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Route 4: Quad to Langton Close

Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT

Access Guide

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Summary

  • The following information describes the route from the Main Quad to Langton Close via Gower Street, Torrington Place, Byng Place, Gordon Square, Tavistock Place, Regent Square, Sidmouth Street, Gray's Inn Road, Wren Street and Langton Close.
  • The approximate distance of this route is 1.9 kilometres.
  • The route takes approximately 23 minutes.
  • The majority of paths along the route consist of tarmac, block or brick paving with some slight gradients in places.
  • The potential hazards on this route include; busy roads, crossing points (Torrington Place, Malet Place, Woburn Square, Bedford Way, Woburn Place, Marchmont Street, Hunter Street, Wakefield Street, Grays Inn Road) and congested pathways.
  • For further information regarding the Langton Close Building please click here.

Main Quad

  • The Main Quad is located off Gower Street.
  • At the entrance/exit of the Main Quad there are two 85cm wide gates for pedestrians (photographs 7 and 8).
  • These gates are located on either side of the 330cm wide main gate used by both vehicles and pedestrians (photograph 6).
  • There are also bollards located immediately beyond/before the gates as you enter/exit the Main Quad (photograph 6).
  • These bollards have gaps between 90cm-120cm wide.
  • The Chadwick, North-West Wing, North Wing (Slade Building), Wilkins Buildings (including North and South Cloisters) and South Wing can be accessed via the Main Quad.
  • Only the Chadwick, North-West Wing and Wilkins Buildings (except North Cloisters) are accessible via external ramps.
  • Please see the relevant access guides for further information regarding access to these buildings.
  • The majority of the Main Quad has a tarmac surface.
  • The tarmac is loose/uneven in places.
  • There are easy gradients throughout the Main Quad including on the pedestrian pathways.
  • The pathways (photograph 9) consist mostly of block paving and are narrow and uneven in places.
  • There is ample seating available in the form of wooden benches (photograph 10).
  • These are located along the entirety of the pathways.
  • There are 2 Blue Badge bays available within the quad (photographs 11 and 12).
  • These are located on either side of the main building.
  • There is an information point located at the front lodge, on the left hand side of the Main Quad entrance/exit gates (photograph 13).
  • Please see the relevant access guide for further information regarding the front lodge information point.

Main Quad to Torrington Place Turning

  • Upon exiting the Quad, turn left and head along Gower Street for approximately 240 metres towards Torrington Place.
  • The path along this section of the route consists mostly of tarmac with sections of brick paving and concrete when exiting the quad.
  • The path is mostly level with easy gradients in places.
  • The path is uneven in places partly due to lowered drain hole covers (photograph 4).
  • Upon reaching the Torrington Place turning, turn left.
  • There is tactile paving across the pathway at the turning (photograph 10).
  • There is also a university map column located at the turning (photograph 11).

Torrington Place Crossing

  • The Crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • There are slight slopes/ gradients between the path and the road on both sides.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road is mostly even with uneven areas.
  • There are visual signals available at this crossing.
  • The visual signals are activated via push buttons. These are between the heights of 100cm and 106cm.
  • There are rotating cones located at the base of the push button boxes to indicate when it is safe to cross.
  • Traffic flow is from the right hand side for vehicles and the left hand side for cyclists.

Torrington Place Crossing to Malet Street Crossing

  • Having Crossed over Torrington Place, turn left and continue ahead along Torrington Place for approximately 55 metres towards the Malet Street Crossing.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • There is a slight easy gradient sloping towards the road along the entirety of the path.
  • The path also has an easy gradient downhill slope along its entirety.
  • The path is mostly even with the exception of raised paving slabs in places along the left hand side.
  • This is caused by tree roots.
  • The path narrows in places due to obstructions such as shop signage and trees/ bicycle racks to one side (photograph 2 and 3).

Malet Street Crossing

  • Upon reaching the end of the path, cross the road over Malet Place.
  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • There are easy gradients between the path and the road on both sides.
  • The road surface has a slight uphill easy gradient along its entirety.
  • The road surface consists of tarmac and is mostly even.
  • There are no visual signals available at this crossing.
  • Traffic flow is from the right hand side for vehicles and the left hand side for cyclists.

Malet Street Crossing to Byng Place

  • Having crossed over Malet Street, continue ahead along Torrington Place for approximately 50 metres towards Byng Place.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • There is tactile paving across the path (photograph 2) approximately 7 metres beyond the crossing.
  • There is an easy downhill slope along the entirety of the path.
  • The path is mostly even with uneven areas.
  • After approximately 40 metres, there is a vehicle access road crossing.
  • The crossing has no tactile paving.
  • The crossing has dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The path is level with the road on both sides.
  • The road surface consists of brick paving and dips in the centre due to a drain.
  • The road is mostly even with uneven areas.
  • When crossing, be wary of vehicles entering/exiting the road.

Byng Place to Woburn Square Crossings

  • Having crossed, continue ahead along Byng Place for approximately 100 metres towards the Woburn Square crossings.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • The path is mostly level with slight easy gradients in places.
  • The path is mostly even with uneven areas caused by lowered/raised drain hole covers and paving slabs.
  • After approximately 15 metres, there is an on street food and drink vendor located on the right hand side of the path and a lamp post on the left hand side of the path (photograph 2).
  • This causes the path to narrow to 120cm (photograph 3). The sign causing the obstruction may not always be there restricting the path.
  • Having passed between the lamppost and the vendor, continue ahead for approximately 4 metres until reaching the Torrington Square vehicle access road crossing (photograph 4).
  • The crossing has no tactile paving.
  • The crossing has dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The path is level with the road on both sides.
  • The road surface consists of brick paving and is level.
  • The road is mostly even.
  • When crossing, be wary of vehicles entering/exiting the road.
  • Having crossed, turn left and continue ahead for approximately 25 metres.
  • Upon reaching the end of the path, turn right and continue ahead along Gordon Square for the remaining 45 metres until reaching the Woburn Square crossings.

Woburn Square Crossings

  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • There are steep gradients between the path and the road on both sides.
  • The road surface consists of tarmac
  • The road surface has a slight camber and is mostly even.
  • There are no visual signals available at this crossing.
  • When crossing, be wary of vehicles entering/exiting Woburn Square.
  • Approximately 15 metres after crossing over Woburn Square, there is a similar crossing also called Woburn Square (photographs 7 and 8).
  • This crossing has an slight gradient between the path and the road on one side and steep on the other.
  • The path between the two crossings consists of block paving and has a slight camber.
  • There is tactile paving across the road immediately beyond the first crossing (photographs 5 and 6).
  • The path is mostly even with uneven areas due to lowered/raised drain covers.

Woburn Square Crossings to Bedford Way Crossing

  • Having traversed both Woburn Square crossings, continue ahead along Gordon Square for approximately 70 metres towards the Bedford Way crossing.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • The path has a slight easy gradient sloping towards the road along its entirety.
  • The path also has an easy uphill slope along its entirety.
  • The path is mostly even with uneven areas due to lowered/raised drain hole covers (photographs 2, 3 and 4).

Bedford Way Crossing

  • Upon reaching the end of the path, cross the road over Bedford Way.
  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The crossing consists of 2 sections separated by a central island.
  • There are moderate gradients between the path and the road.
  • The central island is level with the road.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road surface is mostly even.
  • There are visual signals available at this crossing.
  • The visual signals are activated via push buttons. These are between the heights of 95cm and 105cm.
  • There are rotating cones located at the base of the push button boxes to indicate when it is safe to cross.
  • Traffic flows from the right at the first part of the crossing.
  • Traffic flows from both ways at the second part of the crossing.

Bedford Way Crossing to Woburn Place Crossing

  • Having crossed over Bedford Way, turn slightly left and continue ahead along Tavistock Square for approximately 70 metres towards the Woburn Place crossing.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • There is tactile paving across the path approximately 8 metres beyond the Bedford Way crossing and 8 metres prior to the Woburn Place crossing (photographs 2 and 5).
  • The path has a slight/ easy gradient sloping towards the road along its entirety.
  • The path is mostly even with uneven areas due to lowered/raised drain covers.

Woburn Place Crossing

  • Upon reaching the end of the path, cross the road over Woburn Place.
  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The crossing consists of 2 sections separated by a central island.
  • There are easy/slight gradients between the path and the road.
  • The central island is level with the road.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road surface is mostly even.
  • There are visual signals available at this crossing.
  • The visual signals are activated via push buttons, these are between the heights of 95cm and 105cm.
  • There are rotating cones located at the base of the push button boxes to indicate when it is safe to cross.
  • Traffic flows from the right at the first part of the crossing.
  • Traffic flows from both ways at the second part of the crossing.

Woburn Place Crossing to Marchmont Street Crossing

  • Having crossed over Woburn Place, turn slightly left and continue ahead along Tavistock Place for approximately 180 metres towards the Marchmont Street crossing.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • There is tactile paving across the path, approximately 10 metres beyond the Woburn Place crossing.
  • There is a slight easy gradient sloping towards the road along the entirety of the path.
  • The path is mostly even with uneven areas due to lowered/raised drain covers.
  • Approximately 25 metres beyond the Woburn Place crossing there is a section of lowered path due to there being vehicle access point to the right hand side (photograph 3).
  • Be wary of vehicles entering/exiting when traversing this section of the route.
  • Approximately 65 metres beyond the vehicle access point cross the road over Herbrand Street.
  • The crossing (photographs 7-9) has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The section of dropped kerb on the far side of the crossing is narrow.
  • There are steep gradients between the path and the road on both sides.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road is mostly even.
  • Having crossed over Herbrand Street, continue ahead for the remaining 90 metres towards the Marchmont Street crossing.
  • At the time of survey, September 2022, the pavement is temporarily narrowed to approximately 150cm wide by ongoing works (photographs 11 and 12).

Marchmont Street Crossing

  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • There are easy gradients between the path and the road on both sides.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road surface is mostly even.
  • There are visual signals available at this crossing.
  • The visual signals are activated via push buttons. These are between the heights of 95cm and 105cm.
  • There are rotating cones located at the base of the push button boxes to indicate when it is safe to cross.
  • Traffic flow is from the left hand side.

Marchmont Street Crossing to Hunter Street Crossing

  • Having crossed the road over Marchmont Street, turn slightly left and continue ahead along Tavistock Place for approximately 125 metres towards Hunter Street.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving with concrete and glass slabs immediately beyond the crossing (photograph 1).
  • There is tactile paving across the path, approximately 7 metres beyond the crossing (photograph 2).
  • The path is downhill and has a slight easy gradient sloping towards the road along its entirety.
  • The path is mostly even, with uneven areas due to lowered/raised drain covers.
  • The path narrows in places due to lampposts and signage.
  • Approximately 40 metres beyond the Marchmont Street crossing, cross the road over Kenton Street.
  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • There are slight gradients between the path and the road.
  • The road is level and even with a tarmac surface.
  • There are no visual signals available at this crossing.
  • Traffic flow is from the left hand side.
  • Having crossed over Kenton Street, continue ahead along Tavistock Place for the remaining 80 metres until reaching the Hunter Street crossing. The narrowest point being 110cm wide where the pavement narrows between a lamppost and the fence.

Hunter Street Crossing

  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • There are easy gradients between the path and the road on both sides.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road surface is even.
  • There are visual signals available at this crossing.
  • The visual signals are activated via push buttons. These are between the heights of 95cm and 105cm.
  • There are rotating cones located at the base of the push button boxes to indicate when it is safe to cross.
  • Traffic flow is from both the right and left.

Hunter Street Crossing to Wakefield Street Crossing

  • Having crossed the road over Hunter Street, turn left and continue ahead along Hunter Street for approximately 7 metres towards Tavistock Place.
  • Upon reaching the end of the path, turn right and continue ahead along Tavistock Place for approximately 60 metres towards the Wakefield Street crossing.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • There is tactile paving across the path, approximately 7 metres beyond the crossing (photograph 2).
  • There is a slight easy gradient sloping towards the road along the entirety of the path.
  • The path is mostly even, with uneven areas due to lowered/raised drain covers.
  • The path narrows in places due to lampposts (photograph 4). There is a minimum width of 132cm.

Wakefield Street Crossing

  • Upon reaching the end of the path, cross the road over Wakefield Street.
  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • There are slight or steep gradients between the path and the road.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road surface is even.
  • There are no visual signals available at this crossing.
  • Traffic flow is from both the left and right.

Wakefield Street Crossing to Gray's Inn Road Crossing

  • Having crossed the road over Wakefield Street, continue ahead for approximately 300 metres towards the Greys Inn Road crossing.
  • After approximately 50 metres, Tavistock Place becomes Regent Square.
  • After a further 90 metres (approximately), Regent Square becomes Sidmouth Street.
  • Continue ahead along Sidmouth Street for the remaining 160 metres towards the Greys Inn Road crossing.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • There is tactile paving across the path in a number of places (photographs 2, 3 and 8).
  • There is a slight easy gradient sloping towards the road along the entirety of the path. There pavement is over 150cm wide.
  • The path is mostly even, with uneven areas due to lowered/raised drain covers and paving slabs.
  • Approximately 70 metres along Sidmouth Street, there is a vehicle access crossing over Westking Place (photographs 10-12).
  • The crossing has no tactile paving.
  • The crossing has dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The path is level with the road on both sides.
  • The road surface is level with a tarmac surface.
  • The road surface is mostly even.
  • Be wary of vehicles entering/exiting the road when crossing.
  • Having Crossed, continue ahead along Sidmouth Street for the remaining 80 metres towards the Greys Inn Road crossing.

Gray's Inn Road Crossing

  • The pavement on the other side of the road is currently closed due to ongoing works, so pedestrians should turn right and avoid crossing Gray's Inn Road (September 2022).
  • The crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs on both sides.
  • The tactile paving at the approach to the crossing is minimal due to drain covers on the path (photograph 1).
  • There is a slight gradient on one side and steep on the other between the path and the road.
  • At time of survey, September 2022, the ongoing works to the crossing reduces the dropped kerb width to 180cm on one side.
  • The road surface has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • The road surface is mostly even.
  • There are visual signals available at this crossing.
  • The visual signals are activated via push buttons. These are between the heights of 95cm and 105cm.
  • There are rotating cones located at the base of the push button boxes to indicate when it is safe to cross.
  • Traffic flow is from both the right and left.

Gray's Inn Road Crossing to Gray's Inn Road Pedestrian Crossing

  • At the end of Sidmouth Street, turn right onto Gray’s Inn Road, with the pedestrians crossing on your left-hand side.
  • Continue along Gray’s Inn Road for approximately 240m until a pedestrian crossing across Gray’s Inn Road. The path along this section consists of block paving and tarmac.
  • There is tactile paving across the path in places (photographs 1, 6 and 7).
  • This section of the route has a slight slope towards the road, however there are also short steep slopes on either side of an access point/ entrance. There are uneven areas round tree bases and by lowered/raised drain covers.
  • Approximately 35 metres from the crossing, there is a vehicle access road crossing (photographs 3 and 4).
  • The crossing has no tactile paving and is level with the pavement. There is a slight slope towards the road and there was a vehicle reducing access at time of survey.
  • Approximately 30m past that there is the crossing over Heathcote Street which is level with the pavement and has tactile paving on both sides. There is a slight slope towards the road (photographs 6 and 7).
  • Be wary of vehicles entering/exiting the road when crossing.
  • Once past the crossing, continue along Gray's Inn Road for 160m until a pedestrian crossing. The stone slab paving is uneven, with uneven tarmac around tree bases to one side of the pavement.
  • There is a narrowing of the pavement immediately past Heathcote Street. The even block paved area to the side of the uneven tree base is reduced to under 150cm (photograph 8).
  • There are 2 further access points before crossing over Gray’s Inn Road, neither with tactile paving. There first is block paved, is level with the pavement and has a slight slope towards the road (photograph 12). The second access point is tarmac and is not level with the pavement. There are short slight/steep tarmac slopes up onto the pavement on either side (photographs 16-18). The road surface is uneven.
  • Approximately 20m after the second access road, there is a pedestrian crossing across Gray's Inn Road.

Gray's Inn Road Pedestrian Crossing

  • Upon reaching the pedestrian crossing, head across Gray’s Inn Road.
  • The crossing has tactile paving on both sides. The pavement is level with the road, with a slight slope up onto one side and a steep slope on the other.
  • The road surface is even, has a slight camber and consists of tarmac.
  • There are belisha beacons and a central island which is level with the road and has tactile paving.
  • There are painted road markings to indicate the direction of traffic.
  • Traffic flow is from both the left and right.

Gray's Inn Road Pedestrian Crossing to Wren Street

  • Turn right from the pedestrian crossing and head along the pavement for approximately 50m until Wren Street.
  • The pavement is block paved, with some areas of uneven tarmac.
  • There is tactile paving across the path just past the crossing (photograph 1).
  • There is a raised section to the left of the path by St Andrews Gardens (photographs 2 and 3), as well as a lowered kerb to the right of the path (photograph 4) close to the St Andrews Gardens entrance.
  • Having traversed this section of the path, continue ahead along Gray's Inn Road for the remaining 20 metres towards Wren Street.

Wren Street to Langton Close

  • Upon reaching the end of the path, turn left and continue ahead along Wren Street for approximately 100 metres towards Langton Close.
  • The path along this section of the route consists of block paving.
  • The path has an easy downhill gradient along its entirety.
  • The path is uneven in places due to lowered/raised drain covers and paving slabs.
  • The path narrows in places due to lampposts (photograph 2).
  • Upon reaching the end of the path, turn left onto Langton Close.

Langton Close to Langton Close Building

  • Continue along Langton Close for approximately 50 metres until reaching the main entrance to the Langton Close Building.
  • The path along this section of the route is level and mostly even.
  • The step free entrance is located to the rear of the building via the security gate (photographs 7 and 8). The security gate leads into the Frances Gardner House Courtyard
  • The security gate is located a further 15 metres along Langton Close, to the right as you face the main entrance.
  • For further information regarding access into the Langton Close Building please see the relevant access guide.