Disability Sessions In The Summer Holdays

Yellow graphic with black text and logos. The text at the top reads: "Disability Sessions Summer Holidays 2025". Below the text, there are two logos. On the left, a circular logo says "Access Coasters Theme Park Accessibility Blog" and features a cartoon person with glasses and dark hair, arms raised, riding a roller coaster. On the right, a black rectangle contains two yellow icons: one of a person with a checkmark in a circle, and another of an open book with an information symbol. The background is solid yellow.
It can be hard to find places to go during the summer holidays as lots of places are very buys. In this blog post I have listed different quiet hour and sessions exclusively for people with disabilities. The Summer Holidays can be very challenging for SEND Families. Please do not feel any pressure. Just do what meets then needs of your family.

Table of Contents

Cinema

Lots of Cinemas across England do sensory friendly Cinema screenings. These cinema sessions are quieter, less crowded, and understanding of people needs so you can relax and enjoy the movie.

  • more information for Cineworld click here Cineworld Autism Friendly Screenings
  • More information for Vue click here Vue Autism Friendly screenings
  • More information for Odeon click here Autism Friendly screenings
  • More information for The Arc Cinema click here Sensory Friendly Screenings

You can also buy a a CEA card allowing you to get an essential companion into the cinema with you for free. These work well as just enter your VEA card number when booking tickets online.

Trampoline parks

Many trampoline parks offer dedicated sessions for people with additional sensory needs. I have personally been to many of the Jump INC SEN sessions and highly recommend. These sessions have less people and no music or sound effects.
Jump INC is located in: Beverley, Bicester, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool, Rotherham, Sheffield, Westwood Cross.

Aquarium

A number of Sea Life centres across the UK offer quiet hour sessions once month. These sessions are still taking place during the summer holidays. These sessions have less people, minimum music and sensory effects. Sea Life centres participating in the quiet hours are located in Birmingham, Blackpool, Brighton, Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton, London, Manchester, Scarborough.

Rock Climbing

Rock Up do sessions called Calm Climbers for people with additional sensory needs. These sessions run all through out the year however, we found the summer holidays a good time to give a go as not to overstimulated with school and college. Calm Climber sessions have no music or sound effects and less people climbing allowing for a calmer environment. We have been to the Meadowhall Sheffield session many times and highly recommend. Rock Up is located in: Birmingham, Hull, Essex, Manchester, Sheffield, Northamptonshire, Surrey, Watford, Somerset Southampton. More information can be found by clicking here Calm Climbers Rock Up.

Soft Play

Lots of Soft Play centres across England do SEND sessions. These sessions generally have no music, a designated quiet space, less people and a more understanding environment. Some soft play chains I have found doing SEND sessions during the summer holidays are 360 Play, Snakes and Ladders and Play Valley. We have personally tried the Play Valley Dington session and can highly recommend the staff go above and beyond to ensure all the children are included.

Fun Fair

Billy Bates & Sons Fun Fair

Billy Bates & Sons Fun Fair in Leicester are doing a SEN friendly fun fair in the summer holidays. These sessions are calmer with less sensory effects. The dates and times are: Sunday 20th July, 12–3pm, Monday 28th July, 1–4pm, Tuesday 5th August, 1–4pm, Thursday 14th August, 1–4pm, Thursday 21st August, 1–4pm. More information can be found by clicking here Billy Bates and Sons SEN Friendly Sessions at the Fair. Image credit Billy Bates & Sons Fun Fair.

Funfair poster for "Billy Bates & Sons" advertising SEN Friendly Sessions. The poster highlights that during these sessions there will be no loud music, no sound effects, and no microphones. It describes the event as a calm and inclusive fair experience for those with sensory sensitivities. The illustration shows two adults and two children at a funfair, with a Ferris wheel, carousel, and bumper car in the background. The colors are mainly green, orange, and yellow, giving a friendly and welcoming feel.

Indoor Fun Fair

The Indoor Fun fair is a traveling fun fair that seats up id different big event spaces across England during the school holidays. For the summer holidays the Indoor fun fair is in Birmingham Tuesday 5th August – Sunday 17th August 2025 and Liverpool Tuesday 19th August – Sunday 31st August.

The Indoor Fun Fair offer multiple Quiet Sessions dates at each location. These sessions have less people, quiet music, flashing lights turned down, some rides are slowed down. Birmingham quiet sessions are:  Saturday 9th August 2025 10am-1pm and Saturday 16th August 10am. Liverpool quiet sessions are Saturday 23rd August – 10am – 1pm & Sunday 31st August – 11am – 2pm. More information can be found by clicking here Indoor Fun Fair Quiet Sessions.


SEND Festival

A number of organisations have come together to host a summer SEND fest at Marsh Farm on Monday 1 September 2025 10 am till 5pm. As seen in the poster bellow this event will completely transform Marsh Farm into a a day just for the SEND community including play areas, rides, crafts, cinema and so much more. This event needs to be booked online SEND children and young people as well as one carer get free entry. You can book by clicking here Summer SEND Fest. Image credit Stories About Autism Facebook page.

Colorful event poster for "Summer SEND Fest at Marsh Farm." Free entry. The event is on Monday, 1st September, from 10am to 5pm. It is organized by the Independence Project & Clubs, with support from Essex County Council, Active Essex, and Wash Club. The festival is exclusively for children and young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and their families. Activities include: Foam party tent Disney cinema barn The Beast inflatable course Craft barn Giant sand pit Splash pool beach Train rides Soft play Bouncy pillows Disco barn Meet the dinosaurs Fossil digging Cups & saucers ride Adventure playgrounds Stalls Crazy golf Role play village Tractor town Many more to be announced You are encouraged to book online at www.independenceproject.co.uk/send-fest. At the bottom, it states: "FREE ENTRY for children/young people with SEND & 1 parent/carer."

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Disclaimer​

The information provided on this blog about theme park accessibility is based on my experiences and the details available from the attractions’ official websites at the time of my visit. Please note that facilities and services for disabled guests may change, and the information may not always be up-to-date. I strongly recommend checking the accessibility section on the respective attractions’ websites for the most current information. The comments and opinions expressed in this blog are solely my own and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of any other organisation.