Access Guide
Getting To and Around Clare College (Old Court)
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Arriving By Car or Bike
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- Clare College has 3 sites; Memorial Court, Old Court and The Colony. 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 The Colony. 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).
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By Bus
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- There is not a bus stop within 150 metres of the campus.
- There are no bus stops in the immediate vicinity of Old Court. The bus station in Drummer Street is situated 900 metres away from Old Court. There are frequent services between London's Victoria Coach Station and Drummer Street Bus Station in Cambridge.
- Cambridge City Centre Bus Station AccessAble Access Guide (new tab) - click here.
- For more information on planning a bus journey in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
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By Train
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- The nearest Railway Station is Cambridge.
- Cambridge Station is approximately 2.3 kilometres away from Old Court. The station has direct links to London Kings Cross, London Liverpool Street, Cambridge North, Kings Lynn, Stansted Airport, Brighton, Ipswich and Norwich. The rail companies that operate out of this station are; Cross Country, Great Northern, Thameslink and Greater Anglia.
- For more information on Cambridge Station please click here (opens new tab).
- For more information on planning a train journey to Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
- Cambridge Station AccessAble Access Guide (new tab) - click here.
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Accessing the College Site
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- 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).
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Getting Around the College Site
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- 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.
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Additional College Site Information
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- 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
Useful Information
- To see more information on Clare College Disability Access Guide please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 333 246.
- To see more information on University of Cambridge Disability Resource Centre please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 332 301.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Accommodation please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 333 256.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Admissions please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Health and Welfare please click here (opens new tab).
Building Parking
- The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
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Public Car Parks
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- There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
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Drop Off Point
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- There is not a designated drop off point.
Getting To (The Thirkill Room)
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Location
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- The Thirkill Room is located on the first floor of F Staircase.
F Staircase is off Old Court. - The Thirkill Room entrance is to the right on reaching the first floor of F Staircase.
- There is not wayfinding signage along the route to Thirkill Room.
- Clare College - Old Court link (new tab) - click here.
- The Thirkill Room is located on the first floor of F Staircase.
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Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities
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- Shared standard toilet facilities are located off the Thirkill side room.
Outside Access (F Staircase)
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located off Old Court.
- This entrance gives access to F Staircase.
- The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
- This entrance is signed with 'F'.
- There is stepped access at this entrance.
- There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is/are double width.
- The door(s) is/are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 94cm.
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Step(s)
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- The step(s) is/are located in front of the entrance.
- There is/are 1 step(s).
- The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
- The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 5cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
- Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
Other Floors (F Staircase)
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Stairs
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- Stairs can be used to access other floors.
- The stairs are located just inside the F Staircase entrance.
- The stairs are approximately 3m from the F Staircase entrance.
- The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
- The floors which are accessible by the stairs are G, 1, 2, 3.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The depth of the steps is 28cm.
- The steps are not clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
- Handrails are 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 not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are good.
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Other Information
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- The room(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are the Thirkill Room and Offices.
Entrance (Thirkill Room)
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located off F Staircase on the first floor on the right.
- The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
- There is step-free access at this entrance.
- The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- A key fob is required for access at this entrance.
- The height of the key fob reader is 122cm.
- 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 80cm.
Meeting Room(s)
- The corridor outside the room(s) is not sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
- There is not a hearing assistance system for the room(s).
- There is not a visual fire alarm beacon in the room(s).
- There is not fixed furniture within the room(s).
- The clear floor space beneath tables in the room(s) is 70cm.
- A height adjustable table/bench is not available.
- There is a/are chair(s) with armrests on both sides within the room(s).
- The room does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- Floor coverings in the room(s) are not even.
- The large rug and fireplace may serve as trip hazards.
There is a side room equipped with a coffee machine that has controls at a height of 120cm.
Accessible Toilet(s)
- There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
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Toilet Facilities
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- The shared toilet is located off the side room.
- There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
- The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is low.
- There is written text signage on or near the toilet door.
- An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
- The height of the wash basin(s) is 85cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
- Lighting levels are good.