Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Search for accessible places to go

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Fitzwilliam House - Seminar Room 6

Peterhouse, First Court, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1RD

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Getting To and Around Peterhouse

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Peterhouse is located on Trumpington Street in Cambridge city centre. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • At the time of the survey (August 2021) there was very little parking available at the site due to building work. Normally, some parking is available to staff and some visitors with specific requirements who request in advance. There is no general parking for visitors, and 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 are bike stands available throughout the site.
    • For more information on getting to Peterhouse by road 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
    • Visitors to Peterhouse enter via the Porters' Lodge on Trumpington Street. Access into the Porters' Lodge is via a single heavy door 82cm wide and a step which has been worn down to 3cm high in the centre (Photographs 1 and 2). There is also a pedestrian gate to the right of the Porters' Lodge as you face it, 85cm wide (Photograph 3). The step here has been worn down so much it is now a slight slope with a threshold (Photograph 4).
    • Pedestrians can also access the site via the Granta Gate at the rear of the site (Photograph 5), although this is mainly a vehicle entrance for deliveries and contractors, with no footpath for pedestrians. The road goes underneath the Whittle Building and up a long, steep slope (Photograph 6). At the top, pedestrians take the path up to Gisborne Court (Photograph 7). The path is 94cm wide and has a slight slope. There is also a vehicle entrance to the site off Little St Mary’s Lane to the side of the site, via 2 gates (Photograph 8). However, this only gives access to the Blue Badge bay outside the Theatre on performance days. The main entrance to the library is located between the two gates here. There is a gap for pedestrians 44cm wide (Photograph 9).
    • There is an entrance at the end of Grove Lane that give access to the William Stone Building and the far end of the Deer Park. This is via a gate 174cm, which can be made double width to give vehicle access if required (Photograph 10). There is also access to St. Peter’s Terrace off Grove Lane, via a single gate 102cm wide and a slight slope (Photograph 11). All the houses in St. Peter’s Terrace are accessed by steps (Photograph 12). There is also a similar gate further down Grove Lane that gives access to the path at the rear of the houses (Photograph 13).
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • From the Porters' Lodge and Trumpington Street entrance, the paths have a flagstone surface, so are uneven in places (Photograph 14). There is a steep ramp or 2 12cm high steps (Photograph 15 and 16) to access Old Court (Photograph 17). There is a cut through at the far end of Old Court which has a slight ramp, 89cm wide (Photograph 18). This leads through to Gisborne Court. This leads through to Fen Court, which has a concrete tile surface that is more even (Photograph 19). From here there is a slight ramp leading up to the Theatre. The bollard at the top of the ramp makes the gaps 107cm and 110cm wide (Photograph 20).
    • Leading off the side of Old Court is Screens Passage, which is accessed via a shallow, worn step (Photograph 21). The entrance to the Hall is off this passage, and at the end there is a steep ramp, 125cm wide (Photograph 22). If the main gates to this passage are closed, there are doorways in the gates 66cm wide with a 9cm threshold. Beyond the passage there is a gravel path to the left leading to the Fellows Garden (Photograph 23), and a flagstone then compacted gravel path leading through the Deer Park (Photographs 24 and 25). There are unsurfaced and gravel paths leading off the main path (Photograph 26). At the far end of the Deer Park, the main path narrows to 140cm and has a slight slope leading up to the William Stone Building (Photograph 27).
    • The area around the William Stone Building has a brick block paving surface. There is a brick block path, with a slight slope at the start, leading to the rear of the St. Peter’s Terrace houses and the Squash Court (Photographs 28 and 29).
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Peterhouse have step-free access into them, although some are accessed by steps only (Photograph 30). Peterhouse is the oldest College in Cambridge, with parts dating back to the 13th century. 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 (Photographs 31-32). 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 on the first floor in the corner of Old Court and the basement of the Whittle Building.
  • AccessAble Related Links View

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is not a site/campus car park within approximately 200m.
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and/or marked on street Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The on street Blue Badge parking bay(s) is/are located on Trumpington Street.
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are not available.
    • The dimensions of the standard marked parking bays are 200cm x 600cm (6ft 7in x 19ft 8in).
    • The on street standard parking bay(s) is/are located on Trumpington Street.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • The on-street parking on Trumpington Street is approximately 50 metres from the entrance to Fitzwilliam House.
    • After various bike racks there are parking spaces which have a maximum stay of 2 hours, Monday to Saturday (08:30-18:30) and 4 hours on Sunday (09:00-17:00).
    • Payment is via a machine near the spaces.

Getting To (Fitzwilliam House)

  • Location View
    • Fitzwilliam House is located in Trumpington Street, on the opposite side of the road to the Fitzwilliam Museum and near the street entrance to Peterhouse.
    • Fitzwilliam House can be accessed via a stepped entrance off Turpington Street.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to Fitzwilliam House.
    • Other services / Facilities within the building include; offices/ meeting rooms.
    • Peterhouse link (new tab) - click here.

Approach (Trumpington Street)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is block paving.
    • The approach surface is uneven in places.
    • The uneven block paving is along the pavement from either side of the building. There is a level crossing to the other side within 50 metres.
    • There is step-free access on the approach.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building in Turpington Street.
    • This entrance gives access to the ground floor of Fitzwilliam House.
    • 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.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 122cm .
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key card reader is 112cm.
    • 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 103cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.
    • The keyhole and twist/turn knob on the inside are both 120cm high.
      There is a wall-mounted hand sanitiser as you enter at a height of 118cm high.
  • Step(s) View
    • 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 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 10cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).

Inside Access

  • Access and Circulation View
    • There is not step-free access throughout the building.
    • The type of flooring is carpet.
    • There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
    • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
  • Safe Place(s) View
    • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
  • Audio View
    • This venue does not play background music/sound.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • The Accommodation and Housekeeping Office is on the ground floor, to the left after you enter the building.
    • There is step-free access on the ground floor of the building. The ground floor is largely staff only through a closed door ahead as you enter (Photograph 1).
    • There are other offices on the upper floors.

Teaching/Seminar Room(s) (Seminar Room 6 / Conference Room)

  • Signage for the room(s) is available in upper and lower case lettering that is clearly visible on or near the door.
  • The corridor outside the room(s) is not sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
  • There is step free access into the room(s) from the corridor.
  • The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the room(s).
  • The door(s) for the room(s) is/are not push pad activated.
  • 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) ranges between 67cm and 69cm.
  • A height adjustable table/bench is not available.
  • There are no chairs with armrests on both sides within the room(s).
  • The room does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
  • Furniture can be moved to allow a turning space for wheelchair users.
  • Floor coverings in the room(s) are not even.
  • Comments View
    • The room is on the ground floor immediately on the right after you enter the building.
    • Signage for the room is located above the door and reads 6 / Conference Room.
    • The entrance door is single, heavy, and opens away from you (push).
    • The keyhole and twist/turn knob to open the door are both 124cm high.
    • There is a wall-mounted hand sanitiser inside the room to the right of the door at a height of 93cm.
    • Lighting levels are good, and the switches are 135-140cm high.
    • There are electrical access covers which could be trip hazards (photograph 6).
    • There is a storage area in the room accessed by a heavy sliding door with a width over 75cm (photograph 7) containing low tables with heights of 50cm and 58cm (photograph 8).

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Stairs can be used to access other floors.
    • The stairs are located ahead as you enter the building.
    • The stairs are approximately 1m from the entrance.
    • The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 16cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • 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 not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are not 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.
  • Other Information View
    • The room(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are offices.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in Old Court, on the first floor.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located within the main Peterhouse campus.