Date of Visit
16 May 2011
The needs apply to:
A Weelchair user capable of transferring with carer
Particular Needs Satisfaction Rating
| Alarmed fire doors and one exit in/out | Fully Satisfied |
| Automatic doors | Fully Satisfied |
| Clear signage indicating uneven surfaces | Partially Satisfied |
| Disabled/Parent & Child parking bays with transfer areas | Fully Satisfied |
| Doors and aisles wider than 70cm (28in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Doors and aisles wider than 80cm (32in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Doors and aisles wider than 90cm (36in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Doors and aisles wider than 100cm (40in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Enough disabled parking near entrance to ensure at least one vacant space | Fully Satisfied |
| Flat walking surfaces | Partially Satisfied |
| Level or ramped access into and throughout the building | Fully Satisfied |
| No threshold strips under doors | Fully Satisfied |
| Dropped kerbs | Fully Satisfied |
| Location within 50 metres walking distance of public transport facilities | Fully Satisfied |
| Location within 100 metres walking distance of public transport facilities | Fully Satisfied |
| Room to use a hoist at rear of vehicle | Fully Satisfied |
| Drier or towels adjacent to wash basin | Fully Satisfied |
| Driers that don’t switch on automatically when you are close | Partially Satisfied |
| Outward opening door in toilet cubicle | Fully Satisfied |
| Space for assistant in toilet cubicle | Fully Satisfied |
| Space to turn wheelchair around in toilet cubicle | Partially Satisfied |
| Toilet facilities | Fully Satisfied |
| Toilet facilities with grab rails | Fully Satisfied |
| Useable transfer area in toilet wider than 70cm (28in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Wheelchair accessible toilet facilities | Fully Satisfied |
| Good lighting in toilets | Fully Satisfied |
| Toilet seat not black | Fully Satisfied |
| Low level counters | Not Satisfied |
| Under table clearance over 60cm (24in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Under table clearance over 70cm (28in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Under table clearance over 80cm (32in) | Fully Satisfied |
| Staff helping to carry trays in restaurants and cafes | Fully Satisfied |
Additional Comments
This venue is a Royal palace owned, not by you and me, as is the case of Buckingham palace and Winsor Castle but by the Queen herself. Before visiting make sure that the Royal family are not in residence as the house is shut to the public at such times.
The venue includes a museum in the old carriage yard which should not be missed. On display in the museum you will see a lot of the gifts given by people around the world during Royal tours. It also includes a small museum for the Norfolk Regiment and to the Sandringham Company who disappeared in the Dardinals Campaign during the first world war, and all the historic Royal cars and carriages. The church is heavily decorated, mostly due to the efforts of Princess Alexandra in silver and shell. You will see nothing like it anywhere else in the world.
Don’t get tempted to use the site transport, you will miss so much of what is a very beautiful garden if you do.
Footmen in attendance on all ramps and internal/external doors willing to assist if needed. This house, with the estate museum, church and gardens are a must. There is on site transport to the house and museum if required. We always walk. The woodland walk is on well rolled material and good going for wheelchair users. The shrubberies are unbelievably beautiful in the spring. The views of the house and the pet’s cemetery are worth the walk alone. We normally visit the museum via the woodland walk first. Use the museum café next then walk to the house. Having seen the house we then walk, via the water garden and lakes to the church before returning to the visitor centre for a meal and a look at the shop. Give it a full day, strongly recommended.
