The Paralympic Games are going to be held in London from August 29 to September 9, 2012. In preparation for the Games, this city has become more accessible than ever before. This makes London a great place to visit not only to see world-famous athletes, but also the many famous tourist destinations of this fascinating city. A little extra planning is all that is required to ensure a great holiday for wheelchair users. Here are a few things to consider when planning your trip.

What extra equipment do you need to bring? If you use a power wheelchair, consider bringing extra fuses and chargers. Remember to carry any tools that might be needed to make minor repairs. The UK is metric-based which means that many tools and supplies, such as tire tubes, do not correspond to US-based equipment. At the very least, leave a set of supplies at home with someone who could quickly and easily send them to you by express delivery– it may be faster than finding a replacement abroad.

In recent years, London has improved accessibility in public transportation. All public buses and taxis are now wheelchair accessible. Make sure you check ahead before taking the Underground, as not all stations have elevator service. If you are going to rent a wheelchair van, now is a good time to start looking into reservations. Look up “UK wheelchair car hire” on Google or another search engine to find companies who can rent handicap vans. Make sure to have complete wheelchair measurements (in metric) as well as an idea of how many passengers you are going to have with you. Also remember to mention if you are taking any special equipment that needs to fit in the van. For example, a collapsible wheelchair can be a good option for travel. Other important considerations for van rental are insurance and breakdown coverage. Check with your insurance company to see if they will cover your rental vehicle. And verify that the rental agency provides breakdown coverage for the van, such as that provided by RAC.

Because London has a variety of historical buildings, it can be a challenge to determine what you can visit when using a wheelchair. The City of London has put together a website to help wheelchair users find museums, theaters, shopping and even restrooms that are accessible. Also, it helps to check guidebooks and websites for the National Accessible Scheme, a series of pictograms to indicate levels of accessibility for different venues. This is important because the older architecture in the UK has a wider range of accessibility issues than buildings in the US. It is still important to check on accessibility before you make reservations at a bed and breakfast or quaint hotel.

London offers so much opportunity for the wheelchair user, and the Olympics and Paralympics of 2012 are going to make it an exciting city to visit in the next few months. The British Museum, the Tower of London, Madame Tussaud’s, and even the London Eye are all handicap accessible. All it takes is a little extra planning to make them part of your trip of a lifetime.