Eating out in London

There are plenty of pubs, cafés, and restaurants for you to try out around the city. Here are some restaurants which have been particularly well rated on Euan’s Guide.

Giraffe with its riverside location on London’s Southbank, close to the London Eye, is a popular choice, with step free access. This small, family friendly restaurant chain offers dishes from around the world, with vegetarian, vegans and gluten free options. One powerchair user reviewer felt it offered “Good food, reasonably priced with outdoor seating”. It is open all day serving breakfasts through to evening meals. It can get very busy, although queues move quickly, so you might want to book ahead.

Hawksmoor Seven Dials, just round the corner from Covent Garden, has been described by one wheelchair user as “Wheelchair accessible and has a disabled toilet…. We went on a Sunday afternoon. We all ordered the roast beef. The portions were massive especially the Yorkshire pudding”. This small restaurant chain specialises in modern British cuisine. This is somewhere to go for a special occasion and they also offer pre and post theatre and lunchtime set menus.

Franco Manca has a few locations dotted around London to get your pizza fix and they certainly do it well. One reviewer described the Waterloo outfit as "an excellent pizza restaurant with full step-free access." Located near Southwark Station and Waterloo Station, you will encounter charming staff, neat toilets and a "strong recommended and richly deserved" five stars. Oh, and the pizza is pretty awesome.

Photo of: A pizza at Franco Manca.

Exploring the city

When it comes to visiting London’s attractions you might already have an idea of the places you would like to visit. Here you can discover what reviewers have said about the disabled access at some of the city’s most popular attractions. If there is somewhere you’d like to visit in London that we haven’t mentioned here try searching for it to see if it has been reviewed.

Top 3 Most-Visited Attractions in London

1. Tate Modern where art lovers can visit a range of modern art displays. The gallery is in a converted former power station, next to the River Thames with amazing views from the upper floors. One reviewer said that “I spent around two hours here and couldn't find anything that wasn't accessible” and the toilets were “Basically, five star! Clean, red cords as they should be and a Changing Places.”

2. British Museum the world’s oldest national public museum, houses artefacts from all over the world, including burial sarcophaguses from Ancient Egypt! One visitor said, “the toilets were clean, tidy, and accessible,” and that “there was a lift specialist for disabled people and a kind security guard helped us use it. It was simple from there.”

3. National Gallery located in Trafalgar Square, specialises in European art from 1250 until 1900. There are many famous and instantly recognisable paintings on display by artists, including van Gough, Canaletto and Monet. One reviewer said that there where “Plenty of lifts, easy to access all areas, ramps where needed. A happy and problem-free experience.”

Euan’s Guide London Venues of the Year - Award Winning Places to Visit

We couldn’t have a list of places to visit in London and not include the venues we awarded as our venues of the year thanks to their outstanding accessibility!

Wellcome Collection is a long-standing favourite with Euan’s Guide due to so many positive reviews, so we were delighted to award Wellcome the very first London Venue of the Year in 2018. One reviewer found it “An eye opener on Inclusivity. The Wellcome Collection is inclusive, changing place bathroom.” With fascinating exhibitions, accessible tours and Changing Places toilet, the staff are committed to making their building and events as inclusive as possible.

Barbican Centre is step free entertainment complex with theatres, concert halls, art gallery, cinema, restaurants and a Changing Places toilet. During Disabled Access Day 2019, their day long programme of events, won many fans, which led to the Barbican receiving their award. One Deaf visitor said that “This was my first visit to the Barbican and I was very impressed with the quality of the sound via the "T switch" of my hearing aids. For the first time I was also able to hear the audience as well as the stage, which meant I was able to absorb the atmosphere a lot better.”

Places to go with kids in London

Along with the city’s museums, there are more family-oriented attractions in London with disabled access, including cinemas, London Zoo, a magical Harry Potter store, and a LEGO store!

The best theatres with disabled access

Palace Theatre is a large West End theatre, currently showing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. One visitor said that “it was easy to get in on my scooter. I could see the show well from my seat.”

Adelphi Theatre is located on Strand and was popular with one reviewer who said: “Highly recommended as a show, a venue a for the customer service.”

Soho Theatre is a smaller theatre which focuses on contemporary theatre and stand-up comedy. It has “4 small studio theatres all accessible with lift in place. The toilets were accessible on each floor.”

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is a modern reproduction of the original Globe Theatre, which is only partially roofed over, and provides an authentic historical, theatrical experience. However, a review said: “Access is simple, it is step free and there is an elevator inside. There are two options for people with disabilities, you can be amongst the crowd at the front of the stage on a platform or you can be in a booth upon the side with a small number of other people.”

Bridge Theatre is a modern, accessible theatre on the Southbank next to Tower Bridge, and mainly features new, exciting productions. One reviewer gave it five starts and said: “The staff actively sought me out to offer help. It was done in an appropriate and genuine way. The river lit up at night and the staff kindness made it a magical evening."

Sondheim Theatre is the current home of the ever popular Les Misérables. A five-star review commented on its step-free access and helpful staff which made it “a fantastic trip."

Lyric Theatre in Shaftsbury Avenue was noted by one reviewer as having great access and “We were greeted at the door and taken straight to our box, the lady showed us where the toilet was and offered to go and get drinks for us, she couldn't have been more helpful."

Photo of: A view of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

The best parks to see

London has a wealth of public parks and gardens waiting to be explored. From the larger and more famous parks, to smaller, charming garden squares and pocket parks, there’s plenty of places to escape from the crowds.

Kew Gardens, the world-famous Botanical Gardens, are located near Richmond, in West London. In its extensive grounds, conservatories and Palm House, it showcases flora and fauna from around the world. It had a Changing Places toilet. Our reviewer sgmi7 went on a BSL-led guide walk and rated it five stars.

Hyde Park is one of London’s largest parks. It has large lawned areas, the Serpentine which offers swimming and boating, the Diana Memorial Fountain, Rose Garden and Speaker’ Corner, where people can express their views on a wide range of topics. Our reviewer Jeannie said: “Hyde Park is a historic London Park where it is a joy to ride a mobility scooter”.  

Kensington Gardens is adjacent to Hyde Park and often stages exhibitions seasonally. In the grounds are Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial, the attractive Italian Gardens, the famous Peter Pan statue and the Elfin Oak carved with fairies, elves and animals.

St James’s Park is next to Buckingham Palace. Its centrepiece is a beautiful lake with 30 species of waterfowl and famed for its pelicans. Go to the step-free Blue Bridge for spectacular views of Buckingham Place in one direction and from the other, Horse Guards and the London Eye. Our reviewers have referred to the park as a "green oasis".

Regent’s Park is close to Madame Tussauds, as well as being the home of London Zoo and the Open Air Theatre, it has wide open spaces, a boating lake and the much loved Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, which is usually at its best in the first two weeks in June. One reviewer referred to the park as "tranquility in the heart of London!"

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Last updated – January 2022 by Tina, London Ambassador for Euan’s Guide.