Visiting College
The visitor policy currently permits St John’s alumni and their guests to enter the College, along with other members of the University and those visiting for specific education or research purposes.
Access to College is via the Great Gate or alternatively the Forecourt wicket gate (opposite Taylors Guild) between 9am – 5pm Monday to Sunday. Additionally, alumni are always welcome to attend Chapel services at 6.30pm.
Alumni are welcome to enter Chapel if it is open.
Enjoy new social dining spaces at St John’s.
Punts can be used if available. You can book in advance via Cripps Porters’ Lodge on 01223 338729.
Rooms can be booked for overnight stays by contacting guestrooms@joh.cam.ac.uk.
Toilets are available at the Fisher Building, I First Court, the Buttery/Bar/Cafe in Second Court and E staircase Chapel Court.
No parking is available to alumni on site.
Read the full visitor policy here
St John’s alumni benefits
St John’s guest rooms can be booked by alumni for a maximum of three consecutive nights. The accommodation is located at 9 Pound Hill, a 3 minute walk from Cripps Porters Lodge. The 2023/24 prices are £63.45 for a single room and £86.44 for a twin room.
To book please contact the Accommodation & Bookings Office on guestrooms@joh.cam.ac.uk or 01223 338691.
Please note that children under the age of 16 cannot be accommodated in College. All rooms are subject to availability. Rooms are unavailable during the Christmas vacation period.
Johnians who matriculated as undergraduates six or more years ago and Johnians who began a course of graduate studies three or more years ago, if not currently in residence, are welcome to dine in College up to three times per academic year at College expense. Exceptions are Saturdays, dates when there is a College function and the month of August.
Accommodation is available on the night you dine, if a guest room is available. See rates and booking details above.
Dinner bookings should be made through the Fellowship and Events Administrator on 01223 338731, by email at FellowsSteward@joh.cam.ac.uk or using our dining privileges form a minimum of 7 days before you wish to dine.
A spectacular new Buttery, Café and Bar has opened to meet the demands of 21st century studying and eating. All three venues are filled with natural light while maintaining a sense of homeliness.
Alumni are welcome to make use of these contemporary and stylish spaces to eat, drink and meet when they are visiting College.
Opening hours at all three facilities vary according to term/holiday periods. Opening hours for Michaelmas Term 2023 are available here.
Johnians are welcome to use the College punts. Punts cost £15 per hour for alumni and should be booked by calling the Cripps Porters’ Lodge on 01223 338729. Punts can be taken out without a prior booking but availability cannot be guaranteed if no booking is made in advance. The punts are normally on the water from March to late November, and are available nearly every day, excepting, for example, the period around the May Ball.
Please contact the Porters’ Lodge in advance to ensure availability for the day of your visit and to book. Payment is preferably taken by card. Cash can be taken if necessary, though no change is given.
Johnians are always welcome to attend College Chapel Services. During Full Term, Choral Evensong takes place at 6.30pm every day, and there is a sung service at 10.30am on Sunday. Details may be found on the Chapel webpages.
College members are permitted to climb the Chapel tower with up to seven guests during daylight hours. Keys to the Chapel tower are available from the Forecourt Porters’ Lodge. Please note that guests musts wear appropriate footwear and abide by the Chapel tower access conditions.
Johnians and their guests are welcome to visit the Old Library without prior appointment during staffed hours (Monday to Friday, 9am–1pm and 2–5pm). Bags must be left with staff, and all visitors must sign in. Johnians wishing to consult material held in the Library should arrange an appointment in advance by contacting Kathryn McKee, the College’s Special Collections Librarian, on 01223 339393 or by email at km10007@cam.ac.uk. When arranging an appointment, they should specify what material they wish to consult.
The Old Library is closed on certain days throughout the year, and we therefore advise Johnians to contact Kathryn McKee before making a trip to College. Discover more about the College’s Old Library, Working Library and Archives.
The newer Working Library welcomes all St John’s alumni wishing to visit or study during staffed hours, usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Due to limited space, we are unable to offer car parking to Johnians, unless they have booked a guest room in College or parking has been provided for a specific event.
When parking is available, it is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Vehicles are left at the owners’ risk. Public parking is available nearby on Castle Hill and at the Grand Arcade. Cambridge is served by a number of Park & Ride services.
As an alumnus/a of St John’s, you have access to a programme of alumni events in College and around the world as well as matriculation reunion lunches and dinners in College. We will keep you updated on news from College and the alumni community through our publications and monthly enewsletter. You can join Johnian Hub to connect directly with other Johnians.
University of Cambridge alumni benefits
Additional University benefits and services are available for alumni and former postdocs. These include the CAM card and cantab email.
St John’s College reserves the right to modify or withdraw its alumni benefits at any time without prior notification.