Sir Christopher, Cambridge – 14 to 17

Sir Christopher

Ages 14 to 17 | Cambridge | Open July 05th – August 16th 2026

Sir Christopher is a summer camp for students aged 14-17. It combines general English teaching with a full programme of interesting activities and excursions. Sir Christopher has been running for 59 years!

The camp is located in central Cambridge where we use the facilities and residences of Ridley Hall and Newnham College. Newnham College is one of the 31 colleges of Cambridge University and Ridley Hall is affiliated with Cambridge University.

Sir Christopher has a capacity of up to 100 students at any one time. There is a wide range of nationalities and the ratio of staff to students here is high. The average number of students per class is 12 or 13 and the maximum class size is 16.

This is an ideal centre for our 14-17-year-old students looking to enjoy a holiday course with a real taste for Cambridge University life.

What’s included?

20 lessons (15 hours) or 28 lessons (21 hours) of English language teaching per week (all levels from beginner to advanced)
Residential accommodation on campus at Ridley Hall and Newnham College
All meals (3 per day)
Activities
1 full-day excursion per week
Transfers to and from London Heathrow or London Stansted on Sundays
24 hour emergency telephone line

2026 Course Dates

July 05 – July 19 (2 weeks)

July 05 – July 26 (3 weeks)

July 05 – August 02 (4 weeks)

July 19 – August 02 (2 weeks)

July 19 – August 09 (3 weeks)

July 19 – August 16 (4 weeks)

July 26- August 09 (2 weeks)

July 26 – August 16 (3 weeks)

August 02 – August 09 (2 weeks)

August 02 – August 16 (2 weeks)

August 09 – August 16 (1 week)

Click the above tabs for further details about the Sir Christopher programme.

If you would like to join us you can enrol online here.

Check out our Sir Christopher gallery below!

Where is Sir Christopher based?

Map

Address

Ridley Hall College
Cambridge
CB3 9HU

and

Newnham College
Cambridge
CB3 9DF

What is the course centre like?

City-centre campus
Lovely, large picturesque gardens
Lecture hall
Student common rooms
Both traditional and modern dining halls
Outdoor playing fields
5-10 minute walk from the school into Cambridge city centre
Single residential bedrooms on-campus (some twin rooms available on request)

The City of Cambridge

Cambridge is one of the most famous, and most instantly recognised, city names in the world. It has been a centre of learning for 800 years and is the international symbol of academic excellence.

But it is also fun! With 20,000 university students, virtually the only “business” of Cambridge is education and, despite its age, the whole city is designed for young people.

It is the ideal place for the international English language student.

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

What’s included?

Discovery Theme: Cambridge University

Cambridge University is one of the world’s most famous and prestigious educational institutions. It has been acentre of learning for over 800 years and is the international symbol of academic excellence. On the Sir Christopher summer camp, you will be studying in the buildings and on the grounds of the University itself. Your lessons will take place in the same seminar rooms that university students have their lessons. You will experience life as a student and see parts of the university that tourists don’t get to see and our lessons and activities will give you a feel for what life is like for a Cambridge University student.

What’s included in the University Discovery theme?

Fascinating snippets from the university’s rich history, from its humble beginnings over 800 years ago as a refuge from Oxford to its present standing as one of the world’s greatest universities
Exploring the colleges and college system that make up Cambridge University, from Trinity to King’s and from Newnham to Lucy Cavendish
Discovering the people who have made Cambridge University such a renowned institution for scientific discovery, from Isaac Newton to Charles Darwin and from Rosalind Franklin to Stephen Hawking
Learning about the lives of students who have gone on to become successful in other fields, such as literature & sport
Studying the founding and growth of women’s education – from women’s rights and education at Cambridge, to the establishment of Newnham College and the right to be awarded degrees, to lecture and to achieve success
How to write a convincing personal statement when applying to university and how to present yourself effectively in an entrance interview
Question and answer sessions with British university students to find out what you really want to know about going to university
Guided tours of university buildings and colleges

Although our courses are not endorsed by the University of Cambridge, our summer camp uses University of Cambridge colleges and facilities.

English tuition:

20 lessons (15 hours) per week (classic programme) / 28 lessons (21 hours) per week (intensive programme)
Mixed-nationality classes
Online level test before arrival
Course materials
Academic report from your teachers at the end of your stay
Certificate of studies at the end of your stay

Activities programme:

13 sessions of activities per week (classic programme) / 9 sessions of activities per week (intensive programme)
Wide choice of sports, arts & crafts, cultural and language activities – please see our Activities tab for example activities
Numerous activity choices per daytime session

Excursions:

1 full-day excursion each week, on a Saturday (see Excursions tab for details)

Accommodation and meals:

Residential accommodation at Ridley Hall or Newnham College
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Ridley Hall or Newnham College provided every day
Vegetarian and non-pork option always available
Please inform us if you have special dietary requirements

Airport transfers:

Meeting you at the airport on arrival and bringing you to your accommodation at the Studio centre
Taking you to the airport for departure and checking you into your flight back home
Please see our camps transfers page for further information

Welfare:

Welfare office and staff
Emergency 24-hour telephone number
Residential staff living on site providing 24-hour supervision
High staff to student ratio
First-aid trained staff at every camp

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

What are your course choices?

Intensive

20 lessons (15 hours) of English language tuition per week plus 8 lessons (6 hours) per week of Communication Skills

9 sessions of activities per week

Example timetable: 2026 Sir Christopher Intensive Timetable

Classic

20 lessons (15 hours) per week of English lessons per week

13 sessions or activities per week

Example timetable: 2026 Sir Christopher Timetable

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

Where will you stay?

Residential Accommodation

Students on the Sir Christopher course live in the Ridley Hall or Newnham College residences.

Sir Christopher course residences

Central accommodation in comfortable and secure college buildings
Studio staff living on-campus, providing 24-hour supervision
Mostly single bedrooms, with some twin bedrooms
Bathrooms and showers – usually shared – sometimes private
All meals included
Free laundry facilities – you must do your own washing, but at no extra cost
A change of bed linen once per week

Sir Christopher residential bedrooms are at Ridley Hall College or next door at Newnham College. Rooms are mostly single bedrooms, with some twin bedrooms. Bathrooms and showers are shared, with some en-suites available at Ridley Hall on request.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided at both residences. There is a wide choice of hot and cold food and a vegetarian option for every meal. Please inform us if you have special dietary requirements. At weekends packed lunches are provided.

Laundry

Laundry facilities are available on site. Students are required to do their own clothes laundry. One wash per week may be done free of charge. Bed linen is provided at the residence and will be changed and washed once each week.

Keys

Students will be given keys to their room and to the entrance to the residences. A small deposit of £20 will be taken when the keys are issued, in case the keys are lost.

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

How do we keep you safe?

We are very conscious of our responsibility to our young students. Our camps offer:

Pleasant and safe surroundings
High quality host schools and colleges
Rules and supervision appropriate to the camp’s age group
First aid trained staff at all camps
A high staff-to-student ratio
At least one Studio Cambridge Welfare Officer at every camp
Live-in Studio Cambridge staff at each centre
24-hour emergency telephone number

We have high levels of staff-to-student supervision at all of our camps. To ensure proper supervision is maintained, students must attend all lessons, compulsory activities, meals and excursions, unless they are unwell. However, there are times at Sir Christopher when students are allowed unsupervised free time.

Sir Christopher students:

Will have some periods of time each day in Cambridge where they are unsupervised
Are allowed some unsupervised free time whilst on excursions
Must be on- campus by 21:30
Have a bedtime of 22:30

Studio staff live in the residence, providing 24-hour care. The staff-to-student ratio is high and staff are never far away if you have any questions or need help.

All our residences are situated in quiet residential areas, so students and staff are asked to respect the privacy of our neighbours and avoid excessive noise in the evenings.

Studio staff also live on site, providing 24-hour care. The staff-to-student ratio is high and they are never far away if you have any questions or need help.

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

Zig-zag timetable

During the busiest weeks of the summer camp, students on the Classic course will have activities in the morning and classes in the afternoon, while others will have morning classes and afternoon activities. This will change from week to week in a “zig-zag” format, so that students having morning classes one week, will have afternoon classes in the next week.

Classes are held from Monday to Friday, with an excursion once a week on Saturdays.

You can download the example timetables here:

2026 Sir Christopher Intensive Timetable

2026 Sir Christopher Timetable

A typical day at Sir Christopher might look as follows:

Sir Christopher

Morning lessons:

09:00-10:30

English topic and life skills lessons 1 & 2: “A true friend” – past tenses and speaking practice

11:00-12:30

Cambridge University discovery lessons 3 & 4: Cambridge University traditions

Afternoon activities:

13:30-15:00

Walking tour of Cambridge

Evening activities:

19:30-21:00

Hidden Cambridge selfie challenge

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

What happens outside of lessons?

The following are some of the activities on offer at Sir Christopher:

Cambridge University Discovery

Punting on the River Cam
“Student life” presentation by students
“Hidden Cambridge” selfie challenge
Debating club
Myth-busting quiz
Create your own university society
University treasure hunt
Cambridge University college tour
Cambridge museum visits
Botanic gardens

Sports and creative activities

Badminton
Basketball
Ultimate frisbee
Football
Running club
Film nights
Bingo
Board games
Cake decorating
Charcoal sketching
Bag design
Decoupage
…and lots more!

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

Which parts of England will you get to see?

Sir Christopher includes one full-day excursion per week, on a Saturday.

London

11 July 2026

Walking tour of some famous sights of the city with time to take photographs. The tour will include St Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the London Eye, Big Ben, Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square and St James’ Park. In the afternoon students will have time for shopping on Oxford Street.

Windsor

18 July 2026

Entrance into Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is an official residence of His Majesty the King. Souvenir shopping time is included at the end of the day.

London

25 July 2026

Students who have not already visited London on this course will walk past some famous sights of the city with time to take photographs. The tour will include St Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the London Eye, Big Ben, Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square and St James’ Park. In the afternoon students will have time for shopping on Oxford Street.
Students who have already visited London once on this course will visit the British Museum and Covent Garden.

London

01 August 2026

Students who have already visited London once on this course will visit the British Museum and Covent Garden.

Students who have already visited London twice on this course will visit the Science Museum, Hyde Park and have the chance to shop in South Kensington (including Harrods).

Warwick Castle

08 August 2026

An impressive mediaeval castle where students can experience 1,000 years of history. Attractions within the castle include jousting and falconry as well as the castle’s impressive interiors, gardens and the opportunity to climb the battlements.

London

15 August 2026

Students who have already visited London once on this course will visit the British Museum and Covent Garden.

Students who have already visited London twice on this course will visit the Science Museum, Hyde Park and have the chance to shop in South Kensington (including Harrods).

Check out the Sir Christopher gallery below!

Prices

2026 Camp Prices

1 week	£1860.00
2 weeks	£2970.00
3 weeks	£4080.00
4 weeks	£5190.00

2026 Course Dates

July 05 – July 19 (2 weeks)

July 05 – July 26 (3 weeks)

July 05 – August 02 (4 weeks)

July 19 – August 02 (2 weeks)

July 19 – August 09 (3 weeks)

July 19 – August 16 (4 weeks)

July 26 – August 09 (2 weeks)

July 26 – August 16 (3 weeks)

August 02 – August 09 (1 week)

August 02 – August 16 (2 weeks)

August 02 – August 16 (1 week)

Prices include

15 hours/20 lessons of English language tuition per week (classic course) or 21 hours/28 lessons of English language tuition per week (intensive course)
Residential accommodation
All meals (3 per day)
Transfers from and to Heathrow or Stansted airports on Sundays
A full programme of activities and local visits
One full-day excursion per week
Welfare – a high staff-to-student supervision ratio
Registration
24 hour emergency telephone number
End of course report and certificate