Christ Church

• No standard parking available for visitors to the college. 
• 2 designated Blue Badge parking available outside the Visitor Centre - only available by prior arrangement with the college. Spaces are around 280 m from Tom Gate which is the step free entrance. Visitors parking here must leave the college site, travel along St Aldates, then re-enter at Tom Gate.
• Public Blue Badge parking available on St Aldate's (3 spaces) and Pembroke Square (2 spaces) - these are close to Tom Gate and Memorial Gate.
• Public Blue Badge parking available on Oriel Square (4 spaces) - these are close to Canterbury Gate.

• Oxford Blue Badge parking map (PDF)

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There are several entrances. The three main entrances to the college site are described in detail below:

Tom Gate 

• Main entrance for staff and students; step free entrance for visitors (tickets must be purchased in advance).
• Tom Gate is also the entrance for people attending services in the Cathedral.  
• Pavement approach has a firm level surface. 
• Surface outside entrance gates is uneven paving, and has a gentle upwards slope.
• The large double gates are held open during the day from 7am to 7.30pm.
• After 7.30pm the gates are closed and access is through a wicket gate - this has a clear width of 65 cm and a step over. Card reader for access and a bell push to request assistance from the porters. 
• The uneven, gently sloping, surface continues inside the gate, leading to Tom Quad which has a firm level surface. 
• Stepped access to Porters' Lodge from entrance gates. Ramped access to Porters' Lodge from Tom Quad. 
• Tom Gate gives step free access to many areas of the college site. 

Memorial Gate and Broad Walk

• Main entrance for visitors to the college, Visitor Centre and Christ Church Meadow. Entry to the Visitor Centre and Meadow is free.
• Tickets to visit the college should be purchased in advance or from the Visitor Centre.
• Pavement approach has a firm level surface. 
• Two wide pedestrian gates - one is level, and one has a small step. Gates are held open. 
• Wide level path leads to two sets of a ramps and stairs, with a wide level path between the two.
• Both ramps have gentle slopes and are around 9 m long. Handrails both sides. No visual contrast to indicate start and end of ramp. 
• Stairs have 3 steps. Handrails both sides. No visual contrast on step edges. 
• Memorial Gate gives step free access to Christ Church Meadow and Visitor Centre; stepped access to Meadow Quad which is the main visitor entrance to the college site (staff and students also use this entrance). 

Canterbury Gate

• Secondary entrance to the college for staff and students. Main entrance for visitors to the Christ Church Picture Gallery (stepped access only to the Gallery). 
• Pavement approach has a firm level surface. Narrow pavement, especially when bikes locked to railings. 
• Surface outside the gate is very uneven and slopes upwards. 
• Surface inside the gate is very uneven and slopes upwards towards the college site and Gallery. 
• Large wide gate is held open 30 minutes before Gallery opens and 30 minutes after it closes. Gallery opening hours here. 
• Outside these hours the gate is closed and access is through a wicket gate with a step over. Card reader for access; no bell push or intercom. 
• Canterbury Gate gives step free access to many areas of the college site. 

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• Tickets to visit Christ Church can be purchased at the Visitor Centre or in advance online. 
• Visitor Centre is accessed from Memorial Gate and Broad Walk entrance.
• Approach surface is compacted gravel.
• Surface outside entrance doors is firm level paving.
• Wide automatic powered entrance doors.
• Step free access around ground floor. No upper floors. 
• Ticket counter at standing height. Section of ticket counter at wheelchair accessible height with knee recess. 
• Visitor centre and shop can get crowded and noisy at busy times. 
• Items in shop at on shelves at various heights - not all are wheelchair accessible. 
• Shop counter at standing height only. No wheelchair accessible section of counter. 
• Induction loop on ticket counter.
• Standard gender neutral toilets available. 
• Accessible toilet available. This is also used as baby change room. 

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There are standard gender neutral toilets available for visitors at the Visitor Centre. There are male, female, and gender neutral toilets available around the college site. 

There are 4 accessible toilets. See below for detailed information. 

Visitor Centre

• Accessible toilet is next to the standard toilets. 
• Toilet also used as a baby change room.
• Wide, outward opening door.
• Door is locked with a small twist lock.
• Door has pull bar on the inside.
• Lights switch on automatically .
• Toilet seat height is 48cm. 
• Cistern can be used as a back rest.
• Lever flush on the transfer side of the toilet.
• Transfer space is to the left of toilet.
• Dropdown rail on the transfer side of toilet.
• Wall mounted grab rails.
• Vertical grab rails either side of the sink.
• Good visual contrast between the wall, handrails and other fixtures.
• Full height mirror next to toilet.
• Pull cord alarm and reset button - both within reach from the toilet.
• Foot pedal operated sanitary bin.

Tom Quad

• Toilet is behind a secure door on Tom Quad. Visitors can use this toilet on request - ask a member of staff for access. 
• Accessible toilet is next to the library. 
• Door has clear width of 89cm and opens outwards
• Door is locked with a small twist lock.
• No pull bar on inside of door. 
• Room size is 2.1m long by 1.8m wide. 
• Lights switch on automatically.
• Toilet is on a diagonal wall. Difficult to reach grab rails and toilet roll. 
• Toilet seat height is 48 cm. 
• The toilet lid rests against the cistern and can be used as a backrest.
• Lever flush on the transfer side of the toilet.
• Transfer space is to the right of toilet.
• Dropdown rail on the transfer side of toilet.
• Wall mounted grab rails (difficult to reach from toilet)
• Sink out of reach from toilet, in a corner and has no grab rails. 
• Good visual contrast between the wall, handrails and other fixtures.
• Low lighting levels. 
• Mirror next to sink set high up. 
• Pull cord alarm not reachable from toilet. No alarm reset button. 
• Foot pedal sanitary bin. Open waste bin. 

Peckwater Quad (Killcanon Building) 

• Toilet is in Killcanon Building.
• Door has a clear width of 80 cm and opens outwards.
• Door is locked with a small twist lock.
• Door has pull bar on the inside
• Room size is 2.2m long by 1.5m wide. 
• Lights switch on automatically.
• Toilet seat height is 48 cm 
• Cistern can be used as a back rest. 
• Lever flush on the transfer side of the toilet.
• Transfer space is to the left of toilet.
• Dropdown rail on the transfer side of toilet.
• Wall mounted grab rails.
• Good visual contrast between the wall, handrails and other fixtures.
• Mirror above sink. 
• Pull cord alarm and reset button in reach from toilet. 
• Foot pedal sanitary bin. Open waste bin. 

Blue Boar Quad

• Toilet is next to lecture theatre. 
• Toilet also used as a baby change room.
• Door has clear width of 80cm and opens outwards. 
• Door is locked with a small push button. 
• Door has pull bar on the inside.
• Room size is 2.2m long by 1.5m wide. 
• Manual light switch.
• Toilet seat height is 48cm. 
• Cistern can be used as a back rest. 
• Lever flush on the wall side of the toilet. 
• Transfer space is to the left of the toilet.
• Dropdown rail on the transfer side of the toilet.
• Wall mounted grab rails. 
• Good visual contrast between the wall, handrails and other fixtures.
• Mirror above sink at high level. 
• Pull cord alarm in reach from toilet. No alarm reset button. 
• Open waste bin. 

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There is one lift at Christ Church. This gives access to the Dining Hall. 

• Ground floor - powered doors into small lift lobby. Lobby doors open with a push button at 90cm high. Lobby doors have clear width of 95cm. 
• First floor -  lift opens to large lobby just outside Dining Hall. 
• Through lift - no need to turn or reverse to exit lift. 
• Lift call buttons are set at 1m high.
• Lift car dimensions are 1m by 1m.
• Lift door has clear width of 70cm. 
• Control buttons 1m high.
• Control buttons are tactile but do not have Braille.
• There is a handrail on the side wall.
• The lift is well lit.
• Floor surface is plain and non-reflective.
• Walls have a reflective surface.

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• Historic college with many listed buildings that would not meet current accessibility standards.
• Many of the stairs do not have handrails or contrasting markings on the step edges. Many of the stairs are old and worn in places. 
• Like many Oxford colleges, most student bedrooms and academic offices are accessed via steep narrow staircases off the Quads.
• Step free access to many areas including Porters' Lodge, Lecture Theatre, accessible bedroom, ground floor of library, Cathedral, Dining Hall, Meadow and Visitor Centre.
• Stepped access only to some areas including JCR, GCR, Buttery Bar, first floor of library, cloisters, Nurses' and Counselling Suite, Christ Church Picture Gallery. 
• The photo gallery shows some examples of stairs around the college. 

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• Historic college with many listed buildings that would not meet current accessibility standards.
• Many doors are heavy and do not have vision panels.
• Many doors are light and do have vision panels. 
• Some doors are held open. 
• Most doors are manual, including door to bedrooms in Blue Boar Quad where accessible bedroom is. 
• A few doors are powered:
  • Ground floor lift lobby door for access to Dining Hall
  • Power assisted door to Lecture Theatre
  • Door to Killcanon Building
  •  Doors to Visitor Centre
• The photo gallery shows some examples of doors around the college. 

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• Library in Peckwater Quad.
• Library open to members. Visitor access by appointment. 
• Level access to Peckwater Quad from Tom Quad, Blue Boar Quad and Canterbury Quad. 
• Library has stepped and ramped access. 
• Ramps either side of entrance door. Gentle slope. No handrails. No contrasting markings. 
• Stairs have 3 steps. Wide stone steps. No handrails. No contrasting markings. 
• Entrance door is manual, very heavy, has clear width of 100cm. 
• Entrance lobby has security sensors and enquiry desk. Reading rooms to left and right of lobby. 
• Clear width of 123cm between security sensors.
• Step free access around ground floor.
• Enquiry desk is 72cm high with no knee recces, and a small standing height section. There is an induction loop. 
• Ground floor has East Reading Room and West Reading Room. Doors usually held open, clear width of 70cm (both doors). 
• Level access around both reading rooms. Some narrow areas between shelves. Floor to ceiling shelves with portable steps. Library staff will provide books for people not able to access shelves. 
• Desks likely to be too low for many wheelchair users to access. 2 height adjustable desks in East Reading Room. 
• East Reading Room has a mezzanine level accessed by narrow spiral stairs. 
• Curved stairs to first floor - no lift access. First floor used by researchers and visitors to exhibitions or classes (usually by appointment). 
• Standard toilets on ground floor - 2 steps down to access. 
• Nearest accessible toilet is in nearby Killcanon Building. 
• Induction loop on reception desk. 

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Location and access

• Lecture Theatre in Blue Boar Quad. 
• Open to staff and students. No visitor access (unless otherwise indicated for specific events). 
• Step free access to Blue Boar Quad from Tom Quad and Peckwater Quad. 

Entrances

• Main entrance via Staircase 4. Manual door into building. Clear width of 80cm. Level entrance. 
• Narrow lobby into Lecture Theatre. Doors either side have clear with of 80cm. Inner doors can be held open to enable wheelchair access. 
• Lobby opens to rear of Lecture Theatre. Level access alongside seating. 
• Alternative entrance through large lobby near the front of the Lecture Theatre. Wide power assisted door. 
• Lobby has toilets, including an accessible toilet.
• Manual door opens from lobby into stage end of Lecture Theatre. Door has clear width of 80cm. 

Lecture Theatre features

• Tiered seated. Stepped access to seats - handrail to left (ascending). 
• Level access to front 3 rows of seating and stage area. 
• No dedicated wheelchair seating area. Space available in front of seating and alongside. 
• Level access to and across stage area. Standing height lectern. Desk and chairs also available for lecturers.
• Spacious stage area
• Induction loop installed.

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• Cathedral in Tom Quad. 
• Access for visitors, staff and students. Information on Cathedral services is here. 
• Two wide arches leading to entrance lobby. 
• Entrance lobby has stepped and ramped access to main door:
  • Wide steps. Minimal contrasting marking to step edges. Handrails either side.
  • Ramp alongside steps. Minimal contrasting marking. Handrail to left (descending).
• Large glass entrance doors. Clear width of 93cm through one door leaf. Very heavy. Minimal contrasting markings. Very reflective in some lighting conditions.
• Level access around much of the Cathedral including central nave, north and south transepts. 
• Stepped access to the Latin Chapel, choir stalls and the altar area. 
• There is stepped access only to the cloisters from the Cathedral:
  • Steps inside Cathedral to a doorway. Steps are wide with poorly positioned handrails. Very wide contrasting markings on step edge. 
  • Steps outside Cathedral to cloisters. Steps are wide with handrails either side. Minimal contrasting marking on step edges. 
• Induction loop in main Cathedral space and Chapter House. 

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• Laundry in Blue Boar Quad. (Accessible bedroom also in Blue Boar Quad).
• Laundry open to students only. No visitor access.
• Level access to Blue Boar Quad from Tom Quad and Peckwater Quad. 
• Level access into laundry.
• Manual door. Door has clear width of 78cm. 
• Laundry has a reasonable amount of circulation space. 
• Washing machine controls are around 1m high. 

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• Porters' Lodge desk has an induction loop.
• Lecture Theatre has an induction loop.