Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this area include: exhibition rooms, a historic house and historic interiors.
- The most accessible entrance has steps and doors permanently held open.
- This entrance is on the right as you enter Knole via the main entrance.
- There are 3 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is stepped access once inside.
- None of the floors are step-free.
- There is restricted headroom and restricted room to manoeuvre at this property.
- 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: seating, a BSL interpreter, a companion/carer discount, sensory packs and a large map in the car park.
- This site is not part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
Equipment and Resources to Borrow
- You can borrow or hire the following equipment: manual wheelchairs. It is highly recommended that these are booked in advance, where this is possible. Please check the National Trust website for details.
- Sensory packs can be borrowed which include: ear defenders and fidget toys.
- 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: an off-road/all-terrain mobility scooter. 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.
- Visitors should call 01732 462 100 to book the powered mobility vehicle at least 23 hours in advance. The rollator can be borrowed for use in the upper showrooms.
Route to (Gatehouse Tower)
- Exit the car park and the Gatehouse Tower is directly ahead. Go through the main entrance and turn right where you will find the entrance to the Gatehouse Tower.
- The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are paving stones and bonded gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is no accessible shuttle to this area.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located on the right once you have passed through the main entrance.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- There are 3 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- All of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There is a single manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 58cm.
Stairs
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the left going up.
- The highest step is 21cm high.
- This is a spiral staircase and will be narrower in some areas.
- Lighting levels are varied.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 30 minutes.
- There is stepped access along the tour route.
- There are doorways or openings used on the tour which are under 75cm wide.
- The majority of walkway widths are under 120cm.
- The tour can be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a video on tablet or mobile phone.
- There may be background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information board and television/screen.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are armchairs, sofas and chairs without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
- The following furniture is permanently fixed: some of the chairs.
- Some flooring along the tour route is smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to carpet and uneven floorboards.
- Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
- Lighting levels are varied throughout the tour route.
- There is an arched door way with a height of 153cm and a width of 46cm to access the viewing platform on the roof of the tower. There is one marked step at a height of 21cm with no handrails to access parts of the viewing platform.