Department of Geography, University of Cambridge

The Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge occupies a multi-story building on the Downing Site, housing laboratories and research spaces designed for geographical study. The facility provides specialized equipment, computing resources, and research materials supporting work across physical and human geography.

The department was founded in 1888 with backing from the Royal Geographical Society and launched its first degree program in 1919. These early decades established it as a center for geographic research and teaching.

The department brings together field research and classroom learning, creating a space where students directly examine how societies interact with their natural surroundings. People here study real-world connections between humans and environments across the globe.

The building is accessible during academic hours, though visitors should arrange meetings with staff in advance. The location connects to other campus areas through the Downing Site, making it easy to explore the surrounding academic quarter.

The building houses the Cambridge Group for Population and Social Structure, a research team that maintains detailed historical records of British populations spanning centuries. This collection offers a rare window into how people and families lived across different periods.