Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- The most accessible entrance has slight ramps/slopes and a manual door.
- This entrance is the rear entrance.
- There is step-free access once inside.
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- The following are also available: seating and a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- This site is part of the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.
- The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is in the Speke Hall Courtyard area. View information about this toilet (new tab)
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 Stable Tea Room)
- From the visitor centre exit the door to right of the counters to the park area.
Proceed along the pathway passing the Home Farm Restaurant and bookshop on the right.
Proceed along the pathway for approximately 150 metres, the Kitchen Garden and Orchard are on either side of the pathway.
The Stable Tea Room is at the end of the pathway on the left. - The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are compact earth and gravel.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is an accessible shuttle which can take visitors to this area.
Entrance (Main)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the building.
- There is stepped access at the entrance.
- The slight slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There is 1 step, which is clearly marked, with no handrails.
- Some of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There is a single manual door (with an extension leaf) which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 70cm.
- There is a second set of manual doors which open by sliding.
- The width of the opening is 87cm.
Entrance (Rear)
- The entrance surveyed is located at the rear of the building.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The slight ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with a handrail on the left going up.
- There is a single manual door which opens towards you.
- The width of the opening is 90cm.
Eating and Drinking
- This is a tea room which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
- There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
- Staff can provide assistance and offer service to tables.
- Menu types include: written wall menus.
- Wall menus are easy to read (large clear font with contrasting colours), but handheld menus are not.
- The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups, a portable card machine for payment and large-handled mugs.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- There is a clearly signed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
- There is a counter over 85cm high without a tray rail.
- The counter is 94cm high.
- There is not a section of the counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- There is step-free level access around the seating area.
- There are chairs without armrests and tables available in the seating area.
- The seating area does not have: a priority table and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
- Tables are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The surface height of the tables is 74cm.
- All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
Picnic Area
- The following information describes the picnic area located at the rear of the building.
- There is step-free level access into the area.
- There are tables.
- No chairs have armrests on both sides.
- Adapted picnic tables are not available.
- The surface height of the lowest table is 72cm.
- The surface height of the highest table is 75cm.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- The surface in the picnic area is not smooth and even.
- Where the flooring is not smooth or even, this is due to gravel.