Treloar's students help shape accessibility at Westminster Abbey

Treloar College students from Let Me In Team started the academic year with a very special invitation to complete an accessibility audit for the Learning Team at Westminster Abbey.

Welcoming more than 1.5 million visitors each year, alongside hosting heads of state and members of the Royal Family, Westminster Abbey is one of the UK's most iconic landmarks. Known as the coronation church, it is also home to more than 3,300 memorials and burials commemorating some of the most significant figures in British history.

The Abbey's Learning Team works with schools, colleges and community groups every day, but how accessible is the experience for disabled visitors? Let Me In students Abigail, Amirah and Jennifer were invited to help answer that question during their first-ever visit to Westminster Abbey.

The Learning team guided the students through the main visitor route through the Abbey to demonstrate the experience for wheelchair users. Along the way they saw the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, Poets’ Corner, the Quire, the Coronation Chair and the Jubilee Galleries.

The team also explored some of the quieter spaces within the Abbey, including areas for private prayer and reflection. They visited nearby St Margaret's Church, which offers a calmer environment and a welcome respite from the crowds that gather in Westminster.

Throughout the visit, the students asked thoughtful questions about accessibility, from navigating the historic site in electric wheelchairs to the availability of charging facilities. After all, a long day in London is much less enjoyable when a power chair runs out of battery.

Using their observations and notes from the day, the students will now produce a detailed report for Westminster Abbey, highlighting what works well and providing recommendations to further improve the experience for disabled visitors.

The visit was a memorable one for all three students, who agreed they would love to return with their families. They were impressed by how much thought has already gone into making the visitor experience accessible within such a historic building. The Learning Team welcomed their feedback and were enthusiastic about building on the Abbey's existing SEND resources.

Westminster Abbey already provides a range of helpful resources for SEND schools and groups planning a visit, including sensory maps, visual stories and videos that help visitors understand what to expect before they arrive.

For the Let Me In students, the visit was about far more than exploring a famous landmark. It was an opportunity to use their lived experience to influence how one of the world's most historic sites welcomes disabled visitors. By sharing their insights and recommendations, Abigail, Amirah and Jennifer are helping Westminster Abbey continue its commitment to accessibility, ensuring that even more people can experience its history, heritage and learning opportunities with confidence and independence.