Accessibility

We have tried to make Forde Abbey as accessible as possible for people with disabilities, given the obvious restraints of a listed house and garden. Entry to the garden for both a person with a disability and their accompanying carer is half price between March and October, on the production of a disabled persons registration card or a blue badge.

For more detailed information on accessibility at Forde Abbey please read our access statement.

House

For visitors with impaired vision, the information cards in each room of the House are also available in a large print version from the steward in the Great Hall as you enter the house. If you would like to explore the house using touch, please ask the steward at the front desk for the ‘white handkerchief.’ This will identify you to each of the room stewards and they will then allow you to touch all of the exhibits and the furniture.

Unfortunately, the upstairs rooms in the house are not suitable for people in wheelchairs. However, visitors are able to view these rooms on the computerised slide-show set up in the Great Hall. This shows many of the features of the rooms upstairs, with descriptions, and is completely automated. We do not charge entry for people in wheelchairs.

If you are able to negotiate the shallow stairs to the upper floor there are easily identifiable chairs throughout the house that you may use to rest on at any time. These chairs are the same in each of the rooms and the room stewards will be able to point you in the right direction if you are in any doubt.

Garden

Much of the garden is accessible to people in wheelchairs, although there are some sloping gravel paths and lawns, and the Bog Garden may present some difficulties. On arrival, the most suitable paths for wheelchair users will be indicated to you. If you have any other disability, please ask staff for advice. There are benches around the gardens to rest. For advise before your visit regarding accessibility, please telephone the Gift Shop between the opening hours of 10.30am – 5pm; 01460 221699.

There are loo facilities for the disabled.

For Overseas Visitors

The information cards in each room in the House are also available in the following languages and may be collected from the desk in the Great Hall. The Tearoom can also provide basic menu explanations in these languages too:

French – Francais
German – Deutsch
Italian – Italiano
Dutch – Nederlands
Spanish – Español