Wren Library
Wren Library
4
Points of Interest & LandmarksUniversities & SchoolsArchitectural Buildings
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
26 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
3
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
2
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WimHobbelink
Oranjewoud, The Netherlands3,924 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
This university library is only open for limited periods. We were there on a Saturday where there happened to be an extra and long opening time. Only about 15 people are allowed in the room at any one time. For us this meant standing in line for more than half an hour. But definitely worth it. The old decor in itself is beautiful. But also special because of special books such as a manuscript of Winnie the Pooh but also special personal items of celebrities such as a lock of Newton's hair and Lord Byron's walking stick.
Automatically translated
Written September 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jen W
Hobart, Australia18 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
Firstly, let me state that I fully understand the need to restrict numbers and for visitors to respect the surroundings, and even to only be open for a short period of time daily.
However, today was the 38degree day. I got there about 12:30 (it’s open 12-2 well actually 1:55 but I’ll get to that), and was met by a queue. Fair enough. But I and those around me were in that queue for over an hour. While there was some shade, as the line inched towards the building, you were made to stand in the sun, or the bloke who obviously LOVED his power, shooed you out of the shaded portico, even though there was still plenty of space for those leaving the building to get past. He also made it quite clear and not too politely, that you might not get in at all - the last entry is 1:50. When I did get in, the place was amazing and I had 15 mins until the 2pm closing time. Sweet. Except that the same rude individual came and asked us all to leave at 1:55 - no argument. What the hell. If you are only going to let people in there until 1:55 then put that on the damn signs. So after over an hour of standing in 38 degrees getting spoken to like a naughty child then finally getting in there, I missed the last two displays, which I could have easily knocked over in the remaining 5 mins to the advertised closing time. Trinity College clearly is sitting on some valuable treasures and is only giving a token gesture of sharing them with the world. Left this visitor with a very bad impression.
However, today was the 38degree day. I got there about 12:30 (it’s open 12-2 well actually 1:55 but I’ll get to that), and was met by a queue. Fair enough. But I and those around me were in that queue for over an hour. While there was some shade, as the line inched towards the building, you were made to stand in the sun, or the bloke who obviously LOVED his power, shooed you out of the shaded portico, even though there was still plenty of space for those leaving the building to get past. He also made it quite clear and not too politely, that you might not get in at all - the last entry is 1:50. When I did get in, the place was amazing and I had 15 mins until the 2pm closing time. Sweet. Except that the same rude individual came and asked us all to leave at 1:55 - no argument. What the hell. If you are only going to let people in there until 1:55 then put that on the damn signs. So after over an hour of standing in 38 degrees getting spoken to like a naughty child then finally getting in there, I missed the last two displays, which I could have easily knocked over in the remaining 5 mins to the advertised closing time. Trinity College clearly is sitting on some valuable treasures and is only giving a token gesture of sharing them with the world. Left this visitor with a very bad impression.
Written July 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BeginsInWonder
Seattle, WA412 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
The Wren Library is underrated on TripAdvisor and maybe that's because the first thing you need to do is plan your trip and it's less likely that people will just wonder in, unlike other sights in Cambridge. It's open to the public during University term term, Monday to Friday, and only at 10.30 - 12.30 on Saturday. You can either get there via Trinity College, paying the £3 entrance fee to the college, or you can walk down Trinity Lane, and at the end, by the Trinity punts, is the entrance to a garden looking out onto the river and part of the backs, and the Wren Library entrance is in there.
If you are a fan of classical architecture, this place is a must. It's a great example of Sir Christopher Wren's well-proportioned architecture and his own interior touches such as reading desks. Most libraries of the time were dark places, whereas the windows in the Wren Library bathe it in light. There's also a stained glass window depicting Sir Isaac Newton being presented to George III by a Muse, which is really unique and quite delightful.
If it's more the books and the history of ideas that delight, the shelves of historical, leather bound volumes make a beautiful library. Then you have the cabinets, covered by velvet curtains, which you can push back to see some of the "treasures" of the library. There is the original manuscript of A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, handwritten manuscripts by Milton and Tennyson, a Shakespeare First Folio (remarked upon in the label as "not very rare" given that there are around 235 in the world), notes by Wittgenstein and the notebooks of Newton. That's a bunch of treasures to see for free in one day! Well worth it!
If you like to take photos, sorry - they say "no photos".
If you are a fan of classical architecture, this place is a must. It's a great example of Sir Christopher Wren's well-proportioned architecture and his own interior touches such as reading desks. Most libraries of the time were dark places, whereas the windows in the Wren Library bathe it in light. There's also a stained glass window depicting Sir Isaac Newton being presented to George III by a Muse, which is really unique and quite delightful.
If it's more the books and the history of ideas that delight, the shelves of historical, leather bound volumes make a beautiful library. Then you have the cabinets, covered by velvet curtains, which you can push back to see some of the "treasures" of the library. There is the original manuscript of A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, handwritten manuscripts by Milton and Tennyson, a Shakespeare First Folio (remarked upon in the label as "not very rare" given that there are around 235 in the world), notes by Wittgenstein and the notebooks of Newton. That's a bunch of treasures to see for free in one day! Well worth it!
If you like to take photos, sorry - they say "no photos".
Written May 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stefanie
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
The doorman told us that the library is closed to the public since COVID.... My daughters and I were very disappointed, because we had the strong impression that it would be accessible between 12 and 2. We could hardly believe it but he was so firm in his statement that visiting was only possible after complicated pre-online-booking, or a request through email. Now I'm quite shocked to see that apparently somebody visited last July, and left an enthusiastic review. What is the status now? I'm confused. And still disappointed.
Written August 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sguven2007
Southampton, UK30 contributions
Aug 2019
We went there and there was a queue. We waited nearly half an hour. The door man would not make any explanation and said "last 10". He counted the people, we were the 11th. And only two more persons were waiting with us.
He must be sacked!!!!! Or he must do his job as he should be.
He was sooooo rude.
He affected all our experience.
It's unacceptable and shame!!!!
He must be sacked!!!!! Or he must do his job as he should be.
He was sooooo rude.
He affected all our experience.
It's unacceptable and shame!!!!
Written August 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
600JohnD
Henderson, NV175 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
Christopher Wren designed the library in Trinity College, Cambridge. He also designed many of the grand new building of Lo Dom after the devastating fire of 1666 including St Pauls Cathedral and Kensington Palace, and his design inspired the Long Room at Trinity College, Dublin.
The library displays some of the most significant books of recent history. It has a first edition of "The Origin of Species" that Darwin gave to his mentor at Cambridge, Adam Sedgwick. It so shocked Sedgwick that he annotated almost every page pointing out Darwin's many failures to comprehend the religion based origin of mankind then accepted by all Western societies. Also Wittgenstein's notebook musings that became "On Certainty."
Truly a treat to visit. Only 15 people are allowed into the museum at a time so plan to wait in line.
The library displays some of the most significant books of recent history. It has a first edition of "The Origin of Species" that Darwin gave to his mentor at Cambridge, Adam Sedgwick. It so shocked Sedgwick that he annotated almost every page pointing out Darwin's many failures to comprehend the religion based origin of mankind then accepted by all Western societies. Also Wittgenstein's notebook musings that became "On Certainty."
Truly a treat to visit. Only 15 people are allowed into the museum at a time so plan to wait in line.
Written July 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeraldineM53
Dublin, Ireland191 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
A group of history buffs from Dublin visited here recently on a w.end trip to Cambs. What a lovely place - free entry during certain hours, but soooo worth paying to visit. Amazing room in itself - see stained glass window on end wall, shelves of leather bound books and original desks & stools. Then check out the contents of the glass display cases - hand-written notes from famous writers, 1st edition works from Karl Marx, Darwin, handwritten poems by Milton - amazing stuff. We met staff member Billy on our visit and he made it really special with all his information & stories. (many thanks Billy) - never knew that the cat-flap was invented by Isaac Newton, clever guy!
Written April 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
buddingtraveller17
Redhill, UK77 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
We went on a weekday in February. There was no queue and we walked straight in at about 12.30. It is only open for 2 hours between 12-2pm so make sure you allow enough time for your visit! We spent perhaps 20 minutes here.
It's a small library with artefacts under glass, covered by cloth. It's a working library and although visitors are permitted, students were still present during that time.
It was humbling to see Sir Isaac Newton and Ramanujan's handwritten notes - two extremely inspiring gentleman who attended Trinity College, Cambridge.
Well worth a visit!
It's a small library with artefacts under glass, covered by cloth. It's a working library and although visitors are permitted, students were still present during that time.
It was humbling to see Sir Isaac Newton and Ramanujan's handwritten notes - two extremely inspiring gentleman who attended Trinity College, Cambridge.
Well worth a visit!
Written March 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chantal R
Leuven, Belgium373 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
You can visit the Wren library for free - but only 15 visitors are admitted at the same time. So it's quite likely you'll have to queue up for a couple of minutes, but the library is well worth it. The library in itself is already beautiful, with the authentic shelves and busts of famous scholars, but they also have temporary exhibitions of interesting books and papers.
Written May 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryansma33
Sun Prairie, WI287 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
The library is only open from 12pm-2pm a few days a week. It is a treasure and well worth the trouble to see. Only a few people are let in at a time, allowing the freedom to look at the displays (under cover in glass cases) without too many people pushing you out of the way. We arrived at 12:05 and had to wait 10 minutes. As one person left, another went in. No exceptions. If your party didn't want to split up, they waited until another person left.
As others have stated, there are many amazing exhibits- an original AA Milne "Winnie the Pooh" (both AA and Christopher Robin Milne attended Cambridge). A lock of hair, original manuscript, and walking stick from Sir Isaac Newton (another alum). So many prayer books from 900's-1500's.
This is well worth the time and effort to get in. I felt guilty taking my time, but knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Being in the presence of such rare books was truly an honor.
The comments about overzealous bossy staff are not false. However, given the nature of the setting (no photos, research library, priceless collection) it is warranted. I appreciated the quiet, and although the children that were there were quiet and respectful I question whether it's an appropriate "tourist" spot for small children-- as they take up the spot of someone else.
As others have stated, there are many amazing exhibits- an original AA Milne "Winnie the Pooh" (both AA and Christopher Robin Milne attended Cambridge). A lock of hair, original manuscript, and walking stick from Sir Isaac Newton (another alum). So many prayer books from 900's-1500's.
This is well worth the time and effort to get in. I felt guilty taking my time, but knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Being in the presence of such rare books was truly an honor.
The comments about overzealous bossy staff are not false. However, given the nature of the setting (no photos, research library, priceless collection) it is warranted. I appreciated the quiet, and although the children that were there were quiet and respectful I question whether it's an appropriate "tourist" spot for small children-- as they take up the spot of someone else.
Written January 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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