London Hotel Recognized For Access

Copthorne Tara's High
Access Option
Photo by Charles Pannell

The Copthorne Tara Hotel was recently recognized for their efforts to promote accessible tourism, with the presentation of a special England for Excellence Award in the Tourism For All category. Awarded by the English Tourism Council, this award is bestowed on members of the leisure travel industry who make equal access a major feature of their company philosophy.

The Copthorne Tara was nominated for the award by Holiday Care Services, a UK charity which focuses on accessible tourism. Holiday Care Services nominated the Copthorne Tara because of their outstanding accessible facilities and their proactive attitude towards people with disabilities.

Located in the heart of Kensington, the Copthorne Tara has 10 accessible guest rooms. Two of the rooms feature ceiling track lifts, while six rooms have roll-in showers. All rooms have an emergency call button by the bed, wide doors, a bedside control panel for lighting, open framed beds, automatic doors and lowered environmental controls.

All accessible rooms have connecting "attendant" rooms. There is direct intercom access between the connecting rooms. Because of this feature, the accessible rooms at the Copthorne Tara are best suited for people traveling with an attendant or a caregiver. The public areas, including the lobby and restaurant, also offer barrier-free access.

In order to appropriately address access issues, the Copthorne Tara developed a unique partnership with Holiday Care Services. Reservations can be made directly with the hotel, but if you book an accessible room, a Holiday Care representative will contact you to confirm your access needs. Reservations can be made by calling 020 7937 7211. For more information about the Copthorne Tara Hotel, visit www.millennium-hotels.com.

The Copthorne Tara Hotel is a great choice for tourists, as it's located near many of London's most popular attractions. Check out the Winter 2002 issue of Emerging Horizons for more information about access in London; including detailed access information on London's tourist sights, public transportation and theaters.