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Christ's College, Cambridge

Summary

• 16th century buildings
• 17th century buildings
• 18th century buildings
• 19th century buildings
• 20th century buildings
• Breakfast included
• No car parking
• No smoking

Facilities

• No internet access
• Gardens

Drinking and dining

• Continental breakfast (included)
• English breakfast (included)

Nearby recreations

• Recommended walks
• Pub (walking distance)
• Museums (walking distance)
• Historic houses
• Gardens
• Theatre (walking distance)

Christ’s College is an oasis of calm in the very heart of the city. One moment you are in the quiet and tranquil gardens (almost like being on a country estate), then pass through the 500 year old Great Gate into the busy shopping centre. Christ’s College is the perfect location for visitors who are on a leisure break or are in Cambridge on business.

The accommodation houses undergraduates and graduate students during term time. The rooms are therefore not equipped to four star hotel standard but they are clean, comfortable and situated in a quiet location in the heart of the College. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities as well as a welcome pack of toiletries. Towels are also provided. Rooms will either be located in Second Court or in Third Court. Rooms on C D and E staircases were refurbished in 2007. All New Court rooms were refurbished in 2008/09 and all of these are ensuite with a "pod" style bathroom/wetroom. Rooms are serviced by a College ‘bedmaker’.

We have three styles of rooms available. Our standard rooms on C, D and E staircases have the advantage of having a dedicated bathroom for each room, the bathroom usually being located opposite the room itself.

Our standard Ensuite rooms are those located in New Court.

Superior rooms, including a limited number of twin and double rooms are in Second Court on C D and E staircases. All rooms on C D and E staircases are of a good size and are light and spacious. Rooms in New Court are smaller than those on C, D and E staircases but are comfortable and bright and overlook the Darwin Garden.

Please note we are not able to accept bookings for Stag and Hen parties

We are also not able to accept bookings for children under 17 years of age.

History to the present day

Christ's College was first established as God's-house in 1437 by William Byngham, a London parish priest, for training grammar school masters. Shortly after receiving its Royal Licence from Henry VI in 1446, God's-house was forced to move from its original site, as this was needed for the King's new project (what was to become Kings’s College). God's-house moved to its present site in 1448 where it was re-founded in 1505 as Christ’s College by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. Lady Margaret has been honoured ever since as the Foundress.

First Court dates from the 15th century and is the oldest part of the College. The Master’s Lodge, Chapel and Hall are all found in First Court as are Charles Darwin’s rooms. Charles Darwin studied here between 1828 and 1831. The "Darwin Room" will be open for public viewing in July, August and September. (Ask at the Porters' Lodge for details)
Copies of the College history and postcards, as well as Darwin related products are available from the Porters’ Lodge.

Dining and drinking

Our rates include a Full English breakfast, served Monday to Friday in our Upper Hall between 8.00 to 9.00am and on a Saturday between 8.30am to 9.30am.

Breakfast is not available on Sunday mornings. This has therefore been reflected in the charge for a Saturday night booking.

Grounds and gardens

Christ’s College has extensive gardens laid out over four Courts. The Fellows’ Garden, which is open 5 days a week, has beautiful herbaceous borders and is home to the famous Milton’s Mulberry Tree. There is also the Darwin Garden, created as part of the celebration of the bi-centenary of his birth, and which features a sculpture of a young Charles Darwin and the Darwin Walk.

Whilst guests are most welcome to walk through the grounds of the College at all times. We do respectfully request that you do not walk or sit on any grass areas around the College Courts.

Other facilities

Should you need the use of an iron and ironing board during your stay, there is an ironing room in the P staircase laundry.  There are also coin operated washing and drying machines available for use.

Arrival information and how to find us

Address: Christ’s College, St. Andrew’s Street, Cambridge CB2 3BU.

Check In: From 2pm - 11pm Check Out: By 10am

After 11pm a night Porter is on site to deal with emergencies. The Porters will be pleased to store your baggage following check out whilst you have a last look around the City.

We regret there is no parking at College.

More photos of Christ's College, Cambridge

Upper Hall	New Court room	Twin room on C staircase	First Court from turret
C, D and E Staircases	College Coat of Arms	View into Second Court	Master's Lodge
Darwin Sculpture & Garden	Third Court	View into Second Court	First Court
New Court Room

Customer feedback

We guarantee that all our feedback is genuine and can only be submitted by people who have booked through our websites.

Ayse Tuzlak, September 2010: My only complaint is with the sheer number of stairs to the rooms (I counted 35 outside, with more inside), which is a great inconvenience for anyone with luggage, pushchairs, or even the mildest of mobility problems. Otherwise, though, the room was spacious and clean and the porters were very kind. Thank you.

Dawn H. Ballantyne, August 2010: I am so glad I discovered this booking on the internet. I felt like I got an authentic experience by staying at Christ's College. Everyone was wonderful, from the guards to the kitchen! I will certainly recommend this website to anyone who is coming your way. Thank you for everything. p.s. I did leave my raincoat in the closet when I left and my son stopped by later-no one knew what happened to it. I do take responsibility for leaving it behind., but I wish it had been found!

Hillel Weinberg, August 2010: I felt warmly welcomed and well cared-for by the Christ's College staff. The room was snug but quite adequate and modern. Visitors should be prepared to climb steps. The location was, in a word, perfect.

Andrew Pethebridge, August 2010: Porters couldn't have been more helpful with information and always with a smile.

Cecilie Solvang, August 2010: We had a wonderful stay, and give our thanks to the most friendly, helping and welcoming porters :)

Miss Karen Beament, August 2010: Room comfortable, spacious and very clean. A huge ensuite but with no cupboard or shelf for tiletries. A useful welcome letter and good map of Cambridge and details of restaurants. A very good breafast. Delightful lady working in dining hall(who had worked for the college for 30 years), who was very helpful and also gave us tourist information. Please pass on our thanks. College very central, within easy walk of all sights, bus station, taxi rank. Thank you. Would certainly use the accomodation again.

Richard Gilby, August 2010: We had a wonderful experience. Christ's College is truly beautiful but the people at Christ's made the visit very special. Everyone from porters to the lady running the breakfasts to the curator of the Darwin room were friendly and helpful. We shall certainly use your service on future trips to UK.

Mrs Caroline Vizard, August 2010: From the time of booking and interaction with Teresa and Bill for car park assistannce the whole experience was excellent. I would reccommend this type of break to all of my friends . Thank-you

M/S Gladys Ball, August 2010: We picked this college because it was very central and we very pleased with our reception . The porters were very helpful and the facilities OK. We were impressed with the garden and especially the window boxes. Full marks to the gardener.

Susan Walker, August 2010: We enjoyed the experience very much. The rooms were spacious and comfortable. We loved the peace and quiet. Teresa McManus and Porter were extremely helpful and we much appreciated being able to park the car at the college. Thanks for a memorable stay.

Michael Crawford, August 2010: We thouroughly enjoyed our Cambridge experience staying in Room E2. This was a sedate and plesant time for us and so different to anything that we had done before. Your porters were extreemly helpful at all times. Thank you.

Leung Tak Yee, August 2010: The breakfast was excellent. The transport is very convinience for the tourists. The staffs are polite with genuine attitude. The double room is warm with the peaceful scenary of the college. If we can use the internet service(we had brought a note book) , it would be better.

Aisling Quinn, August 2010: We'll be back!

Julie Lunn, August 2010: We had a fantastic experience at this college and will highly recommend to our friends - thank-you! The porters were particularly freindly and helpful, as well as the staff we encoutered in the dining hall.

Edward Gildea, August 2010: A joy to be back in my old college and on my old staircase too! No breakfast on Sundays a bit of a disadvantage, but college staff deserve a break. Beautiful view out into second court and such a pleasure to stroll around first court - Cambridge's jewel, especially when the wisteria is in flower in April/May.

Janette Duigan, August 2010: Very peaceful and comfortable rooms and we appreciated being right in the heart of Cambridge. The staff at the Porters Lodge were very helpful.

Georgia Hölzel, July 2010: It was a wonderful experience to stay at one of the famous colleges - at least for one night.

Dr Geoffrey E Reid, July 2010: Bare essentials in the room, but entirely adequate. A splendid location which we greatly enjoyed.

Elizabeth Edwards, July 2010: Christ's College was simply an exceptionally beautiful place to stay--it was a privelege.

William Copeland, July 2010: All staff very helpful

Lizzie English, July 2010: What a lovely, relaxing and quiet retreat place within the hustle and bustle of Cambridge City. Arriving later than expected was no problem for the night porter. Breakfast was scrumpy, with lots of choice also. The room was clean and warm and comfortable. Certainly we'd love to come back and highly recommend a stay in Christ's. Thank you.

Mary Cotter, July 2010: The Porters were just so kind and helpful and went out of their way to welcome you and sort out any issues. Breakfast staff were equally nice

mrs june gibb-low, July 2010: Very much enjoyed our stay at Christs College. Excellent being central and all staff helpful, particularly the reception gentlemen. A small point, a mirror in the bedroom would have been helpful. Would recommend this College accommodation to other friends.

Mr Keith Brookes, July 2010: An excellent service and good value

MARY LAIDLAW, July 2010: Great value stay in a lovely central location, the grounds are beautiful. Room was very large, clean with a comfortable bed.