Open Days and Visiting

If you have been reading about studying at King's on this website and are interested in a potential application for an undergraduate course, one way to find out more is to attend one of our Open Days. You'll get your questions answered by Admissions staff and often meet subject specialists too, chat with current students and have a guided tour of the College. These events are a great way to get a feel for King's, how the University works and what Cambridge is like as a city, as well as finding out more about the application process.

Can't wait for an open day? We hold regular informal meetings throughout the year! See below for further information. 

King's Open Days in 2023

Open Day sessions are for prospective undergraduate students only, though parents and guardians will be able to visit the Chapel and public areas of the grounds in most cases (for in person events and when the college is open only). Some Open Day sessions are specifically designed for particular students, whilst others are open to all applicants looking to study any subject at King's.

Upcoming Open Days in 2023

15th September - Cambridge University Open Day

Please note: As we are expecting large numbers of visitors, we ask that prospective students are accompanied by a maximum of 2 guests (including parents, guardians, siblings, friends etc). If your group is larger than this, we may ask some of the group to wait outside the college.

Timetable

 

King's College will be open to visitors 10am - 4pm (last entry 3pm).

1. College tours with our student helpers will be running 10am-3pm.

This is a great opportunity to see college acommodation, speak to students about their experiences in King's, and visit parts of the college not usually open to visitors.

 

2. Drop-in sessions with the Admissions Officer and the Admissions Tutor (10am-3pm, in the Chetwynd room)

This is an excellent opportunity to discuss with those intimately engaged in the admissions process .

 

3. 12-1pm Question and Answer session with Admissions Tutor, Dr Zoe Adams, in Keynes Hall

The Admissions Tutor oversees the entire Admissions process, and so is responsible for assessing your files, and making Admissions decisions, in consultation with subject-specialists. This session is thus a really important opportunity for prospective applicants to ask a range of questions about the admissions process; about how to make their applications attractive; what to expect at King's, and Cambridge. Zoe is very open and willing to answer whatever questions you may have - there is no such thing as a stupid question!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting at Other Times

Prospective students are always welcome to visit King's. Please email us at slo@kings.cam.ac.uk or undergraduate.admissions@kings.cam.ac.uk to make arrangements. We won't be able process any requests for visits on the same day, so to avoid disappointment, please contact us at least 5 working days ahead of your visit. Our normal office hours are Mon - Fri from 9am - 5pm and we will not be able to respond outside of those hours.

Please include in your request:

  • your full name 
  • subject you are interested in applying for
  • your school year
  • time and date you would like to visit 

The public areas of King's will be open to you and a self-guided tour available to download below. Guided tours of the College for prospective students are only available at Open Days. 

 

King's College, Cambridge - Tour of College for prospective students

virutal-tour-of-library
The Library is normally closed to the public but this virtual tour will give you a sense of its appearance and different rooms.
bodleys_tour
Take a virtual tour of the College grounds and explore King's from the Front Gate to the River Cam and Fellows' Garden.
chapel-virutal-tour
Use the 'Navigate the Chapel' button in the top left of the tour to choose a different viewing point in the Chapel.
We offer a range of online sessions for prospective applicants, providing information and an opportunity to have your questions answered

Visiting the Rest of the University

As well as visiting King's you will probably want to visit other parts of the University - whether other Colleges, academic departments, or other facilities such as the University Library and museums. If you visit during the Open Days in July, each faculty has an infomation stand and you can attend taster lectures and chat with academics and current students in your subject. The University Library and teaching collections are also open to visit on these days.

Many departments also run Saturday Subject Masterclasses for Year 12 students in November, or have their own Open Days specifically designed for prospective students looking to study that subject. Check the links below for more details.

The University has some very interesting and significant teaching collections and museums which might be relevant depending on your subject, such as the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, The Polar Museum, and the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences. Many of the resources are used in undergraduate teaching, and admission is free of charge (except for the Botanic Gardens). The University maps should help orientate you when you're here.

Travel and Accommodation

Cambridge is a well-connected city, accessible by train, coach, car, and plane. For more information about getting to the College, do check the Visit King's area of the website. Whilst we cannot assist with travel expenses as a general rule, students who are (or have previously been) in care may be eligible for financial assistance from the University Open Day travel fund.

Accommodation in central Cambridge can be expensive and if you are staying overnight it might be worth considering accommodation 1-2 miles from King's, or near the train station, where there is a Youth Hostel and several more affordable B&Bs. The local bus and taxi services may be useful if you do not want to walk.

We are currently not able to provide accommodation at King's for individual students visiting or attending Open Days. Some of the other Cambridge Colleges provide Bed & Breakfast at specific times of the year and you might like to look at the Accommodation in Cambridge page below for alternative options.

Accommodation gallery 1
Useful information for prospective students about where to stay in Cambridge during your visit to the College.

What If I Can't Visit King's?

Don't worry: it is not essential to visit King's or Cambridge before applying, and many successful candidates have never been to Cambridge before their interview. If you're unable to visit the College or University prior to making your application, you can find lots of information here and on the main University website, which should help explain how studying in Cambridge works.

If you'd like to take a look around from the comfort of your own home, you can use the virtual tours to see inside the College and our world-famous Chapel. The King's Student Perspectives also give you an insight into what it is really like to live and study at King's, and are particularly useful if you have not had the opportunity to chat with current students on an Open Day.

You could also take part in one of our online sessions which gives you the opportunity to answer any questions you might have! 

bodleys_tour
Take a virtual tour of the College grounds and explore King's from the Front Gate to the River Cam and Fellows' Garden.
We offer a range of online sessions for prospective applicants, providing information and an opportunity to have your questions answered

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