Guest information

The Porters’ Lodge at Tom Gate is the main information point within Christ Church. It is staffed 24 hours a day, so if you have any problems either visit, email porters@chch.ox.ac.uk or phone at any time: 01865 276150 and the porters will be happy to help.

Guests are required to check-out of their rooms by 1000 hrs on the day of departure (a fee may be charged for late check out), please return the room fob to the Porters’ Lodge. Guests staying in 117 St Aldates Building can leave all items in the drop box, located by the lift on the ground floor. Lost or non-returned fobs may incur a fee.

Every effort will be made to locate and return lost property [postage costs will be charged]. Items are kept at the Lodge for 30 days before disposal or donation to charity. We accept no responsibility for left items.

A cooked and continental breakfast is provided in the unique setting of the Great Hall with its stunning hammer-beam roof and wonderful oil paintings. Breakfast is self-select but if you have any queries due to an allergy or intolerance, please speak to a member of staff.

Monday – Saturday: 0730 -0900

Sunday: 0800-0930

We offer a complimentary WiFi service powered by the Cloud throughout Christ Church. 

Once you have selected ‘The Cloud’ from the list of available connections, a webpage will open. Please follow the on-screen instructions. Full details are provided in all bedrooms or a leaflet may be collected from the Porters’ Lodge.

The Christ Church Shop is located within the Visitor Centre in Christ Church Meadow.

Christ Church Picture Gallery is open at various times to throughout the week.

Service times for the Cathedral can be found on the Christ Church website.

The airline bus to Heathrow stops on Speedwell Street (left out of Christ Church, right at Tesco Express).

The Porters Lodge are able to arrange taxis.

We hope you have found your room to be pleasant and comfortable. If there are any problems or faults, please report these immediately to the Porters’ Lodge.

Your Scout [room attendant] is the person responsible for looking after your room. They will make your bed and replenish your tea and coffee daily [except Sundays]. Please note that linen and towels are changed twice weekly for long stay guests. Clean towels are provided for each guest on arrival. A blanket and a hairdryer are stored in the room. In some rooms the key fob is needed to activate the electricity, please insert the fob into the box located on the wall.

If you do not wish to be disturbed, please hang your ‘Do Not Disturb’ notice on the outside door handle. If it is displayed, we will respect your privacy and your room will not be serviced. However, in the interests of guest wellbeing, rooms will be checked every 24-hour period by a member of the Housekeeping team and we ask guests to allow the Scout access to clean the room on a regular basis.

Christ Church is a no smoking/vaping institution. This applies to all buildings and outside areas. If you wish to smoke please go off-site.

A complimentary safe is provided in most of our rooms for the storage of small valuable items during your stay. Please follow the instructions for the two different types of safe in our bedrooms:

• Keypad – input a 4-digit code and then press # (lock). To unlock enter your code.
• Fob access – hold your room key fob over the black area at the top. Once the green light has stopped flashing, turn the handle left to lock, and right to unlock.

Please note Christ Church cannot be held responsible for any valuables left unattended or in the bedroom safes provided.

There are several self-service laundries, including an iron and an ironing board. These are located in the basement of Peckwater Quad Staircase 8; the basement of Meadow Building Staircase 4; Blue Boar Quad in the tunnel under Blue Boar 1, St Aldates Quad Staircase 5 and the basement of 117 St Aldates Building. 

Instructions on how to operate the machines are displayed in each of the laundry rooms. Prices range from £2-£3.50 per wash, which includes drying. Washing detergent can be purchased from the Porters’ Lodge.

The heating season at Christ Church generally runs from 1 October to 1 May subject to outside temperatures. Central heating systems are set to run from 0600 hrs – noon and 1400 – 2200 hrs each day. Outside of these hours turning the radiator valves on or off will have no effect.

All rooms have radiators and the temperature can be controlled by altering the valve on the side.

Please do not dry clothes or cover the heaters due to the fire risk.

Christ Church takes your security very seriously and to ensure your safety we have a Closed Circuit Television [CCTV] system that monitors the main gates and quads at all times.

For security reasons please do not hold doors open for other guests. 

Please remember that if you have any concerns about your safety or security at any time simply contact the Porters’ Lodge [01865 276150] and they will be more than happy to help you in any way that they can.

Instructions about what to do in the event of a fire are attached to the wall, just inside the door to your room.
Please read these instructions carefully and familiarise yourself with the escape route and the fire assembly point. 

The fire alarm system is monitored by the Porters’ Lodge 24/7; if an alarm sounds in your staircase the Porters will immediately take action. It is important that you respond to all fire alarms; please don’t stop to collect belongings but move quickly to the correct fire assembly point for your staircase so that the Porter can ensure that the staircase is empty and safe.

The Porters are trained in fire safety so please respond quickly to any instructions that they may give you. Your safety and the safety of others is of paramount importance.

In an emergency call 999/112. Please then alert the Porters’ Lodge [01865 276150] stating the name of the patient and bedroom location, in order for them to make access arrangements.

For all non-emergency cases please contact the Porters’ Lodge and the Duty Porter will be able to assist you in
making arrangements.

The closest Pharmacy is located within Boots, Cornmarket and is open from 0800 – 2000 hrs Monday to Saturday and 1100 – 1700 hrs on Sundays.