Everyone welcome

 

The AccessAble guide has detailed information on all facilities available including measurements and photographs of our main facilities to help support access. 

Top five tips for enjoying your day

1. We’re here to help. You can speak to any of the team on your visit, or if you’d like to chat before your visit, and to hire any equipment, such as sensory support bag, alternative guide, portable induction loop, wheelchair or powered mobility vehicle please do reach out to us. (Please note, you don’t have to do this, but it really helps). You can phone us on 01263 738030, or email: blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk.
2. You can download our visitor map to plan your route(s) and see where facilities are located.
3. Check our opening times as they vary across experiences – we recommend visiting the House before 2pm so you have enough time to explore at your own pace.
4. We are busiest between 11am–1pm. If you would like a quieter visit, we recommend early morning and late afternoons, as well as weekday visiting. We have sensory support bags available at all welcome points.
5. Speak to our team at any time if you need advice or assistance.

Parking and arrival

Designated accessible parking is available in the main car park at Blickling Estate, close to the Estate Barn Visitor Welcome We do operate a car park ticketing system, with free car parking for Blue Badge holders – there is no need to obtain a ticket; please just display your blue badge or access pass. You can scan your membership card at the Estate Barn Visitor Welcome or purchase tickets there. The main car park is next to toilet facilities and the Muddy Boots Café. The House, Garden and East Wing facilities are approximately 385 metres from the main car park on a mixture of paths and gravel with seats available on the main drive. There are additional Blue Badge spaces available at the Farmyard, next to the East Wing – accessed via the main road, turning at the Church.

 

The Estate Barn visitor welcome

From Visitor Welcome you can hire any equipment you need. We have:

• Powered mobility scooters and wheelchairs available for hire. Please call 01263738030 or email: blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk to pre-book during busy times.
• Sensory support bags, including fidget toys and ear defenders
• Alternative format guides – we have large print and braille guides available.

 

Induction loop

Induction hearing loops are available at all till points. A portable induction loop is available, please ask at Visitor Welcome or contact us on 01263738030 or email: blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk prior to your visit.

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

Blickling Estate supports the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.

Admissions information

The Essential Companion card makes it simple to bring one or two carers or companions with you, free of charge. Show your card when you arrive, and your carer(s) or companion(s) on the day have free entry. If you don’t have an Essential Companion card, please talk to us at Visitor Reception where we can facilitate entry.  

Find out more about discounted and free entry for carers: Access for everyone | National Trust

 For more information on joining as a member please visit: Membership: Join the National Trust | National Trust

Mobile reception and wifi

Please note that Mobile phone reception is limited throughout the site. Free wifi is available in Muddy Boots and the Stables cafés.

Accessible toilets

Accessible toilets can be found in the Estate Barn in the main car park, in the East Wing, in the Farmyard and a Changing Places facility is also located in the Farmyard. Please note that this requires a Radar key. If needed, a Radar Key can be borrowed from the shop in the East Wing.

Baby changing facilities can be found at the Estate Barn in the main car park, East Wing and in the Farmyard.

Powered Mobility Vehicles (PMVs), Mountain push trikes and manual wheelchairs

Powered Mobility Scooters are available to hire for free from the Estate Barn visitor welcome in the main car park (parkland scooters) and the East Wing visitor welcome near the House (garden scooters). These electric mobility scooters are designed specifically to travel outside and across gravel and grass safely. They can also go up and down slopes, over soft ground and through shallow puddles. More accessible routes have been drawn up to allow users to explore as much of Blickling Estate’s gardens and parkland as possible, without the worry of getting stuck.

Booking is recommended, please call 01263733956 to book or email blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk at least 24 hours in advance. If there are no bookings on the day you visit, PMVs can be used on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Manual wheelchairs and two Mountain Trike Push all terrain wheelchairs are also available from the Estate Barn visitor welcome in the main car park.

Braille and large print guides

We have developed Braille and large print welcome guides, these are available from the Estate Barn and East Wing visitor welcome points. Braille and large print guides to the House are available at the House entrance. If you would like a downloadable copy of our large print guide before your visit, please contact us on 01263 733956 or email blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Sensory items

You are welcome to borrow sensory items on your visit. These are available from the Estate Barn visitor welcome, at the East Wing visitor welcome and at the entrance to the Hall to help support your visit.

Options include: adjustable ear defenders, wooden easy-hold magnifier, wooden articulated caterpillar, rainbow press pop fidget toy and a tangle toy. You can also borrow a canvas drawstring bag to carry them in.

If you need a quiet space on your visit, please speak to one of the team who’ll endeavour to support.

Visiting Blickling Hall

The entry to the House is located at the front of the building, through the arch from the gravel drive. There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance with double manual doors. The doors maybe closed on arrival to keep the warmth in, but the team will be on hand to support entry for all visitors; both doors can be opened as needed. There are historic doorways, narrow corridors and tight turns within the House, the one door width is used as a gauge for wheelchairs and mobility scooters on entry to determine the best experience; if needed there are House wheelchairs to support access through these spaces. There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance to be aware of. On arrival, a member of the team will welcome you and be available for any support and assistance.

Once inside, there are three floors open to explore. There is step-free access to the ground floor only, other floors can be accessed via stairs. On the ground floor, visitors can access the Great Hall, the Brown Drawing Room, the Lower Ante Room, the Dining Room and the Serving Room. We have a photo album available in the Great Hall to showcase the other floors should you choose not to visit via stairs.

There is limited lift access in the House for those able to evacuate via the stairs without assistance in the event of an emergency.

The House has different exit points depending on which route is open on the day of your visit, some have ramps/slopes and manual doors. We will confirm options on the day of your visit.

Discover more about Blickling Hall.

Visiting the gardens

There are 55 acres of formal garden at Blickling, the result of three centuries of planting, with ancient yews, parterre, lake and productive walled kitchen garden. Most pathways are gravel or mown grass, which can be slippery or muddy when wet. View and download the PDF Visitor Map for the garden to follow suggested paths for level access to avoid any steps. You can also take a look at the AccessAble guide to visiting the Parterre and Walled Garden to help plan your visit.

Visiting the wider estate

The four-mile all-weather hard surface multi-use trail travels through woods and open parkland, taking in the iconic Tower, Great Wood and Mausoleum. The route is designed for walkers, pushchairs, mobility scooters, adapted wheelchair users, and cyclists – allowing everyone the chance to access and explore the nature we care for on the estate. Plan your adventure around the multi-use trail: Multi-use trail.

 

Visiting the RAF Oulton Museum

Royal Air Force Oulton was an airfield that was created on Blickling Estate in 1939 and undertook vital work for the war effort. The museum is situated up a set of stairs in what was once accommodation for the air crew. The RAF museum is volunteer led, please check our opening times to visit the collection of objects and documents donated by families whose relatives served here.