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Garden Route

Newnham College, Dorothy Garrod Building - Ground Floor, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 9DF

Access Guide

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Getting To and Around Newnham College

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Newnham College is situated just south west of Cambridge city centre in Sidgwick Avenue which can be accessed from the A603. Please note that Silver Street is closed to cars for part of the day and has a ‘tidal flow’ system for the rest. At most times it will be easier, when approaching the College from the southern part of Cambridge, to use Fen Causeway. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • There are 4 car parks at Newnham College; Visitors Car Park, Clough Car Park, Peile Car Park and the Sportsfield Car Park. Blue Badge parking is available in the Visitor Car Park and also an additional parking bay in the Clough Car Park. Anyone requiring on-site parking will need prior permission. For short-term visitors and for those with disabilities it is helpful to contact the Head Porter in advance. Students are 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. Newnham College has several bicycle storage facilities. The main one being the bike shed that runs between Newnham Walk and Sidgwick Avenue, parallel to the Rosalind Franklin Building. There are also cycle stands in the Clough and Peile car parks.
    • For more information on getting to Newnham 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 Porters’ Lodge which is located in Sidgwick Avenue, close to the Visitors Car Park. Access is via a sloped walkway with a slight gradient leading to an automatic door with an opening width of 92cm. The sloped walkway bypasses 4 steps (Photographs 1 and 2). From the Porters' Lodge there is internal step-free access to the ground floors of the Dorothy Garrod and Fawcett Buildings and out to the gardens.
    • There is also step-free access to Clough Building from Sidgwick Avenue via the slight ramp leading to the Buttery Street Entrance. The ramp bypasses 1 step (Photograph 3). This entrance has a single automatic door with an opening width of 114cm (Photograph 4). A key card is required is to activate this entrance. The height of the key card reader is 88cm. Alternatively, there is the Kennedy Street Door which is located further along Sidgwick Avenue and gives access to the Kennedy Building (Photographs 5 and 6). This entrance has a manual door, which may be difficult for some to open, with an opening width of 78cm. There is a 4cm step at the entrance which is not clearly marked. A key card is required for this entrance. The height of the key card reader is 110cm.
    • In addition to the entrances in Sidgwick Avenue the College site can also be accessed via the Peile Building. The entrance to that building is located in the Peile Car Park but was out of use at the time of the survey due to construction works (Photograph 7). There is also a long, level gravel footpath leading into the College site from the Sportsfield Car Park which can be accessed from Barton Road (Photograph 8). This footpath can also be accessed via a single manual pedestrian gate at the end of Clare Road (Photograph 9). The gate is heavy and has an opening width of 137cm. This gate is open between 07.00 and 20.30.
    • Finally, there are several access points to the College site in Newnham Walk. The Pfeiffer Gate at the end of Newnham Walk has both a pedestrian and a vehicle gate (Photograph 10) which give access to the gardens via a passageway through the Pfeiffer Building. The pedestrian gate is held open and has an opening width of 80cm. The surface immediately beyond the gate has a slight gradient up then down (Photograph 11). For those with key cards there are 2 more step-free gates along Newnham Walk which give access to the College site at either side of the Dorothy Garrod Building (Photographs 12 and 13). Both gates are manual with opening widths of approximately 90cm and card readers at approximately 120cm. There are also key card gates at either end of the bike shed passageway that runs between Newnham Walk and the Visitors Car Park (Photographs 14-16). The gates open automatically when activated but the gate at the Newnham Walk end does have a 4cm step at the threshold (Photograph 17).
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • The external areas of the College site have an extensive network of gravel paths that are flat and mostly wide (120cm-150+cm) (Photographs 18-24). There are many bench seats and deckchairs provided for people to rest. Many of the buildings are connected internally but all buildings can be accessed externally from this network of paths.
    • The small Rose Garden close to the Pfeiffer Building is accessed via 6 steps that do not have handrails or markings (Photograph 25). There are also 6 unmarked steps, without handrails, for access to a raised area with a monument and stone seats in the Western Garden, in front of the Peile Building (Photographs 26 and 27). Close to the Old Labs there is bench seat shelter which is accessed via a paved path which is quite uneven (Photograph 28). There are 2 steps leading up to the seating compartments (Photograph 29).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • There is step-free access into most of the buildings on the College site and there are also lifts in the Clough Building (Photographs 30 and 31) which give access to the upper floors in that building and also the connected buildings such as Sidgwick and Kennedy.
    • There is not much directional signage (Photographs 32 and 33 show the map boards that were seen along 2 of the paths) around the external areas of 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 (please see the Detailed Access Guide for further information).

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park (Visitors Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Sidgwick Avenue, close to the Porters' Lodge.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Porter's Lodge and the Rosalind Franklin Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is loose chippings.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
    • There is/are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 230cm x 450cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays do not have a marked zone around them.
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do not vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
  • 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.
    • The nearest designated bay is 70m (76yd 1ft) from the Porters' Lodge.

Site/Campus Car Park (Clough Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Sidgwick Avenue.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Clough Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is loose chippings.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
    • There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 250cm x 550cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays do not have a marked zone around them.
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do not vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
  • 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.
    • The nearest designated bay is 9m (9yd 2ft) from the Clough Building entrance (key card holders only).
  • Comments View
    • The centre of the car park has a block paving surface.

Site/Campus Car Park (Peile Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Grange Road.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Peile Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is block paving.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
  • 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.
    • At the time of the survey (02/08/21) the Peile Building was undergoing refurbishment works and the car park was being used for contractor vehicles.

Porters' Lodge

Porters' Lodge to Garden

  • After entering the Porters' Lodge main entrance proceed through and towards the garden entrance at the rear of the building.
  • The surface of the flooring is stone, tiles and rugs.
  • The lighting is moderate to good.
  • There is seating throughout the Porters' Lodge area.
  • The seating is a mixture of sofas and armchairs.

Outside Access (Exit to Garden)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear of the Porters' Lodge.
    • This entrance gives access to the Garden.
    • 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/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 63cm.

Dorothy Garrod to Sidgwick

  • After exiting the building proceed straight ahead along the path.
  • The surface of the path is gravel and is uneven in places.
  • The path is over 150cm wide.
  • There are patio tables and chairs from the Iris Café external seating area along this section of the route.
  • At the junction turn right and continue along the path.
  • At the corner of the building on the right as you approach the main garden area there is a map.
  • The height of the map is 114cm.
  • The map is clearly marked and uses contrasting colours.
  • There is a marker to show your position on the map and a clear key to the buildings.
  • Continue along the path with the building on the right.
  • There is a cobbled section of path.
  • There are wooden bench seats on the left hand side of the cobbled area.
  • There is an entrance to Sidgwick on the right hand side of the cobbled area.

Sidgwick to Clough

  • Continue along the path keeping the building on your right.
  • There are some manhole covers along this section of the route, just before the next junction.
  • The manhole covers may create a trip hazard.
  • At the junction turn right and continue along the path.
  • The path narrows to a width of 145cm.
  • At the next junction there is a path straight ahead which gives access to the Buttery & College Dining Hall (Photograph 5).
  • Turn left and continue along the main path.
  • The path widens again to over 150cm.
  • There is a variety of seating on the lawn on the left hand side, including wooden bench seating, wooden armchairs, and deck chairs.
  • Follow the path along the side of the building to the crossroads.
  • There is a covered water pipe crossing the path just before the crossroads.
  • The right hand exit at the crossroads leads to the entrance for Clough.

Clough to Kennedy

  • Continue straight ahead along the path with the building on your right.
  • There may be obstructions along the path with gardners barrows and tools.
  • Proceed along the path to the next crossroads.
  • At the crossroads the right hand path leads to the Kennedy entrance.

Kennedy to Peile

  • Continue straight ahead with the buildings on your right and ahead.
  • At the junction turn right for ramped access into Peile or left for stepped access.
  • The path to the right narrows to 108cm and is partially covered by overhanging bushes.
  • The ramped entrance to Peile is located at the end of the path.
  • The path leading to the stepped entrance is over 150cm wide and there is another map marker to assist with navigation.
  • Continue along the path to the centre of the building.
  • The stepped entrance is located beyond 2 tall bushes.

Peile

  • Peile is located at the west side of the College and is the furthest part of the main College Building from the Porters' Lodge.
  • There are 2 entrances to Peile.
  • At the time of the survey the building was undergoing refurbishment.