Accessibility
Accessibility is fundamental to our core values and we endeavour to create an environment that is open to all.
Buildings within Wadham College vary in degrees of accessibility to people with physical disabilities. Some of our buildings date as far back as the seventeenth century and are presently not fully accessible.
We will, however, do as much as we can to make reasonable physical adjustments or arrangements to make the College as accessible as possible. The extent to which we are able to to do this depends upon individual requirements, but we do have experience of many students and staff with disabilities living and working within the College.
Please do contact us for more information and to discuss your requirements.
Accessibility to Buildings
Entrance to the College is from Parks Road where the Lodge is situated. The entrance is level. The Lodge has ramped access and is equipped with a hearing loop system and a Textphone (01865 277587). We have our own wheelchair should this be required.
Accessible Toilets
Accessible toilets for use by those with a disability are located on Staircase 6 (Front Quad) and in the Access Centre. Please ask the Lodge for directions and/or assistance.
Hall
The Hall is accessed via 13 steps from the Front Quad or 10 steps from the Cloisters. A stair-lift is in place in the Cloisters to assist wheelchair users. A hearing loop and a PA system are available. The New Refectory provides an alternative dining facility available for students.
Chapel
The Chapel is accessible via ramped access and has the benefit of a hearing loop and PA system.
Old Library (Dining Venue)
The Old Library is accessed via 33 steps from the Cloisters. Regrettably there is no ramp or lift to gain access to this area. A hearing loop system is in place.
Library (Reading)
The library is a working space for members of College and is not generally open to the public but prospective visitors are welcome to contact the library staff by phone (01865 277914) or email. There is ramped access to the library workroom and stack workroom by the Savile Road entrance. Access to the entrance floor of the main library can be made via the lift in the Undergraduate Centre. The front entrance door is suitable for wheelchair users and has an electronic door opener. The front entrance area is equipped with an accessible toilet which can be accessed via a key fob; the Library staff will provide assistance.
New Refectory
Located in Webb Quad and accessible via a ramp. The entrance door does not currently have an electronic door opener.
C Day-Lewis Room
The C Day-Lewis Room is accessible via the Back Quad although there are three steps to negotiate. It is important to note that if a visitor with a mobility disability needs access to the C Day-Lewis Room during the evenings or at weekends, 24 hours advance notice must be given to the Lodge (01865 277900 or internal 77900) so that assistance can be arranged as the Lodge staff cannot leave the Lodge unattended. The entrance door does not currently have an electronic door opener. The room is equipped with a hearing loop system.
Seminar Rooms 4 and 5
Seminar Rooms 4 and 5 are accessed via an accessibility lift which is situated close to Staircase 4.
Knowles Room
The Knowles Room is located in Staircase 5. The room can be accessed via an accessibility lift situated close to Staircase 4. This takes you through the New Seminar Room to the Knowles Room in Staircase 5. The doors do not currently have an electronic door opener.
McCall MacBain Graduate Centre
The McCall MacBain Graduate Centre can be accessed via Back Quad. It contains two public seminar rooms:-
Gillese Badun Room
This can be accessed through the automatic main door, via Back Quad, and the Seminar Room is situated on the same level as the entrance. The entrance door to the room does not currently have an electronic door opener. The room is equipped with a loop system. An accessible toilet is located in the basement of the entrance building.
The Tower Seminar Room
Located on the top floor of the new entrance building to the McCall MacBain Graduate Centre. The room is fully accessible via the lift which is available just inside this door. The lift is only operated via a key from the Lodge. An accessible toilet is located in the basement of the entrance building.
The Barbara Naylor Garden
The garden is situated on the roof terrace and is accessible for wheelchair and ambulant disabled by using the lift in the new entrance building. Outside access is via an electronic door pad.
Moser Theatre
The Moser Theatre is suitable for both ambulant disabled and wheelchair users. It is accessible via a service lift to the basement located in an area that is not accessible to unaccompanied students or visitors. It is important to note that if a visitor with a mobility disability needs access to the Theatre during the evenings or at weekends, 24 hours advance notice must be given to the Lodge (01865 277900 or internal 77900) so that assistance can be arranged for using the lift as the Lodge staff cannot leave the Lodge unattended. The Moser is equipped with a loop system.
Okinaga Room
This room is situated in Webb Quad. The room is located on the ground floor and is suitable for wheelchair users. The main entrance door and the door to the room do not currently have an electronic door opener. The room is equipped with a hearing loop system. Accessible toilets are located nearby, in the Access Centre or in proximity to the New Refectory.
William Doo Undergraduate Centre
The Undergraduate Centre and adjoining Dr Lee Shau Kee Building are fully accessible to visitors with disabilities with lift access to all floors. The Lee Shau Kee Seminar Rooms, and the social spaces in the Undergraduate Centre are fitted with hearing loops.
Holywell Music Room
There is a ramp to gain access to the building from Holywell Street. The entrance door does not currently have an electronic door opener. There are two designated wheelchair places in the Holywell Music Room and there is also an accessible toilet. A hearing loop system is available. There is no lift in the building.
Gardens
Most of the very beautiful gardens at Wadham can be accessed by wheelchair users and the ambulant disabled. The paths are wide and free from overhanging branches.
Sportsground and Pavilion
The College’s Sportsground and Pavilion are situated two miles from the College off Marston Ferry Road. The grounds can be accessed via car, public transport or on foot. Ramped access is only available to gain access to the ground floor of the Pavilion where the changing rooms are located. The entrance door does not currently have an electronic door opener.
Access to IT
All the rooms in College have internet connection points. It may be possible for IT staff to come out, during normal working hours, to the College room of a disabled student with mobility related disabilities where emergency IT Support is needed.
Computer accessibility information for Microsoft users can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/
Computer accessibility information for Mac users can be found here: http://www.apple.com/uk/accessibility/
Merifield and Dorothy Wadham Building
Guests and students staying at Merifield should contact the College to discuss individual mobility/disability requirements.
Please find below information about public transport links to the College, including bus and rail services, car parking, taxi and coach services.
Access by Road, Taxi, Car or Bus
We regret that the College has no parking facilities for visitors except under exceptional circumstances and by prior arrangement with the Domestic Bursar on 01865 277963. There are a few Pay & Display spaces available directly outside the main gate of Wadham College, including disabled parking. You are strongly recommended to make use of Oxford’s Park & Ride facilities. There are parking spaces available for persons with disabilities immediately adjacent to the bus stop at all five of the Park and Ride car parks. The buses are equipped with low level access, have allocated seats for those with disabilities and a designated space for wheelchair users.
The Oxford Tube and Oxford X90 coach services run 24 hours a day, between central London and central Oxford, with several convenient stops in both cities. Coaches depart every 10-20 minutes during peak times and at differing intervals during off-peak times. The telephone number for Oxford X90 is 01865 785400; email: info@oxfordbus.co.uk and Oxford Tube can be contacted on 01865 772250 email: oxfordtube.com.
Public Car Parks
The nearest public car parks are Gloucester Green and the Westgate Centre. These are within 10-15 minutes walking distance from Wadham. Parking for high vehicles (e.g. camper vans) is available at Redbridge Park and Ride (to the south of Oxford, reached from the city ring road). The City Council’s Car Parks Management Team will be pleased to give more details and can be contacted on 01865 252489.
Public Transport
Rail: Oxford Station (15 minutes walking distance from Wadham). Accessible buses and taxis are regularly available to the city centre.
Taxi: Taxis are always available by telephone or at ranks at the Railway station, St Giles or the Gloucester Green Coach Station in the city centre. Among the principal Taxi firms are: 001 Taxis (Tel. 01865 201201); Royal Cars (Tel. 01865 778866) and ABC Radio Taxis (Tel. 01865 242424)
Bus: There are frequent services from the Park and Ride Car parks to the city centre:-
From the north: Service No. 300 from Pear Tree Car Park to city centre.
From northeast: Service No. 500 from Water Eaton Car Park to city centre.
From the south: Service No. 300 from Redbridge Car Park to city centre
From the east: Service No. 400 from Thornhill Car Park to city centre.
From the west: Service No. 400 from Seacourt Car Park to city centre.
Further information about Park & Ride Services
Coach: London, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and national coach network services operate from Gloucester Green Coach Station (10 minutes walk). Coach information is available from Oxford Bus Company (Tel. 01865 785400, email: www.oxfordbus.co.uk and Oxford Tube (Tel. 01865 772250, email: www.stagecoachbus.com/oxfordshire
Cars may access the coach station only by prior arrangement. Contact 01865 252489.
Feedback and suggestions
This information will be regularly updated as further access measures are introduced by the College. Enquiries and suggestions about access may be directed to the Domestic Bursar’s Office either by phone (01865 277963) or email. We welcome any feedback and working with the College community to ensure that Wadham College is accessible to all of its members to the maximum extent possible.