Wheelchair Accessible Derby
Derby is a city in Derbyshire that is famous for its manufacturing heritage and in bygone days, its mining.
If you live close by to Derby or you are visiting for the day, or even longer, you may be looking to plan your trip into the city.
Wheelchair users often have to plan a trip like this with much more precision, to ensure that the day runs smoothly.
Parking
One of the first things to look for is a safe place to park that has plenty of disabled bays and is within a short distance from the amenities.
If you hold a Blue Badge, you can park for free in Derby for up to 3 hours, providing you use a designated disabled bay and display your Blue Badge.
Disabled bays are located on the following streets in Derby:
- Full Street (opposite Premier Inn)
- The Strand (near the junction with St James’s Street)
- Cathedral Road (opposite Derby Court University accommodation)
You are entitled to free unlimited parking:
- In areas covered by on-street pay and display and limited waiting.
- In areas covered by resident-only parking schemes.
If you would prefer to park your WAV in a council run car park, parking is not free for Blue Badge holders, so you mut pay the appropriate charges.
Wheelchair accessible attractions
Derby is generally wheelchair accessible, with many facilities and attractions providing accessibility features for visitors with mobility impairments, it’s just knowing where they are.
Visit Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery is fully accessible to wheelchair users, with level access to all galleries and exhibitions and there are lifts that provide access to all floors of the building, including the mezzanine level.
There are disabled toilets on each floor of the museum, including an accessible toilet on the ground floor.
The museum has a hearing loop system available in the lecture theatre and for use with portable amplifiers.
Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum and water bowls can be provided on request.
Large print guides are available on request from the museum's reception.
Sensory bags are available to borrow from the museum's reception, which contain objects and resources to help visitors with sensory needs engage with the exhibitions.
Take a stroll in Markeaton Park
Markeaton Park in Derby is wheelchair accessible, with several facilities and features designed to make the park more accessible for visitors with mobility impairments.
There Accessible parking spaces located near the park's main entrance as well as accessible toilets, which are located near the main car park, (near the Mundy Play Centre) and in the Craft Village.
Many of the paths in the park are hard-surfaced and suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The park's accessible trail is a 2km hard-surfaced trail that takes you through the park's woodlands and gardens.
The Mundy Play Centre has a range of accessible play equipment, including a wheelchair accessible swing and roundabout.
The Orangery Café is fully accessible, with level access from the car park and accessible toilets located inside.
Explore the Derby Cathedral
Derby Cathedral is wheelchair accessible, with several facilities and features designed to make the Cathedral more accessible for visitors with mobility impairments.
There are several designated accessible parking spaces located outside the Cathedral and the main entrance to the Cathedral is accessible, with level access and automatic doors.
There are accessible toilets located inside the Cathedral, near the South Transept and The Cathedral has designated wheelchair spaces available for services and events.
The Cathedral offers accessible guided tours for visitors with mobility impairments. These tours can be booked in advance.
Watch a movie at the ODEON cinema
The cinema is fully accessible, with wheelchair spaces in every screen, accessible toilets, and audio-description and subtitled screenings available.
Go shopping at the Intu Derby shopping centre
The shopping centre is fully accessible, with lifts, ramps, and disabled toilets located throughout the centre.
Visit the Derby Arboretum
The arboretum is fully accessible, with accessible paths, disabled parking, and disabled toilets located on site.
Enjoy a show at Derby Theatre
Derby Theatre have dedicated wheelchair spaces in both the main auditorium and the Studio, but these spaces should be pre-booked.
There is a drop off point located outside the theatre with a permanent ramped double door entrance. If you are driving, Blue Badge parking is available in Derbion Basement car park, which has a lift directly to all floors.
All floors across the theatre have accessible toilets and level 1 has an overhead ceiling hoist fitted.
Have some family fun at Hollywood Bowl
If you are looking for a fun filled family activity, Hollywood Bowl offers disabled access which includes ramps, ball ramps and lane bumpers which can be used with or without wheelchairs.
There’s also lightweight balls available to use which are easier to carry whilst using a wheelchair and there’s disabled toilet facilities.
Wheelchair assistance for leisure activities
Alongside these privately run visitor attractions, Derby council are also committed to assisting those who require additional assistance when it comes to enjoying the facilities the city has to offer.
At Queens Leisure Centre in Derby, there is ramped access, disabled changing rooms, disabled toilets and hoists for the swimming pool.
All council run gyms in and around the city have accessible equipment (Technogym’s Inclusive Fitness Initiative) available for cardiovascular workouts.
Derby Arena is equipped to offer para-cycling as well as coaching sessions for disabled riders. Some of the adapted bikes include tricycles, wheelchair tandems, recumbents and hand cranks. You can hire these bikes and use at your leisure, or arrange an instructor lead session instead.
Wheelchair accessible restaurants
There are several wheelchair accessible restaurants in Derby that you can visit, including Carnero Lounge, which offers accessible seating and a ramp to enter the building, The Cosy Club, which has a ramp to enter the building and The Bookcafe which has a ramp to enter the building.
Wheelchair accessible trails in Derby
There are several wheelchair accessible trails in Derby that you can explore.
Markeaton Park
Markeaton is a park that has a 2km hard-surfaced accessible trail, taking you through the park's woodlands and gardens. There are also accessible toilets and a café on site.
Elvaston Castle Country Park
The park has several accessible trails, including a 2.2km hard-surfaced trail that takes you around the lake and through the park's formal gardens. There are also accessible toilets and a café on site.
Alvaston Park
The park has a 1.5km hard-surfaced trail that takes you around the lake and through the park's woodlands.
Derby Canal Path
The path is a flat, hard-surfaced trail that follows the route of the old Derby Canal. It offers a peaceful and scenic walk along the waterway.
Pride Park Trail
This trail is a 1km hard-surfaced loop around the Pride Park area of Derby. It offers views of the Derby skyline and the River Derwent.