Research released today by the Valuable 500, the only CEO collective committed to disability inclusion, has revealed that London is regarded as one of the top 10 most accessible cities in the world based on a global survey of disabled travellers.

According to the 1000 respondents based in the UK, London was championed as the most accessible city. Nearly a quarter (23%) of surveyed disabled travellers in the UK stated that London was the most accessible city to stay in and travel around for those with a disability. Of those who have visited the most travelled cities in the world, disabled people in the UK said that London was the most accessible.

57% said this is because it has accessible transport links, while 40% said it has accommodation that is close to cultural attractions, shops, and restaurants. Over two in five (45%) said information is easily accessible, and a similar proportion (48%) said it’s because museums and other cultural attractions have good accessibility support and facilities.

In particular, visitors lauded the disabled access of London’s transport links and the proximity of accommodation to cultural attractions as the key reasons that make the capital the most accessible city in the world to visit as a tourist.

However, as one of the most popular destinations in the world, London visitors can’t avoid the notorious city crowds – with only 2% saying they think it’s accessible because it has fewer crowds than other cities.

Respondents also referenced that accessible information is also an important factor when it comes to travelling around the city. Whilst not all of London’s transport network is accessible, there are positive steps in the right direction being taken in London to ensure the city is open to all by making information about accessibility needs clear and approachable.

Other cities that were endorsed in the accessibility rankings for disabled tourists included Amsterdam, Orlando,New York and Sydney. Factors that made these cities attractive, such as accessible transport links, clear signage and an inclusive attitude across private and public sector travel experiences have created a blueprint for what makes a city accessible.

The Valuable 500 urges tourist boards and travel industry providers to make small, achievable changes that have a big impact.

The Valuable 500 is the only global CEO collective committed to disability inclusion. The network was launched at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with a mission to systematically transform business to include the 1.3 billion people living with disabilities worldwide. It now has a combined revenue of over $8 trillion, combined market cap of $23 trillion and employs 22 million people worldwide. High profile members include Microsoft, Paypal, Google, and Spotify, as well as 30 travel and tourism businesses – 6% of the entire Valuable collective – who will be spearheading changes in accessibility for this industry.

The findings are released as the first phase of wider research by the Valuable 500 to explore the barriers to travelling for disabled customers. The second phase of the research, which will explore the causes of this will be released later this month.

The top 10 accessible destinations report launches during World Travel Market – the world’s largest travel industry gathering in London which runs from 7th-9th November 2022.

The research was conducted with Opinium. The research was launched to a field of 5000 disabled customers based in the UK, US, Australia, China and Japan.

Caroline Casey, Founder of the Valuable 500 commented:
“Our research shows that across both the public and private sectors in London’s travel and tourism industry, the city consistently scores highly in the accessibility rankings. Whilst this is cause for celebration, London’s accessibility arrangements are not perfect. Worldwide, tourist boards still aren’t making the necessary headway to remove the physical and ethical barriers to ensure cities are truly accessible for all. Accessibility arrangements for people with disabilities remain an afterthought for the travel and tourism industry – which is why we’re looking into every aspect of the industry journey for people with disabilities in this body of research.”

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London said: “I’m delighted that London has been recognised as one of the most accessible cities in the world, and I’m particularly proud that disabled visitors have commended our world-class transport network.

“It’s vital that everybody is able to enjoy all of the fantastic opportunities and attractions on offer in the capital. That is why I’ve been working hard as Mayor to ensure our transport network becomes increasingly accessible and inclusive as we build a better and fairer London for all.”