Like its great rival, Oxford, Cambridge is most famous for its University, a centre of academic excellence since the 13th century.

The University was first founded as the result of some unrest between the University and the townspeople in Oxford. The unrest led some Oxford University students to look for somewhere else to study - and Cambridge, with its religious academics seemed an obvious choice.

Also like Oxford, Cambridge’s academic roots lie in monastic traditions, whereby students study under their individual master. As a result the University of Cambridge is made up of separate colleges, each with their own unique histories and traditions.

Over the years more than 30 such colleges have been founded, and Cambridge University has gained an enviable reputation as a centre for academic excellence.

Today many of the colleges are open to the public, although opening hours vary greatly so do check in advance. In addition, there are some restrictions to public access, particularly during exam time, so you may be disappointed.

More information about the best known and most interesting of the University Colleges can be found by using the links below.