Accessible Things to Do

Exploring Durham offers a journey through a rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty. From its ancient castles and grand cathedral to the serene landscapes of the Durham Dales, it has something for everyone. But what truly sets Durham apart is its commitment to accessibility, ensuring that all visitors can enjoy its wonders.

Many of Durham’s activities, experiences, and accommodation are accessible to all visitors. This includes a range of services and facilities to meet the requirements of guests with additional needs, including neurodiverse visitors and those with physical disabilities, impairments, or medical conditions.

In this blog we’ll be highlighting some of the best accessible things to do that make Durham a destination everyone can explore and enjoy.

Please note that while these businesses offer accessible services, we advise that you check their AccessAble guides, or contact them directly before visiting to ensure that they cater for your specific needs.

Attractions

Many of  Durham's attractions are fully accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and also offer wheelchair and mobility scooter hire. Other accessible facilities may be available to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, including free entry for carers and personal assistants.

At Beamish, The Living Museum of the North you’ll find a quiet place and Changing Places facility at the 1950s Welfare Hall. The quiet place is sensory-friendly with sensory-friendly lights, and toys and books for children. The museum also offers sensory bags to use during your visit. The bags include headphones, sensory book, lavender bag, and a selection of toys.

Getting around the museum has also been made easier as you can hop onboard their wheelchair accessible vehicle, which includes a wheelchair lift at the rear of the vehicle.

The museum also has over 200 dementia friends among staff and volunteers, who regularly host sessions for older people and people living with dementia at the old aged miners homes in the 1950s Town and Orchard Cottage at the 1940s Farm. 

Raby Castle, Park and Gardens aim to make every visitor's experience as accessible as possible. There are various accessible walkways through the reimagined walled garden, and roads within the deer park are surfaced with tarmac with benches along the way, all of which are all accessible for wheelchair users. 

The Plotters’ Forest play area is accessible by a wooden boardwalk, allowing visitors with wheelchairs and pushchairs to enjoy interactive games on the first level, including musical chimes, a peeky portrait, pairs games, talking tubes and mischief mirrors.

Check out our accessible blogs for more inspiration of accessible places to visit.

The Great Outdoors 

There is nothing better than getting out and exploring the county’s many stunning landscapes. Across the county you’ll find a number of locations that offer a great range of accessible activities for all, ensuring all visitors with additional needs, and those without can enjoy the outdoors safely.

Across the Durham Dales and North Pennines National Landscape you’ll find three locations to hire Trampers - all-terrain mobility scooters, with identified routes to explore and enjoy the surrounding views.

At Bowlees Visitor Centre in Upper Teesdale there are three routes to explore, including a route through hay meadows and woodland to Low Force Waterfall, an uphill stretch to enjoy open views of the wider Durham Dales, and a tranquil journey to the wildlife site at Bowlees Quarry.

At Derwent Waterside Park there are two longer routes to explore along the south side of the reservoir, past meadows and through woodland, a great trail for spotting different wildlife, including the rare Red Squirrel. 

There’s also a direct route to take in the spectacular view of High Force Waterfall - one of England’s most magnificent waterfalls. This Tramper trail follows a woodland path overlooking the River Tees to a viewing point. 

Relaxed Openings, Performances and Events

Dalton Park Outlet Shopping Destination on the Durham Coast is the region’s biggest outlet centre, and aims to provide an enjoyable shopping experience for all. Visit on Tuesdays from 10am to 12pm and Saturdays 9:30am to 10:30am for their ‘Quiet Mornings’ to experience a more peaceful environment for shoppers that prefer a quieter setting.

Wheelchair and scooter hire is available from the Guest Services Desk, and the team are always on hand to offer advice. You’ll find 42 disabled parking spaces, alongside a Changing Places facility available inside Morrisons supermarket and multiple accessible toilets. 

Dalton Park also offer sensory bags, created in partnership with the North East Autism Society, which are available to hire from the Guest Services Desk for a £20 refundable deposit which you will receive back once you return the bag. 

Theatres across the county offer relaxed performances throughout the year of selected shows for neurodiverse visitors and those with cognitive impairments. These performances are designed to welcome audiences who might otherwise feel excluded from live theatre. The performances are less formal, and offer a more supportive environment, with audiences free to talk or move around as they need to and a ‘chill out’ space available for anyone who needs a break.

Lighting, sound and special effects are slightly altered in order to reduce anxiety levels, but the production will remain the same. You’ll also find wheelchair spaces inside the auditoriums, personal assistance, accessible toilets, and Sennheiser infrared amplification systems. 

The annual pantomime at Gala Durham offers various relaxed performances, and for the first time this year there will also be an audio described performance. Other theatres which offer relaxed performances include Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Consett Empire and The Witham, Barnard Castle. 

Accessible Places to Stay

From coast to countryside, and in the historic city you’ll find lots of accessible places to stay. 
Many hotels have fully adapted accessible rooms, suitable for wheelchair users. All are situated on the ground floor, step-free access throughout and wet room style bathrooms complete with grab rails in the bath, shower and around the toilet. 

Please check directly with each accommodation provider for accessible facilties before booking.

Enjoy a luxurious getaway by the sea at Seaham Hall Hotel. The Milbanke Suite, named after the original owners of Seaham Hall, is beautifully designed and is fully accessible for wheelchair users, situated on the first floor with lift access and step-free acess. The bathroom also has a entry level shower.

The Coria Lodge at Vindomora Country Lodges is a multi-award-winning restricted mobility lodge. The lodge has ramped access, wider doors, a disabled shower cubicle in the main bathroom together with a raised toilet and grab rails. In the main bedroom, there is a rail and portable hoist system and sling to assist guests. The covered hot tub is also fitted with a rail for the portable hoist and separate outdoor sling.

Mellwaters Barn Cottages were designed by a wheelchair user to ensure the cottages offer enjoyable holidays for everyone. Footpaths around the farm are accessible so that everyone can enjoy the magnificent Durham Dales views. Each cottage has exceptional accessibility, with specialist equipment available free of charge, including hoists, toilet slings, shower chairs, adjustable grab rails, profiling beds and portable bed sides. 

Access Statements – Know Before You Go

Many attractions, accommodation and businesses provide information on the accessibility of their facilities and services, including AccessAble guides and Access Statements. We always advise you check this information before visiting.

Accessible Toilets

For details of accessible public toilets across the county, including Changing Places toilets, check directly with the venue you plan on visiting, or check the Changing Places website. 

For more inspiration check out our dedicated Accessible Durham page.