Minister will be showing at The Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue from the 6th July to the 17th September 2011.

There has been a cast change since its original run and the show will now star Simon Williams and Richard McCabe. Yes Prime Minister was the Winner of the Best New Comedy Award at the whatsonstage.com Awards 2011.

The Apollo theatre is accessible to wheelchair users, who can sit in the stalls area. There are spaces for wheelchair users to remain in their chairs and also for wheelchair transferees in any aisle seat in the stalls. The theatre cannot unfortunately accommodate scooters but can provide assistance for a step-free access into the stalls area.

To book tickets, please call: 0844 412 4648 where you can ask for an Access Rate if required for you and 1 carer.

Our second piece of exciting theatre news for this post relates to another magical show that we reviewed in earlier posts - The Phantom of the Opera.

London's current Phantom, the Phantastic John Owen Jones, has agreed to extend his contract until March 2012, so there is plenty of opportunity to go and see him perform behind the mask.

John has performed as the Phantom more times than any other actor and this is his second run in the show in the West End. To read an exclusive interview that John did with Access London last month, please see our previous posts on Phantom, which also include an interview with the current Christine, Sofia Escobar. Again, our thanks go to both actors for taking the time out to do this.

Access London is delighted to learn of John's extended contract and hope to bring our readers more from him later this year, after we visit Her Majesty's again in September.

John also has his own album out which you can purchase from his website HERE

To book Access Tickets for Phantom, please call: 0844 412 2707.
To book all other tickets for Phantom, please call the box office on: 0870 890 1106.

Her Majesty's Theatre is accessible to both wheelchair users and mobility scooters. Please inform the theatre/box office when booking and then a member of the front of house team on arrival. You will then be escorted to the accessible entrance that leads straight into the stalls. There are several places for those who cannot transfer from a wheelchair. For those that can, any alise seat in the stalls is easily accessible.


Thanks once again for taking the time to catch up with Access London and for helping to support disabled access in London.

COMING SOON: Love Never Dies, The National Gallery, The Royal Parks

The British Museum - Afghanistan Exhibition

Today's post looks at the spectacular new exhibition being held at The British Museum - Afghanistan: Crossroads of the Ancient World.

The exhibition showcases some beautiful pieces from a beautiful country, that has unfortunately been ravaged by war over its recent history. Located on the ancient silk roads between India, China, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, Afghanistan has been influenced by many cultures over the years.



The exhibition follows a timeline of Afghanistan's history, dating back to several thousand years BC, right up to the present day.

"Nearly lost during the years of civil war and Taliban rule, these surviving treasures reveal Afghanistan's ancient culture, its immense fragility and its remarkable place in world history" (British Museum)

The treasures featured include: pottery, glassware, sculptures, coins, statues, jewellery and possessions of travellers from along the ancient silk trading routes. There are brightly coloured pieces of glassware that were influenced by ancient Egyptians in their design and a magnificent golden crown that is pictured at the start of this post.

The exhibition begins with a video that portrays the beauty of the country as well as some of the more poignant images from recent times. It does however provide a fantastic overview of the country, its history and the lengths that its people will go to, to protect their ancient treasures.

Although not large in the physical sense, the exhibition does showcase a large number of items. I visited the day after it opened and in my opinion, the time slots given for admittance should have been spaced a little further apart. There is an obvious route to follow round the exhibition, but don't expect to pop in for a quick look as it can get quite busy.

To access the exhibtion entrance if you use a wheelchair, mobility scooter or cannot manage stairs, use the lift at the back of the round Millennium building that stands in the centre of the museum's grand foyer. Once inside, the exhibition is all on the same level and there is a different lift at the end of the exhibition, past the gift shop, that can take you back down to ground level.

The cost to visit the exhibition is: Adults - £10 Children - FREE Disabled Visitors - £8 Carer - FREE.

To access the museum itself if you use a wheelchair, mobility scooter or cannot manage stairs, there are 2 lifts, 1 either side of the entrance steps that will lift you up to the entrance level. For more information on access, please call the museum's Access and Equality Manager on 020 7323 8506.

This is a fantastic exhibition and one not to be missed. It runs until 3rd July 2011.



Please feeel free to leave a comment and to follow this blog. Thank you once again for supporting disability access in London.

COMING NEXT - Spring in the Royal Parks
COMING SOON - Love Never Dies, The National Gallery

Royal Afternoon Tea at The Cavendish

Welcome back to Access London, thank you once again to all my readers. I am pleased and proud to say that this blog has been recognised on Twitter last week and awarded the Bronze Helper Badge. Thank you very much to @twithelpme for this award.



Whilst this blog is about London, its amazing sites and attractions and the access it provides to those with disabilities, I would just like to take a moment to say that my thoughts are currently with all of those in Japan after the terrible earthquake they suffered last week. After finding out my own family were safe out there, I have been thinking of others who are not.



Today's post focuses on Access London's recommended hotel for 2011, The Cavendish, and in particular, the splendid Afternoon Royal-Tea that they are running to celebrate Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding next month. Throughout the whole of April, you can enjoy a touch of Royal-Tea at this stylish, central London hotel in anticipation of the Royal event.

The Cavendish is located on Jermyn Street, Piccadilly, in the heart of London (it can be found opposite Fortnum and Masons). If you are disabled, there is a drop off point and accessible entrance to the hotel located on Duke Street Saint James's. From reception, you can take one of the lifts up to the first floor to the welcoming and relaxing lounge area. This is where "A Taste of Royal-Tea" will be served. Once in the lounge, it is all on one level, so they are no access issues in this venue.

Not only can you enjoy this tasty and stylish afternoon tea, but for the whole of April, you can enjoy it for the spectacular price of just £15 per person.

A touch of Royalty is not new to this fantastic hotel: "The Cavendish has a rich history of serving Royalty. Our former proprietor Rosa Lewis - the famous British chef who ran the hotel from 1902-1952 - cooked for several Royal occasions. Her clients included Queen Victoria's son Edward VII and Winston Churchill's family" (Ciaran Fahy, Managing Director at The Cavendish).

The staff at The Cavendish are some of the most warm, welcoming and friendly in any London hotel. The service is impecable and every effort is made to cater for individual needs.

The Royal-Tea includes:

Traditional scones, Cornish clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam

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Smoked Salmon Sandwiches
Cucumber Sandwiches

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Traditional fruit cake with Royal icing
Victoria sponge
William's pear and almond tart

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A selection of Katie's chocolate truffles

As you can see, the menu follows a traditional and Royal theme as you would expect when celebrating a lavish Royal wedding.

The Cavendish is one of the most eco-friendly hotels in London, receiving the Most Sustainable Business Award from Visit London in 2010 and three gold stars from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

Whether you are staying in London or simply visiting for the day, Access London definitely recommends a visit to The Cavendish next month to enjoy their afternoon Royal-Tea, in relaxing and sophisticated surroundings. Afterwards, why not stroll through the park to Buckingham Palace or walk down towards Westminster Abbey to complete your Royal Day?

To make a reservation for the afternoon Royal-Tea and even treat yourself to a night's stay at The Cavendish, please call: 020 7930 2111. Remember, this fantastic price of £15 per person for Royal-Tea is only on offer throughout April 2011.
Visit The Cavendish Website Here

COMING NEXT: The National Gallery
COMING SOON: Love Never Dies, The British Museum

The Rainforest Cafe - Part 2

Welcome back to Access London. If this is your first visit, please feel free to browse through my other posts which include videos, interviews and pictures from: Phantom of the Opera, The Cavendish Hotel, The British Museum and The Gielgud Theatre, plus many more.

As promised in my last post, I had the opportunity recently to interview someone from the fabulous Rainforest Cafe - a fun and exciting restaurant in the heart of London (Piccadilly Circus). To find out more about the restaurant, including viewing a video I took last weekend, please see my last post. So, without further ado, on with the interview....

AL: Who are you and what is your role at The Rainforest Cafe?
MA: I am Mark Ager, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Rainforest Cafe: London's largest family restaurant, located just 2 minutes from Piccadilly Circus.

AL: Can you briefly explain how The Rainforest Cafe is accessible to those with mobility problems and disabilities?
MA: At the time of booking, we ask if there are any mobility issues that we need to be aware of and send across to them an 'Access Statement' that gives instructions of how to access the jungle. If someone just arrives at the restaurant, a Manager will be notified and we provide assistance and advise of the entrance/access point for entry into The Rainforest Cafe. For us to remain compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act, we are only permitted to have two wheelchairs in the venue at any one time.

AL: What is it about The Rainforest Cafe that makes it unique and a great night out?
MA: A fully themed oasis, located in the heart of the West End, with Theatreland on your doorstep. With tropical rainstorms, animatronics and a funky-themed menu, the restaurant is suitable for the whole family.

AL: How would you describe the menu at The Rainforest Cafe?
MA: American European with a wild tropical twist!

AL: Do you cater for vegetarians and those with allergy and free-from diets?
MA: Of course! Our entire menu is highlighted with its suitability for various diets, allergies and intolerances. Our staff are fully trained on this and even when taking reservations we ask if there are any allergies or mobility issues that we need to be aware of. Again on arrival, our Safari Guides (our Waiters!) will ask if it's a special occasion and if there are any allergies that we should be aware of and we can then guide you through the menu accordingly.

AL: Being named after one of the most endangered landscapes in the world, what is The Rainforest Cafe doing to help with the preservation of the world's rainforests?
MA: A lot! Since 1997 and up until December 2010, Rainforest Cafe has made donations to the World Land Trust 'Buy an Acre' Fund to purchase, protect, manage and replant 785 acres of threatened tropical forest in Ecuador. This equates to 785 football pitches or an area almost 2.5 times the size of Hyde Park!

This has been achieved via a number of ways including, a donation from certain dishes on the menu and the money thrown into our 'ponds' is washed and given to the World Land Trust.

We also run Education Tours for schools and frequently do talks about the rainforests and how important they are to the world.

AL: If people visit the Rainforest Cafe to celebrate a special occasion, what can be done to help make it a really special night for them?
MA: We can arrange a cake (currently a Triple Chocolate Layer Cake), get the crew to sing Happy Birthday - this can be done for all ages (my dad of 80 was very pleased about this!) and provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. Or, simply, something sparkly in the desert and again the crew can sing Happy Birthday. We do of course offer birthday party packages for the under 12's, which includes pary invites, activity packs and all sorts to make them smile :)

AL: Can you sum up in 5 words, The Rainforest Cafe Experience?
MA: Our tag line is 'A Wild Place to Shop and Eat!' Themed Fun, Central Location, Great Menu, Unique.

Access London would like to offer a huge thanks to Mark Ager for taking the time to answer our questions and also to all the team and safari guides at The Rainforest Cafe for helping us to enjoy a fun and unique evening.

To make a reservation at The Rainforest Cafe and/or to discuss any Access requirements, please call: 020 7434 3111.

COMING NEXT: 'Royal-Tea' at The Cavendish to celebrate the Royal Wedding
COMING SOON: Love Never Dies, The National Gallery

The Rainforest Cafe - Part 1

Welcome back to Access London everyone. Thanks once again for your continued support, it really does help to spread the word about better access for those with disabilities in London.

Today's post is on The Rainforest Cafe - a really fun, tropical rainforest themed restaurant in the heart of the urban rainforest of London. The Rainforest Cafe can be found on Shaftesbury Avenue, just behind the Trocadero Centre. This entrance leads straight into the Cafe's shop, a great place to visit whether you are going to be dining there or not: with a crocodile and waterfall to your right upon entering and parrots flying above your head, this is a fantastic place to pop into when in Theatreland.

The cafe itself is beneath street level, down a flight of stairs. However, it can also be accessed by an alternative, disbaled access entrance. I would advise booking or ringing the Cafe in advance so that you can be met by a member of staff who can then take you around to the accessible entrance. This entrance needs to be accessed from the front of the Trocadero and a guide will take you round there. Once inside the Trocadero you will be guided through a series of lifts and passages until you reach the lower ground level of the cafe. On this level, you will be greeted by the Cafe's Tropical Experience: fish tanks, jungle, animatronic apes, parrots, butterflies, lizards, streams, waterfalls, frogs and the occasional thunderstorm!

The staff are all extremely helpful at the Cafe and can even tell you the names of the tropical friends that dine beside you. The menu is fairly vast and I would definitely recommend trying one of the cocktails here (non-alcoholic ones are available for younger explorers). The cafe is child and group friendly (although please be aware that they can only accommodate 2 wheelchair/scooter users at any one time due to Health and Safety Laws). There are accessible toilets on the lower level too. The menu itself is well set out, giving you information on vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free and low calorie options.

As mentioned above, every 30 minutes or so, the cafe recreates a Rainforest Thunderstorm with sound effects and lightening - but don't worry, you won't need your umbrella!

This is a fun and entertaining night out for the whole family, groups and couples and so centrally located that it makes the perfect location for a late afternoon dinner pre-theatre.

Here is some video I took when visiting.



To make a reservation at The Rainforest Cafe and/or to discuss Access arrangements, please call: 020 7434 3111. You can also visit their website to check out the exciting menu at: href="http://www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/">

Please check back tomorrow as Access London has an exclusive interview with the Marketing Manager from The Rainforest Cafe. Feel free to leave a comment and follow the blog.

COMING NEXT: Rainforest Cafe Part 2
COMING SOON: Love Never Dies and The National Gallery

Phantom of the Opera & Her Majesty's Theatre - Part 3

Welcome back to Access London. Firstly, we would like to say a big Thank You for your continued support of the blog, it means a lot and we really appreciate every one of our readers.

Today sees Access London's final post in its series on Phantom of the Opera. To read more about the show, the access to Her Majesty's Theatre and an interview with the Phantom himself, John Owen Jones, please see out previous posts.

Access London recently had the privilege of interviewing Sofia Escobar who is currently playing Christine Daae in Phantom at Her Majesty's.

Sofia, who was born in Portugal, has played Maria in West Side Story and also performed as Christine as part of the 10,000th performance of Phantom at Her Majesty's.

AL: London is home to actors of many nationalities. Why did you choose London in particular to come and study and perform?
SE: I chose London because of its diversity, its rich cultural life and also because of the reputation of the school I went to, Guildhall School of Music and Dance.

AL: Christine Daae is one (if not the) biggest female roles in musical theatre. What most attracted you to the role?
SE: Christine really is a dream come true for an aspiring musical theatre performer. In my case it's one of the most complete roles: it combines everything to a very high standard - the wonderful music, the dancing and the acting, supported by an amazing script makes Phantom of the Opera the success that it is, running for almost 25 years.

AL: What did it mean to you being part of Phantom's 10,000th performance?
SE: It was surreal to be onstage with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Michael Crawford. It was a moment I'll cherish for the rest of my life. It was unbelieveable and a real honour to have been part of it.

AL: Which scene or song is your favourite to perform in Phantom?
SE: It's hard to say because they are all so beautiful but having to choose one I'd pick 'Wishing' because of the intensity of those words, anyone who has ever lost someone will know exactly what I mean.

AL: If you could choose any other role to play in musical theatre, what would it be?
SE: There are a number of parts I'd still love to play in my career. I really can't choose just one!

AL: How do you prepare yourself before a show?
SE: I usually arrive to my dressing room very early. I like having time to prepare. I do my make-up and hair and start warming up my body with stretching exercises and then vocal warm up. I also like to have time to really focus on the part.

Access London would like to offer a huge Thank You to Sofia for taking the time to talk to us. We hope you enjoyed hearing what she had to say as much as we did.

Phantom of the Opera is a 'Phantastic' night out and Access London would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the whole cast and crew at Her Majesty's for all their hard work and also to all of the front of house staff who are some of the friendliest and helpful in the West End. To book tickets, please call: 0844 412 4653. To book access tickets, please call: 0844 412 4648.

Access London will be posting about the amazing sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, very soon.

In the meantime, please feel free to leave a comment and to follow the blog, there is lots more to come!

COMING SOON: The National Gallery, The 39 Steps, Love Never Dies, The Rainforest Cafe