Days out, travel and holidays with an autistic child

How do I prepare my child for a day out or holiday?

Start with pictures. Seeing where you are going and what will happen makes a new place easier to predict. The National Autistic Society (NAS) suggests making a schedule, previewing the place with pictures, videos or maps, and counting down to the day (NAS).

1. Look at photos and videos together. Many places show photos, videos or maps online. Civil Aviation Authority guidance says airports should use "videos, photos and pictures" of airport processes, and consider visits before you travel (CAA).
2. Make a picture story. A short picture story with photos of the real place can explain what will happen, what your child might see and hear, and what will help.
3. Make a picture plan for the day. A simple visual timetable shows the order of the day: car, train, zoo, lunch, home. Try our printable visual timetable, and see our guide to visual timetables.
4. Count down. Cross off the days on a calendar so your child can see when the trip is.
5. Practise the new parts. NAS suggests practising new situations, such as airport security or checking in at a hotel (NAS).
6. Plan for changes. NAS suggests a plan B and a plan C, and adding extra time to your plans (NAS). If something changes, show it on the picture plan as early as you can.

When is the best time to go?

Choose quieter times if you can. Going when a place first opens, or on a weekday, usually means fewer people, shorter queues and less noise. Ask the venue when it is quietest. This is practical experience rather than research.

Look out for relaxed events. Many cinemas run autism-friendly screenings, where "low lights are left on inside the auditorium, the volume of the film is reduced", there are no trailers, and people are "free to move around, make a noise or take a break" (NAS). Some theatres and attractions also advertise relaxed or quiet sessions. What they include varies, so ask what will be different before you book.

It is also worth asking what else a venue can offer, such as a quiet room or a different way to queue. NAS points out that UK service providers "have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments" for disabled people (NAS).

Which access schemes can help?

Several UK schemes can make days out easier. Each has its own rules, so check before you go (Sunflower; CEA Card; Max Card; Alton Towers; Changing Places; GOV.UK).

The Sunflower. Wearing one is voluntary. For individuals, the scheme says "choosing to wear the Sunflower is all you need to do" (Hidden Disabilities Sunflower).

The CEA Card. NAS says around 90 per cent of UK cinemas accept it (NAS). Cinemas must still make reasonable adjustments whether or not you have a card (CEA Card).

Merlin's Ride Access Pass covers Alton Towers, Chessington, LEGOLAND Windsor and THORPE PARK (Merlin). It is free to apply, through the Access Card system run by Nimbus Disability, and upgrading to a full Access Card is optional (Merlin). The Access Card symbols Merlin accepts include "Difficulty with Crowds" (Merlin). In February 2026 Merlin paused a planned trial that would have stopped accepting that symbol on its own, and said "we will continue to accept the Difficulty with Crowds access symbol for RAP" (Access Card). As of September 2026, Merlin says it will update the pass "from the end of this year", with "a new virtual queuing system, no changes to eligibility criteria and the intention to phase out the pre-booking requirement" (Merlin). Apply well before your visit, and check the park's page for the latest rules.

Changing Places toilets. In a House of Commons debate on 16 July 2026, MPs heard that "the number of active and registered Changing Places toilets stands at 2,665" (Hansard).

How do we get help at airports and on trains?

When you fly from a UK airport on any airline, you are legally entitled to free assistance, and this includes passengers with hidden disabilities such as autism (Civil Aviation Authority). Help can cover arriving at the airport, security, boarding, the flight, changing planes and the airport at the other end.

Civil Aviation Authority guidance says airports should consider a quiet area and a quiet route, for example one that avoids the shops. It also says people with hidden disabilities "must never be separated" from the people with them while they get assistance, for example during a security search (CAA). Ask for assistance when you book, or contact your airline or the airport as early as you can, and check how much notice they need.

On trains, Passenger Assist is free help for anyone who needs it because of a disability. Since 1 April 2022, you need to give no more than 2 hours' notice when you book it. You can also turn up and ask, but help then depends on staff being available (Office of Rail and Road).

The Disabled Persons Railcard costs £20 for a year or £54 for three years, and gives the holder and one adult companion a third off train tickets. Children of any age can get one if they meet the criteria, for example getting DLA at the higher or middle care rate or at either mobility rate (Railcard).

Is there help with the cost of breaks and days out?

Family Fund gives grants to families on a low income raising a disabled or seriously ill child. Your child must need a high level of support in at least three of seven areas, such as communication or supervision, and getting DLA does not decide whether you qualify (Family Fund). Its list of things families can apply for includes family breaks and days out (Family Fund). In England, from 24 September 2026 until the end of March 2027, its Support for Families with Disabled Children programme is open only to families applying for the first time (Family Fund).

In England, councils must provide a range of short breaks for disabled children, including services during the school holidays, and publish who can get them (Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011). Search your council's website for its short breaks statement, or look in its Local Offer. For more on grants and benefits, see money and practical help.

What should we pack?

Pack for comfort, waiting and the unexpected. NAS suggests taking familiar things from home on holiday, such as bedding, toys and snacks (NAS).

• Ear defenders or headphones for noisy places. NAS notes that using them a lot may increase sensitivity over time, so plan when to use them (NAS).
• Snacks and drinks your child likes, in case the food is new or the queue is long.
• Comfort items, such as a favourite toy or blanket.
• A quiet activity for waiting, such as a book or a fidget toy. If you use a tablet, see our guide to screen time and apps.
• The picture plan and picture story for the day.
• ID for your child, such as a card with your phone number, and a one-page profile.

What if it all gets too much?

Agree a plan before you go, so everyone knows what to do if your child becomes overwhelmed. NAS suggests having a calm plan for holidays (NAS).

1. Find a quiet spot when you arrive, such as the car, a quiet room or a calm corner outside.
2. Agree a signal your child can use to ask for a break, such as a card, a sign or a word.
3. Use fewer words. During sensory overload, NAS advises keeping "speech and information to a minimum" and offering sensory tools (NAS).
4. Give time. NAS notes that it can take a while to recover from sensory overload, so do not rush your child after a meltdown (NAS). See our guide to meltdowns and shutdowns.
5. Leave early if you need to. A short visit that ends calmly is a good day out.

How do we cope with Christmas, Halloween and Bonfire Night?

Plan each celebration like a day out. For Christmas, NAS suggests planning each day, including when you will leave or when visitors will leave, and showing a schedule or pictures of new places. It also suggests telling relatives what helps, keeping usual food and mealtimes where you can, letting your child know what presents are coming, and not expecting them to react to presents straight away. Keep lights steady rather than flashing, and have a space without lights and decorations (NAS).

We found no research or official guidance on Halloween or Bonfire Night, so these are practical ideas:

• Look at pictures of costumes, pumpkins and fireworks together beforehand.
• Let your child choose whether to dress up, and try the costume at home first.
• Trick or treat early, at a few houses you know, or hand out sweets at home instead.
• Watch fireworks from a window or the car, or try a small, early display with ear defenders. Our guide to sensory differences has more ideas.

Where can I get more help?

These organisations and services can help you plan and pay for days out:

• The National Autistic Society has holiday, Christmas and cinema tips for families.
• Family Fund for grants, and Contact for advice on benefits for families with disabled children.
• Your council for short breaks and Blue Badges. Its Local Offer lists local support for disabled children.
• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower for how the scheme works.
• Our guides to transitions and change and DLA for autistic children, since DLA is evidence for several schemes.