Disability Information

At Diggerland, any paying disabled visitor is entitled to free carer entry. 

When booking online, please book a Standard or OAP ticket as appropriate. Then select the number of free carer entries required, based on the registered needs of the disabled visitor.

Take proof of entitlement to Diggerland Admissions in order for us to issue the free carer entry as necessary. Such proof includes:

  • Attendance Allowance (AA) letter
  • Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) from the Local Education Authority (LEA)
  • Disabled Identification (DID) Card
  • Letter from a medical authority i.e. NHS 
  • National Disability Card

Disabled guests visiting from other countries must present a letter from an official medical authority. We will also accept the EU disability card as an alternative.

Care homes or SEN schools bringing a group of disabled visitors must present a printed document on company letterhead paper, stating the disabled visitors require carer assistance. 

  • Disabled visitors to Diggerland pay the same entry rate as anyone else, but each disabled visitor may bring in a carer/helper free of charge (T&Cs apply).
  • When booking online, select a standard / OAP ticket as appropriate for the disabled guest. Then select your free carer entry ticket(s). Present proof of entitlement in order for us to issue free carer entry as necessary. 
  • If a disabled visitor requires 2:1 or 3:1 care, additional carers may enter Diggerland free of charge, however valid documentation must be shown upon arrival.
  • Proof of disability must be presented upon arrival in order to receive free carer entry.
  • The carer/helper may use the rides and drives.
  • A carer should be someone over the age of 12 years old.

For any special events that Diggerland hold, carers will need to purchase a ticket at the specific event price that is displayed.

Each Diggerland site has a dedicated parking area for vehicles displaying valid disabled parking permits.

  • Each Diggerland location has at least one toilet adapted to suit the requirements of wheelchair users or disability needs.
  • Please note that we do not have a hoist or adult changing facilities for disabled visitors.

The pathways inside Diggerland are either concrete or tarmac or gravelled so wheelchair and mobility buggy access should be adequate. Please note that we do not have wheelchairs or mobility buggies available to borrow or hire at Diggerland.

 

  • Only dogs that are registered guide dogs or assistance dogs may enter Diggerland.
  • Guide dogs or assistance dogs should be kept on leads at all times and must not be left unsupervised at any time.
  • Guide / assistance dogs must be recognisable by the harness or organisation specific coat. An ID tag must be on the dogs collar or lead slip they wear.
  • Paperwork as proof that your dog is a guide / assistance dog may be asked for and as such should be ready to show upon arrival.

     

  • Disabled visitors are welcome to use as many of the rides and drives as they would like during the day. As we use real construction machines as the basis for the activities in Diggerland, please be aware that the machines may not be suitable or provide easy access for the disabled. Our marshals will supervise visitors where they can, but we must advise you that our staff are not able to lift or assist disabled visitors.

    Most of the diggers which the public can operate in Diggerland use hand operated controls only. The controls are power-assisted and do not require great strength to operate them.

    Why We Don’t Offer Fast Track or Preferential Queuing at Diggerland

    At Diggerland, the safety and enjoyment of all our visitors are our top priorities. Due to the nature of our attractions, which involve real machinery and limited access points, we operate with a single queue system for all visitors. This approach is essential to ensure everyone’s safety and to manage the use of our equipment effectively.

    While we understand that queuing can be challenging for some guests, particularly those with special needs, the unique setup of our park means that a fast-track system is not feasible. The machinery used in our attractions has limited space, and multiple access points could compromise both safety and the overall experience.

    Generally, guests at Diggerland are able to access rides straight away, with very little queuing involved. Even on busier days, queue times at our Diggerland UK parks are still considerably less than the national average for UK theme parks. Typically, our queues take no more than 20 minutes, even during peak times like half-term. While it is very rare, wait times can occasionally reach up to 40 minutes, but this happens infrequently and is still significantly shorter compared to many other UK theme parks and visitor attractions.

    To help make the waiting experience more comfortable, we have ensured that benches are plentiful around the park, offering a place to rest while waiting.

    We genuinely appreciate your understanding and are continuously exploring ways to improve accessibility and inclusivity at Diggerland. 

    durham park - accessibility video

    Diggerland Durham Accessibility Walkaround. Feel free to explore Diggerland Durham below by clicking around the park map.

    This 3D tour project has been funded and facilitated by England’s first Destination Development Partnership – Destination North East England. A partnership between , NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham, benefiting all seven local authorities. Destination North East England is funded by UK Government. 

    We no longer accept Max Card at our Diggerland UK parks. 

    In order to receive discounted entry, we recommend purchasing tickets online via the Diggerland website. This will give huge savings against the pay on the day prices. 

    Anyone with a disability will be entitled to have a carer assist them into the park free of charge, providing proof of disability is presented on arrival. 

    “Today we visited Diggerland Kent with a small group of our residents who have learning/physical disabilities, as a staff member I have been on many trips and outings with various groups over the years but today has outshone by far any of them.

    Your team in Kent are absolutely the best anywhere. I won’t mention any names because they were all equally fantastic, but just so you know who we are, Amir and the rest of our Watford supporters cannot wait for our visit next year.

    I work for quite a large organisation and I will be recommending you to all of our groups for a visit.Please thank all the staff for their wonderful attitudes towards disability I wish I could do something to make their day too. You all certainly made ours.”

    Julia – July 2018