Accessible Days Out Across Staffordshire

If you prefer to leave your equipment in the car or need extra off-road support, manual wheelchairs and Tramper all-terrain mobility scooters are available to borrow free of charge from Visitor Reception. To reserve equipment, simply call the Shugborough Estate Visitor Reception at 01889 880160 or email shugborough@nationaltrust.org.uk before your visit. Booking these in advance is recommended to ensure availability on the day of your visit.

For interior tours, the ground floor of the historic mansion is wheelchair accessible to manual users via an internal stairclimber. Accessible toilets are located across the property and a fully equipped Changing Places facility is situated conveniently near the Park Farm Café.

Navigating Shugborough with a mobility device is smooth and enjoyable thanks to a thoughtful network of paved and level pathways. The Visitor Reception, Plant Centre, Walled Garden and Park Farm all feature complete step-free admission. While some historic courtyard areas feature traditional gravel or cobbles, the main thoroughfares are wide and well-maintained.

To help visitors explore the vast grounds without overexertion, Shugborough operates a volunteer-run accessible shuttle buggy throughout the day. This service provides continuous transport between key locations, including Visitor Reception, Park Farm and the Mansion.

Birches Valley is the main Forestry England hub, featuring a busy courtyard, cycle hire, play areas and step-free access to the Grounds Café. For manual and powered wheelchair users, Forestry England specifically recommends the Ladyhill Trail. This is a circular one-mile route constructed with a firm, mostly flat surface that weaves through the magnificent pine trees. Numerous benches are positioned along the trail, providing plenty of resting spots for family and companions. Note that Birches Valley does not offer mobility equipment hire on site, so visitors should bring their own power assist unit, powered wheelchair or scooter.

Located just a short drive across the Chase, Marquis Drive is managed by Staffordshire County Council and is the go-to destination for all-terrain exploration. The centre offers Tramper mobility scooter hire for £5 per 90-minute session, following a brief safety overview. The recommended route here is the RAF Hednesford Walk, a paved, wheelchair friendly path that takes you across scenic heathland with broad views over the valley. The visitor centre, gift shop and disabled toilets at Marquis Drive make this one of the most reliable disabled days out in the area.

The site features a network of smooth, accessible footpaths and timber boardwalks designed specifically for effortless navigation. You can roll effortlessly across wetland areas, around three picturesque lakes and along the banks of the River Trent. Beautiful sensory gardens and wildflower meadows line the paths, offering a wide variety of sights, scents and sounds.

The visitor centre itself is completely step-free and houses a gift shop along with the Kingfisher Café, where you can enjoy hot drinks and freshly prepared food with broad views across the water. Accessible toilet facilities with baby-changing areas are available inside the main building.

To ensure everyone can enjoy the full perimeter of the grounds, a mobility scooter is available on site for visitors to hire by donation. As a few natural earth paths can occasionally become soft following wet weather, calling the reception team ahead of your visit is a great way to confirm real-time trail conditions.

Midland Karting provides specially adapted TBR25 go-karts fitted with full hand-control systems. These controls relocate the accelerator and brake functions directly onto the steering wheel, enabling wheelchair users with upper-body mobility to drive independently and race around the tarmac circuits at speed.

For individuals who may not be able to operate hand controls independently, Midland Karting also features two-seater karts. This allows passengers to buckle in safely alongside a trained instructor or carer and experience the full excitement of the track together.

The facility features disabled parking, step-free level access, spectator viewing platforms and pit lanes. Drivers aged 12 and above with a minimum height of 1.5m can participate. Because drivers must transfer into the low kart seats, bringing a personal carer or assistant to help with transfers is required.

Traditional swimming pools can be difficult to access due to high pool edges or vertical ladders. Waterworld solves this with a zero-depth sloped beach entry into its main pool area. The water gradually deepens as you walk or roll in, eliminating steps.

To make pool access seamless, Waterworld provides dedicated waterproof wheelchairs on site. Visitors can transfer out of their daily wheelchair or scooter inside the spacious accessible changing cubicles, transfer into a specialised waterproof chair and roll directly down the sloped beach entry into the warm tropical water.

While the main pools and beach entry are exceptionally accessible, it is helpful to note that the high flume towers are accessed exclusively via flights of steps with no lift access available. To use the speed slides or flumes, riders must be able to climb the stairs independently or with assistance from a carer. However, for relaxing in the water, enjoying the waves and soaking up the tropical heat, Waterworld remains a top accessible attraction.

Attractions at Alton Towers fall into two distinct boarding categories when it comes to experiencing the rides and attractions:

• In-Wheelchair Attractions: Guests can remain directly in their manual or powered wheelchair for walkthrough experiences and live shows, including Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE, the Something Special Sensory Garden and live performances in CBeebies Land.
• Transfer Rides: Major rollercoasters and thrill rides (including Wicker Man, The Smiler, Nemesis Reborn and Oblivion) are accessible to wheelchair users via step-free transfer stations. Riders must be able to transfer out of their wheelchair into the ride seat independently or with assistance from a carer aged 14 or over. Per safety guidelines, riders must be able to brace themselves upright against ride forces using at least three functioning limbs.

Alton Towers utilises the Merlin Ride Access Pass (powered by the Nimbus Access Card system). This pass allows visitors with mobility limitations to access rides via step-free exit gates, bypassing physical queue lines and staircase obstacles.

If you visit using an electric mobility scooter, please note that scooters are not permitted inside narrow ride boarding stations due to space constraints and evacuation protocols. Scooter users can park their device safely outside the ride entrance and switch to a manual wheelchair or walk into the boarding area.