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Accessibility Guide for Harewood House Trust

email addressinfo@harewood.org phone number01132181000 websitehttps://harewood.org/
The Harewood logo is made up of five dark blue 'H' letters. The space between the letters looks like plus signs.

Guide last updated: 10 February 2023

  • At a glance
  • Getting here
  • Arrival
  • Getting around inside
  • Getting around outside
  • Customer care support
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Welcome

Harewood House Trust is an independent charity in the heart of Yorkshire. We make heritage relevant, enrich people’s lives by protecting and sharing our assets, and work with creative minds to provoke new perspectives on art, nature and life – for everyone. 

An 18th-century Palladian-style country house sits at Harewood’s heart; surrounded by a ‘Capability’ Brown Grade 1 listed landscape and award-winning Gardens. Our cultural assets are as diverse as they are significant; with outstanding collections across the House and Grounds of both national and international importance.

A large Palladian-style stone stately home with a formal terrace garden set in green rural landscape.
  • Level access icon Level Access
  • Hearing icon Hearing
  • Visual icon Visual
  • General icon General

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

The House, State FloorThe House, Below StairsVisitor ReceptionVisitor InformationCar Park ToiletsInner Courtyard ToiletBothy ToiletsBelow Stairs ToiletOuter Courtyard ToiletsChurch ToiletsCourtyard CafeTerrace TearoomThe Courtyard ShopThe House ShopAll Saints ChurchTerrace, Archery Border and West GardenWalled Garden and BothyHimalayan GardenThe Adventure PlaygroundWoodland Wonderland

There is level access from the car park to:

Car Park Picnic Area

Hearing

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.
We have display information in large print.

General

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
Some staff have disability awareness training.

Getting here

Harewood House
Harewood
Leeds
LS17 9LG

Travel by public transport

You can get to Harewood House Trust by bus.
The nearest bus stop is located in Harewood Village on Harrogate Road, the A61. The distance between the bus stop and our Main Archway is approximately 248m. You can get to Harewood House by bicycle. You will need to wear a helmet while cycling. Harewood is on a hill so you will need to cycle with care for your safety and the safety of others.

There are two main bus stops in Harewood village and two services. The No.36 connecting Leeds and Harrogate and the No.923 connecting Otley to Tadcaster via Wetherby. Once you disembark, make your way south towards the large stone archway, which is the entrance into Harewood House Trust.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Amber Cars by calling 0113 202 2112. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
You can get a taxi with Premier Private Hire by calling 0113 288 885. We have a transfer service for visitors. Wheelchair users can use the transfer service.

Harewood operates a complimentary volunteer led shuttle service. The shuttle can take you from the main archway to the ticket booths, church, house, carpark, and courtyard. The shuttle has space for up to 10 passengers. The shuttle can accomodate one wheelchair user. There is a ramp and retractable step to access the shuttle.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. Parking is free.
Vehicles can drop off visitors at the top of the car park, which is 489m beyond Visitor Reception . The distance from the top of the car park to the front of the House is 163m. The distance from the top of the car park to the Courtyard is 175m. We have a transport service, to take visitors from the car park to the main entrance. Our transport service is wheelchair accessible.

Our main carpark is gravel. The distance from the top to the bottom of the gravelled car park is 91m. Our overflow carpark is grass with plastic tracking. The road to the House and Courtyard are tarmac. There are limited accessible parking spaces down at the Courtyard.

Rows of cars parked on a low slope with a gravel surface. There are trees lining the carpark. The road leading down to the carpark. There is a wooden cabin to the right and a grassy bank to the left.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 2000mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The first place you will meet past the Main Archway is Visitor Reception (the ticket booths). Beyond Visitor Reception you will find all facilities onsite, including our car park. The distance from the Archway to Visitor Reception is 699m. Then the distance from Visitor Reception to the House is 326m, or 635m to the Courtyard. 

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk

Visitor Reception

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 2000mm wide, or more.

Our Visitor Reception (ticket booths) is made up of two small outbuildings. Here you can purchase tickets, scan pre-bought tickets or show a valid membership card. Visitor Reception accomodates vehicles and pedestrians. The distance from the Main Archway to Visitor Reception is 699m. Then the distance from Visitor Reception to the House is 326m, or 635m to the Courtyard. 

A photograph of two panelled ticket huts. They're set on a private road, surrounded by fields and trees.

Ticket/ information desk

Visitor Information

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The door is 1130mm wide, or more.

Our Visitor Information is based in the Courtyard. The distance from the car park to the Courtyard is 175m. The doors are always kept open. Sometimes this room can have low light.

Open doorway to leading into Visitor information. Front desk with Perspex screen and desks in background.

Things to See and Do

We have a complimentary ticket policy for personal assistants.
We have display information in: large print.

The House, State Floor

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.
Some videos have subtitles.

There are 6 steps up to the front of the State Floor and a wheelchair lift visitors can use on request. We regret that the wheelchair lift cannot take electric wheelchairs for health and safety reasons and, as a result, we cannot accommodate electric wheelchairs in the State Rooms. Courtesy manual wheelchairs can be collected from the House desk in the State Floor. Once in the State Floor the route is one way and level. Assitance dogs are welcome in the House.

The distance from the front of the House down to the Courtyard is 309m.

The route around the House is subject to change based on current exhibitions. Routes around the House are one way however the State Floor is level throughout.  There are backed seats in most rooms for visitors to use. We have a changing programme of exhibitions. Exhibitions can include video, contemporary art, light installations, historical collections.For a map of the inside of the House and  specific information on light and/or sound, please see our Visual Story.

The front of the house. The main door has windows and columns either side. There are steps leading up to the entrance. The tarmac road sloping up to the main house. The view from the Main Library through to the Entrance Hall. The Gallery with some contemporary artwork on display.

The House, Below Stairs

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. Some videos have subtitles.

Below Stairs is accessed internally from the State Floor via 1 flight of stairs or as an accessible route to the west of the House, near the entrance to the Terrace. The door is manual. Below Stairs is set across several levels with some stairs. Assistance dogs are welcome in the House.

There are 3 steps into and 3 steps out of the Old Kitchen. Access via a ramp to the Old Kitchen can be made available on request. There is a backed seat in the Old Kitchen.

There are 2 steps into and 5 steps out of the Servants Hall.

There are a further 6 steps along the south-west corridor that provides access to the Still Room, Gardening Room and Stewards Room (named the South-West Passage). There is a wheelchair lift over these stairs which can be operated on request. The lift has a maximum weight of 300kg.

We have a changing programme of exhibitions. Exhibitions can include video, contemporary art, light installations, historical collections.

 

The west side of the house with a sign on the wall pointing to 'Below Stairs' directing visitors to a path on the right. The Old Kitchen. There is a central wooden table and a large kitchen range.

Public toilet

Car Park Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The toilet door is 860mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 990mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1120mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 470mm high. The toilets have handrails.

The distance from the car park toilets to the front of the House is 163m. The distance from the car park toilets to the Courtyard is 266m.

A brick toilet block in a carpark. The ground is gravel and there is a wooden bench outside.

Public toilet

Inner Courtyard Toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The toilet door is 900mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 790mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1820mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 480mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Bothy Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.
The toilet door is 900mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.
There is 890mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1330mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 490mm high. The toilets have handrails.

This toilet is accessed via a permanent ramp into the bothy. The ramp measures 1450mm wide. The distance from the Courtyard to the Bothy is approximately 845m.

The view to the entrance of the bothy toilets. There is a gravel path and a wooden ramp. A short hallway inside the bothy. There is a tight turn to the right. The floor is paved stone.

Public toilet

Below Stairs Toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a lift.
The toilet door is 920mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.
There is 1200mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1270mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 470mm high. The toilets have handrails.

The accessible toilet Below Stairs is located down the hall from the Terrace Tea Room.

Public toilet

Outer Courtyard Toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 930mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 1090mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the left.
There is 840mm at the side of the toilet. There is 2120mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 470mm high. The toilets have handrails.

Public toilet

Church Toilets

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.
The route is 1020mm wide, or more.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 1770mm at the side of the toilet. There is 1120mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 340mm high. The toilets have handrails.

There is a wooden ramp up to these toilets. There are two toilets in this block and both are accessible toilets.

A block of toilets with a wooden ramp. The block is in a wooden area with dense trees around it. Interior Church toilets. Small hallway leading to two accessible toilets, one of the left and one on the right.

Shop

The Courtyard Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 735mm wide, or more. The door is 735mm wide.

The Courtyard shop is based in the Courtyard, to the right of the Courtyard entrance. The door is manual. 

The doorway to the shop. There is an a-frame sign outside and some wooden boxes with items for sale. The interior of the shop. There are several tall shelves around the walls of the room and tables the middle.

Shop

The House Shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The door is 1300mm wide.
The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.

The House shop is Below Stairs in the house and is accessed internally only via the Terrace Tearoom or from the Below Stairs visitor route. There is a glass automatic door from the shop to the Terrace Tea Room.

Place to eat and drink

Courtyard Cafe

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 1080mm wide, or more. The door is 1080mm wide.
To get to a table, there are no steps.
The dining area is self-service. 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, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free) and vegan specific diets.

The Harewood Food & Drink Project provide the catering in the Courtyard Cafe. They use locally sourced produce from the Harewood Estate for their dishes. The Courtyard Cafe serves a wider range of food including hot dishes. The door is always kept open whilst the cafe is open.

The door to the café. There are pillars surrounding the door. The floor is paved. There are tables and chairs outside. The cafe interior. The servery is to the left. There is a side board to the right.

Place to eat and drink

Terrace Tearoom

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The door is 1300mm wide.
To get to a table, there are no steps.
The dining area is self-service. 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.
We cater for vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs) and vegan specific diets.

The Harewood Food & Drink Project provide the catering in the Terrace Tea Room. They use locally sourced produce from the Harewood Estate for their dishes. The Terrace Tearoom serves predominately hot drinks and cakes. There is no hot food available from the Terrace Tearoom. 

All Saints Church

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

All Saints Church is located at the edge of Harewood's northern grounds. It can be reached via shuttle or as a pedestrian along a footpath. There is a gravel road up to the entrance of the church and uneven paved flooring inside. You can access the graveyard here and, if you wish, choose to exit through a dark tunnel with steep steps.

The outside of a stone church. There is a central tower and stained glass windows.

Getting around outside

Terrace, Archery Border and West Garden

From the main entrance to the gardens, there is level access.
There is a portable ramp.
The route is sloped.

The Terrace is surfaced with gravel and is laid out across several levels with ramps across to the lower level. The West Garden has several paths of varying surface, including tarmac, gravel and mown grass. The Archery Border is located along the bottom level of the terrace. It can be accessed down some steps from the Terrace or alternatively through the West Garden. Please note the route to the Archery Border via the West Garden is a steep incline.

A gate through to the terrace. There is a gentle slope beyond the gate through to some hedges. A steep sloped tarmac path up to the terrace. There are grass verges either side and dirt pathways splitting off left and right. A section of the terrace. The ground is gravel and there is a small wooden ramp going over a step. Central view on Terrace from the House. There are multiple gravel paths set across grass hedges and plants in ornamental shapes. One of the fountains on the terrace. Behind is the steps up to the back of the House.

Walled Garden and Bothy

From the main entrance to the gardens, there is level access.
The route is sloped.

The Walled Garden is at the far side of the Lake and is about 20 minutes walk from the Courtyard, with the walk there being a distance of 845m.The Walled Garden and Bothy can be accessed via the Lakeside path. The paths around the Walled Garden and Bothy are gravel and grass terrain. There are toilets, refreshments and benches at the Bothy. The distance of one lap around the edges of the Walled Garden is 294m.

The gravel path that splits into two. There are rocky verges either side. A refreshment kiosk servery that uses a window in a brick building. There is a step up to the serving window. The path around the outside of the walled garden. The interior of the Walled Garden. There are growing beds with rows of vegetables in the ground.

Himalayan Garden

From the main entrance to the gardens, there is level access.
The route is sloped.

The Himalayan garden has several paths and some areas that have steps. Some paths are very uneven/ rocky and can be narrow in places. There are some paths that have sharp inclines. 

Garden entrance, path is gravel and splits off into multiple paths. Another path with a small stone footbridge over a ditch. A wooden bridge across a stream to an unpaved path through dense foliage.

Designated Walking Trail

The Three Parks Walk

The trail is 2353metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

The Three Parks Walk covers three sections of the Harewood Grounds  - The North Park, The South Park and the Lakeside Tour. The walk does not need to completed in its entirety. Visitors may choose to do only one section at a time. North Park Route - 730m, South Park route - 778m and Lakeside Tour route 845m, starting from the Courtyard.

The North Park sits at the front of the House. The path around it follows the perimeter of the top of the park up to All Saints Church and round to the east side of the Terrace at the back of the House. This path is woodchip and is on a slope at some points.

The South Park is the back of the House and accessed via the gate at the Archery Border and/or Courtyard. This path is on mowed grass and can be uneven surface on a steep slope. There may be roaming livestock in this area.

The Lakeside path has some uneven surfaces and is gravel. It is a non-circular route and begins with a sharp incline. The Himalayan Garden, Walled Garden and Bothy are accessed via the Lakeside path.

The slope at the start of the Lakeside tour. The surface is tarmac. There are several paths with grass verges either side. A section of the lakeside path. The path is gravel with grass verges either side. There are trees and bushes along the path. The path cutting close to the lake. There is a grass bank between the water and the path. The path on the North Park. A plastic tracking path cuts across a grass field with trees either side. View from bottom of South Park up to the House.

Picnic Area

Car Park Picnic Area

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. You can bring your own food to the picnic area.

The picnic area is covered by a wooden outdoor shelter/pergola. This area can be accessed via a pathway the right of the car park toilets.

The picnic area viewed from under the shelter. A shelter with four wooden benches underneath. There is a sloping path leading up to it. The ground is gravel.

The Adventure Playground

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

The Adventure Playground is located down the hill from the carpark and is situated on a slope. The majority of the ground is grass and dirt, but there are some sections that are woodchip. The nearest toilets are the Outer Courtyard Toilets and there is a icecream kiosk that sells refreshments.

A wooden playground with grassy area in front. There are some benches and trees.

Sylvascope Treehouse

There is a Treehouse located in the top left corner of the North Front 

There is a wood chip path leading from the car park to the Treehouse

The Treehouse is accessed via a ladder. Entry to the Trehhouse is included in the day ticket.

A Treehouse is built onto some trees it is woven out of strips of wood and has windows. A view from the back of the Treehouse. A ladder goes from the ground up to the underneath of the Treehouse.

Woodland Wonderland

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

The Woodland Wonderland is a natural willow woven playspace. 

There are willow woven sculptures, logs and a maze.

The Woodland Wonderland is set in a wooded area near the church. 

It can be accessed via the shuttle.

The entrance of the willow woven maze.

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We provide wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are free.

Wheelchairs can be collected from the House State Floor or from the Visitor Information Centre in the Courtyard.

Harewood operates a volunteer led complimentary shuttle service. Our transport service is wheelchair accessible and can carry a maximum of 10 people. Designated shuttle stops include the Archway in Harewood Village, the Visitor Reception ticket booths, the State Floor of the House, the carpark and the Courtyard.

Assistance dogs are allowed in the House and all other areas, apart from the Bird Garden and Farm.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Harewood is part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme. We also have a visual story which can be downloaded from our website.

Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.
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