The main entrance is at the side of the building, you will arrive at the visitor desk before being able to access the main part of the house.

On arrival, you will be greeted by a member of our team who will introduce you to Blackwell and offer you an illustrative map to guide you around the house.

The floors are made of wood with step-free, level access throughout. The area is evenly and well-lit with overhead lighting from spotlights. There is a lowered section of the ticketing desk.

The Gift Shop is located to the left of the visitor desk. There is ample room for manual wheelchair users to manoeuvre and turn. The shop has some tall display racks but also some lower displays that are accessible from a seated position. Staff will help if required.

The Tea room can be accessed from reception

Natural lighting floods the Tea room from the large windows but there is additional overhead lighting.

The Tea room offers table service for visitors sitting inside but is self-service outside. Where possible all our food is locally sourced. We do our best to cater for any dietary requirements: please let us know in advance and contact us to request specific dietary requirements.

Large print menus are available, and specials of the day are shown on a blackboard behind the till.

The nearest toilet with an accessible WC is in the outside toilet block.

To the right of the visitor desk is the entrance to the main house. As you walk down the oak panelled corridor you will find the Main Hall and Dining Room to the left and the White Drawing Room straight ahead.

To the right, there is a lobby for the visitor lift and stair access to the first floor and a porch where you will find visitor toilets.

There is wood flooring throughout the ground floor, but it is covered by rugs in some areas. Lighting in the Main Hall and White Drawing Room is generally bright and evenly lit, however there are some areas, particularly in the Dining Room that are more dimly lit.

Visitors can access the first floor by the stairs in the Main Hall or by the stairs and lift in the lobby of the ground floor.

There are different levels on the first floor so there are several short flights of stairs which may be difficult for visitors with mobility issues. Wheelchair users will not be able to access these areas of the house.

The floors on the first floor are made of wood, except the school exhibition room which is carpeted. The stairs are fitted with non-slip tape.

Visitors are free to use the alcove and window seats throughout the ground floor but must not to sit on any of the display furniture.

There are wooden window seats located at various points around the exhibition galleries on the first floor.

There portable stools are available if required.

Lower ground floor

Inside the house there is a unisex toilet with level access from the house corridor. There are two further unisex toilets in the porch with a small step leading down to them.

External

There is an outside toilet block near the Tea Room with level access male and female toilets.