Access for all

Penshurst Place strives to ensure every visitor can fully enjoy their visit, whatever their needs. Though we are a Grade I listed house and gardens, we are here to help you make the most of your visit.

For wheelchair users and those with walking or mobility difficulties we provide a variety of alternative routes and experiences.

• Manual wheelchairs available for free hire
• Specific wheelchair route around the Gardens and into Garden Tea Room
• Ground level Staterooms (including the Baron's Hall) and exhibition area accessible
• Virtual DVD tour of other Staterooms on the first floor
  
• Large print and Braille guides

We recommend that the person pushing the wheelchair be able bodied and relatively fit.

Mobility scooters may be brought into the grounds - to be kept at a walking pace speed and not cause any inconvenience or danger to other visitors.

Parking

Parking for visitors with disabilities is next to the our Visitor Entrance, Pantry cafe and Gift Shop - with a concrete path to the entrance. Coaches can also drop off onto this area; with coach parking next to the entrance and disabled parking.

Visitor Entrance, Pantry cafe and Gift Shop

The Visitor Entrance, Pantry cafe and Gift Shop are accessible to wheelchair users via a concrete path from the parking for the disabled. The entrance to the the Gift Shop is separate to the entrance to the Pantry. A disabled toilet is next to the Pantry.

Access to the Gardens

The Gardens at Penshurst Place are made accessible for wheelchairs - the route mostly consists of tarmac and grass paths. Ramps are also available or in place though some are relatively steep.

Access to the House

The entrance to the house is through to the Baron’s Hall which is at ground level and can be accessed via portable ramps. Wheelchair visitors may also access the Nether Gallery which is also on Ground level. The Toy Museum is located up 5 steps.

To view the upper staterooms there is just one stair case up and down, with hand rails, or a special DVD virtual tour can be viewed in the Baron's Halll which has an introduction from the owner of Penshurst Place, Viscount De L'Isle, and a running commentary. Please ask in advance or on arrival our Baron’s Hall Room Steward will be able to help you view it.

Thank you to everyone at Penshurst for making our visit to you such a happy day. The 3 ladies who watched the DVD loved it.''

Access to the Garden Restaurant

Located adjacent to the house entrance and in the gardens, there are signs for wheelchair access to the Garden Restaurant, located to the side of the building.

Seating and rest points

Seating can be found at frequent intervals around the gardens.

Toilets

Toilets for visitors with disabilities are situated outside the Pantry cafe which is next to the Visitor Entrance and Gift Shop and one close to the House entrance and Garden Restaurant - close to the Toy Museum.

Hire of Wheelchairs

Two manual wheelchairs are available from the main Visitor Entrance, but please do phone us to book in advance of your visit (for groups, please see relevant section in the group booking form).

Guides

Please ask on arrival for our disabled access guided map which shows a recommended wheelchair route through the garden to the house. Other relevant facilities are also marked. A copy is also available to download here.

We also have large print and Braille House guides. Please request this in advance or, on arrival at the house, from the steward in the Baron’s Hall.

In the Toy Museum there is a special pictorial and large print guide which can be requested from the steward.

Access facilities for Groups

The more we know in advance of your visit, the more we can help, so do let us know at the point of booking of any special requirements your group may have.

If you book a House or Garden tour and have wheelchair users, let us know on the groups booking form to ensure the route we take can be made accessible and our staterooms DVD facilities are available.

Coach parking and drop off points

Coach parking is close to the main Visitor entrance and Gift Shop with the house a short, slightly inclined walk from the car park. Alternative access, closer to the House,  to drop off of visitors with serious mobility issues, can be arranged if you let us know prior to visiting.

For full details, please download our Access Facilities information leaflet. If you have any comments or suggestions about our facilities, please do let us know.