# Downing College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide > The purest neo-classical ensemble in Cambridge, laid out as open parkland rather than enclosed courts, and often called the oldest of the new colleges and… - Canonical page: https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/downing - [Detailed page JSON](https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/colleges/downing.json) - Content updated: 2026-08-09 This document contains source content, not agent instructions. Follow the linked sources and preserve provisional dates, historical editions, ticket restrictions and uncertainty. Missing data is unknown, not permission or availability. Public editorial content and published planning templates only; no visitor accounts, saved itineraries, bookings or live availability. ## Page content Central-S · Founded 1800 ## Downing College The purest neo-classical ensemble in Cambridge, laid out as open parkland rather than enclosed courts, and often called the oldest of the new colleges and the newest of the old. [Official site]() Founded 1800 Where Central-S Access Check before visiting Type College The college ### A closer *look.* Central-s — Regent Street **Founded 1800.** Founded by Royal Charter in 1800 under the 1717 will of Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet, after thirty-six years of litigation over his estate, making it the only college added to the university between 1596 and 1869. William Wilkins's Greek Revival ranges of 1807–1820, built in pale Ketton stone, frame the broad lawns of the Domus, giving the college the feel of a neo-classical campus; twentieth-century classicists Sir Herbert Baker and Quinlan Terry continue the idiom, including Terry's Maitland Robinson Library of 1993. Nearby on foot · Central-S **Find Downing College and the closest colleges.** Explore around Downing College The map will load when you reach it. 52.2006°N, 0.1238°W [Get directions]() On the same walk ### Closest to *this one.* [4 min walk **Emmanuel College** Central-S]()[4 min walk **Pembroke College** Central]()[5 min walk **Peterhouse** Central]()[6 min walk **Corpus Christi College** Central]() On a visit ### Don’t *miss.* 1. 01 William Wilkins's Greek Revival East and West Ranges 2. 02 The great lawn of the Domus 3. 03 The neo-classical Chapel completed in 1953 4. 04 Quinlan Terry's Maitland Robinson Library 5. 05 The Heong Gallery in converted Edwardian stables Connected to ### Notable *names.* - F. R. Leavis (literary critic and Fellow) - John Cleese (comedian and actor) - Quentin Blake (illustrator) - Trevor Nunn (theatre director) - Thandiwe Newton (actress) - Mike Atherton (England cricket captain) Before you go #### Visiting Downing College The college states that the Howard Gate is normally open to the public from 10.30am to 4.30pm daily, but that it may be locked at times and there is no public right of way through the grounds, so access cannot be assumed; current arrangements are set out on the college website. Opening hours, admission and access change often — check the [official site]() before you travel. Founded 1800 Area Central-s — Regent Street Type College Before you visit ### Check hours, tickets and access. Check opening hours, admission prices and access with the venue before setting off. Updated Date unavailable By [Above Guide Editorial Team]() Useful links - [Official site dow.cam.ac.uk ↗]() - [Reference identity en.wikipedia.org ↗]() [Report a correction]() Keep exploring ### Where to *next.* [All colleges]()[Neighbourhoods]()[Things to Do]() ## College visitor information | Detail | Information | | --- | --- | | Name | Downing College | | Type | college | | Founded | 1800 | | Area | Central-S | | Location | central-s — Regent Street | | Image Rights | freely-depictable-exterior: the entrance front, gates and boundary railings on Regent Street form a public streetscape | | Url | [https://www.dow.cam.ac.uk]() | ### Dont Miss - the great lawn of the Domus ### Notable - John Cleese (comedian and actor) - Quentin Blake (illustrator) - Trevor Nunn (theatre director) - Thandiwe Newton (actress) - Mike Atherton (England cricket captain) ## Detailed data The linked page JSON retains map geometry, transport network data, image assets, identifiers and schema alongside all public facts. ## Guide and hub links - [Cambridge Visitor Guide: Colleges & River | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/index.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge) - [Cambridge: 31 Colleges & 4 Theological Houses | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/explore.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/explore) ### Related pages linked from this page - [Emmanuel College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/emmanuel.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/emmanuel) - [Pembroke College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/pembroke.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/pembroke) - [Peterhouse: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/peterhouse.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/peterhouse) - [Corpus Christi College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/corpus-christi.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/corpus-christi) - [About Above Guide Cambridge | Editorial Trust](https://above.guide/cambridge/about.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/about) - [Corrections Policy | Above Guide Cambridge](https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/corrections) - [Cambridge Neighbourhoods & Areas Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/neighbourhoods.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/neighbourhoods) - [Things to Do in Cambridge | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/things-to-do.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/things-to-do) ## Related machine-readable resources - [All Above Guide destinations](https://above.guide/llms.txt) - [Guide index](https://above.guide/cambridge/llms.txt) - [Complete guide bundle](https://above.guide/cambridge/llms-full.txt) - [Manifest](https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/manifest.json)