I love to travel, from breaks away in the UK, to worldwide adventures. But being a T5 wheelchair user can most certainly have its challenges when trying to book the hotels and adventures that I love.
In this day and age you would hope that it’s not too hard to get certain things right in a hotel for accessibility.
Some get it so right, some get bits and some get it so very wrong.
I understand that many hotels in the UK are in historical old buildings, so can only make certain changes, but when it’s a brand new hotel, then ideally it should be built with Access in mind and not just an afterthought.
A brand new hotel in Battersea London, with a beautifully flat entrance via electric doors, as you wheel through the foyer you can take in the sculptures and donning the walls, on the lead up to the reception desk.
It was a pleasant suprise to be greeted by the receptionist and taken to the lower part of the desk, where she sat directly opposite me to check in.
This as a wheelchair user made for a great first impression and start to my stay.
The access all around the hotel, restaurants, bars, gym, spa and rooftop pool were all easily accessed via lifts. Giving me the ability to manoeuvre easily throughout the hotel, without having to ask for assistance
And giving me my freedom.
The main hotel was wonderfully accessible, but I felt the bedroom itself was a little tight and cosy, with minimal space to move around in a wheelchair.
The wetroom bathroom was also on the smaller side, although it worked for me and my compact manual chair, I don’t feel it would be ideal for those with larger wheelchairs.
Size DOES matter!!
As we were out and about exploring Battersea and all it had to offer, we spent minimal time in the room, but when you are. Paying a price for luxury, you do expect more space to come with that luxury.
But it would not detour me from returning or recommending this hotel for a weekend break in the city.
A beautuful manor set in the Hampshire countryside, where luxury nearly got accessible right, if you ask me.
Wheel through the accessible doors, where you’re welcomed by the staff and the warmth of an open fire.
Unfortunately, the reception desk was too high for me to check in, so this was left up to the other half to handover his details on our arrival.
From the reception push through the wooden floored hallways, past vast staircases and old English antiques to a vast and wonderfully accessible bedroom suite and bathroom.
A seating area to enjoy a cup of tea is partitioned off to the main bedroom, with an extremly comfortable bed and high windows over looking the courtyard.
The bathroom at first glance did not look accessible, with its beautiful standing bath, open shower and 2 basin vanity.
But this is where the magic happened, I’m ashamed to say I didn’t really get any pictures of the bathroom, but hidden adjustments on the walls and in the shower, soon became bars and seating for a wheelchair user, proving to me that luxury can still be stylish whilst being accessible.
It was an easy wheel through the downstairs of the manor to get to a drawing room for cocktails before taking our table in the Avenue Restaurant for the most delicious tasting menu.
This rally was the perfect place, for an accessible night away creating foodie adventure memories with good friends.
Sometimes luxury to me comes in the form of a hub by Premier Inn, for the mere fact that I know what I’m getting, they are accessible for my needs, easy to get to and perfectly placed to rest my head after a long day of adventures in and around London.
The entrances are always flat with electric doors, the staff are always welcoming, the reception area can vary from place to place, but I’ve generally found them extremely accessible, which makes such a difference to get checked in and drop off my bags to head out and about in the big smoke.
The rooms tend to be easy to get to either by walkways or lifts, and I’ve always found the bedrooms extremely spacious.
The bed could be seen as a little low for some, but for me they tend to be a perfect transfer height, which makes it so much easier when falling into bed after a busy day out and about.
The ensuite bathrooms are quite basic, but have all the grab rails and seating that I require, to get clean shiny for more adventures.
So many pictures of toilets in my phone !!
luxury doesn’t have to be luxurious, the luxury is in the ease and knowing what you’re getting, from a certain chain of hotels, and when you are just passing out in them after a full day of adventures who needs more!!
As a wine lover this was a great little staycation, who doesn’t want to stay on a vineyard!!
A slightly steep sloped entrance into the hotel reception, with a clunky door, meant I needed assistance to get in to get to reception, which is obviously a little irritating, due to not being that accessible, but there was wine the other side….needs must!!
Reception and bar area were far too high for me to check in on my own and unfortunately there was no way I could sit at the bar area, but that wasn’t a problem, as it was a short wheel away to the restaurant and terrace to enjoy cheese and wine tasting over looking the vines.
The bedroom again had a steep slope and heavy door, meaning I could not independently get into the room, but once in it was vast and accessible.
The bathroom was spacious, but only had a freestanding shower chair, which I am personally not a fan of as I find them a little unstable for transferring.
After unpacking it was time for a wheel around the vines and the estate with my triride adaption, before heading to the restaurant for a delightful 3 course meal with a picturesque view of the grounds.
This is a beautifully unique experience, and I would recommend as a weekend away but with warnings due to some of the access challenges.
Even so, it was well worth the visit.
It would be ideal, if all Luxury was accessible, and the hope one day it will be.
Until then, my access needs won’t stop me from living the life, having the adventures and creating the memories.
Read my interview with the Inclusive Edit about my stays
