Accessibility Guide for Auckland Castle

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.

Castle State Entrace What3Words: octagonal.husky.servers

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. The route is 1200mm wide, or more.

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.

Please note there are ongoing works to the Castle Broadwalk affecting the accessibility. The temporary path has been graded to smooth peaks and troughs. The Heras fence base blocks have been sprayed yellow to assist the visually impaired. A pin and net fence has been erected along the edge of the temporary path where it falls away towards the upper walled garden retaining wall.

Path to main entrance

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

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The main door is sliding and automatic.

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Lift

We have 4 lifts.

You can get a lift to all floors.

Lift to all floors (Barrington)

The lift door is 880mm wide.

The lift is 1550mm wide. The lift is 1550mm 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. All rooms on the visitor route are accessible via the lift.

Lift to Bishops Kitchen (Gentleman's Hall Lobby)

The lift is a platform lift.

The lift door is 1000mm wide.

The lift is 1020mm wide. The lift is 1600mm deep.

The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.

There are 6 steps adjacent to the platform lift for access to the Bishops Kitchen. The lift buttons are raised symbols.

Lift to Shop (Stone Hall)

The lift is a platform lift.

The lift door is 1000mm wide.

The lift is 1020mm wide. The lift is 1600mm 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.The lift buttons are raised symbols.

Lift to Galleries

The lift is a platform lift.

The lift door is 790mm wide.

The lift is 850mm wide. The lift is 1620mm deep.

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. To access the Bishop Trevor Gallery you will need to enter the lift from the Gentleman's Hall lobby, or reverse in from the state entrance.

Ticket/ information desk

State Entrance Welcome Desk

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

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.

We have display information in: 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. There are seats.

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 1360mm wide.

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

The ramp is 740mm wide. The temporary ramp exceeds recommended gradient of 1:12 but does have handrails. 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.

Gentleman's Hall

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1540mm wide, or more. The door is 1540mm wide.

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

There is a projector display operating in this area. The projection is not speech requiring subitites, it is text over a video. The audio element is sound effects e.g. swords clashing.

The accesibility route to the throne room is to the left of the stairwell through a 780mm dorrway and by using the platform lift. The narrowest point to the platform lift is 700mm. If using the stairs there are 22 steps in total.

Ante Room and Throne Room

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

The door is 940mm wide.

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

There is a hearing loop.

Audio in the ante room does not have transcription available. There is music playing in the throne room.

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. There are seats.

A touch screen is available, chairs are moveable if obstructing access.

Breakfast Room

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

The door is 970mm wide.

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

There is a hearing loop.

Doorway to Breakfast Room is 970mm

Bishop Trevor Gallery (Temporary Exhibition Space)

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

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

Galleries accesible via the platform lift in the lift lobby.

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.

Private Apartments

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

From the lift to this area, the route is 750mm wide, or more. The door is 960mm wide.

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

There is a hearing loop.

Breakfast Room to Henson's Study doorway is 960mm. 

Henson's Study into the Small Drawing Room is 960mm. There is projection in this room that does not have subtitles. Transcript not currently available.

Small Drawing Room to Mary Moule's Room is 960mm,

There are five stairs from Mary Moule's Room to the Jenkins Room, or the alternative accessible route which is 880mm at its narrowest point. This will take you back to the Breakfast Room, you will then go to the Long Dining Room and out the door to the left. Use the lift to go up to floor 2 to access the Jenkins Room. This corridor has a ramp and is 880mm at its narrowest point.

The Ramsey and Butler Rooms exit to a corridoor which is 750mm at its narrowest point and a pull door at the end. Alternatively you can exit the way you entered and back to the lift lobby.

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 920mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1600mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 580mm 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 is level access. There is a lift.

From the lift to the shop, the route is 700mm wide, or more. 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. Alternatively the Castle shop can be accessed from the outside.

The exit door is operted by pushing the exit button, however, there is a small step that drops onto the gravel pathway. The narrowest part is 1060mm

The lowest height from the fall to the til is 800mm

Place to eat and drink

Bishops Kitchen

From the main entrance to the dining area, there are 6 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

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

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

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.

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

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

We have a hearing loop in Castle gift shop and throughout visitor route. No hearing loop at welcome desk.

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.

A member of staff will sweep each room including coridoors during an emergency. The lift to all floors can be used in an emergency, alternatively evacuation chairs are in place and trained staff will always be available.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.