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Traveling by train from London with a wheelchair

Hello all,

Due to some ongoing health problems my husband uses a wheelchair outside the home. We have managed to travel to London several times in the past few years. It has been a very positive experience and for the most part there are quite a few wheelchair accessible areas and if not, everyone has been beyond helpful. We have been able to visit museums, participate in London Walks, and attend concerts and theatre productions. We have used the tube stations with elevators, city buses, and taken a few black cab rides.

Late this fall, Nov or Dec (depending on my work schedule) we plan to return to London for another visit but this time I would like to venture further out of the city for a few day trips, specifically Windsor, Hampton Court Palace, and Canterbury. (We have been to other places in England in years past but never visited the above three listed)

So I am asking for any guidance on how to use the train when someone is in a wheelchair. We’ve traveled by train in many countries but now mobility is an issue. Do I need to contact someone in advance of ticket purchase? Use only specific trains or cars? Is there assistance at anytime? Using the trains in the past I remember how quick the stops were and how we needed to be ready to exit. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by
58 posts

Thank you, I will check out this site.

Also, if anyone has suggestions for visiting these site during the Christmas season season I would love the recommendations

Posted by
37049 posts

there is an excellent Passenger Assistance app (lower case rounded green "p" icon) which has all the features of the online version plus some.

Hampton Court Palace, from the Hampton Court station is easy. The trains are not quite level with the platform so you can have a ramp, but the whole station is level. Out the front, turn right directly over the Thames, turn right again and you are there. Hampton Court is the end of the line so you have plenty of time coming and going.

Hampton Court Palace has a very good accessibility page (not always easy to find that page - here it is https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/visit/accessibility/ , telling you where the hidden lift is in the Palace, and extraordinarily helpful uniformed Hosts and Volunteers with sashes. They have always taken excellent care of my wife.

The main entrance to Waterloo Station is up many stairs (very Victorian) but there is a level way in.

There are two train routes to Windsor Castle (I presume when you say just Windsor you mean the Palace, not wandering the town??). The line from Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside has a couple of advantages for a wheelchair user - no changes are required and it is a little cheaper. On the other hand, that route is slower, goes from Waterloo (more or less convenient depending on your hotel) and worst of all, Windsor & Eton Riverside is, as you might guess from the name, at the level of the river so there is quite a slog up a relatively steep (for disabled users) hill around the outside of the Palace and at the top you are at the entrance.

The other route is to Windsor & Eton Central which is on the same level as and directly across the road from the Palace entrance. The traditional route would start at Paddington station, change at Slough and hop on the little shuttle train which runs around to Windsor & Eton Central. Rail staff assigned by Passenger Assistance will help you off the train from London and onto the train to the Palace. In addition to the GWR service from Paddington, the London to Slough segment is also served by the Elizabeth Line from many London stations. The Elizabeth Line looks like a tube line but it is actually a real train and covered by Passenger Assistance. In TfL stations it will be TfL staff.

So advantages of Windsor & Eton Central - available from central London as well as Paddington, level access from the station to the Palace, faster. Disadvantages - the change at Slough (assistance available) and slightly more expensive.

I've never traveled to Canterbury by train so I will let others speak about the accessibility. I will say that if you choose the High Speed train from St Pancras it is one level up with convenient elevators, and faster but more expensive than from the conventional train stations, a huge number of restaurants and other services in St Pancras and very wheelchair friendly.

Posted by
1069 posts

Ps Re Watlerloo - there is a lift at the Waterloo Road entrance, next to the escalators.

Posted by
465 posts

I have regularly used the Passenger Assistance app / service and it is really very good.
For peace of mind it is worth arriving at a station a little earlier than normal to give yourself time to get to where the assistance points are. At smaller stations it is usually the ticket office but larger stations, like those in London, tend to have designated meeting points and waiting areas.

Posted by
58 posts

Thank you everyone for your help. Greatly appreciate it.