Access Guide
Getting To and Around Downing College
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Arriving By Car or Bike
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- Downing College is situated in Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the campus is located on Regent Street. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
- Downing College has limited on-site car parking. The main parking area is located along North Range where there are 5 Blue Badge parking pays. There are some Fellows' parking bays in the area behind the Lord Butterfield Bar & Café but they were blocked off at the time of the survey. The College also leases parking for postgraduates outside some of the buildings on Lensfield Road. 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 Downing College there are many sheltered cycle stands available on-site along the North Range access road and also in the service yard outside Battcock Lodge.
- For more information on getting to Downing College by road 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 bus stops in Regent Street close to the college.
The bus services that stop in Regent Street include; 1 citi, 3 citi, 7 citi, 13 gold, 13A gold, 13B gold 16A, 18, 26, 31, 75, 132, Park & Ride X3 and X13 gold.
These bus services give direct links to; Trumpington, Cherry Hinton, Addenbrookes, Fulbourn, Pampisford, Arbury, Fen Ditton and Hartford. The bus station in Drummer Street is approximately 650 metres away from Downing College. - 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 1.1 kilometres away from Downing College. 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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- The main pedestrian entrance to the College site is located on Regent Street. Access is via a single pedestrian gate with a card reader which is situated to the left of the vehicular entrance. The gate may be difficult for some to open and has an opening width of 100cm. The height of the card reader is 102cm.
- Pedestrians can also access the site via the Howard Gate, which is a pedestrian entrance situated in the Downing site of the University of Cambridge. The gate opens automatically away from you and is activated by either pressing the button (height 112cm) or using the card reader (height 110cm). The card reader must be used outside the hours of 10.00 – 16.30.
- Key card holders can also access the site via a pedestrian gate in Lensfield Road between Buildings 34 and 36. The gate is single, opens away from you (push) and may be difficult for some to open. The height of the card reader is 115cm and the opening width of the gateway is 110cm. There is a short steep downhill slope along the path just beyond this entrance.
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Getting Around the College Site
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- If you have accessed the College site by vehicle and parked in the designated Blue Badge Bays in the North Range area there is open step-free access to the network of paths around external areas of the Downing College site. The site is mostly level with wide paths (150cm+), but path surfaces do vary. The paths that run around the large central grass area (The Quadrangle and The Paddock) have a gravel surface that may not be suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Other areas have surfaced paths of various types (flagstone paving, tarmac, concrete, block paving and resin bound gravel). Most of the surfaced paths have a flat, smooth surface except some in the area outside Kenny A which is slightly uneven.
- There is stepped access to the West Lodge Garden. The steps do not have handrails. The external parts of the site are otherwise step-free except for access into buildings.
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Additional College Site Information
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- Many of the buildings at Downing College have stepped access into and around them. 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. There are some buildings which have been adapted to make them step-free, including access ramps to bypass external steps and internal lifts to access other floors. Please see our Detailed Access Guides for further information on access to buildings.
- There is not much directional signage around the site which means those unfamiliar with the layout will need an escort or a map to reference. Accessible toilet facilities are located in the Porters’ Lodge and B Stair near the Dining Hall.
- There are some bollards along paths and access routes. All bollards have a good colour contrast with the path surfaces. The width between the bollards is at least 90cm.
Useful Information
- To see more information on information for students with disabilities please click here (opens new tab).
- 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).
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Admissions please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 334 826.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Health and Wellbeing please click here (opens new tab).
- Email: [email protected] for the Zoom link..
Site/Campus Car Park (North Range Parking)
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Car Park
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- The car park is located off Regent Street, past the Porters' Lodge, along the access road behind the Chapel.
- The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are those at the north side of the site.
- The car park type is open air/surface.
- The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
- Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
- There is/are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
- The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 245cm x 470cm.
- The Blue Badge parking bays do not have a marked zone around them.
- The dimensions of the designated bays do vary in size.
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Charges and Restrictions
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- This car park can be used by permit holders.
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Drop Off Point
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- There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
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Car Park Access
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- There is step free access from this car park.
- Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
- There is a campus map available within the car park.
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Comments
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- The car park surface is mostly resin bound gravel with some loose gravel surface electric vehicle and standard parking bays.
- There are 8 electric vehicle charging points.
Getting To (The Laundry Room - 40 Lensfield Road)
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Location
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- The Laundry Room is located in the external side passageway, at the rear of 40 Lensfield Road.
- The Laundry Room is at the rear of 40 Lensfield Road and can be accessed via the pathway south of The Paddock.
- There is similar access to the Laundry Room at the rear of 56 Lensfield Road.
- There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Laundry Room - 40 Lensfield Road.
- Downing College link (new tab) - click here.
Approach (Laundry Room - 40 Lensfield Road)
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Approach
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- The surface of the approach is stone/concrete tiles.
- The approach surface is uneven in places.
- There is a door along the path to the Laundry that is 79cm in width and opens away from you.
- There is step-free access on the approach.
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Ramp/Slope
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- There is a ramp/slope on the approach.
- The ramp/slope is permanent, has a slight gradient and has a handrail on the left going up.
- There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
- The width of the ramp/slope is 117cm (3ft 10in).
- The ramp/slope does not bypass the step(s).
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Step(s)
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- There is a/are step(s) on the approach.
- There is/are 1 clearly marked step(s), with no handrails.
- Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 5cm.
Outside Access (Laundry Room)
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located in the external side passageway at the rear of 40 Lensfield Road.
- The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
- 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.
- 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 70cm.
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Ramp/Slope
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- There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
- The handrail(s) is/are on the left going up the ramp.
- The width of the ramp/slope is 117cm (3ft 10in).
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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 between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 18cm.
- There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
Laundry Room
- The lighting is good and operated by a sensor.
- The surface of the flooring is vinyl.
- There is a sink 90cm high with lever / mixer taps.
- The controls for the washing machine range from 74cm - 80cm.
- The controls for the tumble dryer range from 74cm - 80cm.
- The height of the ironing board is 92cm and the socket for the iron is 38cm high.
Toilet with Adaptations
- There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
- The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located within the Porters' Lodge.
Standard Toilet(s)
- Standard toilet facilities are not available.
- The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located within the Porters' Lodge.