What do Jeremy Paxman and Oliver Cromwell Junior have in common? Where in Cambridge can you find a chunk of Winchester Cathedral? How many kings did it take to create King’s College Chapel (and what are their names, for an extra point)? (Answers below.)

To discover the answer to these and other intriguing questions, book a place on one of the free tours offered by Open Cambridge, a new scheme that will allow visitors behind the scenes to explore the history of the Colleges and see some of the treasures not normally accessible to the public.

The first Open Cambridge will take place on Saturday, 13 September. On offer are tours of eight different Colleges, two University museums, Judge Business School (a nostalgic look at the building that was once Addenbrooke’s Hospital), the University Library, and the world’s oldest printing house.

Tours will be led by volunteers who include College porters, bursars, gardeners and graduate students, who will offer a personal as well as historical view of the setting in which they work from day to day.

Organised by the University’s Community Affairs team, Open Cambridge coincides with the national Heritage Open Days scheme (see sidebar) and takes place the day before the annual Bridge the Gap sponsored walk, which raises money for local charities.

All Open Cambridge tours are suitable for families with older children, with an introduction to the history of King’s College Chapel also including hands-on activities for younger visitors. Places on tours are limited and speedy booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

For those unable to get places on their chosen tour, the family-friendly Bridge the Gap walk on 14 September offers an excellent alternative, taking participants on a 4.5 mile route through ten Cambridge Colleges with the chance to drop into the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum along the way.

A full programme of Open Cambridge events can be found on the website (see sidebar). To book places on the tours phone 01223 766766. To find out more about the Bridge the Gap charity walk phone 01223 723115 or go to the Bridge the Gap website through the sidebar.

Answers: Jeremy Paxman and Oliver Cromwell Junior both studied at St Catharine’s College, a section of Winchester Cathedral was used in the construction of the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, six kings contributed to the creation of King’s College Chapel (Henry V1, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III).
 

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