+44 (0)1223 330484
enquiries@hughes.cam.ac.uk

Disability and access

Working with you individually

Hughes Hall works with AccessAble to provide comprehensive access guides to our site in the widest sense; for everyone in our community and for every visitor to our buildings and grounds.

These detailed guides provide accurate information related to all aspects of access, from the approach to College, route planning and journeys around our grounds to the accessibility of individual rooms, virtual access guides and  facilities. Please see the AccessAble Access Guide to Hughes Hall as well as the information below.

Location, services and transport

The College is located on a quiet road off Mill Road, near Fenner’s Sports Field, Parkside Swimming Pool and Parker’s Piece. It is a 10 minute walk to the city centre, 10–15 minutes to the Downing Site and New Museums Site and 20–25 minutes to the Sidgwick Site and University Library. The location map is available on the contact page.

  • Traffic: Mill Road is busy with traffic in both directions. The road is narrow, with uneven, cluttered pavements. Mortimer Road itself is quiet, with little traffic.
  • Services and shops: Mill Road has a diverse range of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. The Grafton Centre is not far along East Road, and the city centre is close by.
  • Parking: There is a small car park on site, with one marked bay for Blue Badge holders near to the Pavilion Room entrance. Queen Anne multi-storey car park is close by. Students wishing to have parking need to discuss their requirements in advance and fill in the form available on the transport and parking page.
  • Other transport options: There are bus stops on Mill Road. There is a pedestrian footpath from the city centre across Parker’s Piece.

College buildings and grounds

  • College grounds: There is a level entrance to the College site from Mortimer Road leading to a tarmac surface in the car park and gravel paths around the gardens.  There are steps or a grass slope in the middle of the back lawn; alternative routes without steps are possible but are not easy for wheelchairs. There are benches outside the Pavilion Room and one picnic bench on the lawn.
  • College buildings: There are several separate buildings on the main College site with a range of offices, facilities and student accommodation; the off-site houses are for additional student accommodation only. Although the College buildings are not fully accessible, the College is working to make improvements where possible; please do contact the College in advance if you have any concerns.
  • Fenner’s Building: The Fenner’s building contains accommodation, the Dining Hall, and a common room (the Peter Richards room). There is level access to the ground floor, through two sets of manual doors. Lifts and slopes provide access internally. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor.
  • The Dining Hall is on the ground floor of the Fenner’s Building and is spacious and accessible, with moveable chairs. Staff will help with trays at meals which are not waiter-service.
  • The Peter Richards Room is located on the second floor of the Fenner’s Building and is accessible using the lifts.  The room is spacious with moveable chairs. The main access between the Peter Richards room and Dining Hall is via a long flight of stairs, but access can easily be arranged via the lifts. Access outside onto the terrace is through a doorway with uneven sill.
  • Margaret Wileman Building: The Margaret Wileman Building is a listed building which contains offices, the Pavilion Room, the Learning Resources Centre and MCR bar on the ground floor. There are student rooms and further offices on the first floor. Staff will meet students and visitors elsewhere if necessary.
  • The Pavilion Room can be accessed via a slope; there is a small lip at the entrance door.  There is an accessible toilet nearby.
  • The Library is accessed through the same entrance. There are computers and a group study room on the first floor, accessed by stairs or lift. If you have a disability or injury that affects your use of the library, please contact library@hughes.cam.ac.uk or ask library staff for any assistance you require.
  • The main entrance to Margaret Wileman building is up three steps, with a handrail. There is no bell, but the reception office is immediately inside the entrance on the right. Other entrances also have steps; level access from Pavilion Room end is possible to the adjacent parts of the building only (Academic Office, Bursary Office and Council room) as there are three steps in the middle of the corridor.
  • The MCR club room and bar, the Maletin Room and the Pfeiffer Room all have level entrances but all access routes to this part of the building involve a small number of steps. The bar has a low counter, moveable round tables and chairs with armrests.
  • The Fellows’ Room is accessed from the first floor of the Margaret Wileman building and is up a further short flight of stairs.

Visual and hearing impairments

  • Assistance dogs: Students requiring assistance dogs must discuss this in advance.
  • Large print, Braille and audio: Large print letters and information are available on request.
  • Library and magnification equipment: If you have a disability or injury that affects your use of the library, please contact library@hughes.cam.ac.uk or ask library staff for any assistance you require. We are always happy to help.
  • Signs and wayfinding: Clear white on blue signage externally, indicating level access. Little directional signposting inside buildings. Map available.
  • Induction loops: No induction loops.
  • Alarms: No visual or sensory alarms.
  • Other: Some paths around garden are unlit, and there are some uneven and worn areas. Most interior stairs have continuous handrails. All rooms are carpeted and fairly softly furnished. There is very little traffic noise as the College is set back from main roads.

Students accommodation and catering

Further information for current students about accommodation can be found here. Further information for current students about dining can be found here,

  • Wheelchair-accessible rooms: We have one en suite, wheelchair-accessible room located in the Fenner’s building, accessed by a lift. Students who wish to bring specialist equipment or furniture should discuss this beforehand with the Senior Tutor in the first instance by emailing senior.tutor@hughes.cam.ac.uk.
  • We also have three single, more spacious single rooms, with wet room bathrooms.
  • Other rooms: There are en suite shower rooms in Fenner’s (all) Centenary Building (all) and Wollaston Lodge (most). There is lift access in Gresham Court and some areas of the Fenner’s Building.
  • Live-in assistants and assistance dogs: Please discuss any live-in assistants and assistance dogs well in advance with the Tutorial Office or Senior Tutor.
  • Early induction and vacation stays: Flexible accommodation arrangements are possible. Please discuss this with the Accommodation manager.
  • Catering arrangements: Lunch and dinner are served in the Dining Hall Monday to Friday, and brunch on Saturday. Full kitchens are available near disabled accommodation, and self-catering is possible. For more information on dining at Hughes please click here.

Emergency procedures

If you need help evacuating in an emergency you should contact the Porters for assistance; and to make any specific arrangements in advance.