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The Grove

Queens' College, Silver Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB3 9ET

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Access Guide

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Getting To and Around Queens' College

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Queens’ College is situated in Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the site is located in Silver Street. Silver Street has a Bus Gate at its west end at the junction of Queen’s Road (the Backs), Sidgwick Avenue, and Newnham Road. Only buses and taxis may enter or leave Silver Street at this junction, so it is advised to access the College site from the east end of Silver Street (Trumpington Street). There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • Parking at College is limited, and by permit only. Visitors are advised to check arrangements before they set off and call at the Porters’ Lodge on arrival to pick up a parking permit. The main parking area is located along the western edge of the College site, to the rear of the Fisher Building, Fitzpatrick Hall and Lyon Court. The parking also extends underneath Lyon Court. 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.
    • For more information on getting to Queens' College by car 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 located on Silver Street. This is via the Porters’ Lodge, which has a single, automatic door, 125cm wide at its entrance. There is an intercom, 125cm high, and a card reader, 95cm high, outside the entrance, and a slight slope (Photograph 1). There are double automatic doors, 109cm wide, at the far end of the Porters’ Lodge leading out to the College. There is also a slight slope leading to and just beyond these doors (Photograph 2).
    • There are several points where the main College site is accessed from the car park. Opposite the main vehicle entrance, there is an entrance via the Fisher Building. This has a gate, 114cm wide, then 2 automatic doors, 138cm and 136cm wide, accessed by a steep ramp, 112cm wide with handrails both sides, leading to the first door, and a further ramp, 118cm wide with handrails both sides, or 2 marked, 15cm high steps, leading to the second door (Photographs 3-5). There is also a gap between the Fisher Building and the rear of Fitzpatrick Hall with a dropped kerb leading up from the car park to the front of the Fisher Building.
      There is a steep ramp with handrails both sides leading up the side of Fitzpatrick Hall, next to the electric car charging points (Photograph 6). This gives access to Cripps Court via 2 automatic doors in Block FF. Further along there are 7 unmarked steps without handrails, leading up to Lyon Court (Photograph 7). There are also 17 unmarked steps with handrails both sides, which lead up to Lyon Court from the underground car park (Photograph 8).
    • Docketts Gate is located on Queens’ Lane and can be used to give pedestrian access to the area of the College on the east side of the River Cam. The gate opens automatically away from you and is 120cm wide (Photograph 9). There is a card reader 100cm at this entrance. There is also an intercom, 120cm high, on the far side of the gate (Photograph 10). There is a slight slope/dropped kerb with a cobbled surface in front of the gate (Photograph 11) and a slight concrete slope just inside, leading down to Friars’ Court (Photograph 12).
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • From the Porters’ Lodge, there is a steep slope to the left leading down to the Fisher Building and the bike sheds, which has a brick block surface (Photograph 13). There is a level covered walkway with a flagstone surface straight ahead from the Porters’ Lodge leading to Cripps Court, which also has a flagstone surface which can be uneven in places (Photograph 14). There is a cut through on the far side of Cripps Court which leads through to Lyon Court (Photograph 15), which also has a level, flagstone surface. There is a raised, covered area within this court containing benches and tables, which is accessed by a steep ramp or a medium height marked step (Photograph 16). There is also seating available on the level areas (Photograph 17).
    • Just before you get to Cripps Court from the Porters’ Lodge, there is a flagstone path with a slight slope to the right which leads to the Mathematical Bridge (Photograph 18). The bridge links the east and west sides of the College site but has a very steep gradient and handrails on both sides (Photograph 19). The bridge can be bypassed by exiting the site at the Porters’ Lodge, crossing the river via the Silver Street Bridge, then turning left into Queens’ Lane and re-entering the site via Dokett Gate.
      Just before the bridge, there is a path to the left with a slight slope that leads down to a gravel path beside the Cam (Photograph 20). This leads to the Grove.
    • Just inside Dokett Gate is Friars Court, which has a tarmac, concrete and flagstone surface, with a slight slope which can be uneven in places (Photograph 21). On the other side of the Chapel is Walnut Tree Court, which has a tarmac surface, is uneven in places, and has a slight slope leading up past the Chapel (Photograph 22). To the right has you enter from Friars’ Court there is a gap in the wall that leads to the Fellows’ Garden via a steep ramp or 3 unmarked steps with handrails on both sides (Photograph 23).
      Opposite the Chapel, there is a cut through to Old Court, which is 124cm wide with a slight slope leading up (Photograph 24). Old Court has a flagstone surface, uneven in places and with some slight slopes (Photograph 25). There is also a cut through from Walnut Tree Court to Cloister Court, which is 92cm wide at its narrowest (Photograph 26). The paths in the centre of Cloister Court have a paving slab surface with a steep slope on the central path at the near end (Photograph 27). That slope can be used to overcome the steps in the cloisters either side. The cloisters have a flagstone surface, uneven in places (Photograph 28). On the far side of Cloister Court from Walnut Tree Court is a cut through to Old Court, which has a flagstone surface, uneven in places, with a slight gradient (Photograph 29). There is also a cut through from Cloister Court leading to the Mathematical Bridge.
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Queens’ College have stepped access into and around them (Photographs 30 and 31). 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 (Photograph 32) and internal lifts to access other floors. Please see our Detailed Access Guides for further information on access to buildings.
    • There is good directional signage (Photograph 33) around the site which means those unfamiliar with the layout will be able to find their way to the main parts of the college. Accessible toilet facilities are located just off Lyon Court and in the JCR Office Building off Walnut Tree Court.

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the side and rear of the west side of the College site, accessed off Silver Street.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the Fisher Building, Fitzpatrick Hall, Gym, Squash Courts, Lyon Court and Cripps Court.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by staff, visitors and Blue Badge 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.
    • There are no designated Blue Badge bays within the car park, however, bays can be reserved for Blue Badge holders if requested in advance.
      The car park has a tarmac. concrete tile and concrete surface.
      There are 2 electric car charging bays located next to the ramp leading up to Lyon Court (Photograph 5).
      Part of the car park is underground (Photographs 6 and 7). There is a 220cm height limit at the entrance to this area (Photograph 8).

Getting To (The Grove)

  • Location View
    • The Grove is located on the west side of Campus, to the rear of the Campus buildings and running alongside the River Cam.
    • The Grove can be accessed via a couple of paths that run alongside and near to the rivers bank. They both begin next to the bridge across to the east side of Campus and near to the Porters' Lodge.
    • There is also a gated access point from the car park. This gate is heavy and is closed, therefore the two paths provide much better access.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Grove.
    • Queens' College link (new tab) - click here.

Approach (Both Riverside Paths)

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is block paving.
    • The approach surface is uneven in places.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope on the approach.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent, has a steep gradient and has no handrails.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • Comments View
    • The approach to the two paths into the Grove consists of cobbles and stone slab paving surfaces.
    • The approach to both paths has a very slight slope up to them.
    • Photographs 2 and 3 show the steep slopes to the riverside path and 4 and 5 show the other path next to it.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located near the Porters' Lodge on the west side of campus, next to the bridge to the east.
    • This entrance gives access to The Grove.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located at the beginning of both paths for around 5m as they drop down to the level of the Grove.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is steep.
  • Comments View
    • There are two paths to enter the garden both of which have steep slopes which are approximately 5m long.
    • The paths consist of a grasscrete / overgrown cobbled paving surface and are over 2m wide. There is a slight camber and the surface is uneven. There is a raised manhole which could also be a trip hazard (Photographs 1 and 2).
    • This path runs alongside Cripps Court with the River Cam and the riverside path on the right. This path enters the car park and can be followed to the less accessible gated entrance on the right. This is an active car park which means this route is not recommended.
    • The gated entrance is not as accessible due to it being heavy gate and having a slope. (Photographs 5 and 6).
    • The other paths can give access to the whole of the Grove.
    • The path next to Cripps Court is approximately 60m long before you reach the rear car parking area to the left. It has a connecting gravel path to the other path on the right (Photograph 3). From this connecting path you can follow the riverside path or the gravel path that runs around the other side of the garden.
    • The riverside path on the right changes to a gravel path at the bottom of the slope with a slight lip from the stone slab paving (Photograph 4).

Grove Gardens

  • *Pathways*
  • The riverside gravel path that runs alongside the steep bank down to the river has wooden borders on either side which vary from 2cm-7cm high. It is over 2m in width. This path runs alongside the river for the length of the garden and is uneven (Photographs 1-6).
  • This path connects with the other gravel path through the garden which has no borders, has various slight slopes and is uneven due to its gravel surface. Its narrowest point is approximately 1m wide (Photographs 7-10).
  • It runs around the other edge of the garden under the wooded area, connecting it and going past the other gated car park entrance.
  • There is also a central dirt path which runs centrally through the wooded area which has a very slight slope (Photograph 11).
  • *Seating*
  • There are four benches along the riverside path (Photographs 12-17), 2 of which are placed upon a 4-5cm step due to the borders to the path. They are 45cm high with armrests. A third is similar, however, it has a 9cm step up to the level concrete area under the bench.
  • The other bench along the path has a short (30cm) steep slope up to the bench. This bench does not have armrests and is on a surface of concrete (Photograph 14). At time of survey some trees were overhanging the riverside path partially blocking the access to this bench at the paths end (August 2021).
  • There are two hanging seats available.
  • There are various benches around the other gravel path (Photograph 18).

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in Lyon Court.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located in Cripps Court.