5 Accessible Date Day Ideas
Dating is fun, but it can be daunting. For disabled people, the extra planning needed and the worries about accessibility can dampen your excitement. There are ways to easily get the information you need to feel prepared and in control, and to ease your anxiety, though.
My husband, Dan, is a wheelchair user because of a rare condition, Friedreich’s Ataxia. AccessAble’s Detailed Access Guides help us when planning an accessible date.
Here are 5 of our favourite accessible places for a date.
Midlands Art Centre (MAC)
We visited MAC recently, and loved it! As fans of the uplifting TV show, Grayson’s Art Club, we knew we wanted to visit the exhibition from this series. This year, it was held at MAC - bonus!
MAC is a contemporary art centre and charity two miles from the centre of Birmingham, set in the surroundings of Cannon Hill Park. With 80 acres of parkland and 120 acres of conservation and woodland, Cannon Hill is a popular destination itself. It’s the perfect setting for one of the Midlands’ liveliest art centres.
Check out AccessAble's Detailed Accress Guide to Cannon Hill Park
You’ll always find something to immerse yourself in at MAC. There are galleries and exhibitions, cinema, comedy, theatre, and dance performances. You can even take part in craft workshops throughout the year. There’s also an on-site bar and cafe.
The wheelchair accessibility at MAC is great, with a ramp to the entrance and level access. There are accessible toilets and Changing Places too.
Check out AccessAble's Detailed Access Guide to Midlands Art Centre
The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
One of the first dates Dan and I had was at a stand-up comedy gig. We laughed together, absorbed the atmosphere, and chatted about it all after. That shared experience made it one of our most special early dates.
The Alexandra is wheelchair accessible, but unfortunately not through the main entrance, which has large steps and is right on the street. The theatre was built in 1901 when accessibility wasn’t considered like it is today! For every performance though, there’s an Access Ambassador. They’ll meet you at the accessible entrance round the corner, where there’s also an accessible toilet.
Once you know a venue is accessible, I’d recommend joining their mailing list. That way, you’ll be the first to hear about upcoming performances and when new acts get booked!
You might be surprised at the variety of things you can see at your local theatre. Tickets often cost less than you’d expect, too.
Check out AccessAbles Detailed Access Guide to The Alexandra Theatre.
Spending the day in Birmingham? Why not check out AccessAble's Accessibility Guide to Birmingham to find accessible hotels, restaurants, shops and more!
Worcester City Centre: River walks, pubs, restaurants and historical buildings
Worcester has lots to offer. You could have a stroll and a drink by the river, or try the food in one of the many pubs and restaurants. You could visit the art gallery and museum, the cathedral, or do a bit of shopping. Worcester is great for a daytime date or a romantic evening.
A large section of Worcester’s city centre is pedestrianised, with no kerbs to navigate, and a smooth, even surface - it’s Dan’s dream as a wheelchair user! Some of the routes to the river are slightly steep in places, but once you’re there, there’s a long flat section alongside it. A few cafes, pubs and bars are perched next to the river, so you can grab a drink while taking in the scenery and atmosphere. We find it easy to get to by train, or car.
Some of our favourite Worcester highlights that AccessAble have Detailed Access Guides for include; Browns at the Quay, Pizza Express, Worcester Art Gallery and Museum and Worcester Cathedral.
Check out AccessAble's Accessibility Guide to Worcester
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP)
Yorkshire Sculpture Park blends contemporary art sculptures, with nature and the great outdoors. That seems a difficult balance to strike, yet YSP does it brilliantly. It was the first sculpture park in the UK and is the largest of its kind in Europe.
You’ll find sculptures nestled in the landscape throughout the 500-acre estate, and within the 6 indoor galleries too. As well as art by world-famous sculptors, you can enjoy nature and impressive views. If you’re lucky, you might see a kingfisher by the river!
The visitor centre and cafe are wheelchair accessible, and there’s a Changing Places toilet. There are hard pathways, but also some uneven terrain and hills. The good news is you can hire a large mobility scooter at YSP, that handles many of the slopes and bumps well. Dan uses his electric hand-bike attachment when we visit, which also works well.
Check out AccessAble's Detailed Access Guide to Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Spending the day in Barnsley? Why not check out AccessAbles Accessibility Guide to Barnsley to find accessible restaurants, shops and more
Trafford Centre, Manchester
Trafford Centre is a world-renowned shopping and leisure destination which covers all bases for a classic date. You’ll find a food court which boasts a variety of restaurants from different cuisines (it’s one of Dan’s favourite places to eat!) and a cinema with a huge IMAX screen. You could easily spend a whole day here!
Trafford Centre is very wheelchair-friendly and there are plenty of accessible toilets. There’s a ’Quiet Hour’ every week, a welcome initiative that helps more people enjoy what’s on offer.
Check out AccessAble's Accessibility Guide to Odeon Trafford Centre.
Download the AccessAble app to ease your accessibility worries and help plan your next date:
Becky Pettitt works for a Children's Charity, while Dan, Beckys husbands, works as a web developer. Dan has Friedreich's Ataxia, which is a rare genetic, degenerative disease that causes coordination problems, a loss of sensation in the arms and legs, and impaired speech. As a result of this, Dan is a wheelchair user. They are both big music fans and love going to gigs together.
Becky and Dan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headoverwheelsx/
More from Becky: AccessAble - Making history accessible for everyone