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Accessibility
This is a Destination North East England legacy project.
This content was produced as part of the Destination Development Partnership Pilot.
An accessible and inclusive destination
The UK aims to become Europe’s most accessible tourism destination. Whether you’re just starting your accessibility journey or looking to build on your existing efforts, this page provides the guidance, resources, and support you need to create a welcoming environment for all visitors.
Why Accessible Tourism Matters
Accessible tourism is a rapidly growing and valuable market. Globally, 1.8 billion people live with a disability, and by removing barriers, businesses can tap into a loyal and underserved customer base. In the UK, people with disabilities and their companions spend £14.6 billion annually on travel, presenting a significant opportunity for businesses.
Locally, 21% of North East residents have one or more disabilities, which is the highest of any region in England, highlighting the importance of creating accessible experiences. Developing accessible experiences is not only the right thing to do, but it also presents an economic opportunity to tap into a large and diverse audience, driving growth and customer loyalty.
Everybody Welcome
The Everybody Welcome programme is a free business support programme designed to help North East tourism businesses to develop accessible and inclusive visitor experiences.
This programme benefits both local communities and businesses by ensuring that all visitors, including those with visible and non-visible disabilities, can enjoy our destinations with confidence.
By participating in this programme, businesses can create inclusive, welcoming environments that meet the needs of all visitors, enhancing customer loyalty and driving new opportunities within this valuable market.
Sector-specific videos
Accessibility needs vary across different types of businesses. These sector-specific videos provide tailored advice for serviced accommodation, self-catering, food and drink, festivals and events, visitor attractions, and camping, glamping, and lodges.
Serviced accommodation
Self-catering accommodation
Attractions and experiences
Food and drink
Events, festivals & shows
Camping & holiday parks
Visit England key accessibility features questionnaires
Based on extensive research with disabled travellers, this questionnaire helps businesses highlight essential accessibility features. Complete it and publish your key accessibility features on your website to ensure visitors know how accessible you are. Download the questionnaire most relevant to you below:
Learn from Others
Hear from tourism and hospitality businesses across the North East 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 spaces for all. Each case study highlights practical changes, reflections, and the real difference accessibility can make.
Blackfriars Restaurant
Centre for Life
Beamish Museum
The Glasshouse
Vindomora Country Lodges
Resources
Access and Inclusion UK are delighted to be working with Destination North East England on this exciting project which has so much potential to benefit the destination, its businesses, visitors, and the local community. “There is no mystery to accessible tourism: at its heart, it is about demonstrating to people that ‘we know you; we understand you and we value you to make everybody welcome.
The Everybody Welcome Initiative is really important to us, as it is to lots of businesses in the region, because it helps us to understand that not only is it the right thing to do to accept everybody, and make sure our spaces are great for everyone, but also it makes business sense. We’ll definitely carry on being involved in the Everybody Welcome Initiative, we see it as a brilliant way to keep reaching new audiences.
We’ve been very excited to join in with this initiative, it’s a new resource for us which we can approach and get some new insights into how we can improve for our guests going forward. I would encourage everyone to take part in making their building more accessible to customers – it’s a win win situation.
