The original apple tree at Woolsthorpe Manor is still living and dates back to at least the 1600s.
The Trinity College tree is genetically identical to the original through the process of grafting.
Newton returned to his family home in Woolsthorpe during the Great Plague of 1666, which is when the legendary observation occurred.
The Flower of Kent is a cooking apple variety, which is notably dry and not typically eaten raw.
Trinity College archives suggest the tree was planted to honour the institution's most famous former scholar.
Newton's Apple Tree located at the Porter's Lodge of Trinity College, Cambridge, is a direct descendant of the original Flower of Kent tree that inspired Isaac Newton's theory of universal gravitation. The current specimen is a graft taken from the original tree at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire. It was planted at the entrance of Trinity College in 1954 to commemorate the site where Newton lived and studied. The tree is maintained as a living scientific monument and is integrated into the college's historic grounds. It is positioned near the Great Gate, serving as a symbolic link to the 17th-century intellectual history of the university. While many clones exist, this specific tree is one of the most accessible for public viewing in Cambridge.
From the sidewalk across the street, framing the tree against the historic stone masonry of the college entrance.
View the tree from the pavement outside the Porter's Lodge for the best angle without requiring entry to the private college courts.
Combine your visit with a walk through the nearby Backs for views of the college architecture.
Visit during the late summer to see if the tree is bearing its characteristic cooking apples.
Do not attempt to enter private college grounds without formal permission or a ticket, as the tree is clearly visible from the street.
