Find out more about access for disabled visitors, from accessible parking facilities to assistance dogs, accessible toilets and getting around the gardens.
A full assessment of accessibility is provided in our disability access statement (PDF). A summary is provided below.
Please feel free to contact us in advance of your visit to help you make the most of your day. You can email us at nessgdns@liverpool.ac.uk, or call us on 0151 795 6300. Our phone lines are open between 10am and 4pm daily.
Car parking
All car parking at Ness Botanic Gardens is free.
There are nine accessible parking bays in the main visitor car park, immediately in front of the Visitor Centre. A further four bays and two family bays are located in the car park to the left of the main entrance. If these are full, please ask a member of the team for assistance.
Assistance dogs
Registered assistance dogs and dogs in assistance training are welcome in all areas of the site including the Visitor Centre. Please ask in the Botanic Kitchen café if you'd like water for your dog.
Visitor Centre and garden entrance
The entrance to the Visitor Centre is step free via automatic doors. The admissions desk and Botanic Kitchen café, as well as the gift and plant shop, are all on one level with no steps.
One registered carer or essential companion is admitted free of charge for each paying disabled guest.
From the Visitor Centre, the main visitor route is via a steep tarmac path. Please ask at the admissions desk if you'd prefer to access the gardens via the alternative entrance.
Toilets
You'll find accessible toilet facilities in the Visitor Centre and in the gardens at the bottom of the herbaceous area. There are also baby changing facilities in the Visitor Centre.
Getting around the gardens
An accessible route is shown on our visitor map which is available from the admission desk. Due to the topography of the site, there are some areas which will remain inaccessible to wheelchairs and pushchair users.
If you require a wheelchair, we have wheelchairs available to pre-book by emailing nessgdns@liverpool.ac.uk. You can also pre-book a wheelchair by phone on 0151 795 6300 between 10am and 4pm.
There are approximately 200 benches around the garden at regular intervals, along with picnic tables and deckchairs.
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