Midlands
IN AND AROUND WORCESTER WITH A WHEELCHAIR
Worcester Bridge spanning the River Severn
Worcester is an interesting city with a mixture of heritage and tradition and a good range of shops. For information about some of the attraction in and around it please read on.
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral has been a place of worship for fourteen centuries with the present building being started in 1084. It is a beautiful and awe inspiring place. Admission is free and it is wheelchair accessible almost throughout.
A sample of the incredibly ornate carving in the Jesus Chapel
Included amongst its many attractions are St Johns Tomb, the Medieval Cloisters and the beautiful Victorian stained glass windows. There is also a gift shop and cafe on site.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
Worcester Museum of Porcelain
The Museum of Worcester Porcelain
Worcester Porcelain Museum is located within easy wheeling distance of the Cathedral and offers visitors a unique insight into the products of the porcelain factories based in the city and the lives of the crafts people who worked for them.
Access throughout the museum is extremely good with lifts to the Victorian Gallery and demonstration area on the upper floor. An audio tour giving detailed information about some of the exhibits on display. There is a programme of events throughout the year and an 'Artist in residence' on Thursdays and Saturdays each week.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
The Commandery
The Commandery
Within easy wheeling distance is the Commandery which has recently undergone extensive refurbishment to improve access for visitors with more limited mobility. This is a 13th century, Grade 1 listed building and offers visitors a unique insight into the many uses the property has been put to during its often turbulent history.
The Commandery Garden
Access to the upper floors in both wings of the property is via wheelchair accessible lifts and using the audio tour visitors can choose to listen to commentary from a selection of periods in history in every room they enter.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
Worcester River Cruises
Worcester River Cruises
The River Cruises operate from South Quay. Access is via a very steep gangway and step on to the deck that could not be negotiated without assistance, however the crew are willing to assist manual wheelchair users on and off the boat. It is important to note for health and safety reasons only two non ambulant wheelchair users are allowed per voyage and this would not be suitable for powered chair users.
Cripplegate Park
There are several parks in the city that are wheelchair friendly and they have beautiful floral displays. Cripplegate is a short walk across the bridge from the South Quay and there is 'on street' parking opposite the park alongside the river.
Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery
The wheelchair accessible entrance
Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery is housed in a Victorian building on Foregate Street within the city centre and has a lift from the street to the main floor. The galleries house a wide variety of exhibits and a programme of special exhibitions is staged throughout the year.
Viewing one of the natural history exhibits
Once on the first floor, general access around the museum is good and all on one level and our researchers found it well worth a visit.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to the County Museums website please click here.
Worcester Woods Country Park
Worcester Woods Country Park
If you leave the city centre on the B4084 and follow the brown and white 'Countryside Centre' signs you will come to Worcester Woods Country Park. There is a wheelchair friendly trail through Nunnery Woods which during the spring are carpeted with wood anemones and bluebells followed by honeysuckle later in the year.
Also on site is a visitor centre, a small shop, a cafe and childrens play area.
For more detailed accessibility information about the park and a link to their website please click here
Worcestershire County Museum
The entrance from reception to the museum
Worcestershire County Museum is located at Hartlebury Castle which was the seat of the Bishops of Worcester for over a thousand years following a bequest to the Bishop of Worcester in around 850 AD by Burghred, King of the West Mercians.
The Nursery located on the second floor
The Museum is located over 3 floors and there is wheelchair access to the upper floors by an external glass lift. Due to the historic nature of the building, access to certain areas is limited to visitors with some ambulant ability however there is plenty to see and do for all visitors.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to the Museum's website please click here.
West Midlands Safari Park
A close encounter with one of the residents on the Reserves
The West Midlands Safari Park is located at Bewdley near Kidderminster approximately 15 miles from Worcester. This is a popular large attraction which features a four mile self drive through the reserves that are home to a wide variety of animals from different continents.
This beautiful leopard can be seen on the Discovery Trail
Also located at the Park is the Lost City Plaza (with a selection of retail and food outlets, the Discovery Trail (with animal encounters including reptiles and sealions) and a selection of amusement rides for people of all ages.
For more detailed information about accessibility at the Park and a link to their own website please click here.
The Jinney Ring Craft Centre
The Jinney Ring Craft Centre
Approximately 12 miles northeast of Worcester at Hanbury on the B4091 is the Jinney Ring craft centre. Wheelchair access is limited in the craft studios and shop however there is access to the excellent farmhouse kitchen restaurant which serves lunches as well as light refreshment. There is parking on site but please note the designated toilet is only suitable for visitors with some ambulant ability.
Avoncroft Museum
Curators Cottage
A few miles north of the craft centre at Stoke Heath is the Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings. A wide range of structures from seven centuries have been rescued and rebuilt on this fifteen acre open-air site.
The Church
As their work continues the Museum is constantly growing. An education programme has been put in place to create a better understanding of the importance of the preservation of these often unique buildings and to explain about their former use.
For more detailed accessibility about the Museum and a link to their own website please click here.
The Bruce Wake Trust offer boating holidays suitable for wheelchair users. They have a narrowboat and a riverboat both especially adapted for the disabled. Suggested cruises include the River Severn and Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and the Stourport Ring. The boats are based at Upton-on-Severn 10 miles south of Worcester and are very reasonably priced. Crews need to include at least two competent able-bodied members.
Worcester and the surrounding countryside is a beautiful and interesting area to visit.