Accessibility

We welcome visitors with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. Our team will do all they can to ensure that your visit is both comfortable and enjoyable. Please read our Accessibility statement for detailed information on the physical layout of the House.

We have also worked with AccessAble so you can find out about our facilities before you visit. AccessAble’s surveyors assessed our venue to create a Detailed Access Guide. Click here to find the Detailed Access Guide to Elizabeth Gaskell’s House.

If you have questions regarding your visit or would like more specific information please email enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk

  • Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and Garden has step-free access throughout with full access for wheelchair users
  • We have a lift to all floors
  • Access ramp at the side of the House to avoid the front stepped entrance
  • Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and other walking aids can be used within the building and in the garden
  • Accessible toilets on the ground and first floor
  • Limited parking for blue badge holders on site. Please phone us 0161 273 2215 to reserve or to make general enquiries about access
  • Registered careers may visit free of charged with a paying visitor
  • Assistance Dogs welcome throughout the House including the Tea Room (Drinking water for assistant dogs isn’t supplied as standard so please ask if any is required)
  • Braille copy of the House guide book is available on request at the welcome desk and we can also provide large print copies of most of the reading material – please ask.
  • Recommended quiet times to visit are Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, outside of school holidays.
  • The majority of the collection and furnishing in the house can be touched and chairs sat on – our volunteers will advise
  • Volunteers provide verbal interpretation in most of the rooms. Please let them know if you need any special accommodations ( E.g. If would like them to speak louder/quieter, more slowly or if you would like to visually describe objects.)

If you have questions regarding your visit or would like more specific information please email enquiries@elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk

We welcome feedback and ideas on how we can make Elizabeth Gaskell’s House more accessible so please do tell us what we need to do better when you visit.

You can also read our Accessibility Policy by clicking here

“My mother-in-law uses a frame and it was all accessible – great lift, no issues at all and wonderful ramps”Visitor feedback from March 2024

Family Friendly

Come, ring the doorbell and stand on the same doorstep as many of Elizabeth’s famous friends. Ask one of our friendly volunteers for a Children’s Trail (led by Cranford, Elizabeth’s Cat) and have fun discovering what life was in a Victorian House with our activity baskets for younger visitors.

  • Children’s Trail
  • Fully accessible for prams, buggies and wheelchairs
  • Baby change facilities
  • Breastfeeding welcome throughout the house
  • Our Tea Room has snacks and drinks available for younger visitors
  • Limited Space for Buggy Parking but you are also welcome to take your pram around the House
  • Check our What’s On page for family friendly activities

Information on Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in other languages

We are currently working on translating our information on the House into different languages. We can offer information in the following languages (A PDF can be downloaded via the link);

Arabic – العربية
French – Français
German – Deutsche
Italian – Italiano
Mandarin – 普通话
Spanish – Español

For more information on admission, our location and transport connections

To begin with the old rigmarole of childhood…

Wives and Daughters