hyde accessible travel

3939   CARS AND MINIBUSES Incorporating Hyde Accessible Transport LTD 0161 339 3939

A Taxi and Accessible Transport company based in Hyde, Greater Manchester

We keep our prices our low and we specialise in set fares. 

All our drivers and office staff have enhanced DBS checks and live in the local area.

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• Set Fares available on all journeys
• Great Prices
• Cheapest Airport Transfers in Tameside
• Pre booking specialists
• 24 hour phone line 
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Widest range of vehicles in tameside.

With a selection of Saloon cars, Estate cars, Black cabs, Electric Vehicles, Minibuses, Tail lift Vehicles  and 16 seater Minibuses we will be able to accommodate what ever type of journey you need to take. 

We have the Most modern up to date vehicles on the roads of Greater Manchester

Newest Fleet

We have over 26 vehicles with specially adapted Tail lifts. These vehicles are perfect for electric wheelchairs.

Tail Lift Vehicles

Most of our Adapted Vehicles take 2 Wheel Chairs but on Pre-arrangement can take up to 5.

Multiple Wheelchairs

We have the largest amount of Electric Hackney carriages on any fleet in Greater Manchester

Electric LEVC Hackneys

Local Authority contract specialist  Disabled Accessible Transport Specialist Corporate accounts available

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Every customer will be treated with respect, honesty and a high standard of service..

We guarantee fast and reliable drivers all driving high spec vehicles.

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Hyde Shuttle

Request a Ride with the Hyde Shuttle

The Hyde Shuttle is available for rides between 8:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday.

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Riders can also request a ride by calling 206-727-6262, then by pressing 1 for reservations.

transportation with a heart

The Hyde Shuttle program provides door-to-door van service for older adults and adults with disabilities throughout many communities in King County. Our friendly, specially-trained drivers transport riders to hot meal programs, medical appointments, senior centers, grocery stores and other local destinations. For those who have difficulty getting around, the service provides an opportunity to socialize and stay active within their communities. 

Areas We Serve

Neighborhood shuttles with service area boundaries – restrictions may apply

• Beacon Hill – Southeast Seattle
• Bellevue – *NEWLY ADDED*
• Burien – Highline
• Central Seattle (First Hill, Capitol Hill, Central Area and the International District)
• Des Moines – Normandy Park
• Federal Way
• Kirkland – *NEWLY ADDED*
• Northeast Seattle
• Northwest Seattle
• Queen Anne/Magnolia/Interbay
• Redmond – *NEWLY ADDED*
• SeaTac/Tukwila
• Shoreline – Lake Forest Park
• Snoqualmie Valley
• West Seattle

Client Testimonials

The Hyde Transportation service provides a much needed way for me to get around to do my errands/appointments. Melton and the other substitute drivers are knowledgeable and careful. Karen, Francis and the others who work the phones do a really good job at coordination rides and being accurate in the detail! A big thank you to everyone! Take care

Thank you for your wonderful service. We would not be able to get my mom to her treatments so painlessly without you. All of your drivers are wonderful & thoughtful & so respectful. We appreciate all of you.

I have mobility issues and I don’t own a car. I had my first ride on the Hyde Shuttle yesterday with Cindy. First time to a store in 7 weeks. She was so gracious and kind. There is no way that I would have been able to take the bus and carry home my purchases with a cane. Thank you so much, Cindy and Sound Generations. You are indeed Superheroes.

Driver of the Month:

Thai Le has been working for Hyde Shuttle since June of 2012. Thai was born in Vietnam. He is a proud family man married 27 years with a son in college. Thai has experience driving, as he owned a rental car company. He experienced more profits when he added a carwash and was able to purchase a home.  Thai looks at driving like playing soccer, you never know what someone else may do, and you can’t control their actions. You must defend at all times!

Thai likes to “keep things simple” adding three virtues he believes.

• Protect yourself (that way, you can care for others)
• P rotect your mouth (speak kindly to others) 
• Protect your mind (we are always working our brains, making decisions)

Thai takes pride contributing his skills daily to make Sound Generations strong. Lets all take care of each other.

Sound Generations shall not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, marital status, familial status, religion, race, color, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or any other basis prohibited by law. Terms of Use and Policies . The Rider Guide is available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese and Korean. Please call Hyde Shuttle if you need a copy.

6 Tour Companies Dedicated to Travelers with Disabilities

Growing up, Neha Arora didn’t have the easiest time traveling with her family—her father is visually impaired and her mother is a wheelchair user. “We’d travel 2,000 miles only to realize the place wasn’t accessible or wouldn’t give us the experience we were looking forward to,” says Arora. In 2016, she founded Planet Abled , a travel company that caters to the needs of people with various disabilities, a group the World Health Organization estimates at 15 percent of the world’s population. Arora isn’t the only one pushing for more thoughtful travel experiences—here’s a look at six companies focused on accessible travel .

Travel for All

Travel for All has organized more than 5,000 vacations around the world for travelers with a variety of requirements, including cane users, slow walkers, hearing and vision impaired persons, travelers with complex health issues like dialysis and developmental disabilities, and wheelchair users. “As multiple sclerosis began to affect my own personal travel, I researched what resources could assist me with executing travel using my wheelchair,” says CEO Tarita Davenock. “I was shocked when I saw the lack of services.” Every trip Travel for All plans comes with an accessibility specialist. “We research and give our clients the pros and cons of any area in the world before planning the trip, so our client knows what to expect while they are in that destination,” says Davenock. “Meticulous planning and great attention to detail are the keystones of keeping our vacations safe.”

A Seable group trip in Cambodia, where travelers visited the Wat Phnom temple

Seable Holidays

Seable Holidays specializes in trips for visually impaired travelers. All trips include trained chaperones—who undergo a background check—as well as inclusive sports and sensory activities like horse riding, scuba diving, kayaking, wine tasting, yoga, and tactile museum excursions. And everything is thoroughly vetted, with chaperones, activities, and accommodations tested by blind people before they’re recommended by the company. While trips are on pause during the pandemic, Seable Holidays will bring them back in summer 2022.

Easy Access Travel

Debra Kerper and her team at Easy Access Travel accommodate most types of physical disabilities in their solo trips and mixed group tours. While Kerper sometimes relies on her own experiences as a traveler in a wheelchair, she says every trip needs to be tailored to an individual client’s needs. To do so, the team spends time getting to know their clients to match them with the best vacation choice, and visits hotels and tourist spots for inspection, takes cruises beforehand, and collects information from trustworthy sources to ensure a safe, accessible, and fun experience.

Planet Abled

Neha Arora’s Planet Abled arranges customized tours for people with different types of disabilities, and also plans group tours that include non-disabled people. Their trips mostly take place in India and South East Asia , with plans to expand to countries in Europe, and popular activities include river rafting, skiing, trekking, and wildlife safaris. Some of their extra touches include assigning a travel buddy for the blind, seeking special permission from museums so clients can touch and feel the articles on display, and arranging for sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired.

Wheel the World

Alvaro Silberstein, the CEO of Wheel the World , was paralyzed from the chest down after surviving an accident at 18. This didn’t stop him from seeing the world—he’s since visited 30 countries on five continents. “I realized that people with disabilities should be able to explore places as anyone else,” he says. Most of his clients are adults or seniors with mobility disabilities and wheelchair users, and he can arrange solo travel or group trips. Silberstein wants to create more awareness around accessibility, and his company pays special attention to details like the height of beds, width of doors, and accessibility of bathrooms, compiling this information on the Wheel the World website. Their multi-day trips are designed with local tour operators with a focus on accessible travel, and includes access to adaptive bikes, beach wheelchairs, and equipment for hiking, skydiving, kayaking, scuba diving, and surfing—they’ve even planned Macchu Pichu trips for wheelchair users . The company makes sure “prices are competitive and the pricing is the same no matter if the clients have a disability or not,” says Silberstein.

A quiet moment in Sintra, Portugal

Tapooz Travel

Laurent Roffe and Aicha Nystrom spent years volunteering with an organization that provides outdoors excursions to people with disabilities. “We have many friends in wheelchairs as part of our close community,” says Roffe. “I’m a sea kayak guide and [Aicha] is a ski guide and this has always been a source of immense joy for us. Launching our accessible travel business was a natural extension of what we are and what we like to do.” Their company, Tapooz Travel , specializes in trips for those with mobility issues, including visual and hearing impairment, rather than cognitive disabilities. When they have a client with a visual or hearing impairment, they make sure there’s at least one guide trained in sign language, or have a guide who can help with things like reading the menu at the restaurant and providing a voice narration during a site visit. Their network also includes adaptive sports instructors, sailboat skippers, tribal elders, massage therapists, and hot air balloon operators , all of whom are trained to work with travelers with disabilities.

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Taxis & Private Hire / Hyde Accessible Transport

Free Wheelchair Accessible Tours of London’s Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens

Liberty Drives was founded in 1997 by Richard Briggs OBE to provide free tours of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens for visitors with limited mobility, and their friends, family and care givers. The idea for Liberty Drives stemmed from the introduction of the Hyde Park Appeal that was set up in 1990 to re-establish the horse ride link between Hyde Park Corner and Speaker’s Corner. The charity was then formed to cover all mobility aspects for Hyde Park. It’s a fantastic scheme that has come to the aid of hundreds of visitors who have struggled to cover the 625 acres of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens on foot. Liberty Drives serve people of all ages with mobility issues and disabilities, for free.

Popular sites you can see on your tour include the Peter Pan statue and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground and Memorial Fountain. Each tour can take between 30 and 50 minutes, and can be as narrated or as uninterrupted as you choose. Driven by an expert volunteer, there is space for 5 passengers, with one passenger in a wheelchair. All vehicles are battery powered with low sound emissions as to stay in keeping with the tranquillity of the park.

Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. Image courtesy of Laura Bittner via Flickr

Liberty Drives can provide you with a brilliant tour of the famous royal park, created in the 16 th century by King Henry VIII to satisfy his passion for hunting. Over the subsequent centuries, the park has been used as a parade ground and then a defensive territory to defend Westminster during the Civil War, before being returned to a royal park by King Charles II. Many of the features seen today in the park were devised by Queen Caroline, who separated the park in 1728 to form Kensington Gardens. The 19 th century saw more changes, such as the introduction of gates, new lodges and walls with railings. The most recent change was made in 2004, with the creation of the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial fountain.

Liberty Drives is also available for transport during the concert season in Hyde Park , particularly for the popular Proms in the Park. They have been a strong promoter of improving the facilities for the disabled at all concerts, and as such disabled concert goers and those with poor mobility won’t miss out on these events despite the crowds, as the Liberty Drives service is still available around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to help them get around and enjoy the concerts.

Events serviced by Liberty Drives coming up in the summer of 2016 include the Gorilla Circus Flying Trapeze School, the Barclaycard British Summer Time featuring Florence & The Machine, Nomad Circus and BBC Proms in the Park.

The closest tube stations to the parks are Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge (both on the Piccadilly Line), and Queensway, Lancaster Gate and Marble Arch, on the Central Line. The Hyde Park Corner station has escalators between the platform and street level, so is not suitable for wheelchair users. Transport for London provide a great free map showing which stations are suitable for wheelchair users, with information on how big the gap between the train and platform is, where you can get a ramp on demand, and where there are lifts. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens can be accessed by road, either with your own transport, London buses, or taxis. There are many transport options available in London for people with limited mobility aside from the underground.

In 2008, Liberty Drives was recognised as the leading scheme of its type in the country by National Heritage. Although the main pick up point is from the Liberty Drives Dispatch Office, there are 7 points where you can be collected and dropped off. The volunteers are happy to drop you at one point and come to collect you later in the day to allow you further time to explore areas of the park at your own pace. Liberty Drives runs between May and October, from Monday to Friday. The park is open from 5am to 12am, and Liberty Drives is available from 10am to 4.30pm. Due to the volunteering nature of the scheme, please book in advance and allow 2-3 days for a response.

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After being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, Cory's thirst for adventure never ceased. He went on many trips around the US when he was younger, and then started taking things internationally when he turned fifteen. Since then, Cory has traveled around the world, all while managing to successfully graduate college and start up his travel blog curbfreewithcorylee.com, where he shares his accessible, and sometimes not so accessible, travel adventures with others. Through this, he hopes to inspire other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zone and see all of the beauty that the world has to offer.

• Wheelchair Accessible Dubrovnik, Croatia: What to See During Your Trip
• The Ultimate Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• A Wheelchair Accessible Guide to Traverse City, Michigan

This is awesome! I go to London every other month and didn’t even know this existed 🙂 Thank you for sharing Cory! I think a trip is required at the end of the month 😀

If you give it a try, please let me know. Have fun!! 🙂

Comments are closed.

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Wheelchair user refused Eurostar boarding despite booking an accessible space

Sam jennings was told she needed to book a ramp to board the eurostar, despite holding a wheelchair ticket, article bookmarked.

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A disability activist and wheelchair user said she was prevented from checking in for Eurostar in Paris because she had not booked a ramp prior to her journey, despite holding a wheelchair space ticket.

Sam Jennings, 46, who uses an electric wheelchair, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday that Eurostar was “being ridiculous” by telling her she needed to book a ramp on top of purchasing a wheelchair space on the train.

“I BOOKED the wheelchair space on a wheelchair priced fare for these trains & I’ve been refused check in BY Eurostar because I haven’t booked a ramp even though I explicitly asked is there anything else I need to do when I was HERE EARLIER,” she wrote, tagging the railway company.

After Eurostar replied to Jennings asking for her booking reference, she questioned why she also needed to book a ramp when she had paid for a wheelchair ticket.

“Why do we have to have an additional layer/task to travel with you to book a ramp? I’ve paid YOU for a wheelchair space, I know it’s 2024 but wheelchairs can’t levitate onto inaccessible trains yet. It should be automatically booked,” she added.

Jennings told the BBC that the staff at Gare du Nord station in Paris had "watched me queue to check in, then turned me round when I got to the front and sent me away to the office" to book a ramp.

She added to The Independent that when she was sent away from the check-in, they had not asked for her name or her ticket. “They just said: ‘No, you need to go and get the paper for the ramp,’ so they did not know it was me. They couldn’t possibly have been able to check my booking.”

After messaging Eurostar on X, Jennings said that a ramp was eventually provided so she could board the train to London, but she said that the incident had been “humiliating” and an “irritant”.

Jennings, who was in Paris for the Paralympic Games, said that she checked with staff earlier that day to make sure there was nothing else she needed to do before her trip to the UK, but she was told she did not need to do anything.

When the activist then did try to sort out the ramp, she was asked to present papers showing that she needed it, despite being in a wheelchair, describing this to the BBC as “petty power play”.

A Eurostar spokesperson told the BBC that they “apologise for this experience and understand the anxiety this must have caused the passenger while they waited for the issue to be resolved”.

They continued: "After further investigation, we’ve discovered due to human error, the passenger’s ramp booking was missed when the information was shared between systems.

"Rest assured that when a passenger books a wheelchair space on our London routes, the ramp is automatically reserved.

"On this occasion, we acknowledge this is an error on our part. We are improving our systems and tools is a key focus for us, and work has already begun to address this."

In a further statement to The Independent , a Eurostar spokesperson said they “apologise that the information given on X was incorrect and want to clarify that our policy has not changed.

“On our London routes, when a wheelchair space is reserved at least 24 hours in advance, there is no need to book a ramp separately through the contact centre. This is because the wheelchair booking is automatically flagged in our Eurostar Departure Control System, alerting the station to expect a passenger requiring a ramp. This process applies to journeys to or from London.

They added: “Limited communication via social media led to initial misunderstandings about the issue, as the passenger did not want to be contacted via phone,” they added. “Resolving this issue is our top priority, and we greatly appreciate the passenger’s patience and valuable feedback as we work to improve our systems and enhance the overall experience.”

Disability Rights UK, an organisation that strives to influence change for disabled people, told The Independent that the incident emphasises “ongoing problems of the Rail industry in its inconsistent treatment of disabled passengers”.

Their statement said: “All too often we find that across services on UK services including Eurostar, communication failures within a train company between staff about assistance required will have a serious impact on the passenger.

“We are clear that better training of all staff of the impact of failure is essential to avoid the imbalance of some passengers, as with other wheelchair users on Eurostar, getting full assistance and others getting an appalling experience.”

Eurostar is the official travel partner of both ParalympicsGB and TeamGB.

Jennings said she felt that she was treated like “a nuisance” while travelling around Paris for the Paralympic Games.

She told The Independent that she planned her travel around Paris, checking that the buses would be accessible and running after she was unable to book the shuttles and discovering the Metro is not completely accessible. She even allowed for an extra hour on Sunday morning before travelling to the wheelchair basketball women’s finals because she expected someone to “drop the ball at some point”.

However, in the end, Jennings “didn’t get to the basketball because it was all inaccessible. No one had mentioned or put any signs up, and there was no alerts that there were going to be no busses into Paris on the Sunday morning, and I was staying on the outskirts because of the marathon”.

This is not the first time Jennings said she has experienced “zero access fails.” She said she has counted more than 30 incidents "from being left on trains to people refusing to help me with the ramp”.

She said that situations like these can be “insulting, belittling and infuriating”, especially on Victorian-era railways in the UK that do not have level access.

“We need people to put the ramps down, and we need people to be responsive and ready to do that and not treat us like we’ve made them do an extra thing that they can come to work to do today,” she said.

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• Department for Culture, Media & Sport

How to watch the Coronation and processions (Saturday 6 May)

Updated 5 May 2023

© Crown copyright 2023

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-coronation-of-their-majesties-king-charles-iii-and-queen-camilla/how-to-watch-the-coronation-and-processions-saturday-6-may

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place on Saturday 6 May. There will be ceremonial processions in London before and after the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey in London.

The service and processions will be broadcast on national television, radio and online, and shown on large screens at screening sites in London and around the country .

This guidance tells you how you can watch the processions in London in person, or visit the screening sites at Hyde Park, The Green Park and St James’s Park. To watch at another screening site, visit the Coronation.GOV.UK website to find events in your local area .

The accessibility section provides information for people with access requirements, including accessible viewing areas and quiet viewing spaces. It also includes a BSL (British Sign Language) video summary of the Coronation weekend .

Please be aware that large crowds are expected, and there will be road closures in place to ensure the event is delivered safely. Public transport services are likely to be very busy with some station closures and bus diversions, especially around the Westminster and Hyde Park areas.

About the Coronation

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place on Saturday 6 May. The first procession will begin at 10.20am. Their Majesties will travel in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. This is known as ‘The King’s Procession’. Their Majesties will travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by 6 Windsor Grey horses. The Household Cavalry will provide the Sovereign’s Escort.

The King’s Procession will travel along The Mall, through Admiralty Arch, passing to the south of the King Charles Island statue in Trafalgar Square before turning onto Whitehall. The procession will continue down Whitehall and along the east and south sides of Parliament Square, arriving at Westminster Abbey.

The Coronation service at Westminster Abbey will begin at 11am and finish at 1pm.

After the Coronation service, Their Majesties will return to Buckingham Palace as part of a larger ceremonial procession, known as ‘The Coronation Procession’. The Coronation Procession will last for around 30 minutes. Their Majesties will travel in the Gold State Coach, drawn by 8 Windsor Grey horses.

The procession will arrive at Buckingham Palace at around 1:30pm. Their Majesties will receive a salute from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Armed Forces in the Buckingham Palace Gardens, and appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony. At 2:30pm, there will be a Coronation flypast by the Armed Forces over The Mall and Buckingham Palace (subject to weather, serviceability, and operational commitments).

Explore the procession route with Dan Snow

Learn more about the Coronation:

• The history of coronation ceremonies (official website of the British Royal Family)
• The King’s Procession and the Coronation Procession (official website of the British Royal Family)
• Coronations at the Abbey (Westminster Abbey website)

How to watch

• Both processions and the Coronation service will be broadcast live on national television, radio and online.
• Find out how to watch the processions in person .
• Please note that there will not be screens along the route. If you wish to watch the broadcast of events (including the Coronation service), you should visit one of the screening sites.
• Find out how to visit the screening sites in Hyde Park, St James’s Park and The Green Park .
• Find events in your local area .
• Find other ways to get involved in the celebrations , such as hosting a Coronation Big Lunch or street party, and taking part in the Big Help Out.

Screening the Coronation at events

The BBC has confirmed a special one-off TV licence dispensation for the Coronation of HM King Charles III. If you are hosting an event, you won’t need a TV licence to screen coverage of the Coronation on 6 May 2023, or the Coronation Concert on 7 May 2023. Find out more on the BBC’s website .

Plan your journey

This guidance contains information on:

How to get to London

• How to get to the procession viewing areas

How to get to the screening sites

Please note that the areas in and around Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, St James’s Park, The Green Park and Trafalgar Square will be very crowded. The National Rail and London Underground stations in these areas will be very busy.

It may be necessary for short-term safety measures to be put in place at transport stations, such as queuing, closures, trains not stopping at certain stations, or changes to the way customers enter or exit a station. Please follow the directions of stewards and police officers.

What you should do:

• Plan your journey using the Transport for London and National Rail Enquiries websites.
• Check Transport for London status updates and National Rail Enquiries latest travel information before you travel, and allow more time than usual for your journey.
• Find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or downloading the TfL Go app .
• After the events, remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey. Service updates may have changed.
• If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services may be busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and into the evening.

The major railway stations in London include:

• London Blackfriars
• London Cannon Street
• London Charing Cross
• London Euston
• London King’s Cross
• London Liverpool Street
• London Bridge
• London Marylebone
• London Paddington
• London St Pancras International
• London Victoria
• London Waterloo
• London Waterloo East

Use the Transport for London journey planner to continue your journey to the viewing areas or screening sites. Please be aware that transport services are expected to be very busy before and after the Coronation service, and it is likely there will be queues at stations.

You can plan your journey within London using the Transport for London journey planner . Check which station you should travel to if you want to:

• get to the procession viewing areas
• get to the screening sites

Remember to check National Rail Enquiries latest travel information and Transport for London status updates before you travel, and allow more time than usual for your journey.

You can also keep track of the latest travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or by downloading the TfL Go app .

After the events, police and stewards will direct you to the exits and to nearby transport hubs. Remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey, as service updates may have changed.

If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services are expected to be very busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and late into the evening. If you are planning on catching a late-night train, please check in advance when your last available service departs.

London Victoria station - limited access (Hyde Park screening site only)

On Saturday 6 May, many of the roads around Victoria station will be closed. There will be limited public access to the procession route, or The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites, from Victoria station.

London Victoria station should be used for the Hyde Park screening site only. If you exit at Victoria station, you may be directed to the screening site at Hyde Park.

If you want to watch the procession or go to the screening sites in The Green Park or St James’s Park, you should travel to an alternative station. Check which station to use if you want to get to the viewing areas , or get to the screening sites , and continue your journey from Victoria on the London Underground.

Watch the processions in person

In this section:

The procession viewing areas

• Procession route - map and facilities

You can watch the Coronation processions through London in person at viewing areas along the procession route, on both sides of The Mall and Whitehall.

The viewing areas will be open from 6am on Saturday 6 May. Please do not arrive before 6am.

The King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey will take place before the Coronation service, which starts at 11am. The Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace will take place after the Coronation service.

There is an accessible viewing area which can be used by people with access requirements, and a quiet viewing space. Read the accessibility section for more information .

You should be aware that large crowds are expected, and be prepared to queue to enter the viewing areas. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and ensure everyone can enter safely and securely.

Capacity at the viewing areas will be limited and they will be closed when they are full. If you leave a viewing area at any time, readmission cannot be guaranteed.

If the viewing area you intend to visit is full when you arrive, you will be directed to one of the other viewing areas or a screening site . The screening sites will show all of the day’s events on large screens, including both processions, the Coronation service, and the balcony appearance. Entry to the screening sites is free.

After the Coronation Procession has passed down The Mall, the police will open the route to allow people to move onto the road. People will be able to walk down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, to watch the balcony appearance. The police will monitor crowd numbers and gradually open the viewing areas, to ensure that everyone stays safe and secure.

Staying safe in crowds

• Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and ensure everyone stays safe and secure.
• Take care of your belongings. Keep your phone, wallet and purse out of sight and make sure any valuables are secure.
• If you notice anything suspicious, please inform the stewards or police.

Read more about staying safe in London (Metropolitan Police website) .

Procession viewing areas - map and facilities

The image below shows a map of the procession route: the King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, and the Coronation Procession back to Buckingham Palace. The procession route is marked in gold.

There are viewing areas along the procession route, on both sides of The Mall and Whitehall. The public viewing areas are marked on the map in purple.

The image also shows the facilities at the viewing areas and along the route. There are first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, and accessible viewing spaces . There are concession kiosks along the route where you can buy food and drinks.

The map also shows the nearby screening sites in The Green Park and St James’s Park , where you can watch the processions and the Coronation service on large screens.

View or download a larger version of the map , (PDF, 13.4MB).

How to get to the viewing areas

The table below tells you the recommended stations (London Underground or National Rail) to use for the viewing areas along the procession route. This may not be the station you would usually use, because of diversions and road closures.

There will be signs marking the walking routes, and stewards will direct you to the viewing areas.

Check before you travel

It may be necessary for short-term safety measures to be put in place at transport stations, such as queuing, closures, trains not stopping at certain stations, or changes to the way customers enter or exit a station.

Please note that on Saturday 6 May:

• St James’s Park station will be closed.
• Hyde Park Corner station will be exit only.
• Victoria station will have limited access to the procession route because of road closures. If you exit at Victoria, you may be directed to the Hyde Park screening site.

You should be aware that large crowds are expected, and the viewing areas will close when they are full. The viewing areas have limited capacity and may close before the events begin. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help people to stay safe.

After the events, police and stewards will direct you to the exits and to nearby transport hubs. Remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey, as service updates may have changed. You can find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or downloading the TfL Go app .

If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services will be very busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and late into the evening.

Watch all events at the screening sites

• Hyde Park screening site (information and map)
• The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites (information and map)

You can watch the Coronation at the Hyde Park screening site, which will show the processions and the Coronation service on large screens. There are also smaller screening sites at The Green Park and St James’s Park, but these are likely to reach capacity very quickly.

Access to all screening sites is free. There will be first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, and concession kiosks where you can buy food and drinks. Read more about facilities at the Hyde Park screening site , and The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites .

There are accessible viewing areas and quiet spaces at each of the screening sites. Read the accessibility section for more information.

Please note that large crowds are expected. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help everyone to stay safe and secure. If you choose to leave a screening site during the events, you may lose your viewing position.

Hyde Park screening site

The Hyde Park screening site is located in the south-east corner of the park, covering the area around the Serpentine lake.

You can access the Hyde Park screening site from 5am on Saturday 6 May. However, please note that the broadcast will begin later in the morning, ahead of the first procession. If you arrive at 5am, the screens may not be turned on and some facilities (such as food and drink kiosks) may not be open. Please do not arrive before 5am.

There are 4 screens at the Hyde Park screening site:

Screen 1: Old Football Pitches (south of the Serpentine, close to South Carriage Drive) - facing west.

Screen 2: Old Football Pitches (south of the Serpentine, close to South Carriage Drive) - facing east.

Screen 3: The Cockpit (north side of the Serpentine, near the Norwegian War Memorial).

Screen 4: Boathouse Lawn (north side of the Serpentine, next to the boathouse).

Map and facilities - Hyde Park screening site

The image below shows a map of the Hyde Park screening site. Each of the 4 screens is marked on the map with a letter ‘S’ icon. An orange area next to the icon shows the direction the screen will be facing.

The map also shows the facilities at the site, including first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, accessible viewing spaces and quiet spaces .

There are concession kiosks near each of the screens where you can buy food and drinks.

The Green Park and St James’s Park screening sites

There are also screening sites at The Green Park and St James’s Park. Please note that these sites are smaller than Hyde Park, and are likely to reach capacity very quickly.

More information on the site opening times will be added shortly.

• The Green Park: 1 large screen at the Broad Walk.
• St James’s Park: 1 large screen, near the Marlborough Gate.

There are accessible viewing spaces and quiet viewing spaces at the screening sites. Read the accessibility section for more information.

Map and facilities - The Green Park and St James’s Park

The image below shows a map of the screening sites in The Green Park and St James’s Park.

The screen at each site is marked on the map with a letter ‘S’ icon. An orange area next to the icon shows the direction the screen will be facing.

There are concession kiosks near each screen where you can buy food and drinks.

The table below tells you the recommended stations (London Underground or National Rail) to use for each screening site. This may not be the station you would usually use, because of diversions and road closures.

• Victoria station will have limited access to The Green Park and St James’s Park because of road closures. If you exit at Victoria, you may be directed to the Hyde Park screening site.

You should be aware that large crowds are expected, and the screening sites may reach capacity before the events begin. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help people to stay safe.

Accessibility

Accessible viewing areas and quiet spaces, bsl (british sign language) summary - the coronation weekend, where to find the accessible and quiet viewing areas, accessible transport.

Accessible viewing areas are available for people with access requirements. These areas have limited capacity, and people will be admitted in order of arrival time.

People using the accessible viewing areas can be accompanied by carers or companions. Please note that space will be limited.

The accessible viewing areas will have:

• stewards managing the areas
• accessible viewing areas at ground level, providing dedicated locations for wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments and other access requirements
• a British Sign Language interpreter
• a hearing loop for people using hearing aids
• welfare points to provide assistance, if needed
• disabled people’s toilets and Changing Places toilets
• assistance dog facilities

All accessible locations at viewing areas and screening sites are at ground level. The accessible viewing areas will have hard-floored areas and grassed areas. The grassed areas are intended for picnicking, and you will be able to bring your own picnic chairs for use in these areas.

The screening sites also have quiet spaces which people can use if they feel overwhelmed, or require time out in a calm environment. The quiet spaces will have soft seating, and ear defenders will be available.

Anyone can use the quiet spaces at any time. However, these areas have limited capacity and people will be admitted in order or arrival time.

The video below is a BSL (British Sign Language) summary of the Coronation weekend.

The Coronation weekend - BSL (British Sign Language) summary

Procession route, The Green Park, St James’s Park

The image below shows a map of the procession route (marked in gold), and the accessible viewing areas along the Mall and Whitehall (marked in purple). The map also shows the screening sites in The Green Park and St James’s Park.

The accessible viewing areas are marked on the map with a letter ‘A’ icon. The quiet spaces are marked on the map with an icon of a crossed-out microphone. The map also shows which of the nearby stations have step-free access.

Procession route viewing areas:

• Accessible viewing area: north side of the Mall, close to Trafalgar Square.

The Green Park screening site:

• The accessible viewing area and quiet space are close to the main screen (near the Broad Walk).

St James’s Park screening site:

• The accessible viewing area and quiet space are close to the main screen (near the Marlborough Gate).

View or download a larger version of the map , (PDF, 13.6MB).

The image below shows a map of the Hyde Park screening site.

There are accessible viewing areas and quiet spaces near each of the 4 screens:

View or download a larger version of the map , (PDF, 13.7MB).

There are more than 200 step-free stations across the TfL network. Visit Transport for London’s accessibility page for more information on accessible public transport information in London. You can find out how accessible each station is, and there is also a step-free journey planner.

Step-free stations

The following stations have step-free access, however please check before you travel as there may be short-notice changes. You can find up-to-date travel information by following TfLAccess on Twitter .

• Green Park (London Underground)
• Bond Street (London Underground)
• Tottenham Court Road (London Underground, Elizabeth Line)
• Victoria (London Underground)
• Waterloo (London Underground, National Rail)
• Westminster (London Underground)

The section on where to find the accessible and quiet viewing areas shows the location of the step-free stations close to accessible and quiet viewing areas.

Transport for London offers a ‘turn up and go’ service to help passengers who require additional assistance, such as people with visual impairments, mobility impairments, and large groups travelling together. This could include providing boarding ramps, help to move you through the station or interchange between trains and suggesting alternative or step-free routes.

The turn up and go service is provided on the London Underground and London Overground, and most stations on the Elizabeth Line. You do not need to pre-book this service, just ask staff for assistance at the station.

Transport for London also provides:

• Accessible maps of London transport facilities . You can download or order tube, bus and other transport maps in alternative formats (such as audio maps, large print, black and white) and maps of toilet and baby-changing facilities.
• Maps of London transport facilities in other languages . You can download the London Underground map in languages other than English.

For help with lost property, please visit the TLC Welfare website .

What to expect if you attend

To keep everyone safe, security measures are in place at all sites. You or your bag may be searched before you can enter.

At the viewing areas and the screening sites, there will be first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, and concession kiosks where you can buy food and drinks. You can bring your own food and drinks, but please avoid bringing glass items (such as drinking glasses) into the sites. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove, particularly from parkland areas.

The Green Park, Hyde Park, and St James’s Park are managed by The Royal Parks. You can visit The Royal Parks website for more information on visiting these parks, including guidance on the parks’ rules and facilities.

Conduct and behaviour

There will be stewards and police officers at the screening sites, helping to keep everyone safe and secure. Antisocial or inappropriate behaviour (including excessive consumption of alcohol or drunken behaviour) will not be tolerated and you may be asked to leave.

You should:

• Follow the instructions of stewards, event staff and police at all times.
• Dispose of litter using the litter and recycling bins provided.
• Respect your surroundings. The Royal Parks are historic sites, and provide a diverse habitat for wildlife. Please stick to footpaths, do not damage or remove plants, and do not attempt to climb or attach anything to trees.
• Remember not to leave any of your property unattended, and report unattended bags or luggage to stewards or police.
• Leave the viewing areas or screening sites quietly so you do not disturb people who live nearby.

What you should and shouldn’t bring

Remember to bring:

• Suitable clothing for the weather conditions. You may want to bring warm, protective clothing or an umbrella in cold or wet weather, or sunscreen and a hat if it is likely to be sunny.
• A water bottle. There will be water refill stations at the viewing areas and screening sites where you can refill bottles. There will also be concession kiosks available where you can buy food and drinks, but you may want to bring your own refreshments (particularly if you have specific dietary requirements).
• Appropriate footwear. You will be required to stand outdoors for long periods, so you are advised to wear comfortable shoes.
• If you are visiting the screening sites at Hyde Park, St James’s Park or The Green Park, you may want to bring a blanket, stool or folding chair to sit on as the viewing screens are located in grassy areas (but please note there may not be space to use or store them). Do not bring stools or folding chairs to the procession route viewing areas.

You should not bring:

• Barbecues and equipment for fires.
• Drones. The use of drones is not permitted across any of the ceremonial sites, including the viewing areas and screening sites. You should not attempt to operate a drone in these areas, for photography or any other reasons. You may be fined, and your drone may be confiscated.
• Glass items. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove. If you bring your own refreshments, please use paper or plastic cups for your drinks.
• If you are visiting the procession route viewing areas, do not bring stools or folding chairs.

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Life Above the Arctic Circle: Things to Do in Murmansk

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Those who have the colorful aurora lights on their bucket list should definitely know that Scandinavia is surely not the only destination in the world for catching Northern Lights. In fact, people from all around the globe come to the untouched Russian north to gaze at unspoiled nature and immerse themselves in the fairytale magic of winter.

In the first part of the travel guide about Murmansk , we've introduced you to the city's unusual history and gave tips on when to go there, how to get there, and what to keep in mind when planning your trip. In this piece, we're glad to share the most exciting activities to make your time touring Murmansk simply irresistible! Let's have a closer look at its wonders.

Top Activities to Add to Your Murmansk Itinerary

Searching the northern lights in russia.

Did you know that Russia is one of the best places in the world for viewing Northern Lights? In fact, the unparalleled city of Murmansk is a unique place to go and hunt this dazzling phenomenon, and hundreds of people come here in the hope of gazing at the miracle of Aurora Borealis with their own eyes. As a rule, the best chances of catching the colorful light show is when going to the outskirts (farther from the city lights).

If you are among those who want to try their luck, then you need to plan your holiday somewhere between September 1st to April 15th. But keep in mind that December and January are considered to be the most auspicious months for this activity as this is the time when the polar night reigns in the area, thus the chances to observe the magical phenomena are at their highest. Can you think of a more magical way to spend the holiday season than having your own Russian winter fairytale ?

Best Time to Travel For a better chance of seeing the magic of the Northern Lights, consider visiting Murmansk in December or January.

Visiting the Lenin Icebreaker

Amazing Murmansk is home to another unique item, the nuclear-powered icebreaker Lenin, the first surface ship fitted with nuclear propulsion in the world. The icebreaker served its country for over 30 years until 1989 when it was withdrawn from the navy because it was wearing thin from ice friction. And subsequently, it has been turned into a museum!

During its glory days, Lenin covered over 1 000 000 km (654 000 miles) and 906 km (563 mi) were through thick ice! Interestingly, although there is a long-standing belief that a woman on board a ship brings bad luck, brave young women constituted 20% of Lenin's crew. The first nuclear-powered icebreaker in the world was supposed to become a symbol of the mighty Soviet Union, so the interior of the ship was carefully designed to correspond to this high status.

It was decorated with expensive woods unheard of at the time. "Lenin" didn't go through any reconstruction and almost everything you can see onboard are the original items which have remained there since the 1960s.

Have you Heard of Russian Fjords?

Yes, as we've mentioned above, wonderful Norway is not the only place boasting natural beauty of such. Russia's Murmansk also has something special to offer during your Russian trip . The most well-known Murmansk fjord is called the Kola Bay and it is just as spectacular as the famous Norwegian inlets. What is more, you don't need to travel far or hike for hours in order to enjoy the amazing views, Murmansk was built on it!

At the east side of the Kola Bay is located one of the most significant Russian objects of military importance, the port of Murmansk, famous for never being ice-bound even though Murmansk is one of the northernmost cities on the planet (no, it has nothing to do with magic, the secret is in the warm underwater currents). What is more, the Kola Bay is home to the town of Polyarny, the main base of the Russian Federation's Northern Fleet.

Travelers who wish to see and find out more about the beautiful Murmansk inlets are welcome to rent a sailboat (preferably with a local guide who has some interesting stories about the area to share) and enjoy a memorable boat ride across the Kola Bay.

Spending Time at a Husky Farm

If you are a dog person, there is one very special place you can't miss during your Murmansk travel. Nestled a 15-minute ride away from the city, "Ulybka Alyaski" (translated as "The Smile of Alaska") Husky Farm is one of the favored tourist attractions in the Murmansk Oblast. Every visitor will have a chance to bask in adoration, coming from the friendly residents of the farm.

All the dogs there are happy to be hugged and petted, and a knowledgeable guide will share some fascinating stories about the breed's history as well as the husky sledding competitions. In winter, you can even have a chance to try your hand in this sport and see for yourself that a husky is never happier than when it is working. After the ride, you'll be asked for a mug of hot tea with the traditional Russian pastries.

Fascinating Activity During your Murmansk travel, don't miss an opportunity to try your hand in husky dog sledding competition!

Paying a Visit to a Saami Village

Located not far from the Husky Farm, the Saami Village is also a great place to put on your bucket list of Russia travel . Saami are the indigenous people of the north, boasting a unique lifestyle, rich heritage, and traditions.

During the visit, you explore the history of Saami, see their traditional buildings and magical idols (it's better to have some change on you to be able to make a wish), and taste national cuisine, including salmon fish soup, lovozerskiy bread, and pakula, the traditional Saami drink made out of the Chaga mushrooms.

To top it all, travelers are invited to enjoy reindeer sledding, participate in the traditional games, and even to take photos in the national Saami clothing!

Enjoying the Snow Village

The Snow Village is a kingdom of snow, ice, and wonder. Just imagine a huge enclosed structure, made entirely out of snow (hence the name of the fairytale place) and covering an area of 2 400 square meters (2 870 yards). Impressive right? And this incredible complex is a place that brings back that thrill and thirst for adventure that we all felt, thinking about snowy winter as children.

Inside you can find an amazing snow labyrinth, decorated with snow and ice sculptures and reliefs, depicting various fairytale and historical characters, images of local flora and fauna, as well as classic popular winter activities and much more. As a highlight, to brighten up your experience even more, in one of the numerous rooms there is an icy postbox, and everyone is welcome to use it to send a letter to the main winter magician in Russia, Grandfather Frost (the Slavic version of Santa Claus).

Make a Wish In one of the numerous rooms there is an icy postbox, and everyone is welcome to use it to send a letter to the main winter magician in Russia, Grandfather Frost

Murmansk's Celebration of the Sun

As noted previously (as well as in our first piece dedicated to the incredible city), Murmansk's polar nights offer the best conditions for those travelers who want to experience the wonders of the Northern Lights. But there are more reasons to go to Murmansk while the polar nights last. If you happen to travel to the largest town in the world located above the Arctic Circle around the 11th of January — the 40th day when the non-stop night darkness starts to give in to the light of the day — you can take part in one of the most important annual events in Murmansk, the Celebration of the Sun.

When the sun rises above the horizon for the first time after such a long absence, the citizens of Murmansk get together at the Solnichnaya Gorka Observation Deck to celebrate the first dawn and share this long-awaited moment.

Although the sun won't stay up for long (usually the first sun after the polar nights appears for about half an hour), in a week's time the daylight will last for 3 hours. As January goes, the sun "grows stronger" and by the end of the month, the full disk of the sun will appear over the horizon.

On the last Sunday of January, the city celebrates one of its main holidays, "Hello, Sun!" Different festive events take place all over the city, but the main celebrations, including dancing, games, and concerts happen at the main square of Murmansk, the "Square of Five Angles".

But the polar night and the Northern Lights aren't the only interesting phenomena you can catch in Murmansk. In summer, the citizens of the city live through the polar day when the sun stays above the horizon for 62 days straight!

Celebration Time On the last Sunday of January, the city celebrates one of its main holidays, "Hello, Sun!". The majority of the events take place at the "Square of Five Angels"

We've started our first piece about marvelous Murmansk by telling you about the wondrous place that seemed to belong to a fantasy novel instead of being one of the cities in immense Russia. Now, we hope that our two-piece guide was enough to prove our point and show you what a truly magical place the biggest city above the Arctic Circle, fairytale Murmansk, is! It has all the chances of becoming your favorite Russian city, and if you are interested in seeing everything we've told you about with your own eyes, one of our travel specialists will be happy to answer all your questions and plan a perfect vacation for you.

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Travel to Murmansk, the Largest City North of the Arctic Circle

TripSavvy / Aleksandr Bergan

Murmansk is the largest city in the world above the Arctic Circle and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast. It is an important historical and cultural city largely because of its military and trade significance during World War II. The city is a perfectly preserved slice of Post-Communist Russia since it has not undergone many changes since the Communist Era.

A Brief History

Murmansk was the last city to be founded in the Russian Empire when the Russian railway system was extended to the North in 1915. During World War II, the city was one of the most important ports in the country for manufacturing and trading supplies.

Murmansk was heavily bombed during World War II by Hitler’s army; the only other Russian city that was attacked more heavily was Stalingrad. Almost the entire city burned down but Murmansk was never defeated. They were granted the honorable title of “Hero City” for their resistance against the German army.

During the Cold War, Murmansk was a port for Soviet nuclear icebreakers and submarines, many of which it still houses today. The city remains a port for fishery, exports and passenger vessels.

After 1989 the population of Murmansk declined drastically due to the fall of the Soviet Union and the rapidly worsening economic situation. Its current population is approximately 304 500 people.

Visiting Murmansk

There are two good ways to Get to Murmansk:

• By Train:  Trains run daily to Murmansk from St. Petersburg , Moscow and many other major cities. However, due to its location in the far north, it's a long train ride - 32 hours from St. Petersburg.
• By Airplane:  Fly into Murmansk Airport from St. Petersburg, Moscow , and Helsinki .

Where to Stay in Murmansk

You can stay at the historic 3-star Hotel Artika in the center of the city, or right beside it at the Hotel Meridian, another 3-star hotel on the Five Corners Square. Another popular and central hotel is the 4-star Park Inn Poliarnie Zori.

Weather in Murmansk

Murmansk has relatively mild weather for how far north it is. In the winter weather is usually around -10 degrees Celsius, and during the summer it usually stays around 12 degrees with rain. Polar nights (24-hour darkness) occur from December 2 – January 11, and polar days from 2 May – 22 July.

You may even be able to see the  Northern Lights : they occur 15 to 20 times throughout the winter.

Murmansk Sights and Attractions

Murmansk has lots of statues and memorials that you will encounter while walking around the city. Here are some of the most famous places to visit:

• The Alyosha Monument: Be sure to see one of the largest war memorials in Russia, a 116-ft tall statue of an unnamed soldier in honor of the "Defenders of the Soviet Arctic during the Great Patriotic War" (World War II).
• St. Nicholas Church: A small but significant Russian Orthodox church named after the patron saint of sailors. Nearby is a commemorative lighthouse, also dedicated to Russian sailors.
• The Square of Five Corners: This is the central square of Murmansk, housing the DUMA, the main shopping center and the Hotel Arktika.
• The Hotel Arktika : This was the tallest building above the Arctic Circle when it was built. It is only 16 stories high because taller buildings become unstable due to the cold climate. The hotel is open for tourist visits.
• The Museum of Regional History: This museum houses four floors detailing the history and culture of the region, including stunning nature and animal displays that kids will enjoy.
• The Fine Arts Museum: The only art museum above the Arctic Circle. There are more than 3000 works of art on display, focusing on artists from Murmansk and a sculpture collection.
• The Lenin Nuclear Icebreaker: The first nuclear icebreaker built in the world, the ship is still kept in very good shape. It houses a museum with lots of hands-on exhibitions (great for kids). Tours are offered daily in English, and you can even take a look at the nuclear reactor inside.
• The Puppet Theater: Great for kids and adults alike, the theater puts on Russian fairy tales for kids of all ages throughout the year, including Christmas tales. The strong visuals mean it's not necessary to speak Russian to enjoy the shows.
• The Murmansk Regional Drama Theatre: This theater shows Russian plays year-round. This is a great place to soak up some Russian culture.

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