Colleges in Cambridge open to the public? (chapels, university)

[sunshineleith]

Just wondering if anyone knows offhand which Cambridge colleges are open to the public? (Dining halls, libraries, chapels) We went to Oxford last year with some friends that live there and they took us through a number of the colleges and it was so cool to be able to do so and see the portraits in the dining halls of some of the famous past students, visit some of the chapels (saw a bust of Tolkien in one of them), etc.

We have friends coming from overseas over the holidays and thought it would be neat to do the same with Cambridge - this time however we are the hosts and I have no idea how to find out which colleges are open/would be okay to take a peek at.

[Hengist]

From vague memory, most are open to the public most of the time. It does help however, to have local knowledge. To visit the chapels alone would entail learning huge amounts of local history:
The Diocese of Ely - Church In Community - Cambridge College Chapels

[Mooseketeer]

Most Colleges will be open to the public at some point during the day but because each college reserves the right to close depending on college business you will find that many are closed , often at short notice. Oxford University has now issued a small easy to carry laminated guide to college openings and contact numbers. I am not sure whether Cambridge has as well.

In Oxford for the casual visitor a tour by the Blue Badge Guides is always an excellent introduction to Colleges and College life as the guides know a lot of the porters and can often get you into Colleges at times when it is sometimes closed to the Public.

Cambridge also has walking tours by the Blue Badge so it might be a good idea to start at the Tourist Information Centre when the staff will be able to book a tour for you.

Cambridge and Oxford are both very compact anyway so if you want to just visit under your own steam then walking around and looking at notices in the entrance of each college is quite easy anyway.

Walks and guided tours

One of the nicest things to do in both cities is simply to have a good wander, and also look in each College's doorways for signs about concerts, plays etc.. in the evening. Attending evensong is always a great privilege as is candelit concerts in College Chapels. Somewhere like King's College in Cambridge is just magical with the choir singing at dusk...

[sunshineleith]

Thanks to both of you - much appreciated!

[chilaili]

Originally Posted by Mooseketeer

Most Colleges will be open to the public at some point during the day but because each college reserves the right to close depending on college business you will find that many are closed , often at short notice. Oxford University has now issued a small easy to carry laminated guide to college openings and contact numbers. I am not sure whether Cambridge has as well.

In Oxford for the casual visitor a tour by the Blue Badge Guides is always an excellent introduction to Colleges and College life as the guides know a lot of the porters and can often get you into Colleges at times when it is sometimes closed to the Public.

Cambridge also has walking tours by the Blue Badge so it might be a good idea to start at the Tourist Information Centre when the staff will be able to book a tour for you.

Cambridge and Oxford are both very compact anyway so if you want to just visit under your own steam then walking around and looking at notices in the entrance of each college is quite easy anyway.

Walks and guided tours

One of the nicest things to do in both cities is simply to have a good wander, and also look in each College's doorways for signs about concerts, plays etc.. in the evening. Attending evensong is always a great privilege as is candelit concerts in College Chapels. Somewhere like King's College in Cambridge is just magical with the choir singing at dusk...

Jeez, how come I never knew that about the blue badge guides?! I'm adding it to my To Do list for the next visit.

[sunshineleith]

Originally Posted by chilaili

Jeez, how come I never knew that about the blue badge guides?! I'm adding it to my To Do list for the next visit.

I downloaded the audio of the walking tour and a map - pretty cool!