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King's College Cambridge
“Founded in 1441 by Henry VI, King's College is committed to intellectual excellence and innovation.”
This is a somewhat unfortunate choice for the first words you will read if you look at the college website. It gives the impression of a college which is overly traditional and stuffy. Yet despite being one of the oldest Cambridge colleges, King’s is one of the most progressive, with a strong tradition of liberal politics and a high proportion of state school students. The radical socialism of a few years ago has given way to a far less heated atmosphere and the King’s bar and coffee shop are relaxing and friendly places to be, as evidenced by the fact that there always appears to be a large number of students from other colleges hanging around.
King’s has a reputation for being very politically active and indeed political discussion is commonplace, but I’ve never been made to feel like I have to have an opinion on everything nor that there is any particular reigning ideology; the bar is no longer painted red! The college is medium-sized with a large number of post-graduate students, which somehow gives it a less frantic atmosphere than some other colleges. By the end of year one you should know everyone in your year-group by name.
The King’s approach to sport reflects the character of the college, being inclusive rather than competitive. We do, however, have a pretty strong rowing team. For those interested in music there’s the King’s Voices, a professional standard choir of college students with a passion for singing, and there are regular performances of instrumental and choral music in the chapel, not to mention the annual carol service. King’s students tend to be active members of university life, often being members of multiple university- and college-based societies. We’re famous for the quality and variety our “ents” (entertainment nights) with stand-up comedy, live music and club nights in the cellar bar. There is usually a discount on entry to such events for college members.
We’re right in the centre of town so you’re within ten minutes’ walk of most places in Cambridge. Part of the college land runs along the banks of the River Cam and punts can be rented at a knock-down price for excursions on the river. The architecture of the college is nothing short of sublime (except for the cleverly hidden Keynes building) with a range of styles, shapes and sizes. I am still utterly in love with the unique combination of light and space and whenever I need it, a walk around the grounds never fails to cheer me up. The Fellows’ Garden, open to all college members for relaxation and contemplation, is peaceful and beautiful. The college library is well stocked with pretty much all the books you need, whatever you’re course. It has a wonderful character to it; intimate but not claustrophobic. And of course, there is the world-famous chapel with its world-famous choir.
For me, King’s has all of the beauty and tradition of an old Cambridge college but with none of the elitism, stuffiness or “old boys” public school cliques. Formal halls are formal in name only and freshers are specifically told not to bother buying a gown because you won’t need it until graduation! In almost every respect, King’s seems to enjoy the best of both worlds, with a “work hard, play harder” culture and the resources and variety of a larger college without the sense of individual anonymity. All things considered, I’d say it’s the best college in the university and there’s no place I’d rather be.
