National Gallery

The National Gallery Logo

On Monday we went up to the National Gallery for a special everning event called "Access To Art" it started at 6:30pm and ended at 9pm.

There was a talk on the Haywain that had been lowered for this event so we could get close to it, the gallery was closed to the public it was great I went up and looked at the Chair by Vincent van Gogh and also the 'Sunrflowers' by Vincent van Gogh was lowered for the same reason the Haywain was.

The whole gallery wasn't open but a large chunk was.

As well as the paintings being lowered for us as you can see in the photo of the 'Sunflowers' there was music as well as the talk on the Haywain that was good but they also had some folk songs sung for us on the theme of the Haywain that were very nice.

The talk was good but there where some blind people who attended this event as well and couldn't hear the man talking, so the gallery provied a

tactile picture of the Haywain as well as the text to the speak in Braile that you can see in the photo.

Also there where some women dresssed up as the paintings that added a bit of fun to the event.

What do you thin of the likeness?

Inside the gallery

The shop was open for us to buy a gift, we missed the talk on the Sunflowers and went to the shop as well as the accessible toilet.

Parking is limited!

To find out more please visit the website at:

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

Accessablity Score:

The Saatchi Gallery

The Saatchi Gallery is very accessible and there is a ramp into the main entrance, there is a small step that they have got a ramp for but you need to ask a member of staff to put it out for you.

Inside the gallery it is very light and there is a lot of room and the corridors are wide so a wheelchair can pass easily.

The artwork is good, but I will leave it up to you to decide.

No they are not real people but when you first see them you think they must be real, it is fun to watch, they crash every minute or so.

The piano is made from a old sail, the labels are not next to the paintings and are very very small and the text talking about the piece of artwork is very small too and the text is on a white card on a white wall, who put them up didn't think.

This is a very good piece of modern art that looks cool and is easy to see what it was before, it used to be a metal fire exit ladder.

The The Saatchi Gallery, has two lifts that are a fair size, but only one goes to the 'Mezzanine Level' of the gallery that takes you up to a viewing platform and the second accessible toilet that is a nice size, it has a tap that is sensor operated, there is another by the recption desk that is the same as the one on the mezzannine level.

By now you migt want to have a bite to eat... Well The Saatchi Gallery has a cafe but it is next door to the gallery, it is in the old 'Mess' so they have called the newly opened Gallery Café/Bar The Mess.

The Mess Cafe and Bar

Here is a sample of the Mess menu:

AFTERNOON TEA
Served from 2.30 pm to close
Tea and sconesWarm scones with clotted cream and jam
£6.00
Afternoon teaMini sandwich selection, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, chocolate éclair and homemade cakes
£8.50
Puddings
Served from 11.30am to close
Rhubarb and strawberry crumbleWith rose petal or vanilla bean ice cream
£6.00
Milk chocolate popcorn sundaeWith caramel popcorn and popcorn sorbet
£6.00
KnickerbockergloryWith crème brulee, berries, ice cream and shortbread biscuit
£6.00
There will also be a selection of daily specials each day
Drinks
Prosecco/Champagne
glass
half bottle
bottle
Argeo Prosecco Brut, Ruggeri
£6.00
£24.50
Brut di Pinot Nero Rose VS, Ruggeri
£7.00
£28.50
Mercier Brut NV
£8.50
£45.00
Mercier Rose NV
£10.00
£55.00
Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin NV
£12.50
£36.00
£65.00
Ruinart NV
£70.00
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs
£85.00
White Wine
glass
carafe
bottle
Sauvignon Blanc La Place VDP Cotes de Gascogne,South West France 2008
£4.00
£7.50
£17.00
Pinot Grigio Venezie IGT, Veritiere, Veneto, Italy 2008
£4.50
£8.00
£22.00
RieslingVilla Wolf, Dr Loosen Pfalz, Germany 2007
£25.00
Chablis Domaine de Vauroux, Burgundy,France 2007
£6.00
£11.00
£33.00
SancerreDomaine des Vieux Pruniers, Loire,France 2008
£35.00
Sauvignon BlancCloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc,New Zealand 2008
£37.00
Rose Wine
glass
carafe
bottle
Pinot Grigio BlushVia Nova,Italy 2008
£4.50
£8.00
£21.00
ProvenceDomaine de Jale, Organic, France 2007
£5.00
£9.00
£26.00
Red Wine
glass
carafe
bottle
Cotes du Rhone Le Pas de la Beaume, Cave de Cairanne,France 2007
£4.00
£7.00
£19.00
SicilyLunate, Nero d'Avola, Sicily, 2007
£22.00
Pinot NoirBrouilly, Domaine des Roches Blues, Burgundy, France 2007
£24.00
Cabernet SauvignonTerrazas Cabernet Sauvignon,Argentina 2004
£4.00
£7.00
£24.00
Pinot NoirHawkes Bay Pinot Noir, Trinity Hill,New Zealand 2008
£30.00
ClaretChateaux Tuilerie des Combes,Montagne St Emillion
£37.00
Spirits
ml
Gordon's Gin 35.5% ABV
25
£4.00
Bombay Sapphire Gin 40% ABV
25
£5.00
Absolut Vodka 40% ABV
25
£4.00
Bacardi Rum 37.5% ABV
25
£5.00
Johnnie Walker Black Label 40% ABV
25
£5.00
Jack Daniels 40% ABV
25
£5.00
Remy Martin V.S.O.P. Cognac 40% ABV
25
£7.00
Hennessy XO Grande Champagne 40% ABV
25
£10.00
Taylor Port 18% ABV 50 ml
50
£5.00
Beers/Cider
ml
bottle
Asahi 5% ABV
330
£3.00
Becks 5% ABV
270
£3.00
Becks Non Alcoholic
270
£3.00
Peroni Nastro Azzuro 5.2% ABV
330
£4.00
Magners
330
£4.00
Old Speckled Hen 5.2% ABV
500
£5.00
Cocktails
Kir Royale
£9.50
Bellini
£7.50
Mojito
£8.00
Cosmopolitan
£8.00
Bloody Mary
£7.00
Soft Drinks
ml
Aqua Panna (still)
250/750
£2/£4.00
San Pellegrino (sparkling)
250/750
£2/£4.00
Coke/Diet Coke
330
£2.50
Schweppes Tonic/Slimline
200
£2.00
Lemonade
330
£2.50
Juices
ml
Freshly squeezed orange juice
250
£3.50
Apple, orange, tomato, cranberry juice
250
£2.00
Manic Organic pear & ginger juice
250
£2.50
Manic Organic apple & beetroot juice
250
£2.50
Coffee
Espresso
£2.00
Americano
£2.20
Cappuccino/latte
£2.40
Large cappuccino/latte
£2.80
Hot chocolate
£2.20
Jing Teas (Pots)
Assam breakfast, green tea, earl grey, white teablackcurrant & hibiscus, peppermint, chamomile
£2.20

For more information please go to the website at:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/index.htm

Accessiblity Score:

Syon House

I went to visit Syon House to find out how accessible it was and also Syon has a link with Henry VIII so those two resons made me want to go and see the hous

The House is a fair way from the carpark you need to go in to the shop ticket office to pay for entry to Syon House, it's not National Trust the house is owned by The Duke of Northumberland

Enrty is £9.00 adult, consessions are £8.00 not cheap.

Anyway once you have walked or wheeled up the path you see in the photo you reach the entrance to Syon House, that is not wheelchair accessible what so ever, steps up to the front door (see photo)

I could just about get up with help, when or if you manage to get up you get into The great Hall, that is very nice and this is where you pick your audio tours up from

You may not be able to see in this photo but at the other end of the Great Hall there are some steps about six with no handrail.

This is the Ante Room that is very grand and has avery nice floor, in this room you can feel a tile from the floor.

If you want to see more photo's of the house visithe website, I will give the website address later.

After the trip round the Syon House, we went for a drink in the cafe (see Blog) and then we went into Great Conservatory, this flat access into it, or more or less flat.

As you can see in this photo the ramp is not very good because it is a small step up onto the ramp

Outside Great Conservatory.

There are no seats in the Great Conservatory, that is a bit strange.

Syon House is very nice to be in on a hot day, and for those who are able to walk round and can manage stairs it is very nice, but for those who are unable to get in it is not fair there is no accessible way in.

Visit the website at:

http://www.syonpark.co.uk/tour.asp to find out more

Accessiblity Score:

The Inn at Kew Gardens

The Inn at Kew Gardens is a very smart hotel, it is fully accessiable to people in wheelchairs and those who use rolators, the accessiable entrance is at the back of the hotel via the beer garden.

The staff at the Inn at Kew Gardens are very friendly, the food is good and I had two decaf latties that are freshly made by hand and a worth trying.

Here is the menu:

*Sample Menu*
Cream of Broccoli soup with croutons 4.25
Goat’s cheese, grape chutney and shallot salad 5.95
Pork and ham terrine with onion marmalade 5.75
Scotch egg with coleslaw 4.50
Potted crab with toast and shallot salad 6.00
Smoked mackerel pate with shallots, breakfast radish and croutons 5.95
***
Share Platters
Fish platter, bread, saffron aioli and garnishes 9.00
Charcuterie with bread, chutney and garnishes 9.00
***
Roast courgette, mushroom and spinach gratin
with parmesan and truffle oil 11.50
Fish pie of smoked haddock, prawns, salmon, cod, peas and
hardboiled egg with a mash potato crust 12.50
Coq au vin with new potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli and sweet
roasted garlic 11.50
8 oz Sirloin steak with roast tomato, roast field mushroom, hand cut
chips and béarnaise sauce 14.25
***
Chocolate mousse with berry compote 5.00
Bread and butter pudding with rum & raisin ice cream 5.50
Tarte tatin with double cream 5.00
Selection of four cheeses with celery, grapes,
quince jelly and biscuits 6.25
***
Chips with sea salt / Selection of sides available 3.00

Here are some photos of the bedrooms in the hotel, they are all on-suite

The hotel has got a big accessiable toilet next door to the female and male toilets, the room is painted red and is very warm that isn't a bad thing.

The Bar of the Inn at Kew Gardens

In the Inn at Kew Gardens they offer these things:

• 
  
  
  
  Outside seating
  Conservatory
  Open fires
  Real ales
  Guest ales
  Selection of draught beers
  Selection of bottled beers
  Private hire
  Kids welcome
  Dogs welcome in the bar
  Hotel accommodation
  WiFi
  Mezzanine floor
  Restaurant
  Modern European cooking & Sunday roasts
  Breakfasts
  Close to Twickenham
  Close to Heathrow
  Close to Kew Gardens
  Close to The National Archives
  Live Jazz

The Address of the hotel is:

The Kew Gardens Hotel
292 Sandycombe

Road,

Kew

Surrey,

TW9 3NG

Telephone: 020 8940 2220

Please visit the hotel because the drinks are great, also the tables are not fixed to the floor the same with the chairs, they also have a conservatory that is lovely when the suns out.

Kew Gardens is nearby by taxi

visit the website at:

http://www.capitalpubcompany.com/the-kew-gardens-hotel/

Accessablity Score:

Florence Nightingale Museum

This museum is small but very accessible with a accessible toilet at the main entrance and pay desk, the cost of a disabled visitor is £4.80p it is cheaper than the adult price.

The Florence Nightingale Museum is all about the life of Florence Nightingale it is very intresting to read about what conditions where like in the hospital's she work in

Florence Nightingale, wrote in had a diray and wrote: "Couldn't find any blankets"

In history books and figures of Florence Nightingale, she is holding a candle in her hand, but in fact she had a lamp that she held when she was walking round the hospital, remember there were no lights, the lamp she was holding was the only light if she droped it and it went out she would be in complete darkness. That is the really lamp she had.

Florence Nightingale had a owl that she tamed and everywhere she went the owl went with her in her pocket until it died. This is her owl stuffed, it's also in a glass case to prevent children touching it.

Like today the NHS like their nurses to wear a uniform and this is what her uniformv looked like, it's more like a maids uniform than a nurse's

Right the medicine was much more rough and ready than it is today and they had no anaesthetic, like today so having a operation meant pain.

Florence Nightingale was not just a great nurse she wanted to pass on her skills, so she wrote a book on nursing.

The museum feels a bit tired and needs to be updated.... Well The Florence Nightingale Museum is going to be taken into the future, it will look something like this:

Here are the plans of what they want to do, it will take some time but they are going update The Florence Nightingale Museum soon.

Please note that there is no cafe in the museum but it in the grounds of St Tomas's Hospital and it is near to the canteen there on grond you go up a smart lift.

to find out more please visit The Florence Nightingale Museum's website at:

http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/cms/

Accessiblity Score:

THE WHITE LODGE MUSEUM AND BALLET RESOURCE CENTRE

The White Lodge Museum and Ballet Resource Centre is part of The Royal Ballet School, that is in Richmond Park, The Museum is open to the public but you need to book a time slot and also a parking space.

I went yesturday to check the museum out and to check the access I am happy to say it is great for wheelchair users and people like me with moblity problems, the first room that you see is The Salon Room that is a large bright room that has free standing bars along the left side of the room, we had to move out of the Salon Room because it is still used as a room for ballet classes.

The Salon Room has no carpet it is bare boards and has a small step up into the room.

Parking was easy they have a number of disabled bays outside the main entrance it could not be easier.

Here is a photo of the sign that they have made saying "Disabled Parking Only" it even has the Royal Ballet School's crest on too.

When I went they paulled out all the stops so I could get into the building such as putting the ramp out

Here is the ramp that they have it is very wide.

The main entrance looks like this, as you can see it is a very grand building

Inside the museum they have made it smart bright and the text size is big so it is easy to read, they have got so text on the wall so it is large and in white the wall is blue.

This is part of the text panel in the museum as you can see they have old adverts and photos, as well as the panels of text they have films that you can start by pressing the button, they also have a wall of small films that are very good.

Here are the small films that you can see are well done mos are subttiled

While your at the museum watch out for 'Willow' the Ballet School Cat.

There is no cafe remember it is a school.

There is a accessable toilet that visitors can use but you need to be taken by a member of staff to show you where it is because it is.

Accessablity Score:

Please visit their website at

http://www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk/wl_museum.php?s=1

Here is the booking number

+44 (0)20 8392 8440 or email museum@royalballetschool.co.uk.

Putney Exchange Shopping Centre

Right Everybody like shopping so Putney Exchange Shopping Centre is just up your street, it has it's own car park with disabled bays, the carpark is up a ramp on two levels the disabled bay is on the middle level, level with the shops. You need a ticket to open the barriar.

But if you don't like carparks you can park on the side roads if you have a vaild Blue Badge, that means you can park on single or double yellow lines for 3 hours max.

If you park in the carpark you enter the store by a set of double doors, not automatic they are fire doors so they are not light.

If you enter from the side road ie Lacy Road you enter the store by a set of double doors that are automatic, you enter by a corridor that is painted yellow.

Inside Putney Exchange you have a chocie of shops that include: Waitrose, Next, Monsoon, GAP, GAP Kids, HMV,Hairways,Otakar's now Waterstones, Costa Coffee (inside Waterstones 1st floor)

And many more...

Putney Exchange is fully accessible to moblity impaired, wheelchair users etc becaause there are lifts to each floor and to the carpark.

There is a accessable toilet on the 1st floor by BB's Coffee Shop, the toilet is locked and you need a Radar key to unlock door.

Other Cafe's are BB's Coffee Shop, Costa Coffee, Neuhaus Salon Chocolate Cafe Whittards cafe has closed down.

Please Visit The Website at:

http://www.theexchangesw15.com/welcome.html

for futher information

Accessable Score:

Handel House Muesum

This is the logo to the Handel House

Mueseum, below is a photo of the staircase in the mueseum that shows you the doorway with a old piano, all the rooms in the house are bare boards some of them are a little wonky

They do have a lift to the floors of the house so it is accessable, but please remember that it's an old house and they have not widened the doorways.

There is a new exhibition that the composer's personal story to life. It examines how he survived the eighteenth-century 'credit crunch', his appetite, his blindness and his love-life. A fascinating insight into Handel the man.

in this exhibition you can see some books that he wrote and scores of music as well as liserning to two pieces of music that he wrote.

The Handel Reveal'd exhibition is well lit, and very well laid out with the text in quite large font (black text on a white background).

The Handel House Muesum is celebrating the 250th Anniversary of Handel's life

The Mueseum has a small shop that sells pens, pads of paper, and Handel's music.

They have a accessible toilet by the entrance desk.

The Rehearsal and Performance Room, 25 Brook Street
This room is used regularly for weekly Thursday evening recitals. Musicians also rehearse in this room during museum opening hours.
© Country Life Picture Library / Jane Buck.

There is disabled parking in Brook Street, but there is a steep ramp down to the enrance, also the ramp is cobbed, the mueseum is highlighted by two red banners that say "Handel House Muesum".

Handel by Philip Mercier, oil on canvas, c. 1730. Courtesy of the Earl of Malmesbury

Accessablity Score:

Please visit the website for further information at:

http://www.handelhouse.org/