Pembroke College, Cambridge

Found at the corner of Pembroke Street and Trumpington Street, Pembroke College is one of Cambridge University’s largest colleges. Begin at the main gatehouse on Trumpington Street, the easiest way to identify the college and the last surviving part of its original medieval foundation. Established in 1347 by Marie de Saint Pol, widow of the Earl of Pembroke, the college is the third-oldest in the University of Cambridge and was first known as Valence Mary.

Enter through the gatehouse into the First Court. The chapel is directly ahead and slightly to the right; identify it by its restrained classical façade, tall round-headed windows, and stone pediment. It was the first building designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who later became famous as the architect of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, and its elegant style contrasts clearly with the older college buildings around it.

Continue toward the hall area, where Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse redesigned the dining hall and nearby rooms. As you pass beside the hall, look for the narrow passageway and the old spiral stone staircase, two charming details often missed by hurried visitors. To reach the New Court, continue past the chapel side of the First Court and follow the passage leading deeper into the college. Set back from the street, the New Court was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott and is recognizable by its more uniform 19th-century residential ranges.

From the New Court, keep moving inward toward the quieter garden area to find The Orchard. This is not a formal planted garden, but a semi-wild green space near the centre of the college grounds, distinguishable from the manicured lawns by its looser planting and tucked-away feel. Nearby, look for the impressive row of plane trees and the historic bowling green, returfed in 1996 and reputed to be among the oldest still in use in Europe.

Pembroke is worth visiting for its calm atmosphere, beautifully kept gardens, and remarkable mix of medieval, classical, Victorian, and later architecture. Unlike many central Cambridge colleges, it is often free to enter, and visitors may even walk on some of the grass, which is an unusual privilege in Cambridge.