Visitors are welcome to come and explore our beautiful grounds and visit the Sidney Chapel during opening hours.

We're always very pleased to welcome visitors to the College during opening hours. Visitors to Sidney should report to the Porters' Lodge on arrival. The main entrance gates and Porters' Lodge are located on Sidney Street, directly opposite the supermarket Sainsbury's.

Sidney is open to the general public wishing to explore the grounds on Monday - Sunday throughout much of the year. The College is closed during the examination period (April - June inclusive) and on certain dates (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years Day). The College occasionally holds wedding ceremonies and will be closed to the general public on any such day. The Chapel may also be unavailable at certain times.

Please contact our friendly Porters' Lodge to check that the College will be open on the day you wish to visit.

Travelling to Sidney

By Car

The College's main entrance and Porters' Lodge are marked on this map of Cambridge with a bowler hat and red triangle. The gate to the College's car park on King Street is marked with a red triangle and car on the map. Unfortunately, the car park is very small and so ordinarily we are unable to provide parking to visitors. Enquiries about visitor parking should be directed to the Head Porter.

Please note that this car park can only be accessed from King Street, via Hobson Street. St Andrews Street is not accessible to private vehicles after the junction with Park Terrace. To get to Hobson Street it is necessary to travel along Park Terrace and then anti-clockwise around Parker Street, Drummer Street and Emmanuel Street. Turn right into St Andrew's Street and continue along to Hobson Street and King Street.

Parking in Cambridge

Due to constraints on parking, visitors are advised to use one of the city's five Park and Ride sites:

  • West (off the A45) - Madingley Road Park and Ride East (off the A14)
  • Newmarket Road Park and Ride North (off the A10)
  • Milton Park and Ride Southeast (off the A604)
  • Babraham Road Park and Ride Southwest (off the A10/A1301/M11)
  • Trumpington Park and Ride

The Park and Ride sites are all well signposted off the major routes into Cambridge.

The closest multi-storey car park to Sidney is in nearby Park Street. This is accessible via Victoria Avenue or Maids Causeway, and then Jesus Lane. Permanent bollards and one way systems block access from other directions.

NOTE: School parties travelling to Sidney should be aware that car parks in Cambridge city centre are restricted to short stay only. If overnight parking for coaches is required they would be well advised to use the Park and Ride facilities and make their own arrangements with the Park and Ride authority.

By Rail

Sidney is a twenty-minute walk from Cambridge railway station - follow Station Road, Regent Street, St Andrews Street and then Sidney Street.

There are regular buses from the railway station to the city centre - numbers 1, 3, 7 and 8 drop off on St Andrews Street outside the Magistrates' Court. Continue north (in the direction of the vehicle traffic) and where the road forks continue along the pedestrianised Sidney Street to reach the College.

There is also a taxi rank outside the station.

By Coach

Long distance coach stops are adjacent to the Police Station on Parkside. The College is a ten minute walk away. Walk north up Parkside and Parker Street, then turn left onto Emmanuel Street and right into St Andrews Street. Follow the directions as above.