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Parents' Place - Great days out for children

Summary: Great days out

• Days out around the UK
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This new publication encourages blind and partially sighted people to make to most of leisure time and gives advice on how to receive a good standard of service when visiting leisure venues. It is available from RNIB Customer Services. Telephone 0845 702 3153 or email Cservices@rnib.org.uk

Days out around the UK

Below are some suggestions for events, activities and attractions that are accessible to blind and partially sighted people in the UK. We would like to develop this section and would be delighted to hear from parents and children who have discovered exciting places to visit so that we can feature them on the site for other families to enjoy. Please email parents@rnib.org.uk if you have anything to report.

Disclaimer: The information in this section has been compiled for its suitability for blind and partially sighted young people. It is not meant to be used as a definitive guide. We have not visited all of the events/venues listed, and RNIB cannot accept any responsibility for any dissatisfaction with the venues featured. We would advise you to contact the venue before visiting to enquire about disability access. Contact details are provided with each listing.

Audio-described theatre

Families can enjoy the magic of the theatre together by attending audio-described performances. Blind and partially sighted children and adults can wear a headset to hear an audio-description of the set, the props, scene changes and non-dialogue events on stage.

VOCAL EYES, the national audio-description company, can provide information about audio-described performances across the UK. For further details telephone 020 7734 6053 or visit www.vocaleyes.co.uk. Alternatively contact your local theatre for details of forthcoming audio-described performances.

Britain at War Experience

Churchill House

64-66 Tooley Street

London Bridge

SE1 2TF

Visiting the Britain at War Museum gives you the chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the London Blitz.

Children’s activities include 1940s war-time dressing-up sessions where children can put on clothing and old gas masks.

For special requirements (i.e. touching and feeling specific exhibits) please phone in advance.

Opening times :
7 days a week
10.00am - 4.30pm
October - March

10.00am - 5.30pm
April - September

For more information please telephone 0207 403 3171 or visit www.britainatwar.co.uk

Cadbury World

Bournville Birmingham B30 2LD

Follow the story of chocolate through the centuries from the Aztec rainforests of Central America to Victorian England. Discover the history, the making and the magic of Cadbury’s chocolate – see it, smell it and taste it!

Disabled access and guide dogs welcome (except in production areas).

For information about opening times and prices, please telephone 0121 451 4180 or visit www.cadburyworld.co.uk

Chester Zoo

Chester CH2 1LH

The UK’s largest zoo has a service for blind and partially sighted visitors. You can collect a pack from the information kiosk which consists of an audio tape commentary, backed up with a folder of braille-labelled raised outlines of a number of zoo animals. A tactile map is also included. Also:

• There is no charge for hiring the pack
• Visitors who are registered blind have free entry into the zoo.
• All areas except the water bus are wheelchair accessible.

For further details contact telephone 01224 380 280 or visit www.demon.co.uk/chesterzoo/

Eden project

Eden Project
Bodelva
St Austell
Cornwall
PL24 2SG

The Eden project is in a giant crater in Cornwall where the stories of our world to life. In the huge covered conservatories, or Biomes, you can visit the majestic rainforests, the Mediterranean, South Africa and California and in the Outdoor Landscape discover more about the plants and places that share the Cornish climate. The Eden project was funded by the National Lottery and therefore has to meet disability access criteria. The multi-sensory experience within the Biomes will interest children and adults who are blind or partially sighted. Guide dogs are welcome.

For further details about accessibility, visit the website at www.edenproject.com or telephone 01726 811911.

Legoland

Windsor, Berks SL4 4AY

Legoland is a family theme park with lots of hands-on entertainment. Children aged 2-12 can take to the road, soar through the skies and sail the seas in complete safety. There are over 50 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops and attractions, all set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland.

Legoland’s Special Needs Guide provides an overview of the services and facilities offered to guests with special needs, including access issues.

To order a copy and for further details, telephone 08705 040 404 or visit www.legoland.co.uk

Museum of Childhood

42 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Once described as the ‘noisiest museum in the world’, the museum of childhood is crammed full of objects telling of childhood past and present with toys and games from all over the world. Although some of the exhibits are behind glass there are also some which can be touched. ‘Feely boxes’ where you can guess and compare objects; teddy bears and dolls; a rocking horse that can be ridden and four coin operated slot machines.

For general information and to find out about access for people with disabilities please telephone 0131 529 4142. To request a copy of the information leaflet in braille, tape or large print please telephone 0131 226 5036/7.

Our Dynamic Earth

Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS

Dynamic Earth is one of Edinburgh’s newest visitor attractions combining the very latest interactive technology and special effects with cutting edge scientific thinking. It will take you on a fascinating journey through the ages around planet earth. You will experience earthquakes, the ice age and tropical rainstorms. You’ll travel to the depths of the oceans and fly high above towering glaciers and mountains. You will see, hear, feel and smell the planet as it was millions of years ago and how it might be in the future.

• Many of the Earthscapes are multi-sensory.
• Information available in large print.
• Concessionary rate for children with disabilities.
• Guide dogs welcome.
• Access for All policy

Telephone 0131 550 7800 for further information about the Access for All policy or visit www.dynamicearth.co.uk

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Content author: sarah.smyth@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 22/07/2008 10:47