Travel in London with special needs / disabilities

Contact Blackberry cars or make arrangements with Uber.

These could be a starting point

https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/

https://www.visitlondon.com/traveller-information/essential-information/accessible-london

When in London we tend to use the buses more. Far more interesting to ride than the tube. The tube is quicker but no view. The London buses follow a grid pattern so it is fairly easy to understand where they are going.

I have a special needs adult daughter (Williams Syndrome) so I understand your concerns. I have taken her to England every year for most of her life. (she is now turning 30). She walks a little slower and needs the elevator (lift) but will do stairs slowly (two feet on one step) and she will only walk so far! She does not like the escalators, but she has learned to stand on the side, not look down, and is OK if someone holds her arm and is standing behind her. This June she managed London during rush hour. Generally, speaking, I found most people kind on the trains; giving her space to hold on to the pole or giving a seat up for her. At one station, a man kindly took her luggage up a flight of steps. I was really taken aback by the kind gestures I received. Although you can't rely on the kindness of strangers, I will say there are good people out there! She even got stuck in one of the turnstiles with her backpack (my fault I should have let her go first), but as soon as she did three strangers literally came running to help her as I tried to calm her down. We got her free in a few seconds and we were on our way.

If your teen can't manage the underground then take a taxi. It is very easy to do. It will cost more, but you know what your teen can tolerate. If the Elizabeth line is working I think you would be able to take that. Even the more expensive Heathrow Express will be fine. There is an elevator that takes you down to the platform. You can also download the TFL Go App which will give you the routes that are "step-free" It will have a disabled sign on the route.

You can easily book a private car from Heathrow to take you to your hotel. It is not so expensive that it is unaffordable. The airport is west of central London and does take a while to drive in. They will just be waiting in the arrival hall with your name on it.

Just in case this is an issue: There are plenty of bathrooms available once you land and get into the airport. There are some just by the e-gates and again in the arrival hall. You may have to pay at some underground stations to use the toilet.

Happy travels and enjoy London

Month of Year?

I'm assuming that if he had an affect disorder, you would have told us. Do you think he would be disappointed to NOT go upstairs on a double-decker bus? Cities tend to be good for people with disablities, but sidewalks are usually VERY crowded in all the major cities of the world. Is that going to be a problem? Do you think he can handle the step up to and down from the bus, repeatedly? I wonder if it would be useful to practice walking single file, instead of two abreast? I hesitate to suggest this even for old people, but does the slow-walking you refer to come close to where a cane would be a good "signal", even if not ordered by a doctor? Maybe YOU could use the cane. (Please don't be offended, it's only an idea.)

I'll mention that Tube stations are also very crowded, and transfer corridors between lines can be VERY long, and have multiple staircases in them. I think the bus is a good idea. Nobody can predict traffic conditions in advance!

It sounds as though the Tube would definitely not be comfortable for him ( it isn’t for me either, but for different reasons), but I think the London buses might well work, except at rush hour. Access is right at street level, and they are rarely so crowded that one needs to stand. If one is, you can ask someone to give up their seat, simply explaining that he needs to sit.

Here is a good map of the bus routes connecting the main tourist sites:

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/key-bus-routes-in-central-london.pdf

And if you are anywhere near the river, check the map of the Thames Clipper “Uber” boats to see if they will take you want to go. These are a regularly scheduled service, part of the London transport system, and are very pleasant to ride. Access is by ramp, and they have lots of seats inside (the outside seats a
May all be taken on a nice day). I imagine he might really enjoy this.

https://www.thamesclippers.com/plan-your-journey/route-map

Take a look at Euan's Guide - it's a great resource that is written by service and attraction users who have a range of different needs. Some of the reviews can be quite harsh but informative.

have a read of https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/please-offer-me-a-seat My wife uses one and they work. You need a London address so when you get your hotel set use that and it can be waiting for you when you arrive

Thanks for some of these tips. My husband uses a wheelchair when we are out and about seeing sights. He much prefers a private car hire so we usually try to arrange that for sightseeing. I’ll take a look at the guide mentioned.

Thanks, I appreciate the tips!

London does offer various forms of transit for someone with special needs, like London Underground. It has step free access at many stations. Black cabs are also alternative, its wheelchair accessible and equipped with ramps. Yeah, you may find traffic jams here and there. Buses can also be an option as there are designated space for special needs people.