Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Cambridge Newton's Apple Tree, Trinity College
AO Edited

Newton's Apple Tree, Trinity College

This tree was grafted from the actual tree that led Isaac Newton to ponder the theory of gravity.

Cambridge, England

Added By
SEANETTA ALLSASS
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Newton’s Apple Tree, Trinity College   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Newton’s Apple Tree, Trinity College   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Newton’s Apple Tree, Trinity College   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Statue in the Trinity College Chapel.   Andrew Dunn
Portrait by Godfrey Kneller.   https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Si...
Newton’s Apple Tree, Trinity College   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Newton’s Apple Tree Winter/Spring time Trinity College   Springer / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Mention the name of Sir Isaac Newton and most people will think of the discovery of gravity under an apple tree. However, the actual story has been embellished a bit over the centuries to ferment a narrative that has roots in reality. What few people are aware of is that the aforementioned tree actually exists.

This "Flower of Kent" apple tree, which grows outside the entrance to Trinity College, was originally grafted from the actual tree that resides at Newton's childhood home in Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire. Cambridge's apple tree is an offshoot of the authentic tree now cared for by the National Trust, where Newton first saw the apple fall from its branches. To honor his links to the university and contributions to science, this tree was planted in 1954.

Newton began attending Cambridge University in 1661, but due to an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague, he returned home in a few years. It was here he made his discovery. It would take him several more decades before he was able to publish his theory of universal gravitation into a historic book entitled Principia in 1687.

Related Tags

History Science Discovery Literature

Know Before You Go

The tree is visible at all times, though you are prevented from encroaching onto the grass for a closer inspection or selfie.

Community Contributors

Added By

SEANETTA

Edited By

rbenn250, Springer

  • rbenn250
  • Springer

Published

January 18, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://thetreeographer.com/2017/09/24/newtons-tree/
Newton's Apple Tree, Trinity College
Porters Lodge,
Trinity St
Cambridge, England, CB2 1TQ
United Kingdom
52.206562, 0.116072
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Garret Hostel Bridge

Cambridge, England

miles away

'Teleport-o-Matic'

Cambridge, England

miles away

Snowy Farr Sculpture

Cambridge, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cambridge

Cambridge

England

Places 15
Stories 9

Nearby Places

Garret Hostel Bridge

Cambridge, England

miles away

'Teleport-o-Matic'

Cambridge, England

miles away

Snowy Farr Sculpture

Cambridge, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cambridge

Cambridge

England

Places 15
Stories 9

Related Stories and Lists

A Tour of the Wondrous and Weird World of Apples

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Edinburgh, Scotland

    The Wave of Translation

    A plaque commemorates a Victorian scientist's monumental discovery about waves.

  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Museum

    Warsaw, Poland

    Marie Skłodowska-Curie Museum

    This biographical museum honors the groundbreaking scientist at her birthplace in Warsaw.

  • The plaque, hidden behind chairs.

    Leiden, Netherlands

    Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory Plaque

    A plaque hidden in the law faculty at Leiden University honors the first scientist to make liquid helium.

  • The historic Haarer Building.

    Ann Arbor, Michigan

    West Side Book Shop

    For books about travel, whether factual or fictional, the perfect antiquarian does exist.

  • Leuven, Belgium

    Heilige Geestcollege

    Where George Lemaître discovered the expanding nature of the universe.

  • Gutenberg Bible on display at the Library of Congress.

    Washington, D.C.

    Library Of Congress Gutenberg Bible

    One of the three perfect vellum copies of this historic book known to exist is on display in a specially-designed case.

  • Potsdam, Germany

    Michelson Interferometer

    The site of the original experiment that would be used to disprove the theory of luminiferous ether.

  • The East Tower at Royal Observatory Edinburgh

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Royal Observatory Edinburgh

    Even though some of the buildings date back to the Victorian era, this research institute is still involved in cutting-edge astronomy research.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.