Tourist information

Opening hours 2023-2024

Entrance

The College is open to visitors all year round, except during the Examination period, certain ceremonial days, Christmas Holidays. Visitors should enter and leave College by the Visitors' Gate in Queens' Lane. If The Old Gate is closed, you can gain entrance through the Porters' Lodge, on Silver Street. The College is open to alumni all year round.

Wheelchair access is available, if required, through the Porters' Lodge at all times throughout the year.

Entrance charges

There is an entrance charge of £5.00 per visitor (children under 12 free), which includes the provision of a printed guide. Please see 'Parties' below for details of entrance fees payable by tour groups.

Entrance charge exemptions

• A CAMCard entitles Queens' alumni to bring up to two guests free of charge. Entry for children of alumni is free of charge. Others will be charged.
• A CAMCard entitles members of the University of Cambridge to bring one guest free of charge.Others will be charged.
• Cambridge city residents (with proof of address) can bring one guest free of charge. Others will be charged.
• Prospective candidates for admission as a student and their families - no charge.

Arranging a tour group visit to Queens' College

All tour groups should arrange their trip through the Independent Cambridge Blue Badge Guide

(Please see below if you are bringing a school party of prospective candidates for admission to Queens' to visit the College).

N.B. A tour group is defined as six or more people.

• If you wish to bring a group of visitors to tour the College (see visitor opening schedule above) please arrange this through the Independent Cambridge Blue Badge Guide. Please make these arrangements a minimum of 48 hours before the proposed date of your of visit, or 72 hours in advance if visiting at the weekend.
• Tour parties may only enter Queens' College with a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide (see information below on hiring a Blue Badge Guide). Parties arriving without a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide will not be admitted to Queens' College.
• Parties of more than 20 people must be split into smaller groups and enter the College at staggered times. Each party must be led by a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide.
• Alumni are not allowed to bring any guests to the College for profit. By arrangement with the College, only qualified Blue Badge tour guides are able to offer tours of the College.”

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

Hiring a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide (an obligatory requirement for all tour parties visiting Queens' College)

Cambridge Blue Badge Guides have been trained by 'Visit Cambridge' and have passed an intensive training course accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding. Guides must pass four examinations before qualifying for the role and are regularly re-assessed.

To hire a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide contacts can be found here,

Entrance charges for tour groups

• There is an entrance charge of £5.00 for each member of the party (there is no charge for the Cambridge Blue Badge Guide).
• This charge is payable at all times of the year.
• No concessions apply to guided tours.
• Please pay the individual entrance charge at the Visitors' Gate during the summer period (see above for closure dates) and at the Porters' Lodge at all other times. Pre booked group payments should be received 48 hours before the visit or payment can be made on the day. Refunds cannot be given less than 48 hours before the visit.

Public and private guided tours of Cambridge

• Cambridge Tour Guides offer an informative and entertaining tour of Cambridge to suit any requirements or interests. Please contact Tony Rogers (07814 765151) or Chris Skilton (07940 999364) or for further information please email info@cambridgetourguide.co.uk.
• 'SeeCambridgeDifferently' offer bespoke tours of either Queens' College and/or other sites of interest in Cambridge. Please contact Maggie Hartley on info@seecambridgedifferently.co.uk or see their website www.seecambridgedifferently.co.uk

School parties of prospective candidates for admission to Queens' College

• School parties of prospective candidates for admission to Cambridge University wishing to visit Queens' should email Queens' Admissions Office to organise their tour of the College.

Buildings open

• Old Hall and Chapel are normally open, but are subject to the College's events programme.
• All cloister areas and other walkways are open.
• The President's Lodge, the Old Library, the War Memorial Library, Cripps Dining Hall, staircases and the Fellow's Garden are not open to visitors.

 Restrictions

We ask all visitors to Queens' to respect the College as a place of study. Each visitor is requested:

• Not to walk on the grass or on the river banks.
• Not to walk on any flower beds.
• Not to take picnics in the College grounds.
• Not to drop any litter.
• Not to enter staircases or areas marked private.
• Not to smoke anywhere in the College.
• Not to block the narrow pathways.
• To observe all instructions given by College Staff.
• Not to bring any animals into the College (except guide dogs).

Please be aware that some surfaces are uneven and in wet weather may be slippery. There are a number of steps on the route around the College and great care must be taken near the river.

Visitors' Shop

Gifts and souvenirs may be purchased from the Visitors' Shop at the Visitors' Gate.