Accessibility

On this page you'll find a range of general information on accessibility in the city - from accessible accommodation and attractions to information on environment and dropped kerbs.

Accessible Brighton accommodation

If you are looking for somewhere to stay, please refer to our section on Accessible Accommodation in Brighton and Hove.

Accessible Attractions and Restaurants in Brighton

www.visitbrighton.com allows you to easily search for accessible Brighton attractions or places to eat and drink. Use the links below to read more about accessible things to do and places to eat & drink or to carry out an accessible search. Please note, this information is self assessed and has been provided by the businesses themselves.

• General information on accessible Brighton Things to Do
• Specific search for accessible Brighton attractions
• General information on accessible Brighton Food and Drink
• Specific search for accessible places to eat in Brighton

VisitEngland Access Statements

Many tourism venues provide information on the accessibility of their facilities and services in the form of a written Access Statement, to help you 'know before you go'. All VisitEngland star rated accommodation and quality assured attractions are required to have an Access Statement.

Typical information may include, for example, the frequency of buses, useful telephone numbers, the number of steps to the front door and the availability of subtitles on televisions.

So, when you are next researching which accommodation to stay at and attractions to visit, ask to see their Access Statements.

Brighton & Hove Environment & Geography

Downloadable dropped kerb and Blue Badge parking bay maps

To help you plan your visit to and route around the city, we provide a City Centre Walking Map PDF (5 MB), which details locations of dropped kerbs within the city centre area and a Blue Badge Parking Bay Map PDF (1 MB), which indicates streets in the city that have Blue Badge parking spaces. 

For other downloadable maps of the area, please visit the Brighton Maps section.

You may also find the following information, on the environment and geography of Brighton, useful when planning your trip:

• For people who have not visited Brighton before, it may be helpful to know that Brighton is situated on a hill that runs from north to south, and from west to east across the city centre. 
• This means that some of the routes within the centre are quite steep, with gradients of up to 1:6 (including Trafalgar Street which runs east to west from the train station).
• Wheelchair users arriving by train are therefore advised to use Queens Road as the main road to the city centre, and then either Western Road to the main shops, West Street to the sea, or North Street to the shopping areas of the North Laine and the Lanes, and the Royal Pavilion.
• Some of the streets in the historic parts of the city can be rather narrow, which means that they can become quite congested. 

Download a Brighton accessibility factsheet

For further information on accessibility in Brighton & Hove, accessible accommodation and accessible places to visit, please download the information sheets below. All documents are in Microsoft Word format.

• Accessible Brighton and Hove (Word 524 KB)
• Accessible Brighton Accommodation (Word 105 KB) 
• Accessible Places to Visit (Word 565 KB)
• Accessible Public Transport (Word 84 KB)

If you wish to find out further information, which may help inform your trip plans - such as forthcoming major events or busy periods - please contact the VisitBrighton Contact Centre on 01273 290337 or visitor.info@visitbrighton.com.

Accessible Travel

By car

• Orange/Blue Badge holders can park free and for unlimited time in Voucher Parking spaces and in on-street pay & display spaces in Brighton & Hove. 
• Additionally Blue Badge holders with a clock are allowed to park on yellow lines for up to three hours, provided they are not causing an obstruction. 

Please note, parking in the city centre car parks is not free for Blue Badge holders. For further enquiries, you can also call the Blue Badge Shop on 01273 296270.

By bus

• All Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company buses are wheelchair accessible and have the facility to lower the step for easy access. They are also all 'Talking Buses' and have screens advising of next stop information. 
• The Brighton and Hove bus timetables are available on-line or, if required, in large print on request. 
• All main bus stops, 270 in total, have "real time" information and fobs can be provided by the council on 01273 295555 to transform them to 'Talking Real Time Boards' for blind or sight impaired passengers. Real Time information, linked via GPS to the bus, allows passengers to obtain up to date bus information advising how many minutes to the next service. 
• Tickets can be bought on board the bus, in advance via a Smart Card or via a mobile phone app called an M Ticket. 

For further details on Brighton bus travel contact Brighton & Hove Bus Company on 01273 886200. Download their real time apps or purchase tickets online via their website www.buses.co.uk. Certain door to door services can also be booked. Please call 01273 505888 for more details.

By train

• Southern Railway's new trains have ramps for wheelchair access, designated accessible spaces in some cars, and an accessible WC, as well as colour schemes and visual & audible announcements that are helpful to people with a sensory disability. 
• Southern Railway also offers advice on the accessibility of stations and help on and off trains. Please note, if you require assistance you will need to book this at least 24 hours in advance.
• Accessible taxis can also be made available at no cost on Southern routes to take passengers with disabilities from stations which are not accessible to stations that are.

For further informaton call 08451 272920 or textphone 08451 272940.

By taxi - Wheelchair Accessible Taxis

• To help improve the availability of wheelchair accessible taxis across the city, Brighton & Hove Council have launched a pilot scheme providing direct telephone numbers for licensed drivers who are available, and able to carry, wheelchairs. Please visit the Wheelchair Accessible Taxis Scheme page for further details.
• Brighton and Hove Federation of Disabled People also provide helpful information on the various Wheelchair Accessible Taxis on the road to help you find the taxi that's right for you.

Accessible Public Toilets

• For details of accessible public toilets in Brighton & Hove, including Changing Places toilets, check the Brighton & Hove City Council website.

Wheelchair Hire & Mobility Aids Hire

• Brighton & Hove Shopmobility is a scheme that provides wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs to members of the public with mobility issues. The scheme is run by the award winning Federation of Disabled People and enables people with mobility issues to have the freedom to travel anywhere within the Brighton & Hove area.
   
• Mobility Scooter -Wheelchair-Hospital Bed and mobility aids hire - MuchMoreMobility.co.uk, 01273 775123, 187 Church Road Hove BN3 2AB.
  Friendly Family Run business. Delivering and collecting to and from your hotel - guest house- or your own Home.
   
• Beach friendly wheelchairs - Special ‘all-terrain’ wheelchairs are now available on Brighton seafront to enable people with disabilities to enjoy the beach. They are free to use. You can get one on the day, but booking is advised and can be done up to a week in advance. A £25 refundable deposit is payable before taking them out. The wheelchairs are available from the council’s seafront office at: 141 King’s Road Arches on the Lower Esplanade in Brighton. For bookings or further information, please call the council’s seafront office on 01273 292716.

Brighton Accessible City Guide

• Looking for accessible reviews from those in the know? The award winning Fed Centre for Independent Living offer a web-based access information guide for visitors and residents to the City. All the reviews are written by a dedicated Volunteer team based on their own personal experiences. Go to the Fed Centre's website to see their Accessible City Guide.