Hi, all. I will be accompanying a friend who needs a travel chair/walker for distances, and has difficulty with steps. She will have a combo travel chair/walker with her. Her goal is to see Windsor Castle. I need suggestions for transport to the castle other than the train from London, since she needs to be dropped off at the main castle building, not walk the long road up hill.
Any advice would be welcome.
Posted by
Land of La
9531 posts
Posted by
1260 posts
It's an uphill pedestrian walkway from the high street to the castle; so a taxi can only take her so far; so a wheelchair may be your best bet. I hope your friend finds accommodations that work. I love Windsor and hope she achieves her goal.
From the website:
Wheelchairs and lift
Manual wheelchairs and rollators (wheeled walking aids with a seat) are available to borrow free of charge on a first come, first served basis, for the duration of your visit. Motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be used in the precinct areas, and are permitted inside the Castle provided they are compatible with the lifts. Please be aware that there are airport style security arches, some tight corners and narrow spaces, which have to be navigated on a visit to the Castle.
The main lift, to access the State Apartments, measures 137cm deep and 100cm and has a weight limit of 630kg.
Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter rental
You can visit Windsor Castle with the support of Shopmobility, a scheme based at the Alma Road Coach park just a 5-10 minute walk from the castle entrance where you can hire mobility equipment to assist your needs. Please check the People to Places website for further details about wheelchair and mobility scooter rental. Scooter hire comes with free parking, in the Alma Road Car Park, and is available when hiring from People to Places. Please be aware that you may be asked to transfer from a mobility scooter into a Castle wheelchair to access some areas of the Castle.
Posted by
OP
Belle Mead, NJ, USA
30 posts
Thank you both for the information, quite detained and so useful.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2825 posts
If you let the train know they have a ramp they can put down that your friend can use to get on and off the train.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
34837 posts
The train from Waterloo involves a hike up the hill, the train from Paddington does not. The train from Paddington is a nearly level short walk to the main entrance of the castle, from Windsor and Eton Central. Not Windsor and Eton Riverside.
Book Assistance (or even better use the Passenger Assistance app) and your friend can be met at all parts of the journey which they would need help, including a ramp, assistance changing platforms, etc. No charge. My wife uses a Rollator similar to your friend and that's what we do.