Oxford Literary Festival

The Festival mainly takes place in Christ Church, with other venues at Corpus Christi, Merton College, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Bodleian Library, and Queen’s College. The festival’s address is Christ Church, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1DP. The main festival marquee is just south of Christ Church in the Meadows, off St Aldate’s. We recommend visitors going to Corpus Christi events to enter via the festival marquee.

Arriving

By train

Oxford is well served from all areas of the country, and the station is a 20-minute walk or five-minute taxi-drive from the festival.

By coach

The coach station at Gloucester Green is a 15-minute walk from the festival. The London buses stop either outside Christ Church, in St Aldate’s, or in High Street, depending on the provider.

By car

Street parking is extremely limited. The closest public car park is the Westgate Car Park, which is a five-minute walk from the festival. Park and ride is very efficient, and the buses from the Redbridge park and ride stop outside the festival.

Disabled badge holder designated parking is available in Oriel Square (adjacent to Canterbury Gate) and in St Aldate’s (immediately to the south of Tom Gate).

Festival-goers with limited ambulant ability may be dropped off and picked up from the entrance to the marquee, accessed via the cobbled road, 75 yards to the south of Tom Gate, or at Tom Gate itself for events taking place in the Junior Common Room, Music Room, Festival Rooms 1 & 2, the McKenna Room, Hall, the Cathedral and Blue Boar Lecture Theatre.

These are strictly drop-off/pick-up points only: car parking is not available on the festival site at Christ Church.

Accessibility and safety

Christ Church has introduced a number of measures to support visitors with disabilities and further improvements are being actively planned and programmed. If you require further detailed information, please consult the Christ Church website www.chch.ox.ac where an Access to Christ Church leaflet is available and may be downloaded. You are also welcome to contact the Christ Church Porters’ Lodge (01865 276150 and 01865 276151).

Entrances, Quads and Gardens

The main access to the festival is via the War Memorial Garden on St Aldate’s. There is ramped access within the War Memorial Garden, leading to the level area of the Broad Walk and the entrance to the festival marquee. Please take care when crossing the vehicular route that traverses this entrance.

There is ramped access to Tom Quad from St Aldate’s via Tom Gate. Visitors attending events in the Music Room and Junior Common Room are welcome to enter via Tom Gate.

Accessible Toilets

Wheelchair user unisex accessible toilets are provided adjacent to the Festival Marquee, at Blue Boar Lecture Theatre and in Tom Quad (beneath the Hall). Please ask a festival volunteer or college custodian for directions.

Induction Loops for the Hard of Hearing

Induction loops for hearing aid users are provided in sections of the Master’s Garden Marquee, in Blue Boar Lecture Theatre, the Cathedral, Festival Room 2, Corpus Christi College’s MBI Al Jaber Building, Merton College’s TS Eliot Theatre, Queen’s College The Shulman Auiditorium, the Divinity School, Convocation House and the main auditorium of the Sheldonian Theatre.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome. Other dogs are not permitted.

Paths and Lighting

Christ Church is a historic building that has grown over several centuries. It was not built in line with contemporary building norms. Buildings and external areas are maintained to a good standard, but please note that level walking surfaces may not be encountered everywhere. The college maintains levels of lighting appropriate to the environment. Festival-goers are asked to take special care at all times.

Comments and Suggestions and the Disability Equality Scheme
In accordance with good practice, Christ Church operates a Disability Equality Scheme. This is kept under active review, taking into account the views of visitors and others. Comments and suggestions are welcomed at any time, and may be directed to the Steward of Christ Church by letter, telephone (01865 286580) or e-mail (steward@chch.ox.ac.uk).

Fire Safety Evacuation

To ensure safe evacuation of wheelchair users in case of emergency, it may occasionally be necessary to place a limit on the number of wheelchair users at a given event. Evac-chairs are provided and duty volunteers trained to assist. A safety briefing for all festival-goers is provided at the start of each event.

Venue Accessibility

Cathedral: there is ramped access to and level going throughout the Cathedral. An induction loop is provided for hearing aid users.

The Hall and the McKenna Room:   these areas are accessed via a flight of 25 stone steps with a stone balustrade to each side and a large landing. From the top of the steps, there is a further step into the McKenna Room and a further two steps into the Ante Hall, from which point level going access to the Hall is available. A wheelchair user platform lift has been introduced: this is located beneath the Hall stairs and is reached from the level-going upper level of Tom Quad. This lift accommodates one wheelchair user and a carer or companion. Detailed operating instructions are provided and the duty custodian will be glad to provide assistance. (A local portable ramp provides wheelchair user access from the Ante Hall to the McKenna Room).

Festival Room 1: this is on the first floor and not wheelchair user accessible. It is reached up a flight of 28 steps, with handrail to one side and a half landing.

Festival Room 2: this is on the ground floor and ramped and stepped access are provided.

Master’s Garden Marquee: there is level-going access from the Broad Walk.

Music Room and Junior Common Room: although located at ground floor level, there is stepped access to these rooms. Wheelchair users booking events are asked to provide advance notification so that a temporary ramp may be provided.

The Lee Building including the Freind Room: this is approached across a cobbled quadrangle and accessed up a flight of 10 steps. Rooms at upper levels within the Lee Building are not accessible to wheelchair users; stairclimber access to the Freind Room will gladly be provided: advance notice is requested so that suitable arrangements can be made.

The Kitchen: this is wheelchair user accessible from the kitchen yard, access to which will gladly be provided, subject to advance notice.

Christ Church Library: Events held in the Upper Library are not accessible to wheelchair users. There are three steps up from the exterior level going to the ground floor lobby which is reached through a very heavy inward opening timber door. Ascent to the Upper Library is by a flight of 40 (21 then 19) smooth stone steps without nosings and with a single handrail. These steps can be slippery and care should be taken. An induction loop for hearing aid users is available.

The MBI Al Jaber Building in Corpus Christi College: there is level-going access for wheelchair users via the college’s principal entrance in Merton Street. Directional signage is provided within the Corpus Christi College precincts. It will be noted that, within Christ Church, stepped and ramped access from the upper level walkway in Tom Quad into the Cathedral Garden is provided: part of this route is, however, not suitable for wheelchair users and the directions given above are recommended. An induction loop for hearing aid users is available.

Christ Church Cathedral School (William Walton Hall) : this is on the west side of St Aldate’s, opposite the festival’s main entrance. Level-going access to the William Walton Hall is provided via Brewer Street and the school’s playground.

The Sheldonian Theatre: this is fully accessible to wheelchair users from Broad Street and then through door E to the main hall. Wheelchair users are normally offered places within the central ‘D’ at ground level. A wheelchair user accessible toilet is provided at ground level close to the entrance. An induction loop is system is provided in the main auditorium for hearing aid users.

The Bodleian Library (Divinity Schools and Convocation House): badge holder designated parking is provided in Broad Street. Works are currently in hand to improve accessibility. For further information please contact the disability librarian, Teresa Pedroso on 01865 283861. An induction loop for hearing aid users is available.

Merton College and the TS Eliot Theatre:   level-going wheelchair user access is provided from Rose Lane. There are designated wheelchair user spaces within the theatre and the accessible lift is provided to the upper level. A wheelchair user accessible toilet is provided. An induction loop system is provided for hearing aid users.

Oriel College (Senior Library):   there are 40 steps to the Senior Library with no lift or stairclimber. Visitors with limited ambulant ability are advised to call ahead to secure a parking space directly outside the college in Oriel Square where there are five spaces. Telephone: 01865 276555.

The Queen’s College (The Shulman Auditorium): situated on the main college site and has level access. The auditorium has accessible toilet facilities and wheelchair space at the front of the tiered seating. The auditorium is fitted with an induction loop. Wheelchair access is via the Library Gate in Queen’s Lane. Please contact the lodge in advance on (01865) 279120 to gain access via Library Gate.