A companion who shares their interests, in Bexley

Somewhere to go

Walled gardens and nursery at Hall Place

Hall Place and Gardens, Bexley Village

The gardens of a Grade I listed Tudor house on the River Cray, with topiary, herbaceous borders, sub-tropical glasshouses and a nursery selling plants grown on site. A carer can book a wheelchair in advance, plan a short loop of the formal gardens and help choose plants at the nursery to take home for pots or a windowsill.

Getting around: The venue lists signed Blue Badge parking bays and manual wheelchairs that can be booked in advance by email.

Source: hallplace.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Formal planting at Danson Park

Bexleyheath

Alongside the lake, Danson Park has enclosed formal planting including the Old English Garden, useful for someone who enjoys looking at borders rather than digging. A carer can check the access notes first, since the garden itself is reached by steps while the main park paths are step-free by slope.

Getting around: AccessAble notes stepped access to the Old English Garden from the car park, with step-free sloped routes on the main park paths.

Source: accessable.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Sidcup Symphony Orchestra concerts

St John's Church, Sidcup

A community orchestra founded in 1961 that gives regular classical concerts in the borough, with St John's Church in Sidcup as its main venue and occasional performances at Hall Place. A carer can book seats near an aisle, arrange the lift there and back, and keep the evening to one half if energy is short.

Source: sidcupsymphony.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Shows at the Erith Playhouse

Erith

The largest public theatre in the borough, run entirely by its members as a non-professional repertory company with a year-round programme including musicals. A carer can ring the box office to explain any seating or access needs and go along as company for a matinee.

Source: playhouse.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Bexleyheath Photographic Society

Bexleyheath

One of the area's oldest camera clubs, with talks, competitions and exhibitions for members of all levels of experience. A carer can handle the lift to meetings and help print or load images beforehand so the evening is about the pictures.

Source: careservices.bexley.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to go

Foots Cray Meadows and the Five Arches bridge

Sidcup

Around 97 hectares of grassland, woodland and wetland along the River Cray, with the Five Arches bridge and plenty of birdlife as subjects. A carer can drive to the Rectory Lane or North Cray Road entrances and keep to a short stretch near the bridge.

Source: group.rspb.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Central Library reading group

Bexleyheath

A monthly adults' reading group at Bexleyheath's Central Library, discussing a nominated book in a relaxed setting with limited numbers. A carer can collect the chosen title in advance, read passages aloud during the month and provide the lift on the evening.

Source: careservices.bexley.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.

Somewhere to join

Bexley Home Library Service

A free service for Bexley residents unable to get to a library, where volunteers deliver a fresh selection of books or talking books each month. A carer can help register, note down favourite authors and set up a talking book so listening stays easy.

Source: careservices.bexley.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.