Access Guide
Summary
- View information about opening hours.
- Amenities in this building include: exhibition rooms.
- Additional amenities in this building include: a learning centre.
- The most accessible entrance has a slight ramp/slope and doors permanently held open.
- This entrance is the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio entrance.
- There are 4 floors once inside.
- Other floors can be accessed via: standard lift and stairs.
- There is step-free access once inside with lift access to other floors.
- There is not a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- The following are also available: seating and a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
- 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: an accessible toilet for the use of everyone, step free standard toilets and a parent and baby room.
- The toilet with adaptations for disabled people surveyed can be found on the ground floor, ahead past reception then on the left.
- This toilet with adaptations for disabled people is approximately 5m from the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio entrance.
- The standard toilets can be found on the ground floor.
- The standard toilets surveyed can be found ahead past reception then on the left.
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 (the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio)
- From the car park walk toward the building and take the first left.
Enter the gate on the right and the entrance to the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio is opposite the café. - The route to the area is step-free via a steep ramp/slope.
- Path surfaces along the route are tarmac.
- 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 around the left side of the house, opposite the Brewhouse Café.
- There is step-free access via slope at the entrance.
- The slight slope is over 150cm wide, with no handrails.
- There are double automatic doors which are permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 190cm.
- There is a second manual door which is permanently open.
- The width of the opening is 103cm.
Reception
- There is step-free level access to reception.
- The height of the reception counter is 89cm.
- There is not a low level desk or counter at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The reception has windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- The counter does not have a hearing assistance system.
- There are bench seats available in the reception area.
Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)
- This toilet is located ahead past the reception desk, then on the left.
- There is step-free level access into the toilet.
- This toilet is approximately 5m from the Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio entrance.
- There is pictorial and written text 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 89cm.
- The door has a lever twist lock.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The dimensions of the cubicle are 188cm x 206cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
- There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat but it is obstructed.
- The lateral transfer space is 114cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
- There is a spatula flush on the non 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: toilet roll holder, wash basin and soap dispenser.
- The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
- The height of the toilet roll holder is 96cm.
- The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
- The height of the wash basin is 74cm.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 100cm.
- The height of the hand dryer is 80cm.
- There is a pull cord emergency alarm at a recommended height (within 10cm from the floor).
- There is a shelf located where it is reachable for seated and standing users.
- The shelf does 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 nappy/incontinence items bin and a padded back rest for seat.
- The cubicle does not have a full length mirror.
- The height of the coat hook is 84cm from the floor.
- The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door, some grab rails and the toilet seat.
- The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: some grab rails, the dropdown rail and the floor.
- 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 high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 78cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The male standard toilet was surveyed.
- There is also a female toilet in the same location.
- The width of the widest cubicle door opening is 61cm.
- The wash basin tap type is sensor.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- There are hand dryers.
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 high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 85cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- The height of the baby change table is 79cm.
- The wash basin tap type is sensor.
- There is no seating available in the room.
- Waste bins include: a nappy bin.
Stairs
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are the ground, first, second and the Hayloft Learning Centre.
- There are more than 20 steps between floors.
- The steps are not clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
- The highest step is 17cm high.
- Lighting levels are varied.
Lift
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are the ground, first, second and the Hayloft Learning Centre.
- Externally the lift has: a door with a high colour contrast to the surroundings, buttons with a low colour contrast to the surroundings and tactile markings.
- The lift does have a recommended turning space (150cm x 150cm) in front of it.
- The lift door opening width is 89cm.
- The dimensions of the lift are 99cm x 215cm.
- Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user, tactile markings, buttons with a high colour contrast to the surroundings, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
Entrance (Knole Conservation Studio)
- The entrance surveyed is located on the second floor.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
- The width of the opening is 100cm.
- The lift opens directly into the Knole Conservation Studio, bypassing the need to use this entrance.
Attraction / Exhibit (Knole Conservation Studio)
- The majority of walkway widths are over 180cm.
- There is no (or very little) background noise here.
- Exhibit information includes the following formats: tactile, information board and interactive exhibits at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 75cm - 120cm).
- The exhibits do not have hearing assistance systems.
- There is step-free level access around the area.
- There are chairs without armrests available in the area.
- All flooring in the area 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.
- Lighting levels are varied.
- There are also touch and smell exhibits available.
Event Space (Hayloft Learning Centre)
- There is step-free level access into the activity area.
- The door is manual, opens inwards and has a high colour contrast with the surrounding walls.
- The width of the door opening is 100cm.
- Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
- There is step-free level access around the space.
- All flooring in the area is smooth and even.
- Lighting levels are moderate to good.
- The layout of this space, and available furniture, varies depending on the event taking place.
- The space has a hearing assistance system which is not signed.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.