Disabled Travel Guide - Travel Reviews Aimed At Disabled Travelers And Their Carers. Most locations are near London or within an easy journey.

Our journey to Hampton Court Palace began, as usual, at Abbey Wood Station. Surprisingly for a Sunday there was a member of staff available to help us by putting in place the portable ramp to allow Marc's wheelchair onto the train.

We've now done this leg of the journey enough times that it has almost become routine. However, getting off the train at Waterloo East was something new. Thankfully, the helpful platform staff at Abbey Wood were kind enough to call ahead and have another ramp waiting for us at the station.

The portable ramps at Waterloo East were the type that have wheels on them that go between the gap. Marc has previously felt uncomfortable on such ramps but didn't have any trouble at all this time. In order to continue on to Hampton Court Palace we had to transfer to Waterloo Station.

It would be an understatement to say that we hadn't been looking forward to negotiating the ramp that leads to the connecting foot tunnel. The ramp is rather steep and whilst we did manage we were almost hampered by a group of tourists who decided to come to an abrupt stop in front of us about half way up the ramp. I don't like making a fuss but if I hadn't yelled for them to move I may have lost my footing and slid back down the ramp.

Once up the ramp there wasn't any trouble at all as the connecting tunnel is flat. There is an escalator at the end of the tunnel that goes down to the floor of Waterloo but don't worry because off to the left there is a slightly hidden elevator.

Once we were on the platform we searched out the information desk which was across from the Burger King, which happened to be right next to the elevator. Apparently there is a mobility cart that will transport you to your train but as we were so close to our platform that we went straight to the platform where a member of staff with another portable ramp was awaiting us.

Our first problem of the journey arose at Hampton Court Station. We were met by a staff member with a ramp but the difference in height between the train and the platform was huge. We had no choice so I pushed Marc down the steep ramp but he really didn't feel at all comfortable.

If you are unable to get out of your chair you really need to make sure you ask the staff at your previous station to call ahead. If they sound iffy about it make a demand and tell them you know from experience that the platforms are too high otherwise. If you are traveling on your own and feel uncomfortable on steep ramps it may be wise to ask the helper to push you down the ramp so that there is better control.

Getting out of the station wasn't any trouble at all as there aren't any steps and there is and the sidewalk to the right of the exit has a down ramp. However, we did have trouble at Hampton Court Bridge because there wasn't a ramp in the sidewalk. The curb isn't overly high but nonetheless Marc still had to get out of the chair for a second so I could take the chair up. Admittedly there are worse problems in the world but it is a bit scary when you are doing all of this in the middle of the road.

Once over the bridge we had around another three minutes of walking to do before we were met at the gates of the palace by a member of staff. Very kindly, he pointed out that the ticket office was not wheelchair accessible so Marc would have to wait outside whilst I went to buy the tickets. He was also nice enough to tell us that if I told the ticket person I was an assistant to a person in a wheelchair my entry would be free.

That was a fantastic discovery and one I had no trouble with at the ticket counter. Along with our free ticket the counter staff came with a specially printed sheet to say what was and wasn't accessible in the house. Pleasingly there was only one room in the palace that was marked as inaccessible.

The walk way that led from the ticket office to the main entrance was cobbled and was a bit bouncy but Marc held on tight and everything was fine. Almost immediately we were spotted by another member of staff who approached us and made it known that she would be available when we needed the lift.

Marc was particularly impressed because she talked to him and not me. So many times people forget that their is a person in the chair.

We took her up on the offer and were escorted to a hidden passageway and onto the lift. She suggested a pathway and told us that when we reached the other end of the floor there would be another member of staff to help us. So it went on.

Every time there was a place where normal visitors would use stairs there was a staff member that helped us gain access to secret shortcuts. They really could not have been more helpful.

Once we had done the house we decided to hunt down the famous Hampton Court Palace Maze. Now, this was an experience!

First of all wheelchairs have to go in and out of the entrance which is on a very tight corner. Once inside the maze, which was rather crowded that day, half the adventure was keeping Marc's chair from falling over the rather uneven paving into the bushes. Nonetheless it was fun, perhaps a bit frustrating but fun.

Speaking frustrating, it would be a mild term for how we felt about the price of food on the sight.

Two cheese and tomato sandwiches, one small soda, one coffee and an iced tea cost us £11.80 in the Tudor's Kitchen cafe.

The Tiltyard Gardens cafe out towards the maze was even more outlandish. A singular jacket potato cost £5 whilst a bottle of iced tea that retails in most news agents for under a pound was sold for £2.60.

So, overall it a was good day out, with excellent staff availble to help and not overly difficult when they weren't around but just be sure to take a packed lunch.