Porter's Lodge
The porters will become your saviours very quickly. They are always there to help you, with whatever you need. I don't know how but they seem to know everyone and everything. So whatever you need, they will be your best bet, and if they don't know what to do, they will know exactly who can help you instead. Here are Sidney's porters:
Pigeon-hole/Post Room
This is where you will come to check your post. Most of the time you just get that sinking feeling when all you get is another boring leaflet advertising something you really don't care about, but sometimes you get a random bit of chocolate, or a Twining's tea bag from the mysterious Count Von Peekusteinheimer. Not to mention the weird stuff such as rocks, and cat food that make their way around everyone's p'hole.
Chapel
The chapel is, well, gorgeous. It's what people imagine when they think of Cambridge. You will constantly see tourists taking photos in front of it, which will get a little annoying after a while, but you get used to it (and a little proud to be honest). There are always services in there and it's used by our choir, which is one of the best and you will get a nice introduction to it at matriculation.
Gardens
Again, something that makes Sidney a truly beautiful college. The gardens round the back don't really get used in Michaelmas and Lent term, but in the summer, they can be great for having a game of frisbee, eating on them, or just relaxing in the sun. There's also a croquet lawn and BBQ's that everyone can use. Plus, it's grass in Cambridge which you're actually allowed to walk on!
TV Rooms
The TV rooms are great places to socialise, whether in the Chapel Court TV Room (around 50 students watched the Royal Wedding in glorious HD here), or Garden Court/Cromwell TV Rooms. Frequently used for pre-drinks, chilling out, or just watching a film when you fancy a night off.
Gym
Sidney Gym is a brand new, top quality facility completed in January of this year. The college invested a lot into it and it is a great place to work out for all Sidney students, comparable to the best Cambridge gyms at a fraction of the price (£40 a year) so we recommend you make the best use of it by signing up when you arrive. There will be plenty of inductions during Freshers' week so that you can join and benefit from it all year round including in the holidays. Additionally, the gym committee organise a few exercise classes each term for cardiovascular fun! We look forward to meeting you and introducing you to all the sport available for you here!
Library
The library is well equipped for all your studying needs, with computers, private study areas, and would you believe it, books! It's open 24 hours a day which comes in particularly useful when somebody reminds you about an essay you haven't done while chilling out in the bar. If the library doesn't have a copy of a book you really need, just speak to your Director of Studies or the librarian, and they can usually order it in pretty quickly. There's also a computer room in the library open to everyone, with printers and scanners available.
Bar
Many of you may already know this, but Sidney is renowned
for its bar. It is one of the 3 cheapest college bars in
Cambridge, mainly down to the fact that it is completely run
by students.
Because the bar is student run, it means you can sign up to work behind it to earn a bit of extra cash in your spare time. There will be training sessions throughout the first term so you can work behind the bar, so make sure you sign up to one! You can choose when you work, so you can do as much or as little as you please.
The bar is also home to Bops. Dress up and dance the night away while drinking the ever changing bop juice. Have a go at DJing at one, or work the bar at a higher pay than normal nights.