Food & drink / Cambridge
The Queen’s Head, Newton
A family-owned free house trading since at least 1729, with cask ale served from the stillage and one of England's most complete traditional pub interiors.
01 / Why it matters
More than a stop on a list.
Few pubs around Cambridge preserve this much real fabric, custom and continuity: the Queen’s Head is historic because of how it still works, not merely because the building is old.
The Queen's Head is the strongest historic-pub excursion in the Cambridge area. The Grade II-listed building is early eighteenth century, and the pub has traded since at least 1729. Its quarry-tiled public bar, high-backed settle, jug-and-bottle hatch, separate saloon and direct-from-cask service preserve practices and fittings that have disappeared elsewhere. It is also one of the very small number of pubs represented in every edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide. This is a purposefully traditional village pub, not a themed reconstruction.
02 / The essentials
What makes it remarkable.
- 01
The Queen's Head has traded as a pub since at least 1729.
- 02
The early eighteenth-century building is Grade II listed.
- 03
CAMRA gives the interior its highest three-star heritage rating.
- 04
The public bar retains quarry tiles, old panelling, a fireplace and a high-backed settle.
- 05
A surviving jug-and-bottle hatch records an older form of off-sales service.
- 06
It is one of only a handful of pubs to appear in every edition of the Good Beer Guide.
03 / The place
The building in context.
A story written in stone since 1729.
- Built
- Early eighteenth century; pub since at least 1729
- Style
- Traditional multi-room village public house
- Listing
- Grade II; CAMRA three-star historic interior
04 / Before you go
Plan it well.
Enjoy it properly.
Practical detail, separated from the story so you can scan what matters when you are ready to visit.
Tickets & entry
No admission charge; drinks and food are individually priced.
Opening hours
Closed Monday. Split lunchtime and evening hours Tuesday–Saturday, with Sunday opening currently limited to 12:00–16:00. Check the official website before travelling.
Booking
Mostly first come, first served. Contact the pub for groups of six or more and special occasions.
Access
CAMRA records a step at the front entrance and no accessible WC. Contact the pub before travelling if step-free access is required.
Good to know
Easy inside, subject to the entrance step. · Usually unnecessary; call for larger groups.
Continue exploring / Cambridge
What will you
do next?
Compare the practical essentials first, then open the experiences that earn a place in your plans.
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35CollegesAll the collegesEvery Cambridge collegeOpen the college guide →Food & drink / a storyThe six oldest pubsWalk the timeline →Plan / Itinerary builderBuild your Cambridge dayStart planning →05 / Where it is
Find it
and what’s nearby.
05 / Good to know
Questions,
answered.
01How far is the Queen’s Head from Cambridge?
It is in Newton, south of the city. Treat it as a dedicated excursion rather than a central Cambridge pub stop.
02Why is the interior important?
It retains a rare combination of old room divisions, bar fittings, a jug-and-bottle hatch, direct-from-cask service and sympathetic later alterations.
03Does it serve food?
Yes. The pub is known for simple food such as soup and sandwiches, with additional evening arrangements on selected days.
04Is it accessible?
CAMRA records an entrance step and no accessible WC. Contact the pub directly for current assistance.