London visit, Chinatown, Leicester Square and Kensington High Street

I went to London on account of a meeting. Started off with a meeting in Leicester Square to have a meal with Michelle. Trouble is parking in central London. Not for me, I took the bus from Euston. Well actually it is the number 24 bus you take from Hampstead Road - it goes to Leicester Sq. Anyhow I had time to kill before she turns up so I went around hunting for accessible restaurants - there are lots of eating places if you are willing to stay outside but I wanted to stay safe in case it rained and found L'Ulivo as a meeting place. Michelle wanted to eat italian.

Anyhow she finally got there and needed a parking place, I directed her to the car park at Chinatown that I knew Yin used all the time but to my dismay, it was not accessible for drivers with mobility problems. something about steps before a lift.

There was a sign which said:

Disabled Customers
In order to improve our parking for disabled and impaired mobility customers, Masterpark are currently undergoing a complete review under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act. Until this time, however, we cannot guarantee that all of our car parks are suitable for all disabled persons. Please check access options before you park.

Luckily, a car took off and she was able to park outside the car park. However while waiting for her, I managed to nose out the accessible Chinese restaurants on Gerrard Street. There are:
Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant (Roast Duck specialist) 12 Gerrard Street
Tai Ka Lok. 18 Gerrard Street, Chinatown, London, W1D 6JH Tel 0871 4263251
Aroma 11 Gerrard Street, London, W1D 5PP
Telephone 020 7439 2720
Far East Bakery and Restaurant 13 Gerrard Street, W1
tel: 02074376148
Wong Kei 41-43 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6PY
Telephone: 0871 3328296
Top of the Town 37-38 Gerrard Street, London W1D 5QB
Telephone 02077346910
(according to their business card they have disabled facilities)

I have not been to any of the above and no idea about WCs there.  One day I will actually go and sample them. Especially Wong Kei.

A restaurant that I have been to and can recommend - Laureate Chinese restaurant, 64 Shafesbury Ave. W1D 6LU 02074375882 - also Yin's recommendation. It does have one step and the toilet is not accessible.
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After the meal the rain came down and I got very wet trying to get a taxi to take me to Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington. The taxis did not want to know. Who will want to get out of a taxi to fiddle with ramps for a wheelchair user....none. So in the end I figured if I made it to a station, they cannot refuse to take me at a taxi rank. I got on a bus which was heading to south Kensington. I had the bright idea to call the hotel and ask for directions, the receptionist  or whoever answered the phone was kind enough to tell me to get off that bus at Hyde Park Corner to take the number 9 or 10 bus which would take me to Kensington High Street. So i did arrive albeit a bit drenched but feeling victorious
I was told later that this is well known to be a very accessible hotel but it was quite good in that most of the doors I encountered were automatic. However it was not so good for my visually impaired colleagues who could not find the light switches.

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After the meeting, I had arranged  to meet Penny who I had not seen for ages.  Eventually  we met at the newly opened Wholefoods. We had a really good natter and explored the place to our hearts content. Then it was to take the bus all the wy back to Euston, good number 10.