Cambridge was a fascinating town to wander around. Each college is it’s own estate, and there are 31 of them total. Shops and businesses and other homes have filled in the gaps, meaning that you can discover a different college around every corner. King’s College is one of the grander colleges and it is beautiful, but it’s also quite expensive to visit. If you do have the chance to visit King’s College, Cambridge, there are a few things to look out for!
Visiting King’s College, Cambridge
King’s College is right on the River Cam, and is a 20ish minute walk from the train station. Once you make it there, you will come up to a fairly elaborate gate- you can tell from the moment you set eyes on it that it is somewhere that important things have happened. One of my favourite things about the UK is that things like gates and gatehouses survive. Gates are entrances to the past, and give you an idea of what it would be like to live in a time and place where entrance is always controlled.
So, entering King’s College will set you back £9. You get to visit the chapel, but all other buildings are private- essentially it is for the chapel and the grounds. However, our wonderful AirBnB host let us know that you can visit the chapel for free if you attend a service, so we attended Evensong! The King’s College choir is world-renowned, and it was amazing to hear them in person. As a (lapsed) Catholic, the service seemed a little odd to me, but I would absolutely recommend attending no matter what you practice. Because religious life still plays such a role in many Oxbridge colleges, I think that being able to take part is a part of experiencing it all. You won’t be able to take pictures when you go for a service though, FYI. (Although, I may have snuck a few… Normally, I never take pictures- I have none of St. Paul’s, Westminster, or Holyrood for that reason. But for once, I was slightly a maverick.)
King’s College from the River Cam
If you want a beautiful view of the college, and the chapel specifically, go punting. I will do a full post on our punting experience, but the Chapel looks quite gorgeous when you slowly float by it on a boat. While the college as a whole doesn’t look as impressive as some others from the river- mostly because it is quite set back- the Chapel certainly stands out.
King’s College Chapel- Fan Vault
The King’s College Chapel was built between 1446 and 1515, spanning the reigns of several monarchs. It was built in the Perpendicular Gothic English style, and is known for it’s fan vaulted ceiling. (Bath Abbey also has a gorgeous fan vaulted ceiling!) It is the largest fan vault in the world, and will take your breath away. (Remember, look up as soon as you enter any cathedral, as you never know what you will find.) The fan vault was completed during Henry VIII’s reign, between 1512 and 1515. Henry liked to make his mark on things, and the Chapel was no exception.
Have you visited King’s College, Cambridge, and its Chapel?
Cheers,
The Historian
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