St. John's College, Cambridge (must see)

Saint John's College, formally known as the College of Saint John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge, is a distinguished constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It was founded by Lady Margaret Beaufort, a prominent Tudor matriarch, and officially established by a charter on April 9, 1511. The college operates as a charitable corporation and focuses on the promotion of education, religion, learning, and research, by its statutes.

Saint John's is one of the largest colleges within the University of Cambridge in terms of student numbers. In 2022, it ranked 6th out of 29 colleges on the Tompkins Table, which is an annual league table of Cambridge colleges, with over 35 percent of its students earning first-class honors. Financially, it is the second wealthiest college in the combined Oxbridge system, following only its neighbor Trinity College, Cambridge.

The college boasts a remarkable list of alumni, including twelve Nobel Prize winners, seven prime ministers, twelve archbishops from various countries, at least two princes, and three saints. Notable former students include Romantic poet William Wordsworth and abolitionists William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson, who played pivotal roles in ending slavery in the British Empire. Prince William also attended a university-run course in estate management at Saint John's in 2014.

Saint John's College is renowned for its choir and the success of its members in various inter-collegiate sports competitions. The college also hosts an annual May Ball, one of the highlights of the Cambridge social calendar. It has historical ties to several significant societies and traditions, including the founding of the Cambridge Apostles and the Cambridge University Moral Sciences Club. The tradition of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race also began with a Saint John's student.

In 2011, Saint John's celebrated its 500th anniversary, a milestone marked by a visit from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The college continues to uphold its tradition of excellence in academic and extracurricular endeavors, making it a prestigious and integral part of the University of Cambridge.