King's College Chapel Religious Site

Address: King’s College Chapel, King’s Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1ST, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel

King’s College Chapel is the collegiate chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, and a landmark example of English Perpendicular Gothic architecture. Construction began in 1446 under King Henry VI and the chapel was completed in 1515.

Commissioned by Henry VI in 1446, construction extended through the late 15th and early 16th centuries with major work completed during the reigns of Henry VI and Henry VIII. Over the centuries the chapel has been conserved and maintained as part of the college’s religious and cultural life.

The chapel stands in central Cambridge adjacent to the college’s Great Court and is easily reached on foot from the city centre and Cambridge railway station.

• Choral services: Daily choral services are held during term time; the chapel’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is broadcast internationally each Christmas.
• Construction dates: Construction began in the mid 15th century and was completed in the early 16th century under successive kings of England.

What to See#

• Choir: The choir and chancel area, used for regular chapel services and noted for its acoustics and ensemble performances.
• East Window (stained glass): The East Window, a large sequence of stained glass panels dating from the chapel’s construction period that occupy much of the east wall.
• Fan vaulting: The fan vaulting of the roof, one of the finest and largest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic stone vaulting in England.
• Organ: The historic pipe organ located in the chapel, used for services, concerts and recordings.

King’s College Chapel is in the centre of Cambridge. Trains run regularly to Cambridge railway station from London (for example London King’s Cross and London Liverpool Street services); from Cambridge station it is roughly a 15-20 minute walk (about 1 km) into the city centre along Station Road and then down King’s Parade to the chapel. Local buses and taxis from the station also serve the city centre if you prefer not to walk.

• Buy a timed‑entry ticket in advance during term time and summer - the chapel fills quickly and online booking avoids long queues at the visitor entrance on King's Parade.
• If you want the musical experience rather than the tour, check the college's schedule and attend choral services (Evensong) - the chapel's acoustics and choir are a different experience from a daytime visit.
• Arrive just after opening or late afternoon to see the fan vaulting and stained glass with fewer tour groups; audio guides and exhibition panels in the visitor centre add useful context if you have limited time.