Given that dimensionally transcendental engineering is integral to TARDIS design, the engines - and pretty much all of the rest of the interior - could be inside the console - even if they are also accessible via other rooms and corridors.
And the console, like the TARDIS itself, could be bigger on the inside. So while we see a console, who knows what’s happening inside of it
My take, informed mainly by The Doctor’s Wife, is that while a TARDIS console alone can move through time and space, it’s a bit like driving a card without a windshield, exhaust system, shocks and brakes. It may get you where you’re going, but the odds of you experiencing harm increase greatly.
asksciencefiction
Have a question about a fictional universe? Ask it here!
Rules
1-Please tag your post with the fictional universe you are asking about. e.g. [Star Wars] or [Marvel Cinematic Universe].
2-Only questions about fiction are allowed. Real-world questions are better suited for a question and answer community
3-Any fiction is allowed, not just science fiction. General questions not related to one specific universe are allowed.
4-Roleplaying is not mandatory, but all answers should ideally be framed from the perspective of the fictional universe being asked about.
5-Above all else, be kind and considerate to others. Remember, if you are not building this community up, you are tearing it down.