The unique college set-up at Cambridge is one of the University’s key selling points. Each college has a vast selection of pros and (sometimes) cons, constantly discussed online in student articles as prospective undergraduates aim to select the best college to apply to. So, when it comes to sports, which of the Cambridge colleges are set up the best for the sportiest students?

“The biggest pull is, of course, the pool!”

Oftentimes, the further a college is from the centre of town, the more on-site facilities it may possess. However, there is more to the question than just this proximity issue, with certain lucky colleges owning fantastic facilities right in the beating heart of the city, whether in the form of outdoor pools, picturesque pitches, or recently refurbished gyms. Here are the colleges with the best sporting facilities at the University of Cambridge!

Christ’s College

A college perhaps known best for its academic excellence, Christ’s clearly also deserves a reputation as a place for sporty students, with a plethora of facilities available to its cohort. Alongside boasting both an in-college as well as a boathouse gym, a squash court on its central site, and sharing a well-equipped sporting ground with St Catharine’s College, the star of the show for Christ’s is their picturesque seventeenth-century outdoor swimming pool. Nestled away amongst the college greenery, the pool is seemingly straight out of a movie set, and, as is tradition, Christ’s students get very familiar with the water post-exams!

Churchill College

Churchill’s 42-acre site obviously comes with a lot of green space: space that is put to excellent use by a college that clearly values sport highly. The ease of having sports facilities on your doorstep, whether that be basketball hoops, tennis courts or rugby pitches, is a major benefit for those attending the college, whilst a well-equipped gym and the college’s very own (two!) dance studios help Churchill to stand out as one of the colleges where it is easiest to exercise.

Emmanuel College

Similar to Christ’s, Emma’s unique selling point is its 18th-century outdoor pool. Students are also lucky enough to have access to squash courts, table tennis, and a gym, all on the College site, whilst a well-kept sports ground on Wilberforce Road is for Emma’s use alone. In the summer months, croquet is even set up in college!

Girton College

Forever criticised for its presence as the ultimate ‘far-away’ college, Girton more than makes up for that label with its state-of-the-art sporting facilities. Akin to Churchill, Girton is home to a range of on-site outdoor courts and pitches used for student fixtures, alongside fully-stocked gym equipment and a squash court. However, the biggest pull is, of course, the pool! Having your very own heated indoor swimming pool in college is certainly a premium.

Homerton College

Another college too often bemoaned for its location away from the hubbub of the city centre is Homerton, an institute that boasts an outstanding array of facilities for its students. Its gym - open 24 hours a day - is certainly one of the best college gyms in the University, and the large grounds on the Hills Road site afford students plenty of opportunities to play sports just outside their rooms. Furthermore, the recent collaboration between Homerton and St Mary’s School, Cambridge, has led to the creation of a spectacular sports ground on Long Road, complete with facilities ranging from a high jump and long jump to two floodlit Astroturf pitches.

Jesus College

An unsurprising entry to the list, given its status as the ‘sporty’ college; not only are Jesus’ on-site facilities brilliant, with multiple hard courts, gyms and squash courts, but the college’s location leaves it remarkably close to the river and therefore the Jesus boathouse, reducing any distance-related barriers to taking up Cambridge’s favourite sport, rowing. The photos of rugby games played at Jesus, with the college’s stunning exterior serving as a backdrop, are postcard-worthy.

St John’s College

The final college on my list is one of Cambridge’s largest, and that is certainly reflected in the size of its sports grounds. John’s students are very lucky to have their pitches right across the road, with high-quality football and hockey pitches present amongst facilities for many other sports. The enviably large central grounds are indicative of the college’s great endowment and are clearly successful in promoting sports, given the college’s consistent success in the marquee Cuppers sports.

While almost all colleges will have grounds to exercise on, it is worth remembering that, like most aspects of student life, there is a significant difference between each college and its facilities. Many students at colleges on the outskirts of Cambridge are rewarded by fantastic on-site facilities, whilst there are still the lucky few (looking at you, Jesus and John’s) who boast pitches just a stone’s throw from college. No wonder they dominate Cuppers!