London has one of the largest public transport networks in the world, but getting around the capital as a disabled traveller can involve a little more planning. Step-free access doesn't always mean a completely step-free journey, and the most convenient station or airport isn't necessarily the one with the best access.
The network has plenty to offer disabled travellers, but the barriers aren't always obvious from a map or accessibility symbol. Euan's Guide reviews highlight everything from level boarding and helpful staff to inaccessible gaps, confusing stations and toilets that are difficult to find. Whether you're arriving in London by plane or train, or working out how best to get around once you're here, here's what disabled travellers have told us about accessible transport in London.
Getting to London
Flying into London
London is served by several airports, including large international hubs such as Heathrow and Gatwick and smaller airports such as London City. Special Assistance is available at London's airports and should generally be booked in advance.
The best airport for you may depend on more than where you're flying from. Consider how you'll get from the airport into central London, whether you can use your own wheelchair throughout the terminal, and what assistance is available if you need help boarding the aircraft.
Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport has a railway station at its South Terminal, with services into London including Victoria, London Bridge and St Pancras International. The North and South terminals are connected by a step-free shuttle service.
Recent Euan's Guide reviews describe positive experiences with Special Assistance, including help transferring from a personal wheelchair to an airline wheelchair for boarding. One wheelchair user also reported having used the airport many times without being unable to access it in their wheelchair. The airport was described as spacious and easy to navigate, with plenty of seating, accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities.
There have also been less straightforward experiences. One reviewer found assistance excellent on departure but had difficulty finding the railway station after arriving, so allow extra time for your onward journey.
Heathrow Airport
Heathrow is the only London airport directly served by the Underground, with Tube stations at Terminals 2 & 3, 4 and 5. It also has rail connections into central London.
A review of Terminal 4 found step-free access from the Tube via a slope and wider ticket barriers. The reviewer found the journey from central London straightforward, although the train was busy and took around an hour. A flight delay left them relying on Passenger Assistance to catch the last Tube, highlighting the importance of having a back-up plan if you arrive late.
Terminal 4's Passenger Assistance lounge was described as spacious and quiet, with seating and an accessible toilet. The toilet was clean and spacious, with grab rails and a low-level emergency button, although bins obstructed part of the transfer area.
London Stansted Airport
Stansted is served by the Stansted Express to London Liverpool Street, with an Underground connection available at Tottenham Hale for the Victoria line.
A November 2025 review found the airport generally easy to navigate, with clear signs, a dedicated Special Assistance area, seating, wheelchairs and a lowered desk. Lifts between the car park, railway station and terminal were described as spacious.
A June 2026 review highlighted some inconsistency around aircraft boarding. A passenger who could not use aircraft stairs reported being offered a hand rather than an appropriate alternative on departure, while an ambulift was required on the return journey and involved a substantial wait. If you cannot use aircraft stairs, make sure your assistance requirements are clearly communicated when booking and allow extra time.
London Luton Airport
A 2016 Euan's Guide review found step-free access from the departures entrance, lifts throughout the airport and accessible toilets with wide cubicles and grab rails. The reviewer had a particularly positive experience with Special Assistance, which gave them confidence to travel independently by air for the first time.
This review is now a decade old, so airport arrangements may have changed. If you've visited London Luton recently, we'd love to hear about your experience and help us keep this information up to date.
London City Airport
London City Airport is a smaller airport in East London, with direct access to the DLR. Its compact size can make it a manageable alternative to London's larger airports.
Recent reviews have praised its level access throughout the terminal, wide automatic doors and Special Assistance. The airport also has an indoor step-free connection to the DLR station. One reviewer travelled from the airport to Bank in around 20 minutes and found the journey straightforward, although accessible toilet provision was less consistent.
Getting to London by train
For many visitors, arriving by train can be a convenient way to get into central London. London's major railway termini have accessible facilities, but the experience can vary once you reach the platforms. Some trains still have a step or gap between the train and platform, meaning you may need a boarding ramp or assistance to get on and off.
Passenger Assistance can help passengers reach their platform, board trains and make connections. Check the arrangements for your particular journey before travelling, especially if you need a ramp or assistance changing trains.
King's Cross and St Pancras
King's Cross is one of London's main gateways for services from the North and Scotland, while neighbouring St Pancras International serves Southeastern, Thameslink, East Midlands Railway and Eurostar.
A recent Euan's Guide review described King's Cross as busy but relatively easy to navigate, with level entrances, a large concourse, wider ticket barriers and a dedicated Passenger Assistance point and lounge. Assistance staff can accompany passengers to their platform. And, of course, there's Platform 9¾ if you fancy a little wizardry along the way.
The gap between the train and platform is worth considering if you need step-free boarding. Check whether you'll need a ramp when arranging assistance. King's Cross has accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet.
St Pancras has step-free entrances and lifts, although some lifts are small, and assistance staff can provide ramps where required. The two stations are next to each other and connect with a large Underground complex, so allow plenty of time if you're changing between different forms of transport.
London Euston
Euston is a major London terminus for services to North West England and Scotland. The station has step-free access and Passenger Assistance is available.
A review from a visually impaired passenger described the overall accessibility positively. As with other major stations, check the boarding arrangements for your particular train if you need step-free access onto the train.
London Victoria
London Victoria serves South London, Sussex and the south coast, including Gatwick Airport.
A recent wheelchair user's review found step-free routes into most areas, although the station could be confusing to navigate. There are lifts, smooth floors and several accessible toilets, including a Changing Places toilet, although the size and layout of individual toilets varied.
Victoria Coach Station is around 550 metres away, while there is also a dedicated area by the station car park for drop-offs and collections.
Waterloo
Waterloo Station serves routes across South London and the South of England, including services towards Hampton Court Palace.
A recent Euan's Guide review from a powerchair user found staff helpful, particularly when explaining the ticketing system and directing them around the station. The station has step-free access and Passenger Assistance, although accessibility can vary depending on the platform and train you are using.
Paddington
Paddington is the main London terminus for services towards the South West and Wales, including Bath, Bristol, Devon and Cornwall. It is also served by the Elizabeth line and provides a connection towards Heathrow Airport.
Euan's Guide reviews have highlighted Paddington's accessible facilities and helpful assistance team. Passenger Assistance can help passengers reach their platform and board trains where a ramp is required.
Victoria Coach Station
Victoria Coach Station is London's main coach terminal. A March 2026 Euan's Guide review found automatic doors, step-free access and clear signage, with seating at the departure gates.
The station has a dedicated mobility assistance lounge with automatic doors, a lowered desk and seating. The information desk also has a lowered counter and hearing loop. The reviewer found the incline towards the departure gates more noticeable when returning uphill, while some ticket machines and desks were positioned too high.
There is signage for an accessible toilet, although the reviewer was unable to locate it, so you may want to check with staff when you arrive. Victoria railway and Underground stations are around 550 metres away, so allow extra time if you need to travel between them.
Getting around London
Even London's transport is iconic. From the Underground to its famous red buses and black cabs, there are plenty of ways to get around the capital, although accessibility varies considerably between them.
London Underground (The Tube)
The London Underground is one of the most recognisable transport networks in the world, but its accessibility varies considerably between stations and lines. Some stations offer step-free access from street level all the way onto the train, while others have step-free routes that still require a boarding ramp because of a gap between the platform and train.
If you use a wheelchair or mobility aid, check the accessibility of your whole journey rather than simply looking for a step-free symbol at your destination. You may need to know which entrance has step-free access, whether there is a lift between each level, where to board the train and whether you will need assistance with a ramp.
To help you plan your routes around the city, there is a step free station guide to underground and overground stations, as well as a range of accessibility guides including large print tube maps and an audio tube map. Transport for London (TfL) operate a Turn-up-and-go service on the London Underground and London Overground, which means you don’t have to pre-book assistance at any of those stations.
Westminster
Westminster is close to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and is served by the Jubilee, District and Circle lines.
A March 2026 review found step-free street-to-train access on the Jubilee line, with marked boarding points showing where wheelchair users can board for level access. The District and Circle platforms are curved, however, so the gap between the train and platform varies. The reviewer recommended asking staff for a ramp if needed.
The station has lifts and wider ticket barriers, although the lifts are relatively small and the ticket hall can become busy. The reviewer particularly praised staff for helping them find an alternative route when their planned destination could not provide assistance.
King's Cross St Pancras
King's Cross St Pancras connects six Tube lines with King's Cross and St Pancras International railway stations.
A recent Euan's Guide review found step-free street-to-train access on all six Underground lines, without the need for a boarding ramp. The station is very large and can be confusing, but has clear signage, wide passageways, lifts, wider ticket barriers and help points. Lifts have tactile and Braille buttons, and hearing loops are available for lift intercoms.
There are no accessible toilets within the Underground station itself, but accessible toilets are available in the neighbouring railway stations, including a Changing Places toilet at King's Cross.
London Bridge
London Bridge demonstrates why it is important to check the details of a step-free journey. Both the Jubilee and Northern lines have step-free access between train and street, but their step-free entrances are around 350 metres apart.
The Jubilee entrance is connected to London Bridge railway station, while the Northern line's step-free entrance is on Borough High Street. Changing between the two lines can therefore involve a considerable distance rather than a simple platform interchange.
The platforms have marked step-free boarding points, while lifts, wider barriers and help points are available. Accessible toilets are located within the railway station.
Tube Stations in London
Docklands Light Railway (DLR)
The DLR can be particularly useful for wheelchair users because recent Euan's Guide reviews found level or near-level boarding at several stations.
At Canary Wharf DLR, lifts provide step-free access to the platforms, with clear signage and tactile and Braille lift buttons. Trains stop level with the platform with only a small gap, and blue wheelchair symbols identify the doors closest to the wheelchair spaces. A reviewer also praised staff for checking that they knew where they were going and had boarded safely.
Bank DLR provides step-free access to the DLR, although its connection with the wider Bank Underground station can be more complicated. Reviews of Stratford High Street and Tower Gateway have also found level or near-level boarding.
London Buses
London's buses can be a useful way to get around the city without navigating the stairs and platform gaps found on some parts of the Underground. Euan's Guide reviews have found that buses can work particularly well for wheelchair users, with ramps allowing passengers to board through the middle doors.
However, experiences of using the ramp have not always been consistent. One reviewer described drivers as willing to deploy the ramp and make space for a wheelchair, while another reported that some drivers refused to allow them onto the bus or drove past after seeing them waiting at the stop. If you're using a wheelchair, make yourself visible to the driver at the stop and allow some flexibility in case you need to wait for another bus.
London Black Cabs
London's black cabs can be hailed in the street, picked up from a taxi rank or booked in advance. For wheelchair users, the accessible space in a black cab can allow you to travel without transferring from your wheelchair. If you use a mobility scooter, arrangements can vary depending on the size and type of scooter and whether it can be safely accommodated.
Euan's Guide reviews include both positive and negative experiences. In one 2019 review, a black cab driver helped a passenger whose mobility scooter had broken down, loading the dismantled scooter into the cab and helping unload it at their hotel.
Another reviewer, writing about a 2024 journey, described difficulties with ramps, headroom and space inside the vehicle, as well as negative experiences with some drivers. An accessible vehicle does not necessarily mean that every journey will feel equally straightforward.
Uber
Uber offers accessible and assisted travel options in London, including options for wheelchair users and passengers who need additional assistance. Vehicle availability can vary, so check the options available in the app when booking.
More accessible transport reviews
Planning a journey around London? Explore more disabled access reviews of railway stations, Underground stations, airports and other transport venues on Euan's Guide.
