Tourist Information

Point of Entry

Visitors should enter and leave College by the Visitors' Gate, in Queens' Lane (see the plan) from 10 March until 30 September 2012 inclusive.  At other times, when the College is open to visitors, entry should be via the Porters' Lodge in Silver Street.

Entrance Charges

During the period for which charging applies (see above), there is an entrance charge of £2.50 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 as entrance charges are applicable throughout the year.

The following categories are exempt from the entrance charge:

• Queens' Alumni with three guests each - no charge.
• Members of the University of Cambridge with one guest each - no charge.
• City of Cambridge residents with one guest each - no charge.
• Prospective candidates for admission as a student and their families- no charge.

Parties

How to obtain permission to bring a tour party to visit Queens' College:
The organiser of a Group Visit must apply and receive permission in advance of visiting the College by completing a Group Visit Application Form, and either e-mailing or posting a fully completed Form to the Visitors' Liaison Officer a minimum of 24 hours before the proposed day of visit or two days in advance if visiting Queens' at the weekend. Full contact details may be found on the Application Form.

Party size:
Parties of not more than 20 led by a qualified Cambridge Blue Badge Guide may enter College. Parties of more than 20 people can be split into smaller groups and enter the College at staggered times. Each party must be accompanied by a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide.

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 couse accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding.  Guides have to pass 4 exams before qualifying and are regularly reasessed. 

To hire a Cambridge Blue Badge Guide contact either:

John Milne, Tours Manager, Visit Cambridge. 
Tel: 01223 457570
Email: john.milne@cambridge.gov.uk

Chris Skilton
Chairman
Society of Cambridge Tourist Guides
Tel: 01223 355351
Email: cpskilton@yahoo.co.uk

Entrance charges:
There is an entrance charge of £2.50 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. Children under 12, Queens' Alumni, Members of the University of Cambridge, local Cambridge residents and prospective candidates for admission as students are exempt from the entrance charge (see also - entrance charges above).

Please pay the entrance charge at the Visitors' Gate during the periods when the College is open from 10 March to 20 May 2012 and 24 June to 30 September 2012 (see above for closure dates). At all other times payment must be received by the Visitor Liaison Officer 24 hours prior to the visit. Refunds cannot be given less than 24 hours before the visit. Payment information may be found on the Group Visit Application Form by clicking here.

Public and Private Guided Tours of Cambridge:
For details and to book daily Cambridge Blue Badge Guided Tours of selected Colleges that include a visit to Queens' College click here.  These tours are organised by Cambridge Tourist Office. 

Cambridge Tailor Made Tours offer bespoke tours of either Queens' College and/or other sites of interest in Cambridge.  Please contact Rosemary Zanders on guides@cambridgetmtours.co.uk

School Parties of Prospective Candidates for Admission to Queens' College

School parties of prospective candidates for admission to Cambridge University that wish to visit Queens' please email Queens' Admissions Office by clicking here to organise their tour of the College.

Buildings Open

When they are not in use, the Old Hall (1449) and Chapel (1891) will normally be open to visitors. Apart from those two, all other buildings and staircases are private and not open to visitors. Building work will undertaken during 2012 in the Round.The Fellows' Garden is private and 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 take picnics in the College grounds.
• 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.

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.  Click for Queens' Online Shop.