Queens
If you were to take to the streets of Cambridge asking current Cambridge students which college they'd like to be at if they weren't at their own, Queens' would be near the top of the list. Queens' is a college renowned for it's friendly and sociable students and being a relatively large college, admitting around 150 undergraduates every year, incoming freshers are certain to find likeminded friends.
Queens' sociable reputation definitely has its roots in it's highly popular weekly college bops. Queens' Ents are certainly the biggest and arguably the best college ents in Cambridge, with Emma's 'Funk Da Bar' as an alternative to Cindies on a Wednesday the only other college ents to even come close. Ents are popular with students from Queens' and much further afield as the place to be on a Friday night. Queens Bar is also one of the most popular in Cambridge along with Jesus, Emmanuel and Kings. It's pioneering 'Bar FTSE' evenings have proved increasingly popular with students outside of college. Drinks prices correspond to quantities of said drink purchased with random market crashes seeing prices of beverages such as vodka shots and pints of carlsberg drop to as low as 25p, causing masses to surge towards the bar.
Historically, Queens' had always supported it's 'Party College' reputation with solid academic results, with consistent top 5 finishes in the college league table, the Tompkins Table. However, recent years has seen the college slide down the table and Queens' now finds itself languishing in 16th place, a long way behind the current high achieving colleges like Selwyn and Emmanuel.
Students are provided with accomodation on-site for three years with most first years going into the eye-sore that is Cripps Court, moving into the slightly more aesthetically pleasing Fisher Building in second year with most third years residing on the 'Dark Side' across the world famous Mathematical Bridge.
The food is solid although perhaps not up to the standard one would expect of a college with a Michelin-starred desert chef as it's resident Head Chef. Needless to say, the puddings at Formal Hall tend to be of a very high standard, although watch out for the buttery new potatoes!
If a prospective student is looking for a college with a high sporting pedigree and facilities then sadly Queens' probably is not the college for them. Having said that, the Boat Club is in the First Division and a recently revitalised rugby and football teams have had success in the form of promotions in recent seasons. The sports ground (shared with Robinson) is a 10-minute cycle away at Barton Road, although the college does offer a gym and squash courts.
Queens' is a notoriously friendly college and it's excellent location in the centre of Cambridge makes it an attractive proposition to many prospective students. In the summer term, college punts are available and the lawn which backs onto the River Cam is always a hive of students escaping revision and tourists falling into the river. The college has a wonderful atmosphere and what it may lack in sporting pedigree it certainly makes up for with its highly sociable nature.
Official Website
Student Union website
