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 and exemptions for self-guided tours

Up to six people can enter the Queens’ College for self-guided tour.

• There is an entrance charge of £5.00 per visitor. Children under the age of 12 accompanied by an adult - free of charge.
• 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.
• Kings College Residents card is not valid at Queens'.

For more information on visiting Queens’ please contact the Visitor Liaison Team.

Entrance charges for groups

A tour group is defined as six or more people.

• There is an entrance charge of £5.00 for each member of the party (there is no charge for the Cambridge Blue Badge Guide).
• No concessions apply to guided tours.

Arranging a tour group visit to Queens' College

• If you wish to bring a group of visitors to tour the Queens’ college, please arrange this through the Independent Cambridge Blue Badge Guide.
• Tour parties may only enter Queens' College with a Cambridge 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.

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,

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.

Accessibilty

• Old Hall and Chapel are normally open but are subject to the College's events programme.
• All cloister areas and other walkways are open.

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).
• The President's Lodge, the Old Library, the War Memorial Library, Cripps Dining Hall, all rooms in the college and staircases are not open to visitors.

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.