James has a number of common rooms including the Lakeside and the Lodge, hosts the YUSU bar 'The Lounge' and is the closest college to the University Sports centre, playing fields and Health Centre.

College residents turn out in their hundreds to enjoy a day of sunshine, free beer, quad races, ice cream, bouncy castles and fun.

In recent years these have included: 2010 – Duncan Petrie – 'The Swinging Sixties' 2011 – Steve Bell, award-winning Guardian Cartoonist 2012 – Fergus Drake, Save the Children,- 'The reality of humanitarian aid in a fragile world' Within the college, a number of 'Taste' events take place each term, where students and members of the college are invited to introduce others to a taster of their own culture through a presentation, demonstration or media.

Alongside these cultural exchange events, the college runs a unique exchange with Morningside College at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with students from each institution spending a number of terms or a year at the other.

James College currently holds the JC Cup, winning a closely fought encounter in Autumn 2012.

The Lakeside Common Room is in the A/B/C quad, while James Lodge is in College House, near to the Roger Kirk Centre.

In 2018, Freshers' Week saw a large focus on Non-Clubbing events as well as the traditional clubbing portfolio.

The 2025 JCRC Executive Committee is: List of chairs of the James College JCRC: As with the rest of the University's West Campus James College is home to several hundred ducks, geese, other assorted wildfowl, and rabbits.

[citation needed] Ken Todd was the head of James College from its opening until his retirement in September 2007.