Skip to main content

Old Combination Room (OCR)

Christ's College, St Andrew's Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3BU

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Getting To and Around Christ's College

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Christ's College is situated in Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the campus is located in Hobson Street. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • Christ's College has limited on-site car parking. The main parking area is located off Hobson Street. There is also a car park off Hobson Street at the rear of the Chapel. There is an additional car park off King Street, under New Court. There are no Blue Badge parking bays in any of these car parks.
      Students are generally not permitted to use cars in the immediate locality unless given permission based on specific requirements.
    • Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. At Christ's College there are cycle stands available near the Master's Lodge gate.
    • For more information on getting to Christ's College please click here (opens new tab).
    • For more information on cycle routes and maps in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Bus View
  • By Train View
  • Accessing the College Site View
    • The main pedestrian entrance to the College site is via The Great Gate located in St Andrew's Street (Photographs 1 and 2). Access is via a single pedestrian gate. The gate is permanently held open from 07:00 - 00:00 daily and has an opening width of 100cm.
    • Key card holders can also access the site via the Hobson Street Gate, which is a pedestrian entrance situated on Hobson Street, next to the vehicular entrance to the Hobson Street Car Park (Photograph 3) The gate opens automatically away from you and is activated by using the card reader (height 132cm) or by using the intercom (height 128cm). The gate has an opening width of 98cm.
      Pedestrians can also enter via the Master's Lodge gate on Hobson Street, next to the vehicular entrance to the Chapel Car Park (Photograph 4). The gate opens automatically away from you and is activated by using the card reader (height 108cm). The gate width is 98cm. There is a similar gate in the Chapel Car Park giving access to the same area.
    • Key card holders can also access the site via a pedestrian gate in King Street (Photographs 5 and 6). There are 2 gates at this entrance. The first gate is double with one gate locked and opens away from you automatically. At times the gate may be permanently held open. The height of the card reader is 152cm and the opening width of the gateway is 99cm. The second gate opens away from you (push), is single, and may be difficult for some people to open. The height of the card reader is 118cm and the opening width of the gateway is 94cm.
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • If you have accessed the College site by vehicle and parked in the Hobson Street car park there is open step-free access to the network of paths around external areas of the Christ's College site (Photographs 7-13). The site is mostly level with wide paths (150cm+) but path surfaces do vary. The paths that run around the Fellows' Gardens have a gravel surface that may not be suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments (Photographs 14 and 15). Other areas have surfaced paths of flagstone paving. The flagstones are uneven in some areas (Photograph 16). There are some stepped areas within Third Court (Photograph 17), which can be overcome by using the level path along the front of the Blyth Building.
    • There is stepped access to the Third Court Garden (Photograph 18) and the Darwin Garden (Photograph 19). The steps do not have handrails. Both gardens have a gravel surface that may not be suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments (Photograph 20). There are external steps onto the terraced areas of the Yusuf Hamied Centre which have handrails covering the majority of the steps on both sides (Photograph 21). The external parts of the site are otherwise step-free except for access into buildings. There is ramp to give access to the Yusuf Hamied Centre (Photograph 22).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Christ's College have stepped access into and around them (Photographs 23-24). Due to the age of the buildings the staircases do vary in materials and layout. The height and depths of steps are not uniform and neither is lighting, handrail provision/type or step markings. Due to the age of the buildings adaptations to provide lifts and ramps have not been possible, however, there are portable ramps for access into some of these buildings giving access to the ground floor. Please see our Detailed Access Guides for further information on access to buildings.
    • There is directional signage around the site including maps (Photographs 27 and 28). An escort is available, and a map is also available from the College website or on request from the Porters' Lodge. Accessible toilet facilities are located in the Library Corridor, the Yusuf Hamied Centre, and externally in Second Court.

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park (King Street Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off King Street.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are New Court.
    • The car park type is underground.
    • The car park does have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are not provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • Access to this car park is via automatic gates which are operated by key card (height 143cm) or intercom (height 143cm) (Photograph 3). The key card reader and intercom cannot be reached from within a vehicle.

Site/Campus Car Park (Chapel Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Hobson Street.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Chapel and First Court.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are not provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • Access to this car park is by automatic gates which are operated by key card (height 147cm) or intercom (height 142cm) (Photograph 3).

Site/Campus Car Park (Hobson Street Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Hobson Street.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Third Court, New Court and Todd Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are not provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is a campus map available within the car park.
    • Access to this car park is by automatic gates which are activated by key card (height 129cm) or intercom (height 126cm) (Photograph 4). The key card reader and intercom cannot be reached from within a vehicle.

Getting To (The Old Combination Room (OCR))

  • Location View
    • The Old Combination Room (OCR) is located on the first floor, off the F Screens Passageway.
    • The Old Combination Room (OCR) is only accessed via the stairs within F Screen Passageway.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Old Combination Room (OCR).
    • Christ's College link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off F Screens passageway.
    • This entrance gives access to the lobby area and stairs.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'OCR'.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • There are no doors at this entrance.
    • The width of the door opening is 114cm.

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Stairs can be used to access other floors.
    • The stairs are located to the right as you enter.
    • The stairs are approximately 2m from the main entrance.
    • The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are not clearly marked.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on the left going up.
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels at the steps are moderate to good.
  • Other Information View
    • The service(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are The Old Combination Room (OCR).

Old Combination Room (OCR)

  • The Old Combination Room (OCR) is located on the first floor.
  • The door leading into the OCR is heavy, 87cm wide and opens away from you (push) (Photograph 1).
  • There is 1 unmarked step, 20cm high at this entrance (Photograph 2).
  • The lighting in the room is adjustable and the surface of the flooring is carpet.
  • The height of the tables are 74cm and 75cm, and there is a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
  • There are double doors 130cm wide, which open away from you (push) leading up to the gallery (Photograph 7).
  • There are 2 steps 14cm and 15cm high at this entrance (Photograph 8).

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located on the ground floor corridor of the Library, off First Court.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located on the ground floor corridor of the Library, off First Court.