Anyone who reads our blog knows we’re based in London and we’re often asked where we’d go for an accessible ‘day to night’ excursion. So here are the places we like to keep a secret when it comes to enjoying a bit of culture followed by a glass of wine and a good meal….from day to night…
1st The Tower of London,
Is very accessible, considering it’s one of the oldest buildings in London, (except for some hereditary cobbles). You must visit The Chapel of Saint Peter where 3 of Henry VIII’s wives are buried and of course the Crown Jewels are a must. There is an impressive medal collection, ravens and photo opportunities with the Beefeaters, the guardians of the tower in Tudor dress! Most importantly they have three accessible toilets including a Changing Places and their comprehensive access statement can be read here.
There is a cafe on site but if you want a meal with a spectacular view then Pont de la Tour beside Tower Bridge and south of the Tower of London, is an old favourite. It has flat access with a disabled toilet. There’s a fantastic outside eating area and inside is equally stylish.
Following that you can also see a show at The Bridge Theatre, reviewed here, which is very accessible with discounted prices for disabled people. The main foyer is vast and may not be suitable for those who are neuro divergent as it can be noisy and the rest of the theatre is accessible with disabled toilets, just choose your show and enjoy! – 2.5 BBSTicks
2nd Frameless
Frameless is a fabulous immersive art experience. They can’t be faulted for accessibility. They have lifts to the 4 galleries, plenty of disabled toilets, no strobe lighting, quiet/chilled sessions, tablets with sign language, and audio guides for visually impaired and lifts and access to all areas. It’s a lovely exhibition and a joy to see young children enjoying the art, lying on the floor seeing images float by. Recently they sent Frameless to Manchester so a greater audience could experience this amazing exhibition. They were so good they won the Motability Best Day Out at the 2025 Blue Badge Access Awards. They get 3 BBSTicks and are one of the most accessible places we have ever visited!
Based at Marble Arch the nearest cool places for lunch or dinner (post visit) are…
Cafe Murano great Italian food from Angela Hartnett & access is good. They say it is..
‘wheelchair accessible and includes an accessible bathroom. Please note, however, that the space between tables is somewhat limited. Unfortunately, the private dining rooms at this location are not wheelchair accessible’.
We visited recently and it is accessible and very ‘buzzy’. Food was delicious and you might find it difficult to hear although we had no problems considering the hard surfaces. It was bright with plenty of natural light – 2.5 BBSTicks.
Josephine’s Bistro has superb french/European food from renowned, Michelin Starred, chefClaude Bosi , at non-Michelin prices. They’ve a chic Parisian atmosphere, great unobtrusive service, flat access & a disabled toilet – 3 BBSTicks.
Another place a bit further away but still in Marylebone is St John, with superb British food and flat access but it’s small and has no disabled toilet, 2 BBSTicks. If you want somewhere more upmarket & fine dining then The Orrery is re-opening in April 2026. Newly refurbished and aiming to regain its Michelin star through their new chef Pierre Minotti. It used to be accessed by a lift so we’ll review once it re-opens.
Then there’s The Park which is just down the road from Frameless in Queensway. It serves good brasserie style food, excellent flat access, an amazing accessible toilet. It’s well lit with natural light and has a convivial atmosphere so ask for a more secluded table if you have hearing loss or are neuro diverse. It’s ideal if you’re visiting with children and has the most stylish baby change table! – 2.5 and nearly 3 BBSTicks .
3rd Brentford FC
Joint winner of the Motability Best Day Out at the Blue Badge Access Awards 2025 they have excellent flat access everywhere. There are 2 Changing Places Toilets and a sensory room which is the best seat in the ground! Their staff are friendly and helpful. The view from the accessible seats is one of the best, they get 3 BBSTicks.
If you want to head north from the GTEC Stadium, home of BFC, to Chiswick Bronzo or La Trompette (previous review on the link & access galley here) are good places for food along with The Roebuck Pub or No. 197 Chiswick Firestation (review on link & access gallery here).
All are accessible with disabled toilets, except Bronzo. They are too small to create a disabled toilet (The Roebuck next door is the nearest) and they have great, authentic, Sardinian food. One of the best restaurants in Chiswick with welcoming & helpful staff, a friendly atmosphere and a portable ramp to get over a steep step.
The Roebuck Pub has flat access , wooden floors and is brightly lit accessible. They serve good gastro food – 2.5 BBSTicks. La Trompette is Michelin starred European food with good access and a disabled toilet – 3 BBSTicks. No.197 Chiswick Firestation has a trendy bar, bistro food, a good disabled toilet and a small ramped step to enter – 2.5 BBSTicks.
4th Sadlers Wells Theatre
The home of modern dance and it’s very accessible. the access is smooth and flat and there’s here’s the link to their access statement. The access seating/spaces are some of the best seats in the house. It can be a bit of a noisy crush before the performance. Even if you don’t like ballet or modern dance they have plenty of other dance on offer such as flamenco and hip-hop. There’s also events for younger people such as My First Ballet: Cinderella. They get 2.5 BBSTicks.
After the theatre we recommend a visit to Exmouth Market which is a 10 min wheel south. There’s plenty of good food on offer from Morito and Moro as both offer North African/Moorish/ Spanish Tapas and both in a casual and delicious way. Moro is the original restaurant and Morito is their tapas bar where we recommend sitting outside. There’s a step into Moro and the disabled toilet only has one grab rail (see below) so they get 2 BBSTicks.
If you go further north to Islington, a 15 minute cab drive away, you can visit one of our favourite secret bars 69 Colebrook Row. Timeout says,
‘The look is chic, the space is small, and the drinks are a cut above the rest.’
It’s cramped with no disabled toilet but has amazing cocktails from experimental to traditional. Booking is a must and they have a lovely piano player. To add to it’s buzzy atmosphere the staff are all dressed in white jackets reminiscent of bars of the 30’s & 50’s. Upstairs is the laboratory of cocktails but you need to climb some steep stairs. They get 2 BBSTicks for unique style and limited accessibility.
5th National Portrait Gallery
Behind Trafalgar Square The National Portrait Gallery have really interesting exhibits from Elizabethan times to modern day. From Elizabeth I to Harry Styles. Currently there are Paul McCartney’s Photos from 1963-64. We advise taking a free tour with one of the staff who give you a different perspective on a few of the portraits. You also don’t need to go far to enjoy some great food, cocktails and music.
Larry’s Bar is in the basement in the restored vaults, so it’s a circuitous route to get there in a wheelchair. However the Gallery staff escort you so no need to panic as it’s well worth it. They have a basic menu and light bites but the cocktails are tasty. There’s live jazz in the evening Weds to Sat and was a our secret venue but now you need to reserve a table. There is room to manoeuvre, just about, once you get past the bar stools and booths. The atmosphere is lively at night and by day it’s relaxing. There’s a disabled toilet at the entrance and they get 2.5 BBSTicks.
If you want a more substantial meal then Portrait Restaurant by Richard Corrigan is on the top floor with fantastic views of London. The food is delicious serving ‘British and Irish fish and shellfish delicacies, complemented by a diverse range of meats and seasonal game specialities.’ It’s well lit with soft surfaces to absorb noise and there’s a disabled toilet at the entrance. They get 3 BBSTicks .
If you want to go outside the Gallery for a drink and nibbles we recommend Blindspot at the very trendy St Martin’s Lane Hotel. It was a good secret until it was listed as a top speakeasy bar. Now there’s plenty of people taking pictures of the imaginative cocktails. They have a great DJ playing ‘cool’ music with booths and low tables. It’s dark with table lights and soft furnishings make it easy to hear. Flat access with a disabled toilet in the foyer. It’s a favourite secret with 3 BBSTicks.
Further afield, a 1 minute wheel, there’s Oriole who won Best Bar at the 2024/25 Blue Badge Access Awards They have 3 BBSTicks for delicious. cocktails live jazz and art deco style. A speakeasy that’s accessible with a lift to this brilliant secret bar.
That’s all for now and look out for a similar post on Liverpool and Manchester have a Happy Easter and see you at the Secret Garden Bar for the Blue Badge Access Awards 2025/26.