University Parks

• There is no public parking at University Parks
• There are public Blue Badge spaces available on Keble Road. These are just under 200 m from the Keble Gate on Parks Road
• Click on the link below to view a map of Blue Badge parking in central Oxford

Oxford Blue Badge parking map (PDF)

• Entry into the Parks is free.
• Please see the Parks website for more information including opening hours
• There are several entrances into the Parks - many are wheelchair accessible, some are not
• Once inside the Parks, all path surfaces are hoggin. This has a firm level surface

Parks Road entrances

• There is a path running alongside the Parks with three entrance points. The path is shared by pedestrians and cyclists with a central line dividing the two
• All three entrances are step free, level and have gates that are held open during park opening hours
• The Keble Gate at the south has a clear width of 1.8 m
• The Ginkgo Gate in the middle has a clear with of 2.1 m
• The entrance gate at the north (by Norham Gardens) has a clear width of 1.4 m. The surface here is slightly worn and uneven; puddles can form when it's raining

Lady Margaret Hall Gate

• There is a level footpath from Norham Gardens (close to Lady Margaret Hall) leading to a gated entrance
• The gate is designed to deter cyclists from entering the park - this means that it is unlikely to be accessible to wheelchair users, and others using mobility aids
• The gate must be pushed fully in one direction, then visitors enter a small side compartment (1.2 m x 1.2m). The gate is then pushed fully in the other direction to enable visitors to enter or leave the park
• The gate is manual and large, but it is not heavy

High Bridge entrance

• There is a pedestrian path from Marston to the Parks - this has an uneven surface which may not be accessible for wheelchair users and people using mobility aids.
• There is a gate into the park with a clear width of 1.1 m. This is held open during opening hours
• The path into the Parks goes over High Bridge - this is very steep (1 in 4 gradient).
• There are railings either side of the bridge which are lower than standard railings - about 80 cm high
• The bridge is 1.7 m wide

South Parks Road

• There are very wide gates into park with a clear width of over 2 m. Gates are held open during opening hours
• Vehicles also use this entrance. Traffic volume is low, but vehicles and pedestrians share the surface for a distance of about 40 m
• The surface is level, with some sections that are poorly repaired and uneven

Marston cycle track entrance

• There is a cycle path from Marston to the Parks leading to a gated entrance
• This is a narrow gate is designed to deter cyclists from entering the park - this means that it is unlikely to be accessible to wheelchair users and people using mobility aids
• There is a adjacent gate locked with a Radar Key padlock and bottom bolt. This gate has a clear width of 1 m
• The Radar Key padlock is 1 m high. The bottom bolt is 55 cm high

Science Area entrance

• There is access into the Parks from the University Science Area
• There is a wide level path leading to the entrance
• There is a gate into the park with a clear with of about 2 m. The gate is held open during opening hours

• The information signs at High Bridge entrance and Science Area entrance have Parks information only
• All other information points have Parks information and a map
• Signs are positioned high up and have small text

• The public toilets are in the centre of the Parks next to the cricket pavilion
• There are male, female, and accessible toilets

Accessible toilet

• A Radar Key is needed to access the toilet
• The entrance to the path leading to the toilet is uneven
• The gate at the path leading to the toilet is held open and has a clear width of 76 cm
• Outward opening toilet door - clear width of 86 cm
• The door is medium weight
• The door sticks against the ground when fully open
• The door is locked with a small twist lock
• There is a pull bar on the inside of the door
• The room dimensions are 1.5 m wide by 2.3 m long
• The cleaners cupboard in the toilet reduces the available space
• The lights switch on automatically
• The toilet seat height is 45 cm
• The toilet cistern can be used as a back rest
• The lever flush is on the closed side of toilet
• As you face the toilet, transfer space is on the left
• Dropdown rail on transfer side of toilet
• Wall mounted grab rails on closed side of toilet
• Sink not reachable from toilet seat
• Vertical grab rail on left side of sink
• Poor contrast between the walls and  handrails and other fixtures
• No clothes hooks
• No mirror
• Pull cord alarm next to toilet. Reset button not reachable from toilet

• There is a network of paths throughout the Parks
• Map available on the Parks website
• Paths are mostly hoggin - a mix of gravel, sand and clay that binds when compacted
• Hoggin gives a firm level surface
• A few stones and tree roots stick out of path surface in places
• Some sections of path are moderately uneven where surfaces have become worn and damaged
• Small sections of path are tarmac or concrete. These are firm and level
• Paths are generally level, but have a slight downwards slope either side for water drainage
• Paths are generally between 2 m and 4 m wide
• A few sections of paths are narrower - never less than 1 m wide
• There is plenty of seating on paths. Seating section below has more details

• Benches are available throughout the Parks
• Benches are usually immediately next to the paths
• Some benches are set back from paths
• Almost all benches have back rests and arm supports
• Benches have a range of seat heights - from around 40 cm high to around 53 cm high
• Almost all benches have plenty of space around them
• Visitors can also sit on the grass around the Parks

• The café is next to Keble Gate
• The café is owned and operated by a private company, not University Parks
• Seating is outdoors. There is no covered area
• Loose tables and chairs that can be moved if needed
• Chairs have backrests but do not have arm rests
• Tables are small and the legs prevent wheelchair access underneath
• The seating area is spacious
• Café counter is 1.3 m high