Raby

Access for all

At Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, we aim to make your visit as accessible as possible. Please read the information below and if you have any questions, please contact our team on 01833 660202.

Accessibility inside the Castle is limited, due to the historical nature of the building, therefore we offer visitors with disabilities concessionary rates.

Parking

There is plenty of parking available at Raby Castle. Please follow the signs on entry. Accessible spaces are marked within the bays.

We have 12 EV charging points available on-site for visitors to use. You can either use the app ChargerPoint or pay as you go.

The Castle is situated in 200 acres of undulating parkland in a countryside location.

The castle itself is approx. 350 meters on foot from the main visitor entrance, there are benches along the way to the castle to rest on. Those accompanying wheelchair users will need to be strong and able pushers as there is an incline.

Our Visitor Services team can provide directions to accessible parking and appropriate accessible routes to and from the Castle. We also have a 3D virtual tour showing our accessible routes to help you prepare for your visit in advance at the bottom of this webpage.

On busy days, holidays and for events, a one-way system might be in operation to ease congestion. Please follow instructions from our marshals and follow the signs.

Please note, some parking may be on the grass at busy times.

Accessible Parking

There is a designated parking area for Blue Badge holders in the carpark. Bays are individually marked.

The Castle

For those with limited mobility, an admission ticket is available at a reduced rate to reflect access to just the ground floor of the castle. Please contact admin@raby.co.uk or call 01833 660888.

  • Due to its Grade I listed nature and medieval structure, wheelchair access is limited inside the Castle.
  • Parts of the castle ground floor are wheelchair accessible.
  • New for 2024, The Housekeeper’s Sitting Room will provide an accessible space for visitors with a new introductory video detailing the castle history and the two families.
  • For mobility impaired visitors who are not able to access the full tour, a new touch screen in the Entrance Hall will allow them to digitally explore the rooms.
  • There are sets of three and four steps to access the whole of the ground floor.
  • There are 41 steps leading to the upstairs.
  • There is seating in many of the rooms inside the Castle to rest on.
  • Assistance dogs are welcome.
  • There are two toilets but no accessible toilets inside the Castle, the main toilets and accessible toilets are at The Vinery Café, The Plotters’ Forest and within the Changing Places facility.
  • For conservation reasons pushchairs should be left (at the owner’s risk) in the Entrance Hall.
  • For conservation and security reasons those with large rucksacks may be asked to carry them to their front.

Gardens

  • There are various accessible walkways through the gardens and access from the East Garden gate to the castle.

Deer Park

  • Roads within the deer park are surfaced with tarmac.
  • The landscape is grassy and undulating, please wear sensible footwear.

Toilets

The Changing Place Facilities are close to The Riding School and Dutch Barn.

There is an accessible toilet at The Plotters’ Forest and The Vinery Café.

The main toilets are located at The Plotters’ Forest, Coach House and The Vinery.

There are limited toilet facilities inside the Castle.

The Vinery Café

The Vinery is fully accessible with both indoor and outdoor seating.

The Round House

The Round House is accessible from the east door and is accessed via a ramp leading from the Vinery path.

The Riding School

The Riding School is fully accessible from the north and south.

The Coach House

The Coach House has level ground floor access from the south to both the retail and exhibition areas.

Photography

Photography and filming for personal use only is permitted in the grounds and gardens.

Inside the Castle, photography for personal use only is permitted as long as there is no flash and no tripod.

Permission for commercial photography or filming must be gained in advance.

Dogs

Dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times and are not permitted in the play area or inside the castle.

Assistance dogs only are permitted inside the Castle and The Plotters’ Forest.

Under 16s

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times while on-site at Raby.

Please supervise children at all times, especially near the ponds, water features and in the adventure playground.

First Aid

  • Please ask any member of staff who will call for First Aid.
  • There are qualified first aiders throughout the site.
Stables Shop
Visitor on a motorised scooter at Raby Castle's summer market

The Plotters’ Forest

The Plotters’ Forest is set on a hillside within natural woodland, with some uneven ground and steps. However, a wooden boardwalk, which reaches the top of the playground is accessible by wheelchair and pushchair allowing visitors to enjoy interactive games on the first level.

Wheelchair users should use the boardwalk to both enter and exit the play area.

The Plotters’ Forest has been designed to allow enjoyment and engagement at the boardwalk level for those visitors with mobility issues however you cannot access some play equipment at the upper level. We were mindful to install several interactive items at boardwalk level to make the experience as accessible as possible, including musical chimes, a peeky portrait, pairs games, talking tubes and mischief mirrors.

The play equipment is only part of the attraction of this wonderful place. The way the accessible boardwalk weaves throughout the pine trees allows for a very special sensory experience, just the smell and colour of this fabulous forest towering above you makes it a very magical place and one which stimulates both wellbeing and imaginative play.

View the Everybody Welcome 3D Tour

This project has been funded and facilitated by England’s first Destination Development Partnership – Destination North East England. A partnership between , Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham, benefiting all seven local authorities. Destination North East England is funded by UK Government.

Further reading

Dogs

Groups

Opening times & prices

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