Welcome
Set in 250 acres of beautiful rolling Hertfordshire countryside, Knebworth House has been home to the Lytton family for over 19 generations, making for an extraordinary walk through 500 years of history.
There is something for everyone to enjoy at Knebworth - from spending a fun filled day exploring the Dinosaur Trail, enjoying the gardens throughout the season, or attending one of our many events.
All visitors are very welcome at Knebworth House, Gardens & Park and we are committed to providing an accessible attraction. Due to the nature and layout of Knebworth House, Gardens and Park we do advise that able-bodied carers accompany visitors with disabilities.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Knebworth HouseTicket BoothsPark Toilet BlockGarden Terrace Tea RoomGift ShopFormal GardensMazeWalled GardenRose GardenWildernessDinosaur TrailAdventure PlaygroundMausoleumAccess with steps
Hearing
Visual
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
Frequent trains run from Kings Cross to Stevenage and take 30 minutes. There is a taxi rank at Stevenage Station – walking is not recommended.
Travel by taxi
Parking
There are two main car parks -
1. The Adventure Playground field on your right as you enter the Park. Visitors are welcome to drive up to the low fencing around the playground and park close to the play area. Please note that you will be driving across an uneven field. To the left of Knebworth Fort at the playground is a designated accessible car parking area.
2. Located at the entrance to the formal gardens, gift shop, public toilets and Garden Terrace Tea Room. There is dedicated accessible parking which is clearly signposted closest to the entrance and toilets. The surface of the car park is gravel. Parking can also be arranged in front of the house if required.
*Please note on special event days additional car parking is provided in one of our fields normally the closest to the event. During these times there will be additional staff dedicated to marshalling vehicles and assisting visitors. Please note that this parking is on grass and some areas may be uneven.*
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Ticket Booths
Tickets are purchased at the booths from a vehicle.
Things to See and Do
Knebworth House
Access to the House is via the formal gardens which has gravel paths and some stone steps. There is a wheel chair route which is signposted throughout.
The entrance to the House is through the garden door which is 1440mm wide with a slightly raised threshold.
Ramps are available from the entrance hall of the House, should they be required please speak to a member of staff who will put them in place for you.
Regrettably pushchairs or Mobility Scooters are not permitted to be taken through the House but there is an area in the front porch where they can be stored during your visit. A member of the house staff will direct you to the area. A wheelchair is available to loan from the park shop located at the entrance to the gardens.
The floors within the House consist of stone, carpet and wood.
The public rooms are situated on two floors with access via a central staircase. Regrettably there is no lift to the upper floor. For those who are unable to visit the upper rooms there is an audio tour which gives information on the rooms in this area.
Chairs are situated throughout the House for those who may need to sit down.
Guided tours are available everyday with the exception of busy weekends or event days when room wardens are available in each room to assist. Each room also has information sheets for those who would like to find out a little more. These are available in both standard and large print.
The guided tour lasts approximately one hour and will take you through all the public rooms. Once you have completed your tour you will exit the house into the main courtyard. The door width is 1200mm with a step of 130mm on to a shingle courtyard. A ramp is available.
Exhibition
Across the courtyard is the exhibition which highlights the Lytton Family’s connections with India. There are two stone steps at the entrance which are 19cm high; the entrance is 80cm wide. There is a ramp to assist with entry when using a manual wheelchair, should you require this please speak to a member of staff who will put it in place for you. Due to restricted access mobility scooters cannot access the Exhibition. The exhibition is all on one level and includes a presentation which lasts for approximately 20 minutes. There is enough seating for a large group to be able to watch the presentation at one time.
Lighting in all areas is a mixture of natural and electric light.
Watchman's Tower
Across the courtyard from the House is the Watchman's Tower, accessed by a gravel path which is not less than 1220mm wide.
There are two steps up to the tower entrance, which are 200mm and 65mm high respectively. The door is 755mm wide.
An information board is available for visitors outside the tower and a digital app 'Knebworth Watch' is free to download, which gives further information and shows what the view from this place might have looked like through history.
There is no lift and no ramp.
The floor at the base of the tower has ceramic tiles.
There are 54 oak steps to the top of the tower (which vary from 180-220mm in height) and a large step over the roof hatch to access the top of the tower. Headroom is restricted near the top of the tower. There are passing places at 15 and 35 steps but there are no seats at all inside or at the top of the tower.
The flooring at the top of the tower consists of grooved wooden planks. Safety rails are in place at the top of the tower.
Visitors come up and down the same stairs. Wooden and rope handrails are in place inside the tower.
There is artificial lighting in the stairwell. The contrast between daylight and artificial light can sometimes make it difficult to see the steps clearly when coming down from the top.
Visitors with a fear of heights are advised against climbing the tower.
We recommend that the tower is suitable for children aged 5 and upwards. All children must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for them at all times.
The tower is inaccessible in inclement weather.
Public toilet
Park Toilet Block
As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
Shop
Gift Shop
Access to the Gift Shop is across a shingle area. The counter is 900mm high with a dropped counter which is 750mm. The floor is tiled. The shop is also a visitor information centre and staff are ready and willing to help visitors.
Lighting in the shop is a combination of natural and electric light.
Place to eat and drink
Garden Terrace Tea Room
We can cater for the majority of specific diets if notified in advance.
Getting around outside
There are 28 acres of Formal Gardens. The entrance has two routes which can be taken. You can turn left and enter via the Garden Terrace Room patio area or turn right. Each of the routes have a slight slope and both lead on to a wheelchair route should this be required. Inside the entrance to the Formal Gardens is a large information map of the garden which includes walkways. A free garden map is available from the Gift Shop.
The Formal Gardens consist of many “rooms” with a number of different terrain which include gravel, bark, grass and sand. Some of the paths have tight turns which may not suit all pushchairs or wheelchairs. Around the garden there are some steps but these can be avoided to gain access to other areas. Visitors are able to walk on the grass unless otherwise stated.
A pond is located on the sunken lawn, in the rose garden and also near to the wilderness area, there are no safety barriers so extra care should be taken around these areas, especially if you have small children.
The rose garden which is located beyond the sunken lawn has a large selection of fragrant roses during the summer months.
The herb garden located next to the walled garden is an area of many sensory pleasures.
The paths vary with several different surfaces such as loose chippings, compact earth, block paving and mud. The path width varies from 1000mm to 3500mm.
There are several uneven surfaces and easy to moderate slopes throughout.
Maze
The maze has an entrance on both sides with the front entrance having a double gate with one locked leaf measuring 1000mm in width that is held open and the rear entrance having a single gate measuring 1000mm in width that opens towards you (pull).
The maze is mainly level with some seating around the edges. There is a mixture of block paving, grass and loose chippings within the maze. The width of the path varies from 900mm to 1500mm throughout the maze.
Walled Garden
The walled garden entrance is 1500m in width and through a brick archway. The paths in the walled garden are mainly block paving with some paths loose chippings. The width of the path varies from 1100mm to 1600mm.
The paths are uneven in places and there are some easy to moderate slopes throughout.
Sunken Lawn
The sunken garden is in front of Knebworth House and can be accessed via 6 steps which are 170mm in depth with no handrail. There is a walkway after the steps leading through the sunken lawn. The path is over 1500mm in width and is made up of loose chippings.
Throughout the sunken garden there are several easy to moderate slopes and uneven surfaces.
Rose Garden
The rose garden is opposite the sunken garden in a mainly grassy area with several uneven surfaces and some easy to moderate slopes.
Wilderness
The Wilderness Walk is between the maze and the Dinosaur Trail. There is an open gated entrance, the width of the opening is 1600mm.
The woodland trail has many paths which are uneven in parts, with some easy to moderate slopes.
Dinosaur Trail
The Dinosaur Trail – is in the natural setting of the woodland wilderness garden. This educational trail through prehistoric history features 72 life size sculptures of dinosaurs. The trail is a circular bark path suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, there is some seating along the way. The paths vary from 1500mm to 3500mm. There are some uneven areas and easy to moderate slopes throughout.
We regret that no dogs, with the exception of assistance dogs, are allowed in the gardens.
Adventure Playground
This is an outdoor play area.
Please note that some attractions may be closed during wet and windy weather for safety reasons.
There is a maximum height of 1.25 metres which applies to use of the Bouncy Castle and a minimum height of 1.2 metre that applies to the two drop slides and minimum height of 1 metre that applies to the Astoglide Slide.
The Fort – is a wooden structure suitable for children from 4–15 and contains various play equipment. The ground area is Hardwood Play Chips. Toilets are located inside the Fort.
Various play equipment has been designed in mind for children with disabilities. These include:
-Nest Swing
-Inclusive Orbit – a roundabout with its own wheelchair station
-Bouncy Castle
-Tractor Tyre Swing
-Water Play
-Gravity Bowl
-Loudspeakers
The play equipment is spread over a wide area and is on grass, some equipment is on a slope. Within the Fort and around all play equipment the surface is Hardwood Play Chip.
Visitors may wish to enjoy a walk from the playground across sloping parkland to access the House, Gardens and Garden Terrace Tea Room. This takes approximately 20 minutes. Please be aware you may encounter roaming deer, they are wild animals and should not be approached. The terrain within the country park and gardens is uneven and there may be rabbit holes. For those in wheelchairs we recommend driving to the House and supporting facilities.
Mausoleum
This is the resting place of Mrs Bulwer-Lytton and other members of the Lytton family. This is located close to St Mary’s Church and is only accessible on foot across grass.
St Mary's Church
St Mary’s is the Norman Parish Church of Knebworth. As the church is kept locked, anyone wishing to view the interior should make an appointment direct with the Church Warden on 01438 811992 prior to visiting.
Customer care support
Knebworth House has a manual wheelchair available for visitors to loan, available from the Gift Shop, located at the entrance to the formal gardens. This is available on a first come basis and cannot be reserved.
Emergency evacuation procedures
Customer care support
We can coordinate parking outside the house if required.
Please speak to a member of staff if you require any assistance during your visit.