Venue, travel and parking

If any member of your party is a blue badge holder, please email the Exams and Graduation team at ceremonies@surrey.ac.uk as we will provide you with a Cathedral car parking permit to accompany your blue badge.

If you require disabled parking on campus please contact our transport team. Parking at the Cathedral is only available for graduands who will find it difficult to access the Cathedral from campus. To reserve a space at the Cathedral please contact ceremonies@surrey.ac.uk.

Graduands and guests are limited to one small bag per person in the Cathedral which must fit under your seat. A bag check will be carried out before entering the Cathedral. On arrival please be prepared to open your bag so security can have a quick look inside.

Large bags and suitcases

You and your guests are advised not to bring large bags or suitcases to the Cathedral. However, if you do have to bring them, you will not be able to take them into the Cathedral with you due to security reasons and limited space.

There will be a ‘left luggage’ facility for your use at the Cathedral, but please be aware that your bags may be searched and are left at the owner’s risk. At the end of the ceremony, it is the owner’s responsibility to collect their piece of luggage.

The following items are not permitted in the Cathedral:

• Large bags and suitcases (please see below for further information)
• Selfie sticks
• Helium balloons
• Food and drink (apart from water)
• Flowers (please see below for further information)

The nearest toilets to the Cathedral are in the refectory building adjacent to the flight of steps leading from the University campus, there is also disabled access for these.

Toilets will also be open across the Stag Hill campus, with signage at check in and the reception to guide you to the nearest facilities.

If you have purchased flowers from the flower stand on campus you will only be allowed to bring in smaller bouquets which need to be placed under your seat.

If you have purchased larger bouquets you will not be able to bring these into the Cathedral with you due to limited space and to protect those with allergies. There is a table that will be staffed in the main entrance where flowers can be left (at your own risk) and collected at the end of the ceremony. 

A member of University staff will be on hand to help you with this.

First aiders will be on duty at the Cathedral and across the whole event. If you require assistance, please contact a member of staff.

We have a range of guides and maps providing accessibility advice for our Stag Hill campus.

The route from the University to the Cathedral involves climbing a lot of steps and is very steep. If you or a guest in your party are in a wheelchair, have difficulty in negotiating steps or might find the climb from campus to the Cathedral particularly strenuous or difficult, please select the appropriate drop down box when making your booking. We will then provide you with a Cathedral car parking permit which you can collect on the day when you collect your wristbands, and it will allow you to park in the Cathedral grounds.

Entrance to the Cathedral is via a series of ramps. There is a ramp via the west entrance to the Cathedral, and wheelchairs are available inside. You can find more information on the Guildford Cathedral website.

If you have any queries or concerns about access to the Cathedral do please contact the Exams and Graduation team (ceremonies@surrey.ac.uk). If you require accessibility assistance on the day, please contact a member of our event staff.