Family Day on Saturday, 19 July 2025

We are looking forward to welcoming you and your guests to Selwyn for Family Day on Saturday, 19 July from 2.00 - 5.00pm. Although the forecast suggests a high chance of rain, we hope many of you will still join us, as we are planning to go ahead with the full programme.

To help accommodate the weather, we’ve made a few changes to the locations of some activities:

•    A welcome drink will now be served in Hall from 2.00 - 2.30pm.

•    The cream tea will now be served in Hall from 3.00 - 4.00pm.

•    Olly’s jazz band will be performing in the Bar, which will remain open throughout the afternoon.

•    The children’s entertainer will be based in the Chadwick room, along with the Mad Science shows.

•    The new meeting point for the Selwyn cellar wine tours will be under the archway by the Porters’ Lodge.

•    The new meeting point for the garden tours will be under the marquee in the lower gardens. Please bring a brolly!

The Old Court café bar will also be open throughout.

Find our events itinerary below.

For families & children

Mad Science Shows
2.15 - 2.45pm and 3.45 - 4.15pm:
Join the Mad Scientists for this motion and mayhem, high-voltage show that sparks excitement. Brave volunteers can have a hair-raising experience on the pedal powered Van de Graaff as static electricity lifts their locks sky high, and you’ll even witness lightning leaping from the Tesla Coil to fingertips. Ideal for ages 4 - 11, but fun for all ages.

Children's entertainer
Our amazing children's entertainer is back with their incredible balloon creations for the younger members of your family.

For grown-ups only

Selwyn wine cellar tours (Requires advance booking - places strictly limited)
2.15pm, 2.45pm, 3.30pm and 4.15pm
Join our Deputy Head Butler, Phil Shephard, for an exclusive tour of the Selwyn College cellar. Discover the variety of wines we store; learn how they're stored and enjoy the chance to ask Phil any questions you may have along the way.

This tour requires stair access and is not wheelchair accessible. Ceilings are low in some areas.

For all

Talk in the Quarry Whitehouse Auditorium: Surviving with kids in the rainforest
2.30 - 3.00pm
Selwyn alumnus Greg Dickens (SE 2004) took an 18-month sabbatical with his family, living in remote Amazonian and African communities to discover how children are raised in ways that promote better long-term health than in the UK. Greg will share highlights from his journey - like giant otters exploring just feet from his camp - along with some of the challenges, including battling spiders, snakes, and dealing with appendicitis 36 hours away from a hospital. Learn about the key findings he uncovered, and how his experiences led to lasting changes in how he approaches his children's long-term health.

Complimentary cream tea
3.00 - 4.00pm
Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea of scones, strawberries and cream served in Hall.

Gardens tours (Requires advance booking)
2.15 - 3.15 pm and 3.45 - 4.45pm 
Join Head Gardener Alex Turner for a tour of the gardens. Find out more about the different plants and flowers and the work involved in maintaining these beautiful gardens, with the opportunity to ask questions and get tips for your own garden!

Music all afternoon
Live jazz from Olly Wedgwood (SE 1993) and his trio will now be performing in the bar.

Open access to all the new buildings
Explore the college's newest buildings during the afternoon at your own pace. Visit the Quarry Whitehouse Auditorium and Bartlam Library, enjoy 360° Cambridge views from the tower, and see the transformed Old Library, now housing College Archives, supervision rooms, and a medic/vet resources room with a digital dissection table.

We look forward to seeing you soon!