Official Guided Tours: Parker Library Tour

Steep yourself in history, with our exclusive tour of a 500-year-old library.

Take a closer look at some of the oldest books in the country, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the sixth century Gospels of Saint Augustine and the Bury Bible.

Enjoy an exclusive, one-hour guided tour of the historic Parker Library in Corpus Christi College, a treasure-house of medieval and renaissance manuscripts.  Named after its greatest benefactor, Archbishop Matthew Parker (1504-75) who donated over 400 manuscripts to the college in 1575, it is home to some of the oldest books in the country, including the sixth century Gospels of Saint Augustine, the Bury Bible, the best manuscript of *Chaucer's Troilus and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – the principal source book for early English history. 

Also included is a look around the 14th century Corpus Christi College – the sixth oldest college in Cambridge and the only one to be founded by Cambridge townspeople. 

*We cannot guarantee that a specific book/manuscript will be on show.

“The tour was wonderful! Sibella is a great guide; really knowledgeable but never pushy. What a privilege to tour the Parker Library in a group of five! The college librarian was very keen to show us around and we never felt hurried. Go there if you have a chance, it's the tour of a lifetime!”