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Route from Old Court (Trinity Lane) to Memorial Court

Trinity Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1TL

Access Guide

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Useful Information

Route Information

  • This route is from Old Court to Memorial Court via the Clare College Bridge and Queen's Road.
  • The distance is approximately 470m.
  • There are steep slopes along the route.
  • Along the route you will go past and through the following areas: Old Court Porter's Lodge, Chapel, Buttery, Old Court and the Memorial Court Porter's Lodge.

Getting To and Around Clare College (Old Court)

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Clare College has 3 sites; Memorial Court, Old Court and Castle Court. Old Court is located in central Cambridge, at the end of Trinity Lane. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised and vehicular access is restricted. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • There is no on-site parking at Old Court but there is limited parking at Memorial Court and Castle Court. This is with prior permission only. 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. There is provision for bicycle storage at Clare College.
    • For more information on directions to Clare 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
    • At the time of the survey there were construction works being carried out at the Old Court site. The Fellows Garden was closed due to this and access around the site was restricted.
    • The main pedestrian entrance to the Old Court site is located in Trinity Lane (Photograph 1). Access is via a single manual gate that opens away from you (push). The opening width of the gate is 112cm although it can be opened up fully to make it even wider. After the gate there is a level flagstone paved path which leads to the Porters’ Lodge (Photograph 2). Before you reach the Porters’ Lodge there is another manual gateway which has temporary ramps over the threshold step to stop people tripping (Photograph 3). The width of the gate opening is 60cm but porters' will open it up fully thereby removing the threshold step. When fully opened the width is 132cm. There is an intercom system to contact the porters' at a height of 120cm. After the second gate the entrance to the Porters’ Lodge is located immediately to the left. In order to continue straight ahead into Old Court there is another gate in the passage (Photograph 4). This gate is automatic and is activated by key card or remotely by the porters'. The width of the gateway opening is 170cm and the height of the card reader is 107cm.
    • There is also pedestrian access to Old Court, for key card holders, from the rear of the site in Queen’s Road, opposite the Memorial Court site (Photograph 5). Access is via a heavy manual gate that opens away from you (push). The width of the gate opening is 110cm and the height of the card reader is 132cm. There is also an intercom system at a height of 151cm. The paths leading to this entrance are uneven or sloped in places. The rear entrance gives access to The Avenue walkway (Photograph 6) from where the Fellows Garden can normally be accessed (it was closed for construction works at the time of the survey).
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • Old Court itself has level paths running around the edges and through the centre (Photographs 7 and 8). The paths have a flagstone paving surface and are quite wide (120cm – 150cm). The footpaths are slightly uneven in places. At the time of the survey there was a marquee on the grass on the left hand side as you enter from the Porters' Lodge passageway. There were several wooden ramps for access to and around the marquee which had a slight upwards gradient (Photograph 9). The central path was narrowed to 100cm by the positioning of the marquee and there was an electric cable cover over the path (Photograph 10).
    • At the rear of Old Court there is a passageway leading out to the gardens and the River Cam. In the passageway there is an open gate with a width of 118cm (Photograph 11). The gate does have a card reader for times when it is closed. The height of the card reader is 133cm. There is then a straight path, with a flagstone paving surface, leading to a footbridge over the River Cam (Photograph 12). The footbridge has steep upwards then downwards gradients over it (Photographs 13 and 14).
    • After the footbridge there is another open gateway (Photograph 15). The width of this gateway is 100cm and there are short steep ramps leading up to and down (Photograph 16) from the threshold. Alternatively, there are additional open gateways to either side with a step over the threshold. Beyond this gateway is The Avenue walkway which is level and runs past the Fellows Garden to the entrance at the rear of the site, in Queen’s Road, opposite the Memorial Court site.
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • The entrance to Scholars' Garden is located on the Old Court side of the footbridge over the river. Access is via an open gateway (Photograph 17) with 4 unmarked steps. The steps have a handrail on the left (Photograph 18). Once inside the garden there are 2 gravel paths (Photographs 19 and 20) with 3 steps at the intersection (Photograph 21).
    • Many of the buildings at Old Court have stepped access into and around them. Due to the age of the buildings the staircases do vary in materials and layout.
    • There is not much directional signage around the site which means those unfamiliar with the layout might need an escort or a map to reference.
  • AccessAble Related Links View

Old Court

  • Cross Old Court heading towards the river. There is approximately 55m from the Porters Lodge at the front of Old Court to the gate at its rear.
  • The surface of the path across Old Court is block paving.
  • As you proceed you will pass the Chapel and Buttery.
  • Head through the archway at the far side of the court.
  • In the passageway there is an open gate. The gate has a card reader for times when it is closed. The height of the card reader is 133cm.

Old Court to the Queen's Road Clare College Entrance / Exit

  • Upon exiting the Old Court, continue ahead across the river and exit Clare College onto Queen's Road.
  • The path ahead of you on exiting Old Court is block paved, with uneven areas on either side.
  • As you proceed towards the Clare College Bridge, the Scholars Garden is located on the left.
  • After approximately 35m you will come to the Clare College Bridge.
  • There are steep slopes on either side of the bridge.
  • The bridge has a width of approximately 20m.
  • Beyond the bridge there are three single gates with widths of 100cm.
  • The middle gate is accessed by a steep ramp in front of and beyond it. The ramp has a width of 115cm.
  • The other gates are accessed via medium height steps on either side.
  • There is compact gravel paving after the gates which continues for approximately 120m until you reach the exit gate from this part of Clare College.
  • To exit this part of Clare College, there is a heavy gate that opens towards you (pull) with a width of 110cm.
  • There is a key card reader at a height of 135cm.
  • There is a push button to exit the gate on the right at a height of 100cm.

Clare College Queen's Road Entrance / Exit to Ashby Drive

  • After exiting the College, head up the slope in front of you leading to Queen's Road. The slope is uneven.
  • At the top of the slope turn right and head across the service road into Clare College.
  • There is a slight slope leading down on the other side of the service road. The surface of the slope is uneven.
  • At the bottom of the slope, turn left and head towards the pedestrian crossing across Queen's Road, a distance of approximately 40m.
  • The surface of the path is compacted gravel and is uneven. There is a small section of uneven block paving just before the road crossing.
  • There are bollards in front of the road crossing with gaps between them of 115cm.
  • The crossing has a tactile dropped kerb on either side. The controls for the crossing are at a height of 112cm. There are rotating cones at the lights.
  • Turn right after crossing the road and continue for approximately 65m. The pavement is tarmac.
  • The first entrance to the left into the Memorial Buildings is stepped.
  • For step-free access continue ahead until the next turning into the Memorial Buildings area which is Ashby Drive.

Queens Road to Memorial Court via Ashby Drive

  • Turn left and head into Memorial Court avoiding or overcoming the clearly marked speed bump.
  • Continue ahead keeping to the left side of the road until you reach the pavement.
  • On reaching the compact gravel pavement there is a 3cm kerb to gain access.
  • Continue along the pavement, which at is narrowest has a width of 80cm and a slight uphill gradient.
  • At the end of the pavement turn left and continue until you reach the entrance to Memorial Court.

Getting To and Around Clare College (Memorial Court)

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Clare College has 3 sites; Memorial Court, Old Court and The Colony. Memorial Court is located off Queen’s Road (A1134), just to the West of the city centre. This part of the city can be accessed most easily from the M11 via Junction 12 or 13. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • There is very limited parking at Clare College and it is strictly controlled. Anyone parking on-site must have prior permission via the Head Porter. Students are generally not permitted to use cars in the immediate locality unless given permission based on specific requirements. At Memorial Court there is parking on the access road in front of the Porters’ Lodge and along Thirkill Drive and the access road leading to Lerner Court. There are no marked parking bays for Blue Badge holders.
    • There are electric vehicle charging stations on Thirkill Drive.
    • Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. There is provision for bicycle storage at Clare College.
    • For more information on directions to Clare 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
    • There are three driveways in Queen’s Road which give access to the Memorial Court site. All have vehicular access with parking along them and none of them have a dedicated footpath for pedestrians so care should be taken. The central one is the only one which does not have a vehicle security barrier, but is the only one with stepped access. It also has a gate for pedestrian access. The gate is permanently held open and has an opening width of 90cm. Beyond the gate the straight driveway is level with a tarmac surface, but is slightly uneven in places with some loose stones. There are then 12 steps leading up to the passageway into Memorial Court where the Porters’ Lodge is located. The steps do not have handrails or markings.
    • The driveway to the left (or south) of the one described above, is called Thirkill Drive and it leads to Thirkill Court at the rear left of the site. This is a vehicular entrance, and it is controlled by a security barrier. There is an intercom located here at a height of 100cm.
    • There is a path to bypass the barrier, but it is very narrow (width 66cm) and is via a vehicle turning bay. After the security barrier the driveway has a tarmac surface, which is uneven in places, and a very slight upwards gradient. As you reach the front of the Memorial Court building there is a footpath to the right that connects the 3 driveways and can be used to bypass the steps in front of the Porters’ Lodge. The path is flat with a tarmac surface and a minimum width of 130cm. If you continue along the driveway instead there is access to Thirkill Court via a wide open gateway.
    • The driveway to the right (or north) is called Ashby Drive and it leads up to Lerner Court at the rear right of the site. This is also a vehicular entrance which is controlled by a security barrier. The barrier does have an intercom system at a height of 103cm. To the left of the security barrier there is a path, but it is narrow past the barrier (width 75cm) before it widens to 100cm. The path has a surface which consists of a metal grid over packed loose stones and may not be suitable for some. The path and driveway have a slight but long upwards gradient. At the end of the driveway there is a pedestrian gate leading into Lerner Court. The gate is held open and has an opening width of 165cm.
    • In addition to the three driveways, pedestrians with key cards can also access the College via the rear gate which is located outside University Library. The gate opens away from you (push) and is heavy. The opening width is 90cm and the card reader height is 112cm. The rear gate gives access to Ashby Court.
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • The College site itself is mostly level with paths running around the edges of the courts and around the central library. The majority of paths are wide (150cm+) with a tarmac or flagstone/block paving surface (Photographs 10-13).
    • There are open passageways between courts with entrance widths of 96cm-115cm. There are some paths which are narrowed by plants or furniture.
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Access into the buildings at Memorial Court varies and some have stepped access. There is an external platform lift to overcome the steps at the Library entrance and some entrances have temporary or permanent ramps. Please see our Detailed Access Guides for further information on access to buildings.
    • There is limited directional signage around the College site which might mean those unfamiliar with the layout could need an escort or a map to reference.
    • There are many seats around the site for people to rest. Accessible toilet facilities are located in the Gillespie Centre.
  • Useful Links View
  • AccessAble Related Links View