Contacts
General Enquiries: Porters’ Lodge 01223 331 100 or email
Accessibility Enquiries: Ms Polly Ingham, Domus Bursar 01223 761 375 or email
Current Students and Offer Holders Enquiries: email Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate Admissions
Location, Services and Transport
King's Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1ST. City centre. A 10–15 minute walk to Downing Site and New Museums Site. Five minutes to Sidgwick Site and University Library from Garden Hostels.
Traffic:
Traffic is restricted along King's Parade, but it can still be busy with pedestrians and bicycles in both directions. Pavements are uneven, crowded, and often cluttered.
Further information can be found here.
Parking:
There are several disabled bays on King's Parade/Trumpington Street.
Access into College is possible via Queens’ Street and into Webb’s Court through an entrance to the south of the College, contact the Porters (tel. 01223 331 100) prior to entering; this court may be used to drop off persons and possessions.
Main car park is off West Road, near Garden Hostels. Disabled students can obtain a permit.
Other transport options:
Uni 4 bus stops in Trumpington Street nearby.
General Information
Approximately 450 undergraduate students and 310 postgraduates. For men and women. Large, well-known College located directly in the historic city centre. Access is fairly difficult for wheelchair users, as almost all buildings on the main site are listed. Keynes on the main site is accessible. There are also a number of new developments to the west and south of the main site for the postgraduate community, and these buildings are accessible.
Smoking:
Currently no smoking in buildings. Smoking on the main site is only permitted in the Chetwynd Court and Webb's Court podium.
Medical facilities:
Nurse holds a weekday surgery during full term (tel. 01223 331 650).
Emergency procedures:
Please contact the Porters' Lodge (tel. 01223 331 100) if you need help evacuating in an emergency. There are evacuation chairs in some places.
Accommodation and Catering
Wheelchair-accessible rooms:
There are four accessible rooms in Keynes on the main site, one accessible room with adapted en suite bathroom in New Garden Hostel and a further wheelchair-accessible room with adapted en suite bathroom in the Bodley’s Building. Bene't Street Hostel has one accessible room with adapted en suite bathroom. There are four accessible rooms on the Cranmer site (Stephen Taylor Building) and six accessible rooms in the Adkins Building on the Stephen Taylor Court site on Barton Road.
Other rooms:
Many of the more modern accommodation blocks are now en suite and accessible, depending on your needs. Bene't Street Hostel, New Garden Hostel, Market Hostel, St Edward's Passage Hostel and the Keynes Building may be suitable.
Live-in assistants and assistance dogs:
It might be possible to accommodate live-in assistants or assistance dogs, depending on circumstances, and grants may be available to help towards the cost.
Early induction and vacation stays:
Early induction may be possible on arrangement. We will endeavour to meet reasonable requests to stay in College accommodation over the vacation, but you may be asked to move rooms.
Catering arrangements:
Cafeteria serves two or three meals daily (brunch and dinner at weekends) in Hall; if breakfast is not available there will be an offering in the Coffee Shop. Payment is by EPOS card.
Formal Halls are provided on a number of evenings during term time.
Kitchen facilities vary greatly according to accommodation, although most kitchens have been refurbished to a high standard with a number of them providing accessible use. Personal fridges can be provided on request where this is necessary in light of a health condition or disability. If you would like to request a personal fridge, please contact the Accommodation Tutor.
Special diets:
Most special diets can be accommodated with notice — speak to the Head of Catering Services. Information regarding nut allergies is provided.
Physical Access
College grounds in general:
There is level access to the main entrance during the day. Gates are closed at night, and entry is through card accessed door with high threshold; there is a bell for assistance. Level back entrance through card accessed gate (which has a generous swinging arm). Surfaces mostly paved or gravel, with some cobbles.
College buildings in general:
Access to most main buildings is difficult due to the buildings being ancient and listed. There is access to Keynes building via A staircase entrance, a lift has been installed.
Bar:
Accessible via a fit for purpose lift. It is spacious and well lit, but with no low bar counter. There is an adjoining disabled toilet. The ‘Cellar’ bar in basement, within the Bunker, is down a flight of stairs and not accessible.
Coffee Shop:
Enter via the College Bar, with level access from Bar or Hall. Can get crowded at peak times. Low tills and tray rails. Staff will help as necessary.
Chapel:
Access is via the south gate up a ramp, with a further ramp inside providing access from the antechapel to the choir chapel. Plenty of space for wheelchairs, but arrange in advance if attending a concert or ticketed service. There is limited access to the permanent exhibition due to the narrowness of the corridors and steps.
College offices:
Most College offices, including Tutorial, Development, Accounts and Catering offices, are up several steps. Staff will meet elsewhere by arrangement.
Common rooms:
The JCR makes use of the College Bar. The MCR is to the top of a large flight of stairs, with handrail, but no lift. There are low sofas and chairs inside.
Computer facilities:
The main computer room is in the Library, accessed by a lift. All individual student rooms are networked.
Dining Hall:
Enter via the College Bar entrance, with level access. Very large inside, with large well-spaced tables and moveable chairs. The Hall can be very dimly lit, especially for formal dinners.
Fellows' areas:
Two steps up from Front Court, or ramp via Webb's Court. Disabled toilet reached via another door in Webb's Court.
Gardens:
As well as College grounds, there is the Fellows' Garden across Queen's Road, and through a card access gate. Mostly level, with a firm footpath providing easy access for wheelchairs. Large level grass area. Few benches. There is some lighting in Fellows' Garden, although the paths to New Garden Hostel are dimly lit.
Laundry:
The main laundry is in O Staircase, in the basement, down steep stairs. Garden Hostel laundry adjacent to Common Room. Laundry in Spalding Hostel on ground floor, as is the case with Bene't Street. Market Hostel has a basement laundry. The new developments at Cranmer and Stephen Taylor Court have communal and accessible laundry facilities.
Library:
First and second floors off Webb's Court. Ramp to main door, and small lift up to Library. Swipe card access. Some sections up several steps, with no handrail. Toilet down steps, with no handrail. High shelves and cramped workspaces. Staffed during office hours.
Porters' Lodge and post room:
The entry to the Porters' Lodge has one step. Post room is up several steps, with no handrail. Porters can keep or deliver post to you by arrangement. The Lodge is manned 24 hours a day.
Sport facilities:
Main gym in basement of Bene't Street, accessed via lift. There is a weights gym in basement of Keynes, down a ramp and through a narrow heavy door. (No supervision or alarm, telephone available).
Toilets:
There is a disabled toilet adjacent to Bar, automatic opening door. There is an additional disabled toilet in Saltmarsh Rooms and in Webb's Court, near Beves Room entrance.
Visual Impairments
Computer facilities:
Special hardware or software for visually impaired users could be acquired if necessary.
Large print, Braille and audio:
Large print letters and information on request.
Library and magnification equipment:
No special facilities for text enlargement. Lighting in Library rather dim, but portable lamps are available on request.
Signs and wayfinding:
Signposting is evident in College. Staircases are labelled, mostly externally, but you have to look closely. The Porters will provide directions.
Hearing Impairments
Induction loops:
There are no induction loops currently available, installation in the Chapel is being considered.
Alarms:
No sensory fire alarm available, but provided as required.
Other:
Music in Bar is often loud, but staff will turn it down on request. The area is softly furnished, so good acoustics during the day. The Cellar bar (when open) controlled by sound monitor.
The Chapel is very large and echoey. Speakers are installed for sound amplification in antechapel. No loop system yet installed. Do ask to be seated appropriately if attending a special service.
Hall is also large and echoey, but has sound amplification.
Coffee Shop is furnished with sofas and dining chairs and can be very noisy at peak times.
Specific Learning Difficulties and Mental Health Issues
Arrangements for students with Specific Learning Difficulties are made on an individual basis, in conjunction with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre. Students requiring such arrangements should discuss their needs with their tutor.