Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has slight ramps/slopes.
- This entrance is to the front of the building.
- There is step-free access once inside.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- Staff/volunteers can describe the layout and access around the site.
- The following are also available: large print information, a clearly signed hearing assistance system, a companion/carer discount, facilities for assistance dogs, maps, an accessible route map and an information board in the car park.
- At the time of our visit the hearing assistance system was working.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a parent and baby room, step free standard toilets and toilets with some adaptations.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found is along a pathway to the left of the visitor centre entrance..
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 24m from the visitor centre entrance.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found is along a pathway to the left of the visitor centre entrance.
Admissions
- At this location the following are free to access for all visitors: all areas except Bridgewater Monument.
- This site offers companion or carer discounts.
Public Transport
- There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the site.
- The nearest train station is Tring.
- Tring Station is approximately 3.5 miles from Ashridge Estate.
- For locals in Hertfordshire there is a company called Herts Lynx where people who have registered can use the Dial-a-Ride service which can go to the visitor centre and Monument Café.
For information on Herts Lynx please click here. - For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Traveline (opens new tab).
Parking (Visitor Centre)
- This site has a car park.
- The vehicle route from the main road to the car park includes: uneven surfaces and potholes.
- This is an open air car park with a tarmac and compacted gravel surface.
- Parking is free for all users.
- Maps and information boards are available.
- There are 6 Blue Badge parking bays.
- The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 350cm x 415cm.
- There is no hatched zone.
- The nearest Blue Badge bay is 60m from the visitor centre entrance.
- Obstacles from the car park include: a lack of pedestrian walkways to cross the car park and bollards with low colour contrast and no visual identification band.
- There are not parent and child parking bays available.
- There is not a designated drop-off point.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: a manual wheelchair and a running buggy. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from the visitor centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: mobility scooters. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- You can borrow these from the visitor centre. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- There are 2 x two seater buggies and a 1 x four seater buggy for hire. Visitors can enquire at the visitor centre. They are stored in the buggy shed which is located opposite the Monument Café parking area.
Visitor Reception
- Access into the area is via a slight ramp/slope.
- The slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 153cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- There is room for wheelchair users to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm) throughout the area.
- All flooring is smooth and even.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 82cm.
- The counter is placed in front of a patterned background.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There are tables and chairs without armrests available in the visitor reception.
- Services/facilities available include: a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- Access to the bookshop area is to the left of the visitor reception.
Shop (Bookshop)
- There is step-free level access into the shop.
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- All flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
- The majority of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There is step-free level access around the shop.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- Cash donations can be made in the second-hand bookshop.
Visitors can donate by card in the gift shop.
Shop (Gift and Plant Shop - via the Visitor Centre)
- There is step-free level access into the shop.
- The door is manual, permanently held open and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 146cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- The majority of aisle widths are over 150cm.
- Some flooring in the shop is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- There is step-free level access around the shop.
- There is background noise here.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is step-free level access to the counter.
- The height of the counter is 93cm.
- There is a low level counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The counter has windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- The counter has a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- Services/facilities available in the shop include: a portable card machine for payment and a member of staff to provide assistance.
- There is an alternative entrance/exit from the Monument Café. There is step-free access via ramp at this entrance. The ramps are in front of and beyond the entrance and they do not have handrails. The door is single, manual and opens away from you. The width of the opening is 68cm.
Toilet with Adaptations (Visitor Centre - Ambulant - Left Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located on a pathway to the left of the visitor centre.
- Access into the toilet is via a slight ramp/slope.
- The ramp is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- This toilet is approximately 22m from the visitor centre.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a medium colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 79cm.
- The door has a locking handle.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the doorway with a height of more than 1.5cm.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 168cm x 160cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat.
- The lateral transfer space is 75cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door and a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: toilet roll holder, wash basin and soap dispenser.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: towel dispenser.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 118cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 72cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 93cm.
- The height of the towel dispenser is 81cm.
- The height of the baby change is 85cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is not a shelf.
- The cubicle has: a waste bin with lid and a sanitary bin.
- The cubicle does not have a mirror and coat hooks.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the dropdown rail, the floor and all grab rails.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door and the toilet seat.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Standard Toilet
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 69cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- The male and female standard toilets were surveyed.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 57cm.
- The wash basin tap type is sensor.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
- To enter the toilet block there is a slight slope with a single manual door which is permanently held open and has an opening width of 79cm.
Parent and Baby Room / Baby Feeding Room
- There is step-free level access into the room.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 77cm.
- Internally the door has a low colour contrast.
- The height of the baby change table is 80cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- There is no seating available in the room.
- There is a toilet in the parent and baby room.
- Waste bins include: a nappy bin and a sanitary bin.
- To enter the toilet block there is a slight slope with a single manual door which is permanently held open and has an opening width of 79cm.