I am a wheelchair user and will have three kids with me. I want to be able to go to see buckingham palace and the parks - plus the shops of course - is it all within walking distance?
2006-08-01 11:01:47 · 18 answers · asked by Kris B 2 in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ London
No use public transport cos of the congestion charge
2006-08-01 11:05:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will find that the taxis are expensive. Buses all have ramps for your chair. Unfortunately there is no bus route that takes you up The Mall but you can get to Bressenden Place and then roll up Buckingham Palace Road to the front of the palace. You would do this by getting a bus from, e.g., Marble Arch after struggling through Oxford Street. Buses do go up Whitehall so you can see the Lifeguards or Blues and Royals on their horses. To get close to the foot-guards you need to go to St. James' Palace at the end of Pall Mall ( a bit of a secret this) but you need to get a bus to Lower Regent Street. As for the last part of your question "is it all within walking distance?" No it is not. There is a very useful website "Transport for London" that you will find very helpful.
Don't forget you can download maps.
2006-08-01 11:21:37 · answer #2 · answered by john b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a wheelchair user you would find London Transport extremely difficult to use. I'm a father of two and if ever I go into London with my children I have to take my wife with me - there are always loads and loads of stairs to go up and we have to carry the double buggy up them. (And if you're changing lines there can be several flights, up and down, in between platforms.) Even the supposed wheelchair friendly stations aren't all good and there are only a handful of them in the centre of town anyway. You may have some difficulty with parking but I definitely think the congestion charge is worth paying in this instance, plus if you have a blue badge you can register and not have to pay the congestion charge. (Also, travelcards are expensive, and they've done away with family travelcards meaning that you'll each need one.)
Some of the buses are excellent but even the low floor buses only have room for one wheelchair or one buggy, and are usually stuffed to capacity with people anyway. It really isn't a very good system at the moment for anyone with any kind of wheels with them!
Most of the sights are within walking distance of each other and if you can park in an NCP in the centre then everything is within reasonable distance of there. It does depend also on the age of your kids - any youngsters being dragged around Central London are going to start flagging pretty quickly! If you can stretch the budget it will probably be most enjoyable if you can park in the centre and then hail a black cab once you're in. They're expensive but excellent fun and the drivers know all the right places to take you.
2006-08-01 11:14:10 · answer #3 · answered by Bapboy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have plenty of money to spare then a taxi is for you....
Failing that the buses these days (most of them) are equiped to take a wheelchair....
Suggest you get to Victoria. You'll be able to get to all the places you've mentioned quite easily from there. Buck Palace is only up the road - a short taxi trip there.... As for the shops then Oxford Street isn't far and as I said most of the buses go that way. I hope you have a wonderful time.
Do you have a "Freedom Pass" for the buses?? - make the most of it.....
2006-08-04 09:52:28 · answer #4 · answered by Hedgehog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I suggest that you leave your car at home. Money would be well spent on a private driver/taxi to take you to the sights you'd like to see with the children. This would be most convenient and least stressful for you and you would truly enjoy your visit.
London is awesome. I've loved my time here.
Hi, Here's what I always pass along re: what to see in London!
Wear good walking shoes because London is a superb walking city. Bring a good map of the city and begin. Be a happy tourist and first hop on one of the major red double decker tour buses which afford you a perfect overview of London and you can "hop on and off" as often as you please...some for two days! I love www.theoriginaltour.com ! Highlights (see www.londonwalks.com): National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Tate Modern Museum, London Eye, Covent Gardens (great shops n restaurants), St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, see a play!, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Tower of London.
Know London has many beautiful parks which can be your oasis when needing a rest. Kensington Gardens in one of the world's wealthiest areas - See Princess Di's Kensington Palace and shop Kensington High St. and wander up Church St. for boutiques and such. Nearby: Royal Albert Hall, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum. Hyde Park connects to Kensington Gardens. Explore Chelsea for boutiques as well. St. James Park - beautiful, sole restaurant inside. Green Park - high tea at the Ritz, Fortnum & Mason, Picadilly Circus (think Times Square). Shopping streets: Oxford, Bond, check for weekly markets...BUY "TIMEOUT LONDON" weekly magazine. Boat trip on the Thames - a must. Hope this helps. Have a fantastic time! :)
2006-08-02 05:48:44 · answer #5 · answered by missy_sweet_cheeks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try driving to Hyde Park and parking near the Serpentine. Then get a taxi to take you to Picadilly via Buckingham Palace and Parliament Square. That way you will get to do one park and then be taken past the following:-
Green Park
Buckingham Palace
St. James' Park
Houses of Parliament
Whitehall (and end of Downing street)
Trafalgar Square
..... ending-up at Eros and where the shops are (and no congestion charge).
2006-08-01 11:15:08 · answer #6 · answered by Martin G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK taxi's will cost you a small fortune. Because of Ken Livingstone so will driving with congestion charge and parking fee's and that's even if you can get a space to park in because he has red routed every where. Best thing is buses or tubes. Kids under 16 travel for free and you can get a travel card which only costs about £5 something.
Hope you enjoy your trip and remember to keep all your valuables safely hidden.
LoL XxX
2006-08-03 23:30:56 · answer #7 · answered by tricia1971 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It cost £8.00 congestion charge paid at a petrol garage near the zone. Taxis are really expensive and black cabs are even more so it is up to you, . You can get free congestion if you register with the congestion zone people in good time because you are a blue badge holder but check with the disabled in the area how much and if they will charge you for the parking every area in London is different. have fun though
2006-08-01 11:06:03 · answer #8 · answered by sarell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you ask some one to take you! And chip in for the petrol!
Well if they are too busy or whatever then just research where all the shops and parcarks are and everything. You can even look at prices of everything there and don't forget to take a map and if youve got a lot of money then why don't you get stalite navigation? That will tell everything you need to know including side streets where you can park on! Try google search enjine or a yahoo search enjine!! Then you know what your doing and won't be paniking about where to go or what to do next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gud Luck Ami* x X
2006-08-01 11:09:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not take a car if you can help it. Public transport is the most cost effective route but nearly all London cabs are equipped for wheelchair access and you can book one for a personal day tour if you desire. You can get some good info at http://www.londonvacationguide.com/getinfo.php?cid=538
Good Luck
2006-08-04 01:19:41 · answer #10 · answered by dukedrink 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cos of your situation and 3 kids the only sensible way is a London taxi they are all wheelchair compatible and the kids`ll love it . Other London transport will be nothing but a waste of your time and energy.....enjoy
2006-08-01 11:13:36 · answer #11 · answered by reflex 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋