Sealife Centre.
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: March 2019
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
The entrance to the main ticket hall is up a flight of steps; wheelchairs must use the fast track ticket-holders entrance and go up a ramp against the flow of traffic coming down. There are no signs indicating that this is the wheelchair entrance. The queue barriers have been laid out in a way that emulates waves, which is incredibly confusing to look at from wheelchair height, and is awkward to move between. The ticket desks are quite high up. Once in the aquarium itself access improves massively. There are lifts to all floors, and there are no steps in other areas. All of the tanks are viewable for children and thus wheelchair users. Even the rainforest area, which has a fake rainforest-style floor is easy to move across in a wheelchair. The shop is roomy to move around in and most things are accessible from the wheelchair. Step free access back to the ticket desk is through some doors by the checkout, but a post fixed to the floor makes it impossible to go either left or right. Instead, staff must come and unclip a barrier to let you through, although they do this promptly.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
Parking & Transport
Average
There are buses & taxi ranks nearby, but accessible tube stations are lacking.
Staff
Average
Staff are usually helpful if a little slow to recognise when & what is needed, and are friendly if at times blunt.
