Accessible Cities in the UK
According to the Access Association, there are 16.8 million disabled people in the UK, about a quarter of the total population!
With a disabled population so large, you’d think accessibility would be a major concern for all UK cities. As a company dedicated to improving the lives of those with mobility issues, we wanted to look further into how accessible UK cities really are.
The State of UK Accessibility
The 2025 Spring Statement announced a £4.8 million reduction in welfare spending, meaning that there are more potential hardships on the way for disabled people.
Government reports reveal that disabled people in the UK are more likely to experience loneliness and anxiety, perhaps due to the insufficient infrastructure needed to live a normal life. The same report tells us disabled people are less likely to travel, due to the limitations they face in getting around.
A Disability Rights report found that 84% of disabled people feel there are issues with street accessibility in local areas. These issues limit their ability to socialise and perform daily tasks, leading to further issues such as worsened mental health and wellbeing. 60% of respondents in the same survey reported they were unable to live independently.
We decided to look into the state of UK accessibility. We researched the percentage of accessible facilities in UK cities (compared to total population) and compared that percentage with the non-accessible facilities. We looked at hotels, restaurants, car parks, toilets and attractions, ranking each city based on its percentage of accessible facilities and scoring points based on those rankings.
The research allowed us to determine the most and least accessible cities in the UK!
The Most Accessible Cities in the UK
| City | % Of Accessible Hotels | % Of Accessible Restaurants | % Of Accessible Parking Spots | % Of Accessible Toilets | % Of Accessible Attractions | Accessibility Score |
Ely |
0.0208% |
0.1511% |
0.0521% |
0.0412% |
0.1530% |
349 |
Chichester |
0.0189% |
0.2931% |
0.0315% |
0.0504% |
0.1040% |
346 |
Bangor (Wales) |
0.0177% |
0.2766% |
0.0353% |
0.0521% |
0.2606% |
343 |
| Stirling (Scotland) | 0.0270% |
0.1650% |
0.0379% | 0.0081% |
0.1325% |
329 |
| Canterbury | 0.0218% |
0.1652% |
0.0581% |
0.0127% |
0.0672% |
324 |
| Winchester | 0.0144% |
0.1155% |
0.0206% |
0.0217% |
0.1041% |
308 |
| St. Davids (Wales) | 0.1484% |
0.8160% |
0.2967% |
0.0330% |
0.3303% |
307 |
| Truro | 0.0260% |
0.1388% |
0.0130% |
0.0121% |
0.2833% |
306 |
| Durham | 0.0238% |
0.1524% |
0.0178% |
0.0138% |
0.0404% |
302 |
| Wells | 0.0083% |
0.1073% |
0.0908% |
0.0433% |
0.1258% |
300 |
Ely tops the list as the UK’s most accessible city. With just 19,189 residents, it offers a great range of accessible restaurants, hotels and attractions, scoring just 40 points below perfect. Chichester comes in second place. Chichester has a larger population of 31,729 and offers 93 accessible restaurants out of 193, plus 14 accessible toilets and 35 accessible attractions.
While these cities are leading the way, the number of accessible facilities still falls short when compared to population size. Under the Equality Act 2010, service providers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’, like adding ramps for wheelchair users.
But sadly, not all cities are meeting these requirements. Less accessible cities often have even bigger populations, meaning the need for inclusive facilities is even greater.
The Least Accessible Cities in the UK
| City | % Of Accessible Hotels | % Of Accessible Restaurants | % Of Accessible Parking Spots | % Of Accessible Toilets | % Of Accessible Attractions | Accessibility Score |
Kingston-upon-Hull |
0.0037% |
0.0524% |
0.0015% |
0.0033% | 0.0070% | 40 |
Bradford |
0.0045% | 0.0437% | 0.0000% | 0.0033% | 0.0165% | 51 |
Birmingham |
0.0063% | 0.0460% | 0.0064% | 0.0037% | 0.0060% | 71 |
Leicester |
0.0057% | 0.0632% | 0.0034% | 0.0025% | 0.0187% | 77 |
Stoke-on-Trent |
0.0019% | 0.0480% | 0.0119% | 0.0058% | 0.0100% | 83 |
Sunderland |
0.0042% | 0.0582% | 0.0018% | 0.0036% | 0.0446% | 93 |
Wolverhampton |
0.0030% | 0.0530% | 0.0038% | 0.0068% | 0.0239% | 99 |
Sheffield |
0.0052% | 0.0763 | 0.0022% | 0.0094% | 0.0112% | 100 |
Plymouth |
0.0060% | 0.0569% | 0.0157% | 0.0052% | 0.0052% | 100 |
Coventry |
0.0067% | 0.0453% | 0.0041% | 0.0070% | 0.0160% | 40 |
Kingston-upon-Hull is the UK’s least accessible city. Despite a population of over 270,000, it only offers 10 accessible hotels, 4 car parks and 19 attractions. Just 32% of restaurants (148 out of 467) are accessible.
Bradford takes second place on the list. Of its 333,000 residents, many are left with limited access, just 11 accessible attractions, 15 hotels and no accessible parking. Only 21% of its 741 restaurants are accessible.
Birmingham also ranks low despite its size. With 1.12 million people, it has only 70 accessible hotels, 67 car parks and 66 attractions. Restaurant access is limited too, with just 26% (542 out of 2,071) meeting accessibility needs.
How Grosvenor Mobility Approach Accessibility
Accessibility is at the heart of what we do here at Grosvenor Mobility, working to improve the comfort and independence of our customers with our range of mobility furniture. Due to our passion for the subject, it’s disheartening to see so many cities fail to meet basic accessibility standards. Even high-ranking cities from our research show accessibility rates under 50%, emphasising the need for more accessibility consideration across the nation.
Accessibility can be improved with small changes. Grab bars, ramps, and automatic doors are just some easy ways public facilities can be more accessible to all.
Our riser recliner chairs and adjustable beds work to provide those with mobility issues a more independent life. Helping the less mobile get in and out with ease, while providing a range of benefits, such as reduced back pain, improved posture, superior comfort and even better circulation. While we’re unable to change the accessibility of UK cities, we can improve the accessibility of UK homes.
Try Our Furniture for an Accessible Lifestyle
If the benefits mentioned sound like they could make an improvement to your life or a loved one’s, we are happy to provide a free home trial. Choose from our range of recliner chairs and adjustable beds to test one out in the comfort of your own home.
Get in touch today to arrange a trial or ask any questions you may have!
Riser Recliner Chairs
We believe everyone deserves the freedom to relax in complete comfort and independence at home. That’s why we proudly offer a premium range of riser recliner chairs and adjustable beds, designed to support your lifestyle and make everyday living comfortable again.
Adjustable Beds
The bedroom is your sanctuary. It’s your place to rest, unwind and totally relax. But to do so, you need the perfect adjustable bed; comfortable and luxurious. At Grosvenor Mobility our range of electric mobility recliner beds do just that. Featuring easy-to-use handsets that operate our ultra-quiet motors allowing you complete control at the touch of a button.