Submitted by Rachael Bailey on Thu, 23/05/2024 - 10:09

Undergraduate Colleges Guide

Grange Road

Student Admissions and Access

This article is the third in our six-part series helping you to learn more about the 29 Colleges available to Cambridge undergraduate students. This series is focusing on the areas in which the Colleges are located. However, there are other factors to consider when deciding on a College. Please read our full advice here.

Grange Road is located a short walk west of Cambridge city centre. In this charming and relatively quiet area, you’ll find sports fields and facilities belonging to various Colleges and the University. These green spaces sit alongside historic buildings, trees and hedgerows, but are still within easy reach of all the amenities the city has to offer. 

There are a number of Colleges in this area which we’ll explore in this article:   

  • Newnham College 
  • Robinson College 
  • Selwyn College 
  • Wolfson College 

Most students live in College for all their years at Cambridge so it’s a good idea to learn more about the area of the city which you may end up calling home.  

About the area

Colleges near Grange Road are within 15 minutes walk of the city centre, and close to various University departments and facilities on the West Cambridge Site and Sidgwick Site.  

Nearby University facilities

These Colleges are close to: 

  • The University Library and Sidgwick Site (including the Faculties of Law, English, Economics and more).
  • West Cambridge Site including the Cavendish Laboratory (Department of Physics), School of Veterinary Medicine, and University Sports Centre.
  • Locations in the city centre, such as the Downing Site (home to departments of Earth Sciences, Psychology, and Genetics) and New Museums Site for the Student Services Centre (SSC).

Getting around

There are bus stops close to all the Colleges that can take you into the city centre and further afield. Walking and cycling are both popular options.  

We’ve included some approximate travel times below.  

City Centre 

  • Walking: Grange Road, 17 mins. Wolfson College, 29 mins.
  • Cycling: Grange Road, 5 mins. Wolfson College, 8 mins.
  • Bus: Grange Road, 17 mins. Wolfson College, 18 mins.

Train station

  • Walking: Grange Road, 38 mins. Wolfson College, 42 mins.
  • Cycling: Grange Road, 12 min. Wolfson College, 12 mins.
  • Bus: Grange Road, 22 mins. Wolfson College, 23 mins.

West Cambridge Site

  • Walking: Grange Road, 32 mins. Wolfson College, 43 mins.
  • Cycling: Grange Road, 7 mins. Wolfson College, 10 mins.
  • Bus: Grange Road, 13 mins. Wolfson College, 18 mins.

Cambridge is a small city that is easy to navigate on foot, by bike, or on public transport. You’ll never be a long journey away from any part of the city whichever College you become part of. 

Local amenities

Colleges in this area are all close to the city centre which has plenty of shops, cafes, and bars.

Highlights in this area include:

Newnham College

Newnham is a women's College and has been so since its foundation. The College has a proud history of supporting women's education at Cambridge, which it has done even before degrees were granted to women starting in 1948. 

Known for its peaceful grounds and beautiful historic buildings, Newnham is home to a tight-knit, friendly, and supportive community of staff and students. 

Like other Colleges in this area, the extra space provided by being outside the city centre means that Newnham has large and open gardens as well as an onsite sports ground. 

Key facts

Year founded

1871

Population size

Approx. 715

Courses available

All courses except Economics

Percentage of en suite rooms

25%

Did you know?

The College’s co-founder, Millicent Fawcett, was a key leader in the women’s suffrage movement in the UK and the first woman commemorated with a statue on Parliament Square in London. 

Want to explore further?

Visit the College's webpage

Robinson College

Robinson is Cambridge's youngest College and was founded less than 50 years ago. Like other newer Colleges, it offers a blend of Cambridge tradition and modern facilities.  

The most distinctive feature of the College is its modern red-brick main building which looks futuristic whilst paying homage to traditional Cambridge architecture. 

The sprawling garden offers a great outdoor space with lots of trees, a brook and an outdoor theatre. 

Key facts

Year founded

1977

Population size

Approx. 685

Courses available

All courses except History of Art

Percentage of en suite rooms

56%

Did you know?

Robinson College Gardens are made up of ten pre-existing Victorian and Edwardian gardens which still retain their distinctive character. 

Want to explore further?

Visit the College's webpage

Selwyn College

Selwyn is the oldest of the Colleges based in the Grange Road area and was the first to establish itself outside the historic city centre, even though it is only a short distance away.  It’s now surrounded by many University facilities, departments, and other Colleges. 

When you arrive at the porter's lodge, you’ll be greeted by traditional architecture, but there are plenty of modern features in this forward-looking College, like the new Bartlam Library, opened in 2021. 

Selwyn keeps the traditional 'court' style layout (an open square surrounded by buildings), providing wide, open and welcoming spaces throughout the College. 

Key facts

Year founded

1882

Population size

Approx. 690

Courses available

All courses

Percentage of en suite rooms

68%

Did you know?

The College takes its name from George Augustus Selwyn, who was the first Bishop of New Zealand (1841-68)

Want to explore further?

Visit the College's webpage

Wolfson College

Wolfson is one of the three mature Colleges at Cambridge. This means all students at the College are aged 21 and over.  

Founded in 1965, Wolfson has grown quickly from a single building reserved only for postgraduate students, to a full-fledged Cambridge College that welcomes mature undergraduates too. Its campus includes modern accommodation arranged in the traditional 'court' style and an onsite library that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Wolfson is proud of the diversity and equality amongst its community, where students at all levels of study share the same spaces. 

Key facts

Year founded

1965

Population size

Approx. 1085

Courses available

All courses except Economics and Mathematics

Percentage of en suite rooms

75%

Did you know?

The College hosts the 'Wolfson Howler' comedy night, which has seen performances from some of the UK’s best comedians including Sara Pascoe, Phil Wang, Josie Long, and Romesh Ranganathan. 

Want to explore further?

Visit the College's webpage

The information in this article is correct at the time of publishing. Please check our website for the most up-to-date information.

Last reviewed: March 2025

TopBuilt with Shorthand