Whether you’re just starting your accessibility journey or looking to build on your existing efforts, this section provides guidance, resources, and support you need to create a welcoming environment for all visitors.
These resources are being added to and amended regularly, if you know of something that we should include here, please get in touch.
Visit England Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit | Opportunities | Detailed Access Guides | Local Accessibility Case Studies | Key accessibility features questionnaires | Become a disability confident employer | Government Disability Action Plan | Local Support Networks | Free Training Resources | Further Resources
Visit England Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit
VisitEngland has produced an extensive Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit for businesses to help them cater to a wider range of customers with disabilities. The toolkit provides practical guidance on various aspects of accessibility, including customer service, physical environment, and inclusive employment.
We have have highlighted some of the key aspects of the toolkit here but we thoroughly reccomment you take the time to read the full version.
Opportunities
Explore current opportunities below to enhance your business and ensure every visitor feels welcome:
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Discounted Access Guides from AccessAble - Find out how you can claim a discount on a detailed access guide with AccessAble on a first come first served basis. Learn more here.
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Update your accessibility facilities on your Visit Bath and/or Visit Bristol listings to make sure we have the most up to date information.
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Read our 'quick wins' to get started with improving accessibility' blog - When we talk about accessibility in tourism, sometimes the task ahead can feel overwhelming. In this blog we’ve tried to pull together some ‘quick wins’ to get you started. Take a look at the blog here.
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Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards: Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award (VE) - Find out how you can be recognised for your commitment to accessible tourism. Learn more here
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Catch up on the slides from our Accessibility focussed Visit West Attractions Forum - Find a link to all the slides on this page
Detailed Access Guides
AccessAble Detailed Access Guides
Boost your accessibility with discounted AccessAble guides
Did you know that 95% of disabled people check accessibility before visiting a new place and 77% have avoided venues because they couldn't find this information?
Through our partnership with AccessAble, Visit West members have priority access to VisitEngland discounts for Detailed Access Guides to improve your welcome for the £14.6bn tourism market.
A Detailed Access Guide provides comprehensive information about your venue, from parking to toilets. This helps disabled visitors plan their trip with confidence and demonstrates your commitment to inclusive tourism.
The process is straightforward: professional access surveyors conduct either a Guided Assessment (remote survey via video call) or On Site Assessment of your venue, creating a detailed guide that covers all aspects of accessibility. Your guide will be published on AccessAble's website, which receives over six million visits annually.
By investing in a Detailed Access Guide, you're opening your doors to millions of potential visitors who value detailed accessibility information when planning their trips.
VisitEngland has announced discounts available for businesses to get an AccessAble Detailed Access Guide. These are currently as follows;
- 50% off Guided Assessments, up to £250;
- 25% off On Site Assessments, up to £250.
VisitEngland and AccessAble are committed to ensuring as many businesses as possible can take advantage of the discounts available. However, there is a limited maximum budget that can be provided towards the discounts, therefore discounts will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligible businesses in England can currently take advantage of the following discounts, subject to terms and conditions:
As Visit West have a signed agreement with AccessAble, they are offering Visit West members an exclusive promotional period to offer these discounts to our members before VisitEngland launches them industry-wide w/c 3rd November.
Find out more and get your discounted quote now
You may also like;
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Take a look at the current detailed access guides currently available in Bristol, or search for venues in Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire here.
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Join a free short webinars to discover how you can open the door to more visitors with a professionally surveyed Detailed Access Guide for your venue. Upcoming webinars: TBC, more dates coming soon.
Euan's Guide Detailed Access Guides
EuansGuide.com is a disabled access review website, with the aim to empower disabled people by providing information that will give confidence and choices for getting out and about. You can find out more about how to list your organisation on the website, and in turn you'll be helping disabled people find great places to go.
Local Accessibility Case Studies
Hear from tourism and hospitality businesses across the West of England as they share how they’ve made their venues more accessible and inclusive — from adapting ancient buildings and installing Changing Places toilets, to supporting neurodiverse visitors, staff training, and creating welcoming experiences for all. Each case study highlights practical changes, reflections, and the real difference accessibility can make.
Key accessibility features questionnaires
Visit West, alongside VisitEngland and Access and Inclusion UK, have been working to improve the accessibility information provided to visitors to our region. In order to do this effectively, we need to update information about what you, as businesses offer and how we can showcase that information to visitors and customers.
Become a disability confident employer
Find guidance about signing up for the Disability Confident scheme, and how it can help your business. Signing up to Disability Confident Committed (Level 1) is straightforward and will only take a few minutes.
Government Disability Action Plan
Read about how the government wants to make this country the most accessible place in the world for disabled people to live, work and thrive, addressing and removing the barriers which prevent them from reaching their full potential.
Local Support Networks
WECIL - Disability Inc
WECIL - Disability Inc offer a range of services tailored to your business to help your organisation, team and workplace be as accessible and inclusive as possible. Their training, access support and consultancy will help you become a diverse, inclusive and dynamic business.
Bristol Autism Support
Bristol Autism Support are a registered charity which exists to provide support, advice and information to parents and carers of autistic children, diagnosed or suspected, in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and BaNES. They offer auditing services, visiting venues and services and discussing approaches to accessibility.
The Hive Avon
The Hive Avon supports adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults across Bristol and South Gloucestershire to become more independent and lead great lives. They provide support and information including auditing services, visiting venues and services and discussing approaches to accessibility.
Free Training Resources
Enhance the UK has produced some free resources to help you make your organisation more accessible and inclusive for your disabled employees and customers. The available guides will be updated regularly to offer you more free information and advice.
Find the resources here.
Further Resources
VisitEngland has produced an extensive Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit for businesses to help them cater to a wider range of customers with disabilities. The toolkit provides practical guidance on various aspects of accessibility, including customer service, physical environment, and inclusive employment.
Guidance about signing up for the Disability Confident scheme, and how it can help your business.
Find out how to claim your discount on an AccessAble Detailed Access Guide via Visit West and Visit England's partnership.
