Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms.
- The most accessible entrance has steps, a slight ramp/slope (which bypasses any steps), manual doors and doors permanently held open.
- This entrance is at the front of the house.
- There are 3 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: stairs.
- There is step-free access to the ground floor only once inside.
- There are slight slopes into some of the exhibition rooms on the ground floor and steps into the kitchens.
- 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 hearing assistance system which is not signed and a virtual tour.
- 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: step free standard toilets.
- The nearest toilet with adaptations for disabled people is in the toilet area in the stableyard.. View information about this toilet (new tab)
- Additional toilet facilities with adaptations for disabled people are outside the rear of the Great Barn Restaurant.. View information about this toilet (new tab)
- The standard toilets can be found on the ground floor.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found as you exit the Hall.
- There is a separate exit.
- The exit has steps, a slight ramp/slope (which bypasses any steps), a door permanently held open and manual doors.
- The entrance can be used to exit by visitors with limited mobility.
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.
- You can borrow these from the Visitor Reception. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
- You can borrow or hire the following mobility vehicles: trampers. 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. View more information about booking and collection of equipment.
Route to (Hardwick Hall)
- From the Visitor Reception head through the gates and follow the path round to the right towards the entrance to the gardens.
Go through the entrance and take the path on the left and continue ahead, through the herb garden.
At the far end of the herb garden turn right through the arch then left and continue ahead towards the house.
At the end of the path turn left then go through the gateway and follow the path round to the front of the house. - The route to the area is step-free via a slight ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are compact earth, gravel and paving stones.
- The majority of the paths are wide enough for wheelchair users.
- There is a shuttle which can take visitors to this area, but wheelchair users will need to transfer into it.
Entrance
- The entrance surveyed is located at the front of the house.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The slight portable ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- The ramp overcomes the steps.
- There are 3 steps, which are unmarked, with no handrails.
- The handrails do not cover all steps.
- All of the steps are not at the recommended height (between 15cm - 18cm).
- There are double manual doors which are permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 175cm.
- The entrance opening has a minimum height of 200cm.
Tour
- The tour is self-guided but volunteers/staff are available to provide additional information.
- The tour takes approximately 45 minutes.
- There is ramped/sloped and stepped access along the tour route.
- 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.
- There is no (or very little) background noise along the tour route.
- Tour information includes the following formats: information board.
- The tour has a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There are bench seats and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests at regular intervals along the tour.
- 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 paving/tiles.
- 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 along parts of the tour route.
Stairs (Main)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2.
- There are 15 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the left going up.
- The highest step is 15cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
Stairs (Rear - Wooden)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are 2, 1.
- There are 15 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with a handrail on the right going down.
- The highest step is 16cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
Stairs (Rear - Stone)
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are 1, G.
- There are 15 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
- The highest step is 12cm high.
- Lighting levels are low.
Standard Toilet
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- The door is manual, opens outwards and has a low colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 88cm.
- The female toilet was surveyed.
- There is also a male toilet in the same location.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 79cm.
- The wash basin tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are low.
- There are hand dryers.
Exit
- The exit is located on the ground floor, on the right side of the hall.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the exit.
- There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 91cm.
- There is a second manual door, which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 88cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the exit with a height of less than 1.5cm.
- There is a slight ramp over 150cm wide beyond the exit, with no handrails.
- The ramp overcomes the steps.
- There are 3 steps beyond the exit, which are unmarked, with no handrails.