Accessibility Information

London has made real progress on accessibility, but it's an old city with an old transport network, so it pays to plan ahead rather than assume every station or attraction is step-free.

Public Transport

Not all Tube stations are step-free — roughly a third are, and the proportion is growing but slowly. The TfL website and app clearly mark step-free stations and note whether the step-free path covers platform-to-street, platform-to-train, or both, which matters for wheelchair users specifically. Buses are step-free across the whole network and generally the more reliable option if step-free Tube access is limited on your route. The Elizabeth line is fully step-free end to end.

Major Attractions

Most major museums (British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Tate Modern) are fully step-free with lifts throughout. Historic sites are more mixed — the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey have cobbles, stairs and low doorways in parts of the older buildings, though core routes are accessible; check each attraction's specific accessibility page rather than assuming.

Planning Ahead

Most major attractions offer a companion/carer free-entry scheme with proof of eligibility (such as a Disabled Person's Railcard or PIP award letter) — worth checking before you travel since requirements vary by venue. Many venues also offer sensory-friendly or quieter visiting hours on request or on specific scheduled days.

Tips

• Use the TfL journey planner and filter for step-free routes rather than assuming a station is accessible.
• Buses are step-free across the entire network — a reliable fallback if the Tube route isn't.
• Check each attraction's own accessibility page for specifics — even "accessible" historic sites often have limited-access sections.
• Look into companion ticket schemes before booking — most major sights offer one.