Locomotion wins Rough Guide to Accessible Britain Awards as UK's Best Free Venue

Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon, County Durham, was yesterday named as the Best Free Venue in the UK in the first ever Rough Guide to Accessible Britain Awards.

Judges praised Locomotion as:

“A fascinating day out. You can’t help but marvel at the amazing collection of trains. But it is more than just a load of big machines – this is the social history of Great Britain laid out in one place.”

“Disabled visitors are genuinely surprised at the experience, especially given the nature of the trains and carriages featured; there is an awful lot of hands-on interaction.”

Set in seven restored buildings, this extension to the National Railway Museum has accessibility in its DNA. Judges recognised the way the attraction made the very best of difficult old buildings. Signage, the depth of visitor information and a dedicated accessible bus service were all acknowledged as opening up the site to all. Reviewers also praised the ‘great atmosphere’ of Locomotion, and highlighted the especially friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Other Rough Guide to Accessible Britain Award winners include Historic passenger steamship Brunel’s ss Great Britain, recognised as the Best Heritage Venue; London’s Science Museum takes the award for Best Family Venue; the Best Active Venue award is taken by the Cairngorm Funicular Railway and Ski Centre; and environmental centre the Eden Project captured the hearts of consumers voting for the Readers’ Choice Venue. The winners are united by their awareness and understanding of their visitors’ needs as well as their creativity and attention to detail in meeting those needs.

The Awards, supported by Motability Operations and launched to coincide with the third edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, were presented by adventurer and TV personality Ben Fogle at a reception in London’s Tate Modern.

Ben Fogle, presenter of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain Awards, explained:

“I have been lucky enough to travel and have some amazing adventures over the years, but I have realised the most beautiful scenery and the most important history is here on our doorstep within hundreds of great UK attractions. Everyone, regardless of any disability or accessibility requirements, should be able to experience these great places of interest.
 
“The Accessible Britain Awards mark the achievements of attractions, however large or small, across the UK that have demonstrated considerable effort and creativity in providing inclusive experiences for disabled visitors. Locomotion, the National Railway Museum should be really proud of their achievement. Both the Awards and I hope to inspire more people to get about and discover more of the UK’s best sites.”

Attractions were whittled down by Rough Guides’ expert reviewers and judging panel into four categories: Best Family Venue, Best Active Venue, Best Heritage Venue and Best Free Venue. The judges then made a final assessment of the reviewers’ submissions to select the winning and highly commended attractions.  The Readers’ Choice Venue, was voted for by consumers online at www.accessibleguide.co.uk from a shortlist of 10 attractions.

The panel of judges included Ian Macrae, editor of Disability Now; Martin Dunford, founder, Rough Guides; Lara Masters, Britain’s Missing Top Model judge and Rough Guide reviewer; and Delia Ray, head of marketing, Motability Operations.

The  Accessible Britain Awards, and The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, are supported by Motability, the leading car scheme for disabled people which provides a worry-free motoring package to over half a million people in the UK.

A full review of each winner – including details of how they achieved their accolade – will feature in the third edition of The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, due for publication in April 2010. The Guide, available FREE to Blue Badge holders, includes comprehensive details of over 180 inspirational days out for disabled people and their families.

For more information on The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain see www.accessibleguide.co.uk.

About Rough Guides

An award-winning CoolBrand, passionate for telling it like it is, Rough Guides is a leading travel content provider with more than 700 travel guides, gift-books, maps, phrasebooks, bespoke custom publishing guides and digital products, including eBooks and mobile applications. With accurate, up-to-date information and informed, contemporary writing, Rough Guides also produces books on a range of subjects, from the bestselling Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth to zeitgeist books such as the Rough Guide to iPods, iTunes, and Music Online.  For more information visit www.roughguides.com. Make The Most Of Your Time On Earth™

About Motability

Motability offers disabled people a worry-free motoring package including a brand new car every three years with insurance, servicing and maintenance, breakdown assistance from RAC, an allowance of 60,000 miles over a three year period and free tyre and glass replacement.

For more information on Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon, please contact:

George Muirhead
Museum Manager
01388 771440
gmuirhead@locomotion.uk.com

Pam Porter
Events Officer
01388 771445
pporter@sedgefield.gov.uk