Digital accessibility

1. Our commitment

We want this site to be usable by everyone, including people who navigate by keyboard, use a screen reader or magnifier, need high contrast, or prefer reduced motion. Accessibility is treated as part of building a page, not as a later correction, and a page that fails it is treated as unfinished.

2. The standard we apply

We build to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2, level AA, and take account of EN 301 549 and the accessibility requirements that apply to consumer booking services in the European Union from June 2025. In the United Kingdom we also work to the duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010.

3. What that means in practice

On this site, that translates into specific commitments:

• Every interactive element is reachable and operable by keyboard, in an order that matches what you see
• Focus is always visible, and moves deliberately when a panel, menu or step opens
• Text contrast is at least 4.5:1, and interface borders and icons at least 3:1
• Nothing conveys meaning by colour alone; state is also carried in text or shape
• Animation is suppressed when your system asks for reduced motion, and no content flashes
• Forms have real labels, errors are announced and described next to the field, and nothing depends on placeholder text
• Data is published in real tables with row and column headers, so it can be read cell by cell
• Pages work at 400% zoom and at 320 pixels wide without horizontal scrolling

4. Conformance status

This site is partially conformant with WCAG 2.2 level AA. Partially conformant means most of the site meets the standard, and some parts do not yet. We publish that honestly rather than claim full conformance, because a claim we cannot support is of no use to anyone relying on it.

5. Known limitations

We are aware of the following, and each is being worked on:

• The date range calendar can be operated by keyboard, but does not yet support arrow-key movement between dates within the grid
• Some photography carries decorative alternative text where a fuller description of the room would serve a guest better
• Third-party payment pages follow the provider's own accessibility standard, which we do not control and are reviewing with them
• Documents supplied to press and partners are not yet published in a tagged, accessible PDF format

6. How this was assessed

Assessment combines automated testing on every build with manual keyboard and screen-reader testing of the booking path, the membership signup and the development enquiry. An independent audit has not yet been commissioned; when it is, its date and findings will be published here.

7. Telling us about a problem

If something on this site prevents you from doing what you came to do, write to us at the address in the legal notice, marking your message for the attention of accessibility. Tell us the page and what happened. We acknowledge within two working days and answer within five, with either a fix or a date for one. If you need to complete a booking in the meantime, we will take it by email or by telephone and apply exactly the same rate.

8. Enforcement

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may complain to the equality or consumer authority in your country of residence. In the United Kingdom that is the Equality and Human Rights Commission; in Spain, the relevant consumer authority of your autonomous community.

9. Accessibility in the houses

The site is one part of it. In the buildings, we can arrange step-free rooms and routes, roll-in showers, visual fire alerts, hearing loops at reception, and assistance on arrival. Ask when you book and the house confirms the specific room rather than a category, because a category is not a guarantee. Assistance animals are welcome in every house, including those that do not otherwise accept pets, at no charge.

10. Alternatives

Anything that can be done on this site can be done by writing to reservations or calling the house, at the same rate and with the same Averton Circle benefits. Nobody is asked to pay more, or to accept less, because a page did not work for them.