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Route Plan - St. Peter's Terrace to Theatre Complex

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

Access Guide

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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

Summary of Route

  • The following information describes the route from St. Peter’s Terrace to the Theatre Complex.
  • The approximate distance of this route is 440 metres.
  • The route takes approximately 10 minutes to walk.
  • Most paths along the route have a surface of block paving, resin bound gravel or asphalt.
  • The potential hazards on this route include uneven paving and trip hazards.
  • There is no pavement to use when heading down Grove Lane which has a heavy gate on entrance the William Stone Building.
  • The route has a mixture of slight and steep slopes/ramps.
  • There is a portable ramp on entrance at Screens Passage into Old Court and from Old Court into Gisborne Court.
  • The gates on either side of Screens Passage are partially closed in winter which restricts access.

St. Peter's Terrace to William Stone Building

  • Outside the stepped entrances to St. Peter’s Terrace is a pavement consisting of slightly uneven block paving. The pavement has bollards on the edge which are spaced 147cm apart and are 30cm and 60cm high (Photographs 1 and 2).
  • As you face St. Peter’s Terrace head right along the pavement until you reach a set of metal gates. The gate that opens is heavy, 97cm wide and opens into the court. The gate can stay permanently open (Photograph 3).
  • There is a slight slope before and after the gates as the uneven pavement drops to road level and ends. Turn left at these gates and head down the access road for approximately 60 metres towards another set of metal gates (Photographs 4-7).
  • The road surface is asphalt and is uneven in places creating slight slopes.
  • The Fitzwilliam Museum is on the right as you reach the gates. The width of the opening is 174cm wide when one vehicular gate is open. They can stay permanently open but if closed they are very heavy and open away from you (push) (Photograph 8).
  • There is a slight slope at this entrance and the surface changes to brick paving. This is the entrance to the William Stone Building.

William Stone Building to Deer Park Gate

  • As you enter, there is a manhole and drainage channel which are uneven and could be trip hazards. Continue straight ahead past the bicycle storage on the right and signage for parking to the left (Photographs 1 and 2).
  • After approximately 15 metres you will reach the resin bound/compacted gravel path through the Scholar’s Garden. The path is 150cm wide and has a slight slope for the first 11 metres before it levels out slightly and turns to the right (Photographs 3-5).
  • The path here has a slight slope to the left and has lighting spaced along it. Follow this path as it meanders along the side of the Garden for approximately 85 metres until you reach a gate into Deer Park (Photographs 6-9).

Deer Park Gate to Old Screens Passage

  • The gate into Deer Park/Fellows' Garden is 102cm wide and opens towards you, however, it is permanently held open.
  • At the gate the surface is slightly broken up, there is a short slight slope as the level changes slightly and there is a slight metal lip (1cm high) which could be a trip hazard (Photographs 1-3).
  • Once through the gate follow the meandering path which has slight slopes and inclines for approximately 115 metres. The path is again asphalt/ compacted gravel and is over 160cm wide with lighting spaced along it. You will pass the Fitzwilliam Museum and then the Fellows’ Garden on the right (Photographs 4-9).
  • At the end of the gravel path, the surface changes to block paving and is 181cm wide. After approximately 23m you will reach the entrance to the court (Photographs 10-11).

Old Screens Passage Entrance to Old Court

  • This entrance is different at certain times of the year. In the summer the whole door is open, however, in the winter they close it with only the small central door as the access (Photographs 1-3).
  • When the whole door is open or closed there is a small gap (2cm) between the doorframe and the ramp. The bottom of the door frame is also sunken slightly creating a 2-4cm lip/step (Photograph 4). This door is 130cm wide when fully open.
  • The smaller central access door is 157cm high and 60cm wide. There is a caution sign warning you to mind you head (Photograph 5). This door opens away from you (push), and is very heavy. It cannot be kept open.
  • The ramp inside is portable and has a steep gradient. It has slightly faded and worn hazard tape around the edges. There is a small lip/drop (1-2cm) from the ramp to ground level (Photograph 2).
  • The hallway between doors to the court has slightly uneven and broken stone slabs. There is a distance of approximately 8 metres to the next gate (Photograph 6).
  • This next gate is similar. In the summer it is held open with a width of 139cm. In the winter it is closed, and the smaller central door is used which is 165cm high and 60cm wide (Photographs 7 and 8).
  • This entrance also has a worn down step that is 25cm wide, 6cm high on the sides and approximately 2cm high in the middle. The area here by the step is approximately 60cm long, so it almost becomes a steep ramp (Photograph 9).

Old Court to Gisborne Court

  • Once through the gate the stone slab paving is uneven, has a slight slope, is 121cm wide and has cobblestones on either side (Photographs 1 and 2).
  • Turn left and follow the path round the court to the right. After approximately 11 metres there is a cut through on the left. Turn left up the slight uneven slope to the doorway (Photograph 3-5).
  • The doorway has a slight lip which could be a trip hazard and is 137cm wide. The stone slabs are uneven within the cut through.
  • There is a portable steep ramp which bypasses the 5cm step at the next doorway which is 121cm wide. The ramp has worn/faded hazard tape around the edges (Photographs 6 and 7).
  • Once through the doorway, the path has a narrowest point of 160cm and is uneven in places as you enter Gisborne Court. Follow the path on the right of the octagon shaped grassed centre and out of the right-hand side of the court (Photographs 8-11).

Gisborne Court to Theatre Complex

  • When leaving Gisborne Court there are a couple manholes which could be trip hazards. Turn right out of the court with signage for the Theatre in front of you (Photographs 1 and 2).
  • The surface changes to block paving with a few smooth surfaces due to smoke outlets which could be slippery when wet (Photograph 3).
  • Once you have turned right there is further signage for the Theatre directly ahead on the wall behind the bicycle racks (Photograph 4).
  • The path turns to the right again after approximately 10 metres.
  • There is a wide ramp with a slight gradient and handrails on either side that are fairly easy to grip (not oval). At the top of the ramp there is a central bollard (to stop vehicles possibly entering) which narrows the ramp to 109cm on either side (Photographs 5-7).
  • At the top of the ramp the surface changes to asphalt and the slope goes from steep to slight as you head towards the signed Theatre entrance. You pass a Blue Badge bay directly in front of the entrance (Photograph 8).
  • The surface changes to block paving and levels out in front of the automatic entrance door to the Theatre Building (Photographs 9 and 10).