Transport yourself to these accessible museums!

With the Flying Scotsman journeying its way up through the country, it got us thinking about all the fun transport museums and attractions that exist around the UK. We’ve got great disabled access reviews of everything from boat museums to helicopter exhibitions and more! Here are a few of our favourites to explore during summer.

1. The Helicopter Museum

Take a trip to The Heliport in Weston-super-Mare where you’ll find the world’s largest helicopter museum! Here you’ll find eighty aircraft on display, plus an ‘interactive zone and film theatre’. The museum is listed on Euan’s Guide saying, ‘the museum also caters for disabled flights where trained ground crew assist passengers up into the aircraft for a seven-minute flight around the local coastline’. There is also ‘Braille information upon request and special ‘Touch and Feel’ tours’ for visually impaired guests. Find out more >>

2. River and Rowing Museum

There’s always something going on at this museum in Henley on Thames! Celebrating all things rowing, the museum is housed in an impressive oak, glass and steel building that was influenced by the local boathouses and Oxfordshire barns. One of the permanent exhibitions is all about Wind in the Willows, and it’s a firm favourite with visitors! The museum lists its disabled access on Euan’s Guide saying, ‘the museum is a modern building without internal steps, except to different levels where a full lift service is provided’. There is also a hearing loop in place at the River and Rowing Museum. Find out more >>

3. The Tank Museum

Far away from the world of elegant automobiles and dainty canal boats are the armoured tanks in this Weymouth museum! The museum holds the world’s best collection of tanks and tells stories from wars past and present. One reviewer gave The Tank Museum 4.5 stars saying ‘all surfaces are smooth and bump free’. Read review >>

4. National Cycle Museum

This Welsh museum in Llandrindod Wells is ‘one of the leading cycle museums in the world’! You’ll find lots of bikes on the ground floor of The Automobile Palace, an Art Deco building formerly called The Palace of Sport. They’re listed on Euan’s Guide saying there is ‘access for wheelchair users throughout the museum’. Find out more >>

5. National Railway Museum

York’s only National Museum is packed full of ‘trains and railway legends’ for you to explore. The massive halls hold an iconic Japanese Bullet Train alongside classic locomotives such as the Duchess of Hamilton. One reviewer gave this museum 4.5 stars saying, ‘it has many ramps to enable you to see in the drivers cab of the steam engines and a ramp that takes you inside one of the carriages of a bullet train’. Read review >>

6. National Bubblecar Museum

Nestled in Boston, the National Bubblecar Museum is a celebration of quirky vehicles from the 50s and 60s! You’ll be able to view a collection of scooters and microcars, including Frisky, Bamby, Isetta and more; as well as a tearoom where you can stop for afternoon tea. The museum has been rated 4 stars by one reviewer who said: ‘You cannot touch the cars, but there are smells of petrol, oil, shed, dust and hanger to take in!’. The museum also lists accessible toilets and parking for visitors. Read review >>

7. World of Boats

Cardiff Bay’s boating museum has wonderful nautical views making it the perfect place to discover more about the evolution of boats! They’re listed on Euan’s Guide as having level access, accessible toilets and they also offer a Carer’s discount. Find out more >>

8. British Motor Museum

Head to Gaydon where you’ll find the ‘largest collection of historic British cars’ that exists! You’ll be able to explore unusual exhibits including ‘Time Road’, ‘Making British Cars’ and ‘Under the Skin’ to learn all sorts about motoring. One reviewer gave this museum 4.5 stars saying, ‘I’m not even into cars, I just enjoy having such a lovely flat open space to move around in’. They told us the exhibits were incredibly spacious, ‘there is literally enough space to get a bus through let alone a wheelchair’. Read more reviews >>

Have you been to a fun museum with good disabled access? We’d love to hear about it! Write a review >>

Tags: recommendations, transport, museums