Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: historic interiors, exhibition rooms and a historic house.
- The most accessible entrance has a slight ramp/slope and manual doors.
- This entrance is located at the front of the Hall.
- There are 2 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is step-free access to the ground floor only 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: seating, large print information, Braille information, audio format information, a handheld device with sign language and a virtual tour.
- The sensory pack includes: ear defenders and activity sheets. For more information about reserving a pack, and any charges, please contact the venue before your visit.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- Toilet and changing facilities available include: a step free standard toilet, a toilet with some adaptations and a standard toilet.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found beyond the hall exit, to the right in the courtyard.
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 32m from the hall exit.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found beyond the hall exit, to the right in the courtyard.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has a manual door and step-free level access.
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, activity sheets and accessible maps.
- You can borrow these from the Visitor Reception building. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: a 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 Reception building. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- An accessible golf cart with a fold down ramp 86cm wide is available.
The cart can be used to take visitors to the main hall and gardens.
Route to (the Hall)
- From the Visitor Reception exit proceed along the pathway passing the Home Farm Restaurant and Bookshop on the right.
Proceed along the pathway for approximately 150 metres passing the Kitchen Gardens on the left. There are bench seats available to rest in this area.
At the end of the pathway there is another pathway to the left which leads up to a gate.
Pass through the gate (140cm wide) and follow the sign to the entrance for Speke Hall. - The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are compact earth, gravel, cobbles and paving stones.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
Entrance (Hall)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the Hall.
- There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
- The slight slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There are double manual doors (with one door locked) which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 120cm.
Entrance (/ Exit - Courtyard)
- The entrance surveyed is located in the foyer area opposite the entrance for the Hall.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 83cm.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 1 hour.
- There is ramped/sloped or 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 between 120cm and 180cm.
- The tour can not be adapted to avoid inaccessible areas.
- Areas with stepped access only can be experienced by visitors via a virtual tour, an information booklet, a video on tablet or mobile phone and a photo album.
- There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information booklets, Braille, pictorial, television/screen, audio description, handheld information devices, BSL and subtitles.
- The tour does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are 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, uneven paving/tiles and uneven floorboards.
- Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
- Lighting levels are low throughout the tour route.
- A portable ramp with a slight gradient is provided in the lobby area to access part of the ground floor kitchen areas of the tour. An access tablet is available from the Vestibule of the house upon request. It is available to anyone who cannot access upstairs. There are 3 options to choose from which include a basic tour of the upstairs, the same tour with subtitles and the same tour with BSL.
Stairs
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
- There are 15 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the left going up.
- The highest step is 17cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
- The second set of stairs has handrails on both side.
Exit (Hall)
- The exit is located next to the kitchen on the ground floor.
- There is step-free level access at the exit.
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 90cm.
Toilet with Adaptations (Courtyard - Ambulant - Right Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located beyond the exit door, to the right in the courtyard.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 32m from the hall exit.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the toilet door opening is 88cm.
- The door has a sliding bolt lock.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 140cm x 230cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 68cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
- The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: wash basin, soap dispenser and toilet roll holder.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 87cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 72cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 90cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 94cm.
- The height of the baby change is 90cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is a shelf located where it is not reachable for seated and standing users.
- The shelf does not meet the criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets. For the Stoma Friendly Toilets criteria click here and select the Stoma Friendly tab in the right hand pane.
- The cubicle has: a sanitary bin and a nappy/incontinence items 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 toilet seat, the floor, some grab rails and the internal door.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: some grab rails.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Standard Toilet (Courtyard - Female)
- Access into the toilet is via steps and a slight ramp/slope.
- The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with a handrail on the left going up.
- There are 2 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 86cm.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 57cm.
- The wash basin tap type is push.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
- The toilets are located in the courtyard area, to the right beyond the hall exit.
Standard Toilet (Courtyard - Male)
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 89cm.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 57cm.
- The wash basin tap type is push.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
- The toilets are located in the courtyard area, to the right beyond the hall exit.
Courtyard Area
- The courtyard area has a cobbled surface which is very uneven.
- To the centre of the courtyard there is a large pine tree.