Accessibility at Stourhead

Community Consultation Workshop 

On 5 & 6 March 2025, we will be holding Garden Pathway Improvement Project Community Consultation Workshops at Stourhead, in partnership with Access Matters UK. This workshop is for individuals living with sight loss, blindness, and dementia or their carers/essential companions. We are looking for feedback on the pathways at Stourhead and how we can improve them for the future. We would love to involve those who already visit and are familiar with the property, and those who are also local to Stourhead.

For those attending, as a thank you for your participation we will provide: 

• A £10 voucher  
• A complimentary lunch from 1pm 
• A free admission pass (for two joint adults) to Stourhead for use in the future 

To find out more and book your place at the workshop, please email us or call 01747 841152. 

We want to hear from you. 

We are always looking to improve our experiences and recognise the variety of different needs our visitors may have. By filling out our access survey you can shape future improvements that will help to ensure Stourhead can be enjoyed by everyone, for ever. Or alternatively, feedback and suggestions can be emailed to us. 

This page is designed to help support your visit by providing information on how to access the different areas of the estate, and to make the most of your visit.

 

Trampers, wheelchairs and buggy service

• We have four trampers and four mountain trike wheelchairs available to borrow. To guarantee access to a tramper or mountain trike wheelchair we recommend booking in advance.
• Please email us to make a booking. We will need your name, contact number, the date you are planning to visit and your arrival time. It is helpful if you can tell us whether you have used a tramper at Stourhead before.
• The shuttle bus service is available between Visitor Reception, Spread-Eagle courtyard and the house. Subject to volunteer availability.
• The buggy service is available from the lower garden entrance for tours around the garden on a first come first serve basis. Subject to volunteer availability.
• A stair climber is available for access to the house. Pre-booking is highly recommended. Please email to make a booking. Please let us know your name, contact number, date you plan to visit Stourhead and arrival time.
• Standard wheelchairs are available to borrow for visits to the house on a first come first served basis.

 

 

Toilets

Visitor reception courtyard: These are the closest toilets to the main car park, with male and female toilets. There is also a baby changing room and accessible toilet.

Spread Eagle Courtyard: There are male and female toilets in the Spread Eagle Courtyard, as well as a baby changing room and accessible toilet.

Stableyard: There is a unisex toilet in the Stableyard.

House: There are male and female toilets located at the house. 

Sanitary products are available in all female, accessible and baby change toilets.

 

Sensory-friendly Stourhead

• Head to the accessibility hub (which can be found near the main reception) for a calmer entry point than the main visitor reception.
• There are sensory bags available to borrow from visitor reception which include ear defenders, magnifying glasses and a range of fidget toys for you to choose from. These are free to borrow, and we ask that you return them at the end of your visit.
• There will be a quiet corner located in the access hub once opened, which will be available to use should you need to.
• We have a pop-up sensory black out tent available to borrow from visitor reception. It is large enough to accommodate 2 adults.

 

Dogs at Stourhead

• Assistance dogs are welcome inside in all buildings, including the historic spaces, the restaurant, shop and second-hand bookshop.
• We welcome dogs on short leads in the outdoor areas, in the garden, and across the estate.
• We welcome dogs inside the restaurant seating area.
• We ask that dogs remain on short leads across the estate.

 

Braille, Easy Read and Large print guides

• We have developed braille, Easy Read and large print guides for blind and partially sighted people. They are available for:
  • Stourhead estate: An introduction
  • Stourhead estate: Access guide
  • Climate adaption interpretation: The Granary
• Inside the house there is a 'touch list' of objects that can be handled, and this is accompanied by large print text.