Travelling to London as a wheelchair user for the first time!

On September 2nd, Sociability threw a party to celebrate their 2nd Birthday. When I got the invitation, I was so excited, but as anyone with mobility issues knows, the excitement is usually followed by an onslaught of anxiety. Being disabled means being an expert at logistical planning, finding out every bit of information you could possibly need to make things run smoothly.The party was in London and after doing my research, I found out the best way to get there was the train. But I've never been on a train, let alone in a wheelchair. And I hadn't been to London in 16 years. I replied that I wouldn't be attending. I felt defeated.

Despite my anxieties, Gem wasn't letting me give up. She set up a video call with Jennie and me. We talked about everything I was worried about, and they talked me through how they used to feel the same way. I'd known so many people have bad experiences that they clouded the good. They helped me through my feelings and to plan the trip and I was sold; I was going to London on the train in a wheelchair for the first time…

Navigating the barriers

On the day I arrived at the station early and was greeted by Passenger Assistance before I even got through the door. She was great, I told her it was my first time and she walked me to where I needed to be and explained everything simply. Did you know each train usually spends 2 minutes at each station? The train pulled in, the ramp was pulled out, and I was on.My anxiety peaked again when I remembered how busy London would be, and how hard it had been to read the underground map. But we were already on the way. Getting off the train was as easy as getting on. While we were in London we visited Buckingham Palace, stayed at a Travelodge, saw some amazing people at the Sociability Birthday Party and visited Camden Market. And after 2 exciting but exhausting days we were back on the train home.

Why travelling was so daunting for me

I think with most anxieties it's fear of the unknown. Having never been on a train before, I only knew what I'd seen on social media. Even though the experiences I'd seen were divided pretty evenly between good and bad, the bad experiences seemed to stand out more.

I also think with London, it's reputation precedes. What came to mind was crowds, noise, and feeling unsafe. Being from a rural village I'm not used to having to consider my safety as a disabled person, so it was worried about being appearing vulnerable; a woman, in a wheelchair, with a handbag on display made me think I'd be an easy target. With the crowds and the noise I didn't know how I'd cope. I can get overwhelmed when I'm in our town centre and there's nowhere near the same level of people. And even without the sensory overload trying to navigate a crowd when you're a wheelchair user can be tricky.

For someone who never travels anywhere, just leaving the house can be daunting. But I was determined to not let my anxiety win again.

Final Reflections

Looking back on it, it was an overwhelming experience, but no more than I'm used to. Side note - if you are prone to sensory overload or noise sensitivity, make sure you have a pair of ear defenders. The main crowds were within the underground stations, and while it is very busy, once you've managed one or two, you get the hang of it. As for the crime, I luckily didn't experience any, and I felt a lot safer than I thought I would. And it is expensive, that's just what happens when you're in the capital. I think like most people I'm always going to have a fear of the unknown, but I shouldn't let it stop me.I'm so grateful for everyone who helped make the trip great; without you, it wouldn't have happened. My anxiety is usually unfounded, and everything turns out okay. I need some help to do things, but I'm so happy when I've done them. I had a brilliant time and I'll definitely be going to London again. And I've already been looking at my next train journey.

Massive thank you to Kelly for sharing her honest account of her first trip to London as a wheelchair user. We’re so pleased she made it and managed to join us for the Sociability Party! Find Kelly’s own blog page: Disabled, Fat and Fabulous to hear more about her experiences and top tips.

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