Shopping

This text is based on information in the 2003 guide.

One of London's main attractions are the long streets full of shops, many of them famous throughout the world. Our survey teams found that access to shops has improved over recent years, although the greatest improvement has been in the numerous newly built shopping centres around London, particularly with the advent of Shopmobility.

In the book Access in London there are descriptions of the access to most of the major department stores around Oxford Street and Kensington. Thirty large stores are described. Access is generally pretty good, although the majority of big stores have central escalators and less obvious lifts.

The National Federation of Shopmobility is a growing movement. Each scheme is independently run and financed, but the Federation coordinates information, and publishes a directory with brief details of each Shopmobility see write-up under Useful Contacts.

A Shopmobility scheme usually has an office with adjacent OB parking spaces, and offer manual or electric wheelchairs for hire and use. Most have some electric scooters which are particularly useful to elderly people who cannot walk very far, or who find that carrying things is difficult. Some schemes can provide volunteer escorts if necessary, some of whom are trained to guide people with visual impairments. Opening times are variable, and depend both on demand, and on the availability of staff and of finance. Some schemes open every day, others open for perhaps two or three days a week.

The out-of-town shopping centres with a Shopmobility office are:

There are descriptions of most of these in Access in London.