holiday inn express
Greenwich break - 2006
26/January/2010 02:39 PM Filed in: Leisure
My review of our two day trip to Greenwich, London.
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and used the
Dockland Light Railway (DLR) to
get to Greenwich (or a ten minute drive by car).
Day 1 - Cutty Sark by car then to the hotel.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Cutty Sark: It was raining and cold but we parked right next door in a pay and display car park. Kevin had just put in near a fiver for the afternoon - only to read it was free to blue badge holders.
The Cutty Sark has one accessible floor (the one beneath being the cargo hold and the one above the top deck and cabins). Most of the displays were on the accessible deck with the gift shop. Apparently they are putting the whole ship under cover with an external lift to all three decks in the next few year - and had reduced exhibits as a result of badly needed repairs and restoration. The 'model / plans' were displayed showing this great new access - yet were not on an accessible floor!! Oh yes, and at precisely the same time we were there on every third Sunday you will be subject to loud singing of sea shantees from local volunteer 'sailors' (prepare to be blasted or take ear muffs if you want to concentrate on reading the history of the ship!!). You can't really visit Greenwich without going on board to discover the joys of tea and its import- hurrah for tea I say!
We took shelter and had a meal in a local pub - expect London prices for a basic pub meal.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn express. Our first room had wheelchair access with 'wet room' with shower seat. Alas the sink was somewhat high and inset into the unit meaning I couldn't wash my hair in the sink. Also noticed that plugs were really low down even for a wheelchair user. As we discovered the shower then didn't work so we moved to another room fairly easily the next day. This was bigger and a different layout, again with a wet room. Electric sockets were at a more reasonable level along with other furniture - a much better room. It is worth looking at different accessible rooms if possible as they were both different. Parking was right next to the front door.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Transport:
DLR from Silvertown station. A short walk from our hotel with one change on the outward journey. The DLR carriages themselves are very accessible in terms of wheelchair access. However we were let down by the platform lifts. We were supposed to get off at the Cutty Sark Station which is a few minutes walk to the Museum etc. However you must reach street level via a lift - which wasn't working. We had to get another train to the next stop at Greenwich - but that lift was broke also. Now we had to go to the next one which would not be within walking distance of our destination. We got off at the next stop where you could cross by ramps to the opposite platform. We returned to Greenwich stop only to find the lift again did not work on this side of the platform. However, we could reach street level and left the station and walked to the park.
What would have been ten minutes by car used up half of our day getting on and off trains. Apparently the 'lifts never work' which is not a lot of use for wheelchair users who want to do something other than visit a platform before going home again.
On the return journey we had to change twice - once at Canary Wharf during rush hour.... say no more. It was almost impossible to get off the train without just mowing people over - so I wouldn't advise travelling at that time.
So, trains are easy to access - if you find a working lift to the platforms.
Greenwich Observatory
We walked through the park and up the hill - use the road to reach the observatory rather than the steep path at the front which is impossible to get up. Alas this too was undergoing work for a new building and part of the museum - leaving not a lot left open. The new buildings will be more accessible and had lifts ready for when they open.
It is a good view from the top and at night is illuminated a a laser beams out showing the Meridian Line. The park shuts at dusk though. We will come back again in a few years to take a peak.
Greenwich Maritime Museum
Access was very good and we spent until closing time here. Many galleries to wander around and exhibits. Photographs aren't allowed which is a shame and entry was free. I can't remember how many lifts we had to get in and out of - lots as the galleries are on different levels and 'half levels' which is confusing! I could actually see the exhibits which was good - lots of galleries have cases you can't see into whilst seated so it was good in this respect.
Day 1 - Cutty Sark by car then to the hotel.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Cutty Sark: It was raining and cold but we parked right next door in a pay and display car park. Kevin had just put in near a fiver for the afternoon - only to read it was free to blue badge holders.
The Cutty Sark has one accessible floor (the one beneath being the cargo hold and the one above the top deck and cabins). Most of the displays were on the accessible deck with the gift shop. Apparently they are putting the whole ship under cover with an external lift to all three decks in the next few year - and had reduced exhibits as a result of badly needed repairs and restoration. The 'model / plans' were displayed showing this great new access - yet were not on an accessible floor!! Oh yes, and at precisely the same time we were there on every third Sunday you will be subject to loud singing of sea shantees from local volunteer 'sailors' (prepare to be blasted or take ear muffs if you want to concentrate on reading the history of the ship!!). You can't really visit Greenwich without going on board to discover the joys of tea and its import- hurrah for tea I say!
We took shelter and had a meal in a local pub - expect London prices for a basic pub meal.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn express. Our first room had wheelchair access with 'wet room' with shower seat. Alas the sink was somewhat high and inset into the unit meaning I couldn't wash my hair in the sink. Also noticed that plugs were really low down even for a wheelchair user. As we discovered the shower then didn't work so we moved to another room fairly easily the next day. This was bigger and a different layout, again with a wet room. Electric sockets were at a more reasonable level along with other furniture - a much better room. It is worth looking at different accessible rooms if possible as they were both different. Parking was right next to the front door.
Day 2 - Greenwich Observatory & National Maritime Museum
Transport:
DLR from Silvertown station. A short walk from our hotel with one change on the outward journey. The DLR carriages themselves are very accessible in terms of wheelchair access. However we were let down by the platform lifts. We were supposed to get off at the Cutty Sark Station which is a few minutes walk to the Museum etc. However you must reach street level via a lift - which wasn't working. We had to get another train to the next stop at Greenwich - but that lift was broke also. Now we had to go to the next one which would not be within walking distance of our destination. We got off at the next stop where you could cross by ramps to the opposite platform. We returned to Greenwich stop only to find the lift again did not work on this side of the platform. However, we could reach street level and left the station and walked to the park.
What would have been ten minutes by car used up half of our day getting on and off trains. Apparently the 'lifts never work' which is not a lot of use for wheelchair users who want to do something other than visit a platform before going home again.
On the return journey we had to change twice - once at Canary Wharf during rush hour.... say no more. It was almost impossible to get off the train without just mowing people over - so I wouldn't advise travelling at that time.
So, trains are easy to access - if you find a working lift to the platforms.
Greenwich Observatory
We walked through the park and up the hill - use the road to reach the observatory rather than the steep path at the front which is impossible to get up. Alas this too was undergoing work for a new building and part of the museum - leaving not a lot left open. The new buildings will be more accessible and had lifts ready for when they open.
It is a good view from the top and at night is illuminated a a laser beams out showing the Meridian Line. The park shuts at dusk though. We will come back again in a few years to take a peak.
Greenwich Maritime Museum
Access was very good and we spent until closing time here. Many galleries to wander around and exhibits. Photographs aren't allowed which is a shame and entry was free. I can't remember how many lifts we had to get in and out of - lots as the galleries are on different levels and 'half levels' which is confusing! I could actually see the exhibits which was good - lots of galleries have cases you can't see into whilst seated so it was good in this respect.
