By its very nature, Hever Castle is not designed to be disabled friendly. Their access Statement can be read “here.”:http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Hever-Castle-access-statement.pdf
Disabled members are charged the standard rate of admission although carers are admitted free. There is disabled parking in the grounds near the Moat Restaurant and a mobility buggy is available from the main ticket office to the Information Centre by the Moat Restaurant. There are a limited number of manual wheelchairs to hire from the shop.
There is a small step into the Gatehouse and three steps into the courtyard. Mobility Scooters and pushchairs are not allowed in the castle. Only the ground floor of the castle is accessible to wheelchair users. But if the castle is busy, which it is was the day I visited, it would be very difficult to negotiate a wheelchair around teh ground floor.
The spiral staircase giving access to the upper floor may present problems for anyone with mobility issues. The rooms on the upper floors are on different levels and there are steps in or out of several rooms. There are limited places to sit inside the castle. There is an iPad with audio description and photographs of rooms inside the castle for disabled visitors.
Most of the gardens are accessible to wheelchair users and pushchairs. Paths are tarmac, loose gravel or grass with gentle slopes. Any steps have ramped or alternative access.
The restaurants and shop are fully accessible and there are disabled toilets by the main entrance and in the Moat and Pavilion Restaurants.
