Shortwave Cinema

The Shortwave Cinema is a very small, independent cinema located in Bermondsey Square. There's no easy train/tube access, so this is really only a destination for people who live near Bankside. If you do happen to be around the area, though, then this is a nice option if you fancy watching a film. 

The Shortwave is completely accessible. It is located on the ground floor and has indoor and outdoor seating as well as a very large size disabled bathroom. There is a bar that serves some nice beer and a limited, but good, wine selection. The nibbles are mostly heated up in a toaster oven, so don't arrive hungry unless this doesn't bother you. Although service can be slow, the people who work at The Shortwave are all incredibly nice.

The wheelchair seats are at the very ends of the first row in the cinema. There is plenty of room, but because they are on the very ends you do have to crane your neck a bit. However, it's not too bad.

On nice days, it's pleasant to sit outside and watch the world go by. Every Friday there is an antiques fair, and on Saturdays there is a small farmers market.

Keep an eye out for special events hosted at the Shortwave. By chance, we went to the Shortwave when Saint Saviour (Groove Armada lead singer Becky Jones) was warming up for an album party later that night. Great music, great time.

Details:
10 Bermondsey Square
London SE1 3UN
T: 0207 357 6845
www.shortwavefilms.co.uk

BFI IMAX

The BFI IMAX is a 500 seat cinema with a screen more than 20 meters high and 26 meters wide (for us Yanks, that's over 65 feet high and 85 feet wide). It's big. It's where you go when you're not up for the arty films at the nearby BFI and just want to relax with a blockbuster. Getting there is a bit tricky. It seems so easy since it's right in the middle of the roundabout by Waterloo. But to get to the entrance you have to use the subway, and only certain subway entrances have ramps (we do not recommend the lift to the subway on the Waterloo side -- kind of whiffy). Keep in mind that the subway itself may be a bit intimidating to a wheelchair user (or any pedestrian), especially late at night as lots of people seem to sleep rough there. 

The IMAX has a cafe as well as a bar. We were running late and so didn't try either but they appear to be accessible. Wheelchair users enter the theatre from the very top entrance. There is a lift that takes you up to the top floor, but if you don't have use of your arms then someone has to go with you since there are a series of doors that you need to open before arriving at the theatre entrance; there were no staff on hand when we were there to offer assistance.

The seating is a bit confusing. Everyone has a designated seat number on their ticket, but the wheelchair spaces are not numbered. If there are multiple wheelchair users, it is anyone's guess on who actually has dibs on the few spaces. 

One cool thing about watching films in England is that qualified disabled people can apply for a Cinema Exhibitors' Association (CEA) card, which allows an accompanying carer to have a ticket for free. http://www.ceacard.co.uk/. Another cool thing is that you can order popcorn that is sweet and salty. I miss the trough-size tubs of popcorn oozing with butter and salt, but Chazz says the small bags of sweet and salty popcorn are much more sensible. As usual, he's probably right.

Details:

Directions: http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_imax/visitor_information/how_to_get_here

Tickets and Enquiries: 020 7199 6000

Tube/Train: Waterloo

Buses: Loads -- check TFL web site for all routes.

Adapted Vehicle Hire

We rented a Renault Kangoo from Adapted Vehicle Hire ("AVH"). This was the only adapted car hire service that offered small(er) automatic drive vehicles. For an extra fee, AVH delivered the car to our home. The delivery person was very nice and helpful, and took the time to show all of the car's features, including how to pull down the ramp (manual, but lightweight and easy) and secure locks around the chair.  Renting adapted cars is not cheap, and because there are so few vendors you should book well in advance.  

For the Americans -- if you can drive stick, you'll have a much wider choice of rentals. Also, when renting a car in the UK make sure and give it a thorough inspection -- inside and out -- not just a superficial once over. Make sure and note each and every scratch, tear, dent, or hint of the foregoing on your acceptance form. Also, some of the gas caps won't come off by just unscrewing them.  You have to actually insert the car key into the cap and turn (I won't say how long it took me to figure this out...in the rain). I can only guess this is because petrol (gas) is so expensive. 

Details:
Adapted Vehicle Hire, Poplar House, Cowley Business Park, Cowley Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2AD
T: 0845 257 1670
www.adaptedvehiclehire.com

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is accessible, and it's free.  Right of the bat, it's a place we were inclined to love. It should come as no surprise that an art gallery housed in an old power station (Bankside Power Station) makes for hugely accessible space. You could have a wheelchair convention in the Tate Modern, and still have room to spare.

We realize that most people go to the Tate Modern for the art, not the accessibility. Fair dues. For us, modern and contemporary art has always been a bit over the top. We try to like it, but secretly don't really "get" it. That's why it was a great relief to find that the Tate Modern has plenty of different traditional genres (like photography, and selections from impressionists) not just flashing lightbulbs and blocks of concrete.

Ramp in Members' Room leading to South patio.

You could definitely spend hours (if not the whole day) wandering around the cavernous space and looking arty (I wore a beret). However, although there is plenty of space, the place is teeming with people which can get a bit much, particularly when waiting for lifts which usually seem filled with athletic 18 year olds having not so much as a limp. 

If you need a break, and have access to the Members' Room, it's well worth a visit. The bright and open room has built in ramps that lead to a lovely outdoor patio with fantastic views of the City, particularly St. Paul's. You can have a slice of quiche and a nice crisp white wine, and just bask in the smugness that comes from knowing you did something "cultural" (often we find of equal proportion to the self-loathing one has from watching reality t.v. shows).  Just keep tabs on your berets...

View of St. Paul's Cathedral from the Members' Room

The Bunch of Grapes

This pub has been described as a "proper pub" by those in the know, and you will be pleasantly surprised to open the door and find a traditional, cozy pub with a great selection of beer and ale (including Young's). It has a very small lip of a threshold, but can still easily be accessed by chairs, even power chairs. The bar staff is friendly, and will come and open the second door so that chairs can get in more easily.

Inside, the pub is rather dimly lit, but not in a way that's trying to hide dirt, bad carpet, etc. Instead, the pub is a little dark in an "old world" sense, and the dark wood floor and dark tables add to the atmosphere.  Sadly, the lovely beer garden is not accessible which is a shame since it is open year round and has lots of nice touches (e.g. cushions and blankets on benches, etc.).

This is our number one meeting place near Borough Market since it is conveniently located near the London Bridge tube station and across the street from the Market.

Details:

2 St. Thomas Street
Borough, London SE1 9RS
T: 020 7403 2070
http://www.youngs.co.uk/pub-detail.asp?PubID=367

British Film Institute on Southbank

The British Film Institue (BFI) (http://www.bfi.org.uk/) is located on the South Bank, near Waterloo station.  It is a destination for serious film lovers.  It houses one of the world's most in-depth film archives, and has world class learning resources.  We visited a learning room where people can watch old movies for free on private tvs (we watched the 1979 film "The Knowledge" starring Nigel Hawthorne, Mick Ford, and Kim Taylforth). But it's not all highbrow. The IMAX also is part of the BFI, and shows mainstream movies like "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" on London's biggest screen (located nearby to the main BFI facility).

The BFI is quite disabled friendly, but the lifts we used were the platform lifts rather than the typical built-in lifts, so we're not sure if the building was wheelchair accessible when originally built. It's probably best to enter through the front entrance rather than the rear, since the lift at the front did not require operator assistance. Still, all of the areas we looked at were wheelchair accessible, and the (helpful) staff informed us that the theatres also have wheelchair seating (we will confirm).  There is also an accessible lounge/bar area that looked quite nice for a pre-movie film drink or nibble (and the IMAX also has a cafe and bar). Sadly, the only thing missing was the smell of fresh popcorn.

South Bank itself is incredibly accessible, and is a destination spot for culture vultures, with the Tate Modern, Hayward Gallery, Royal Festival Hall, National Theatre, Old Vic and the BFI all located within easy walking (or wheeling) distance.

Details:

Transportation: Waterloo train station/tube station or buses 1, 4, 26, 68, 76, 77, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 211, 243, 341, 507, 521, or RV1. Apparently there is also underground parking at the Hayward Gallery.

Wheelchair Travel UK

For those times when using public transportation or black cabs is not practical (e.g. when travelling in a large group, or if you have a lot of luggage, etc.) you may need to hire an accessible car service or rent a van or minibus. We used Wheelchair Travel UK to pick us up from Heathrow (it also rents vans for hire). It was expensive, but well worth it. Our driver met us at the arrivals in Terminal 5.  He took us directly to the van (a late model Renault) which was parked very close by -- less than a minute away.  The driver was a kind man who did his utmost to make us all as comfortable as possible. We had an enjoyable journey through London, and we arrived at our destination in South London on time and relaxed.


Details:
http://www.wheelchair-travel.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1483 233 640 or +44 (0)1483 237 668