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Porters' Lodge

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

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Access Guide

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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 7-10). 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 11 and 12). Other areas have surfaced paths of flagstone paving. The flagstones are uneven in some areas (Photograph 13). There are some stepped areas within Third Court (Photograph 14), 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 15) and the Darwin Garden (Photograph 16). 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, benches are also available in these gardens (Photograph 17). 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 18). 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 19).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Christ's College have stepped access into and around them (Photographs 20-21). 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 22 and 23). 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).
      The key card reader and intercom cannot be reached from within a vehicle.
      There is a slope at the exit from the car park into the college.

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).

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). The key card reader and intercom cannot be reached from within a vehicle.

Getting To (The Porters' Lodge)

  • Location View
    • The Porters' Lodge is at the main entrance to Christ's College on St. Andrew's Street.
    • The Porters' Lodge is on the left as you enter the main entrance - Great Gate on St. Andrew's Street.
    • There is wayfinding signage along the route to the Porters' Lodge.
    • Christ's College link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access (The Great Gate)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of Christ College on St Andrew's Street.
    • This entrance gives access to Christ's College.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 168cm (5ft 6in).
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
    • The width of the door opening is 78cm.
  • Comments View
    • This door is locked at night time, please ring the bell on left for access.

Outside Access (Porters' Lodge)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located to the left as you enter the Great Gate to Christ's College.
    • This entrance gives access to the Porters' Lodge reception.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 82cm.

Reception (Porters' Lodge)

  • Reception View
    • The reception point is located ahead after you enter the Porters' Lodge.
    • The reception point is approximately 2m (2yd 7in) from the Porters' Lodge entrance.
    • The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There is step-free access to the reception point.
    • There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
    • There are windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors at/behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • The reception counter is not placed in front of a background which is patterned.
    • The lighting levels at the reception point are moderate to good.
    • The height of the reception counter is 119cm .
    • There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the counter.
    • There is a lowered section of the counter.
    • The height of the lowered section at the counter is 78cm.
    • There is sufficient space to write or sign documents on the lowered section of the counter.
    • There is not a clear knee recess beneath the counter.
    • The counter is staffed.
    • There is a hearing assistance system at the reception point.
    • The type of system is a portable loop.
    • The hearing assistance system is signed.
    • Staff are trained to use the hearing system.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested by an AccessAble surveyor.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested on 26/08/2021.
    • The hearing loop was working at the time of testing.
    • The type of flooring in the reception area is carpet and wood.
  • Reception Waiting Area View
    • There is a waiting area close to the reception point.
    • Access to the waiting area is unobstructed.
    • The seats do not have armrests.
    • There is not sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the waiting area.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • 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.