Given here is some sources of information and ideas on going on holiday and leisure pursuits.

Holidays

The question of access is a key factor. You may want to feel confident about access to the accommodation, to the attractions you want to see and leisure facilities you wish to use before thinking about anything else. Or you might put, type, destination and price of holiday first, and then look at the issue of price.

Should you opt for group holidays tailored for disabled people? These can save you the time and trouble of organising things for yourself. You are actually guaranteed access and assistance. But you might get less choice. And you might not always want to be with a group of disabled people. You can find more information in the English Touring Board’s leaflet The National Accessible Scheme, Helping you to book with confidence and the Welsh Tourist board’s leaflet Discovering Accessible Wales.
Links for above
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/TravelHolidaysAndBreaks/TravelAndHolidaysInTheUk/DG_4016120
http://www.winfried-h.de/trips/ireland/Northwales.htm

Before deciding you need to have as much relevant, up-to-date information as possible. Tourist attractions which subscribe to the English Tourist Board’s National Code of Practice for Visitor Attractions (The Visitor’s Charter) will have considered the requirements of disabled people with special needs and made suitable provision where it applies.
Link
http://www.enjoyengland.com/corporate/corporate-information/press-centre/pressreleases/augoct2007/new-code.aspx

In Scotland attractions which are accessible or have some accessible facilities (eg. Car parking, toilets, eating places, shops, on-site transport) may display one of three wheelchair symbols. These correspond to the three categories of accessibility (see below).

Holiday Care Service

This service is the UK’s central source of travel and holiday information for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities, older people, carers, one parent families and those on low income. The computerised database holds information on all aspects of holidays and travel in this country and overseas.

Holiday Care Service
Telephone:  01293 771500
Helpline: 01293 774535

Internet: www.holidaycare.org.uk
Holiday Care Service
Victoria Road
Horley
RH6 7PZ

Holiday Care Service works within the framework of the TOURISM FOR ALL campaign for mainstream tourism environment accessible to all regardless of age or disability

Holiday Care Service ’Friends Scheme’ gives members (who make a small donation each year) exclusive access to the Reservations Service to book accessible accommodation throughout the country, often at discounted rates.

Tourism for All
The Hawkins Suite
Enham Place
Enham Alamein
Andover SP11 6JS

Web: http://www.holidaycare.org.uk/default.asp
Registered Charity No 279169

Administration - Tel: 0845 124 9974
E-mail: info@tourismforall.org.uk
Fax: 0845 124 9972

Information - Tel: 0845 124 9971
Minicom: 0845 124 9976
E-mail: info@tourismforall.org.uk
Fax: 0845 124 9972

Membership/Reservations - Tel: 0845 124 9973
Friends/ E-mail: info@tourismforall.org.uk
Reservations Fax: 0845 124 9972

Access Advice/ - Tel: 0845 124 9974
Consultancy/ E-mail: brian@tourismforall.org.uk
Inspections Fax: 0845 124 9972

National Accessible Standard

There is a National Accessible Standard for tourist accommodation denoting three categories of accessibility:

Category 1 accommodation likely to meet the needs of all wheelchair users, including those travelling independently;

Category 2 accommodation likely to meet the needs of wheelchair users accompanied by a capable helper;

Category 3 accommodation likely to meet the needs of those who can walk short distances and climb at least three steps. May not be suitable for wheelchair users.

Tourist Boards

The British Isles

The national and regional tourist boards all publish lists of accommodation which are graded using the Nation’ information on accommodation is handled by Holiday Care Service 01293 771500

The English Tourist Board
http://www.enjoyengland.com/

Northern Ireland Tourist Board
http://www.nitb.com/
Also Useful: http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/

Good Access in Northern Ireland.
http://www.goodaccessnorthernireland.co.uk/

Scotland
Visit Scotland
http://www.visitscotland.com/
North Highlands
http://www.northhighlandsscotland.com/
The Borders
http://www.borderstouristboard.com/

Cornwall Disabled Association
Providing accessible holidays and days out
Coaches – a 48-seater and an 18-seater both with wheelchair lifts
Caravans – at Par Sands Holiday Park and at Monkey Tree Holiday Park, both purpose-built for wheelchair use. Holidays – to hotels which are truly suitable for the disabled, travelling on their large coach.
Visit their website at http://www.cornwalldisabled.co.uk/

Wales
Visit Wales
http://www.visitwales.com/

Visit Cumbria
http://www.visitcumbria.com/
Visit the Lake District
http://www.golakes.co.uk/

Visit the East of England
http://www.visiteastofengland.com/

Heart of England Tourist Board - this resource has closed

Visit London
http://www.visitlondon.com/

Holiday Fact Packs are available from RADAR
12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London EC1V 8AF
Telephone: 0171 250 3222
Fax: 0171 2500212
Minicom: 0171 2504119
web: http://www.radar.org.uk/

The Tourist Information Centres - London
http://www.britainexpress.com/TIC/London.htm

Visit North East England
http://www.visitnortheastengland.com/site/tourist-info

Visit North West England
http://www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com/

Visit South East England
http://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/

Places of Interest for Disabled People

Southern England
http://www.touristnetuk.com/so/

Visit The South West
http://www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/

Yorkshire
http://www.yorkshire.com/

ACCESS PROJECT (PHSP)
Publish well researched access guidebooks to London, Paris and Israel/Palestine
http://www.accessproject-phsp.org

ABROAD

Some national tourist boards produce information about access and facilities for disabled visitors available through their offices in the UK. Their offices are listed in the London phone book or you can obtain them through Directory Enquiries if you live outside London

Other Sources of Information: 

The Central Bureau forms part of the British Council and provides advice on all forms of educational visits and exchanges. It also publishes a range of guidebooks on volunteer work, working holidays, home stays and exchanges for people of all abilities.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/

English Heritage produces a Guide for Visitors with Disabilities with details of access and facilities at properties. Available free of charge in standard, large print, Braille, and cassette versions from: English Heritage,
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

MENCAP’s holiday service provides advice and information on aspects of holidays, organises holidays for children and adults at home and abroad, and publishes the MENCAP Holiday Accommodation Guide .
http://www.mencap.org.uk/

The National Trust publishes a free booklet - Information for Visitors with Disabilities - containing details of their properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with access and other facilities for disabled visitors. It includes a list of sites where blind or disabled people can enjoy historic objects through touch. Free with self-addressed label and 2nd class stamp from The National Trust, 36, Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9AS or phone: 0207 447 6743 (large print version available; sections can be Braillied on request). Necessary carers with disabled people are admitted free to NT properties.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/

Passport Agency has produced a guide - Applying for a Passport: A Guide for Customers with Disabilities - which explains the facilities for customers who are deaf and hard of hearing, blind and partially sighted, and those who use wheelchairs. http://www.uk-passport-info.com/

The Youth Hostel Association welcomes people with disabilities and has a number of hostels accessible to wheelchair users. http://www.yha.org.uk/

Help with holidays and respite care Social services departments may assist disabled people with the cost of a holiday and may provide transport and facilities. Your social worker may also apply on behalf of families with children to the Family Holiday Association for holiday funding
http://www.fhaonline.org.uk/

Handicapped Aid Trust contributes to the cost of helpers of severely disabled people over the age of 17 who would otherwise not be able to afford to go on holiday abroad.
Windmill House
Church Road
Lytham
Lancashire
01253 796 441
 
Useful Websites 

holidays with access.com
Holiday Services for Disabled People
http://www.holidayswithaccess.com/

• Search for and book Accessible Hotels & Self-Catering, from mainstream resorts to especially adapted disabled complexes
• Book Eurostar, Rail Europe and ferries
• Book flights
• Book Cruises
• Book Worldwide Holidays - Europe, USA or Canadian, Egypt, India, Thailand, African Safaris
  

Independent Living Spain: A company on the Costa del Sol specialising in the Hire and Sale of all mobility and disability products.
Website: http://www.independentlivingspain.com
Phone: 0034 952 493419 Email: independentlivingspain@hotmail.com

Orange Badge - Holiday Help in Tenerife: This company hires, sells and services electric scooters and chairs, manual wheelchairs and various disability aids.
http://www.orangebadge.com/
Tele / Fax 00 34 922 79 73 55 Email: info@orangebadge.com

Winged Fellowship provides respite for cares and holidays for people with severe physical disabilities, at five fully adapted centres in the UK and abroad. Free brochure and help with funding available. Tel: 0207 833 2594

Leisure

If you want to enjoy what’s in your local area, many local editions of the phone book have a section at the beginning called ‘Arts Access’. It lists Cinemas, Theatres, Natural History attractions, Exhibitions, Museums and Galleries, Sports and Leisure Venues and Assistance Organisations, keyed in according to: entrance accessibility, special WC, induction lop/ infra red, wheelchair accessibility and loan, lift and hoist (at pool), lift, accessible bar/ restaurant, help available, disabled parking, wheelchair spaces. For other places telephone in advance.

Special interests

It is worth contacting your local authority social services department or leisure department to see what activities they provide. Many council swimming pools and sports centres have facilities and instruction for disabled people. Your library may have a list of special groups locallyTo develop or follow-up particular interests or sports, there is a wide variety of groups dedicated to disabled people, many with active local branchesThey cover the spectrum from angling to yoga. The next page gives a list of national organisations who co-ordinate a broad range of activities

The Arts

The Arts Council of England has compiled a directory (£10) offering contact details of organisations involved in arts and disability issues. A leaflet on involving people with disabilities as artists and performers is also available. Both are available from the Library and Enquiry Service. http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

Shape opens up access to the arts, enabling greater participation by disabled and older people. It runs arts workshops, projects and events in a variety of settings; NVQ, Certificate and Diploma level arts management courses, short training courses and placements for disabled people; and STAN, a network of young disabled artists. There is a National Deaf Arts Programme and a scheme for reduced ticket prices for disabled and older people. http://www.shapearts.org.uk/

The Art House http://www.the-arthouse.org
An inclusive membership organisation providing work & exhibiting opportunities for disabled and non-disabled artists

The Good Gallery Guide http://www.goodgalleryguide.com
Information on acces to galleries and arts venues nationwide

Artsline is free information and advice service for disabled people on arts and entertainment in London. http://www.artsline.org.uk/

The Arts council of Wales will give you information about arts organisations throughout Wales which offer disabled people opportunities to participate. http://www.artswales.org.uk/

Arts Disability Wales is a voluntary organisation offering information and training to disabled people and arts organisations. http://www.dacymru.com/

The Scottish Arts Council provides information about organisations in Scotland which promote the involvement of disabled people in the arts. http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/

Gardening

Thrive provides training courses, advice and publications on gardening as therapy for people with learning difficulties and help for blind gardeners. The aim is to use gardens to improve the quality of life for people with special needs of all kinds. http://www.thrive.org.uk/

Sport The following organisations are all recognised by the Sports Councils as the co-ordinating bodies for sports for all those with disability. British Blind Sport (BBS) http://www.britishblindsport.org.uk/ British Deaf Sports Council (BDSC) http://www.britishdeafsportscouncil.org.uk/

British Wheelchair Sports Foundation (BWSF) is based at Stoke Mandeville http://www.wheelpower.org.uk/

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) Tel: 0208 681 9655 Cerebral Palsy Sport (CP) Tel: 0115 940 1202 Disability Sport England (DSE) Tel: 0207 490 4919 United Kingdom Sports Association for People with a Learning Disability (UKSAPLD) Tel: 0207 250 1100 The Federation of Sports Associations for the Disabled - is recognised by the Sports Council for Wales as the umbrella governing body. Tel: 01244 822600/822625 The Scottish Sports Association - for people with a disability (SSAD) is recognised by the Scottish Sports Council as the main body for sport in Scotland for people with Disabilities. Tel: 01592 415 710 The following organisations provide sport and leisure activities, facilities or information for members with a disability: British Epilepsy Association/ MENCAP/ RNIB/ Phab/ the Guide Association/ the Scout Association/ SCOPE/ Riding for the Disabled Association Directory for Disabled People contains details and addresses for many organisations in the arts, sport and leisure (see Helpful Information) Sports and Leisure: an In Touch care Guide, BBC, In Touch Publishing, 37, Charles St, Cardiff CF1 4EB Outdoor Adventure for Handicapped People by Mike Cotton, Souvenir Press, from Bookpoint Ltd Tel: 01235 400 400 Spectator Sports for Disabled People from RADAR Tel: 0207 250 3222 Historic Buildings of England: a Guide for Disabled People . RADAR £3 Historic Scotland: Access for Visitors with a Disability. Tel: 0131 668 8600