Top 5 Accessible Days Out in Hampshire for the Elderly

Top 5 Accessible Days Out in Hampshire for the Elderly

Across Hampshire, there are plenty of attractions that have made special efforts to welcome people with mobility problems or disabilities. Age Space have put together a list of some of the top five accessible days out for the whole family to enjoy. Whether your interests lie in wildlife, culture or history, there is sure to be something suitable for your family in Hampshire.

You may also be interested in Cultural Delights for the Elderly in Hampshire.

Find a Helper for companionship and transport for trips out with Good Life Sorted

Good Life Sorted will introduce you to a local Helper to take on any tasks you might needย help with from companionship to cooking, from light cleaning to running errands.

Marwell Zoo, Winchester

Marwell Zoo, Winchester

Marwell Zoo is situated in the Winchester countryside, just 3 miles from the M3. Their 140 acre site has hundreds of animals – including giraffes, tigers and penguins. In addition, there is a train ride, five adventure playgrounds, daily talks and animal feeding. With a range of services and facilities to make the site accessible, the Zoo provides the perfect family day out in Hampshire.

You can take a look at Marwell Zoo’s full accessibility guide here.

Parking

Marwell have two rows of accessible parking spaces in the large, main car park, close to the entrance of the zoo.

Guide Dogs

Fully trained assistance dogs are welcome, although, access is restricted in a few areas due to the sensitive nature of the animals. Please note, they do not accept assistance dogs and puppies in training.ย  You will need to provide proof of full vaccinations and training before entering the zoo.

Wheelchair Hire

A limited number of free manual wheelchairs areย available for to hire. To reserve a wheelchair for your visit call 01962 777407. Marwell recommend booking early and require a minimum of 24 hours notice. A ยฃ20 refundable cash deposit is required at the beginning of the day.

Prices

One free carer is admitted per paying guest with accessibility needs (see allย Ticket Prices as prices vary seasonally). Proof of your caring role is required, and the following are accepted:

  • Gateway cards
  • Compass cards
  • I-Go cards
  • Letters from Disability Support Services
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) letters
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) letters
  • Appropriate Travel/Leisure Cards
  • Blue Badges (although these should be left in your vehicle)

If you don’t have any of the above, you can contact the team before your visit and they will advise you on what to do.

Contact

Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

The Mayflower Theatre, SouthamptonThe Mayflower Theatre in Southampton has played host to first-class entertainment ever since it opened in 1928, with musicals, opera, ballet and comedy all shown on stage. Furthermore, there is an award winning restaurant on site to enjoy a pre-show lunch or dinner.

You can see the Mayflower Theatre’s full accessibility statement here.

Access & Drop-offs

The theatre is located Central Southampton, hence there is no on-site parking. However, a lay-by, directly next to the Accessible Entrance, allows cars to drop off disabled passengers.

Accessible Seating and Mobility Facilities

The theatre offers seats with unobstructed leg room for wheelchair users, elderly visitors and their carers. There is an accessible entrance and accessible toilets on site. Lifts are in place to ease mobility around the building.

Discounts for Disabled Visitors and Carers

The theatre offers an Access Membership Scheme with discounted tickets and more.

Accessible Performance

For customers who are deaf or have hearing impairments, there are special performances with amplification, sign language and captions. View Upcoming Performances and filter by type of performance.

For customers who are blind or have visual impairments, the theatre offers close-up seating, audio described performances, site visits and touch tours. Touch tours give visually impaired customers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with elements of the set, props and costumes before seeing a show. To book a place on a touch tour, you can contact the box office onย 02380 711811.

For customers living with dementia, relaxed performances offer different attitudes to noise and movement and small changes are made to the light and sound effects. View Upcoming Relaxed Performances.

Opening Times

Box office opening hours and theatre opening hours are show dependent. Click here to be redirected to their website for booking information and what’s on at the moment.

Contact

Exbury Gardens and Steam Railbury, New Forest

Exbury Gardens, HampshireThe 200 acre park at Exbury boasts beautiful woodlands and riverside. The gardens transform seasonally and are perfect for green-fingered enthusiasts to explore. Railway lovers can also experience the sights and sounds of a working narrow-gauge steam railway.

Take a look at Exbury Gardens’ full accessibility guide here.

Parking

Parking bays for blue badge holders are available at the front of the main car park nearest to the Visitor Entrance.

Dog-Friendly

All dogs are welcome to visit Exbury Gardens as long as they are kept on a lead!

Free-Wheelchair Hire

Exbury provide a limited number of non-motorised wheelchairsย free of charge. They areย available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Visitor Entrance.

They also have two mobility scooters available to hire at ยฃ4 for three hours.

Prices

There are no concessions for elderly people but you should explore their other ticket options.

Opening Times

Exbury’s opening times vary seasonally. You can view the current opening times here.

Contact

  • Telephone: 02380 891 203
  • Address: Exbury Gardens, The Estate Office Exbury, Southampton, SO45 1AZ
  • Visit Website

Model Village Godshill, Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Godshill Gardens

The Model Village at Godshill was established in 1952 and is one of the oldest attractions on the Isle of Wight. The model village mirrors Godshill in the fifties on a smaller scale, with impressive attention to detail. The attraction has been highly praised and recommended by Grand Design’s Kevin McCloud. There is also a gift and coffee shop with highly renowned cakes.

You can find Godshill’s full access statement here.

Parking

There is a marked disabled parking area opposite the Godshill Village Shop. This is on the same side of the road as the Model Village and offers a flat surface into the entrance. The nearby council-run car park, opposite the Griffin Pub, also has disabled spaces.

Guide Dogs

Guide and assistance dogs are welcome, as long as they are kept on a short lead.

Wheelchairs

The site is wheelchair accessible all the way around the village. Where there are stairs, there are also ramps. The shop, cafe and toilets are all wheelchair accessible.

Opening Times

Godshill’s opening times vary seasonally and can be found here.

Prices

  • Adult: ยฃ7.00
  • Child: ยฃ6.00 (3-16 years)
  • Senior: ยฃ6.50 (65 years+)
  • Disabled: ยฃ6.00

One carer can enter free of charge with a disabled visitor (see FAQ for eligibility).

Contact

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Portsmouth dockyard accessible history day out A visit to the famous Dockyard at Portsmouth takes you on a journey through naval history. You can go on-board historic ships and explore the museum explaining the Royal Navy’s past in Portsmouth. There are over 10 different attractions across the whole site to cater to different ages and interests. Where possible, accessibility measures or alternatives have been installed for those with limited mobility.

You can find Portsmouth Dockyard’s full accessibility statement here.

Parking

There are 15 disabled spaces available in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s car park approximately 400 yards from the main entrance.

Guide Dogs

Guide and registered assistance dogs are permitted around sites.

Special Access to Attractions

The Royal Dockyards have a Special Access Route in place. This gives ramp access to museums displaying all information about ships on sight. Higher floors of certain ships are inaccessible due to the nature of their age and design.

Visual & Hearing Aids

Across the ships and museums on site, audio transcripts and large print texts are available on request for those with a visual impairment. Similarly, hearing loops can also be requested for those who are hard of hearing.

Prices

Cheaper tickets are available for seniors (65+). Prices are dependent upon how many attractions you want to do at the site on the day. Full Navy tickets (full access to every attraction) are 20% cheaper when booked online. Visit their ticket page for booking information.

Opening Times

Opening times vary depending on season and school holidays.

Contact

  • Telephone: 02392 839766
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Address: National Museum of the Royal Navy, Visitor Centre, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ
  • Visit Website