Accessibility Guide for Auckland Castle

Welcome

Discover a story spanning almost 1,000 years of history on your visit to Auckland Castle.

An unexpected delight and where the Auckland Project all began are the thirteen life-size figures painted by Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664), a master of the Spanish Golden Age of art. The paintings were bought by Bishop Trevor in 1756 and have hung in the Long Dining Room at Auckland Castle ever since. It is one of the largest collections of Zurbaráns in the world.

Complete your visit with some time outdoors; relax in over 150 acres of historic parkland and see where some of your lunch ingredients started out life, in the Castle's Walled Garden.

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Castle Chapel & Vestry Gentleman's Hall Throne Room Long Dining Room Blue Drawing Room Galleries Library Public toilets Auckland Castle Deer House

Access with steps

There are steps from the main entrance to:

Bishops Kitchen Castle Shop

Visual

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

We have display information in audio and large print.

General

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

Some staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Auckland Castle

Bishop Auckland

DL17 7NP

Travel by public transport

You can get to Auckland Castle by bus and train.

The nearest bus stops are in the market place opposite Spanish Gallery and the Town Hall. The bus stop is 0.2 miles / 0.3 km from Auckland Castle.

The nearest train station is Bishop Auckland Train Station. The train station is 1 miles / 1.6 km from Auckland Castle.

If travelling by bus you should alight at Bishop Auckland Market Place

The following bus services, service both stops:

Arriva route 6 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.

Arriva route 18 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.

Arriva route 56/56A runs between Durham and Bishop Auckland, stopping approximately every 30 mins.

Please check bus routes direct with transport providers. There are additional services that service Bishop Auckland bus station which is located near the Newgate Shopping Centre.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with S & S Travel by calling 01388 615531. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

You can get a taxi with AABAT Taxis by calling 01388 607607. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

You can get a taxi with Atlas Taxis by calling 01388 450717. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

We have no affiliation with the suggested taxi services and the information provided is based on current available data at the time of writing this guide. Any suggestions for alternative please inform the accessibility point of contact.

Parking

There is parking near the venue. There are accessible parking spaces. Parking is not free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point has a dropped kerb.

From the car park to the entrance, there is level access.

Blue badge parking bays are available in the market place directly opposite Spanish Gallery. This is also the drop off area.

Additional parking including blue badge spaces is available on North Bondgate which is approximately 0.4 miles / 645 meters from Auckland Castle.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The door is 1600mm wide.

The main door is sliding and automatic.

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Lift

We have 4 lifts.

You can get a lift to some floors.

Lift to all floors (Red Stairs)

The lift door is 350mm wide.

The lift is 590mm wide. The lift is 590mm deep.

The lift says the floor number at each floor.

The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.

The lift shows the floor number, at each floor.

The Mezzanine area is not for use by visitors, if you inadvertently disembark the lift at this level you will need to re-embark to ascend to floor 1 or ground floor.

Lift to Bishops Kitchen (Gentleman's Hall Lobby)

The lift is a platform lift.

The lift door is 380mm wide.

The lift is 400mm wide. The lift is 600mm deep.

The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.

There are 5 steps adjacent to the platform lift for access to the Bishops Kitchen

Platform lift view from Bishops Kitchen to Gentleman's Hall

Lift to Shop (Stone Hall)

The lift is a platform lift.

The lift door is 380mm wide.

The lift is 400mm wide. The lift is 600mm deep.

The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.

There are 3 steps adjacent to the platform lift. There is a floor grill running within the stone hall to the shop.

Lift to galleries

The lift is a platform lift.

The lift door is 300mm wide.

The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.

This is a manually operated lift. You need to keep the floor button pressed to ascend and descend. When the lift reaches the required floor ensure you feel it engage otherwise the door won't release. Staff are on hand to assist.

Things to See and Do

We have display information in: audio and large print.

Castle

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1600mm wide, or more. The door is 1600mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Access to the Castle is via the main entrance. However, due to the medieval construction of the Castle, there are some stairs and areas that will not be wholly accessible for wheelchair users, those with pushchairs or persons with mobility issues, there is a designated accessibility route signposted throughout.

Chapel & Vestry

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The door is 540mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

The ramp is 290mm wide. The chapel is illuminated by natural lighting with some secondary lighting in use. During periods of inclement weather the lighting levels maybe lower and when it is very sunny it can be quite bright in places.

Everyone will be welcome to attend the regular services in the chapel, free of charge, and worship in a place where bishops have worshipped for centuries.

Ramp leading into main area of the Chapel

Gentleman's Hall

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 610mm wide, or more. The door is 610mm wide.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

There is a projector display operating in this area.

The accesibility route to the throne room is to the left of the stairwell. If using the stairs there are 22 steps in total.

Throne Room

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Long Dining Room

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Blue Drawing Room

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Galleries

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Galleries accesible via the platform lift in the lift lobby.

Landing area between lift lobby and stairs to second gallery

Library

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.

Some display information is low, for wheelchair users.

Access to Bishop's Kitchen is via the stone hall which is either 3 steps or the platform lift.

Public toilet

Public toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to the public toilet, the route is 320mm wide, or more.

The toilet door is 350mm wide.

The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.

There is 590mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 190mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Baby changing faciltiies available.

Door does not require a radar key.

Shop

Castle Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there are 3 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

There is a platform lift available to the Castle shop. There is a floor grill that run around the boundary to the Castle shop.

The exit door is operted by pushing the exit button, however, there is a small step that drops onto the gravel pathway.

The lowest height from the fall to the til is 310mm

Place to eat and drink

Bishops Kitchen

From the main entrance to the dining area, there are 5 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

If you need table service, staff can help you.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is background music sometimes.

The table and plates have high colour contrast.

We cater for vegetarian, low fat, vegan specific diets.

Wheat Free

There is a platform lift available for access to the Bishop's Kitchen. There is an outdoor couryard which is out of use during inclement weather.

Education Rooms

The learning rooms are generally unavailable to the public and there use is pre-bookable.

one step that has no contrasting floor marking

Getting around outside

Walled Gardens

Due to the nature of the terraine this area is on a slope with steep stair cut into the terraine. There are no colour contrast to the steps. The horizontal spaces are more level.

The upper walled garden is still under construction and currently unavailable to the public.

Designated Walking Trail

Walking Routes (Deer Park)

Some of the trail has a loose surface. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

Visitors are welcome to freely explore our 150 acre Deer Park at all times of the year taking advantage of one of the 3 dedicated walks. Visitors should be aware that roaming wildlife may be present and the terraine can be uneven and boggy during wet weather.

Visitors should be aware that there is ongoing maintenance works to the grounds to improve visibiliy and terraine levels. These areas are fenced off with signage.

View of main access path to castle from the gates

Auckland Castle Deer House

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

There is no access to the interior. The exterior is open to view from the surrounding parkland

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

For a list of more items, please go to https://aucklandproject.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/.

Assistance dogs can toilet in the exterior grounds, dog owners are responsible for picking up waste.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

There will be a member of staff in every room during an emergency evacuation procedure.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.