February 12, 2026

How a byACRE Rollator Reunited Me with My Happy Place

The National Gallery has been my happy place since I started making trips to London when I was 16. The gallery became more than somewhere I visited; it became a constant in my life. A place I returned to again and again, through different stages of my life. It's somewhere I feel calm, grounded and inspired. For a long time, though, because of my illness, it has been out of reach. The journey to London requires stamina, confidence and the ability to keep going when your body asks you to stop. The distances involved, the uncertainty around sitting and resting—it just made visiting feel too daunting. Eventually, I stopped seeing it as something I could do, and more as something I used to do.

I didn't stop loving the National Gallery—but I stopped being able to cope with a day out. My rollator changed that; it has enabled me to visit again!

What once felt overwhelming now feels possible. Not rushed. Not stressful. Just possible—and that shift has meant everything to me. On my first trip back after years away, I even joined as a member as I know I can return to future exhibitions now. I'm happy to say, it's more than 34 years on, and I'm still visiting.

How My Rollator Has Positively Impacted My Life

The biggest impact my rollator has had on my life is the confidence it has given me. Confidence to go out, confidence to travel further, and confidence to return to places that truly matter to me—like the National Gallery.

Before, every outing involved mental calculations: How far will I have to walk? Where can I sit? What if I get tired and there's nowhere to rest? Those thoughts made even the idea of a trip to London feel exhausting and completely out of reach. Now, knowing I can sit down whenever and wherever I need to has taken a lot of that fear away. With my rollator, the journey to London no longer feels daunting.

The rollator is extremely easy to fold and lift onto the train and into taxis, which removes so much stress when travelling in a busy city. It handles kerbs confidently, making pavements and crossings far more manageable. Instead of worrying about obstacles, I can focus on where I'm going—and why I'm going there.

And where I'm going now includes my happy place. My rollator hasn't just supported my mobility—it's reconnected me with joy. It really has.

There's also the matter of stigma. Walkers often carry outdated assumptions. But my rollator doesn't look like a traditional walker. It looks modern and stylish; it doesn't scream "medical aid"—it feels more like a well-designed piece of everyday equipment. Because of that, I don't feel self-conscious using it. I feel confident, proud, even. It reflects a decision to keep engaging with life, rather than shrinking it.

Any Modifications or Improvements I've Made to My Rollator

I loved being able to choose the colour of my rollator. I opted for British Racing Green, which feels classic, stylish, and completely me. That choice alone made a difference to how I felt using it. I also purchased the cup holder, which has turned out to be surprisingly useful. Being able to carry a coffee or my electrolytes with me, especially on longer days out or while travelling, makes outings feel more relaxed and normal. It's a great bit of kit—another small detail that adds to the sense of independence my rollator gives me.

The lovely clip-on bag that comes with the rollator has been invaluable on days out. It's deceptively spacious and fits so much inside. I can carry all the essentials like my phone, purse, medication and water bottle without having to carry an extra bag. It makes travel feel much more manageable.

I've taken care to adjust the handle height so it supports good posture and reduces strain. That small detail has made a noticeable difference on longer walks.

Moments That Matter: My Rollator in Action

Christmas at the National Gallery
This photo was taken in my happy place. A place no longer out of reach. My rollator made the journey possible—and made being there enjoyable, not exhausting.

Hayley seated on her byACRE Ultralight rollator in front of a Christmas tree at The National Gallery in London — In front of the Christmas tree at The National Gallery in London

Seated on my rollator
Having the ability to sit down wherever I am gives me freedom. It allows me to pause, take things in, and continue when I'm ready—without pressure.

Hayley smiling while seated in her byACRE Ultralight rollator at the V&A Storehouse — Seated at The V&A Storehouse

Hayley with her byACRE Ultralight rollator at the V&A Storehouse — In front of The V&A Storehouse

What I'd Like to See Improved in Future Rollator Designs

While I genuinely love my rollator, there's always room for growth. Continued focus on style is incredibly important—because confidence often begins with how something makes you feel before you even use it. One improvement I'd like to suggest for future rollators is a piece of equipment to hold a phone, so you can easily follow directions while out and about without having to stop and look at your phone. Small additions like this can make independent travel even simpler and more reassuring.

Final Reflections

My rollator has given me back places, experiences, and parts of myself I thought I might have lost.

It has turned "daunting" into "possible." It has taken my happy place from a memory and made it a destination again.

And perhaps most importantly, it has reminded me that independence doesn't always mean doing things the same way as before—it means finding new ways to keep doing what you love.

Hayley in front of the "Two Women Running on the Beach" with her byACRE Ultralight rollator at the Tate Modern — At the V&A storehouse in the David and Molly Lowell Borthwick Gallery. In front of Pablo Picasso's signed theatre curtain for the Ballets Russes - The biggest Picasso in the world.