Cambridge University Walking Tour
Description
We’ve been leading our acclaimed Christian Heritage guided walks for over 25 years, and work with a dedicated team of local guides to bring you a small-group walking experience which is personal, engaging and unforgettable. We aim to give you a feel for some of Cambridge's most iconic and influential spots, both on and off the beaten track. Our approach is a little different from a standard tourist tour: we believe that ideas matter, and focus on how a small number of big ideas have shaped the university over eight eventful centuries. Weaving together stories about the Cambridge characters who transformed the world (such as Isaac Newton, William Wilberforce and John Milton), our guides will lead you through subjects such as the emergence of the university from Christian monasteries, the Protestant Reformation, the development of modern science, movements for the rule of law and religious freedom, and the campaign to abolish the British slave trade.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Please note that the below itinerary provides an example of places often visited on the tour, but the route may vary to provide you with the best tour possible on any given day.
We start at the Round Church, Cambridge's quirkiest (and, we think, most beautiful) church building, which predates the university. The church houses an exhibition and 20-minute film, and access to these are included in guided walk tickets.
We typically start by venturing down to the River Cam, where a clear sense of the town's origins can be gained at Magdalene Bridge.
Tours are sometimes able to go inside 1-2 colleges, but this is not always possible and we cannot guarantee this. Magdalene College, where C.S. Lewis was based during his time in Cambridge, can also be viewed from the Quayside.
We stop to admire the exterior of the chapel and gatehouse of St John’s College.
We view the gatehouse of Trinity College, and Isaac Newton’s apple tree.
We spend some time surrounded by the central University buildings: the University church, the Senate House, and Cambridge University Press bookshop, as well as the beautiful Gonville and Caius College.
Opposite Great St Mary's Church is the University Senate House, where students graduate.
We view the exterior of King's College, including the magnificent chapel, from King's Parade.
We aim to give you a feel for some of Cambridge's most iconic and influential spots, both on and off the beaten track. Tours sometimes visit the Church of St Edward King and Martyr, where it is claimed the first Protestant sermon was preached in England.
We visit one of the newer additions to Cambridge's historic King's Parade and explore its significance.
We stop to admire the tower of St Bene't's, which is the oldest building in Cambridge, dating from c.1020.
Opposite St Bene't's we see The Eagle pub.
We venture to the Old Cavendish Laboratory, site of significant scientific work and discoveries.
Tours are sometimes able to go inside 1-2 colleges, but this is not always possible and we cannot guarantee this.
Tours are sometimes able to go inside 1-2 colleges, but this is not always possible and we cannot guarantee this.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough walkers (2) to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
- While we try our best to visit colleges as part of the tour, it is not always possible to go inside college grounds and we cannot guarantee this. Tours will not be able to enter colleges during University exam term (late April to end of June). The tour route takes you through the centre of Cambridge, which includes viewing the exteriors of several colleges.
- Due to college restrictions, visitors with dogs will need to remain outside any colleges visited.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
- The tour involves walking at a moderate to fast pace – please contact the provider to arrange a private tour if you require a slower walking pace.
- Not recommended for those with limited mobility.
Reviews(360)
What an excellent experience this was! I spent July travelling around the UK and attended several walking tours in several locations, but this one in Cambridge was the highlight! So informative, and such a fantastic tour guide. The unfortunate thing is I forget the first name of the guide who took us out in the late afternoon session on July 16th. If when you reply to this review, can you add their name, so the review is connected with that excellent tour guide! Regards Michael.
Hi Michael, thank you for sharing your experience. We're so glad that you enjoyed your tour with Jon!
No reason not to recommend this tour. This was my second visit to Cambridge, and this time it was much more fascinating and inspiring thanks to this tour. I not only learned about the history and practical aspects behind the pretty buildings and the city, but also gained a bigger picture of the countless stories behind them. I feel very lucky that my partner happened to find and choose this tour!
We're thrilled to hear that the tour enriched your visit to Cambridge, thanks for joining us!
Very knowledgeable and dedicated guide! Thanks for the trip 😊
We're glad to hear you found the tour enjoyable and informative - thanks for joining us!
Such a lovely experience I learned so much about history and met new people It was 2 hours full of joy and excitement The tour guide David was so nice and helpful I enjoyed every single moment
Thank you for sharing your experience, we're glad you enjoyed your tour with David!
Excellent tour well worth the money. Our guide was interesting and knowledgeable. A good way to get to know the heart of the city.
We're very pleased to hear you enjoyed your tour; thanks for joining us!
David was an excellent tour guide. I really enjoyed this tour; he had a really deep understanding of Reformation and monarchical history at the time of the Reformation, which really enriched the experience. He gave us all the surrounding historical context of the Reformation—with Charles, the Puritans, Mary I, Elizabeth, and Henry VIII—which really helped us understand what we were seeing. As someone who is very interested in Christian and English history, this was excellent.
We're very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time with David, and appreciated his wealth of historical knowledge!
Ian Cooper is a legend - an excellent tour guide! He just needs to speak more clearly and less fast. He has no doubt said his guide words hundreds of times. But he needs to utter them as if he's saying them for the fist time. If he articulates better, his impact would be even greater.
We're glad you had a good time with Ian, and thank you for your feedback!
Mary Forster-Lewis, our Cambridge Tour Guide was incredibly entertaining, informative and even engaged our 13 year old and 11 year old granddaughters. While there were hordes of tourists clogging the streets, she knew all the quiet alley ways and sites to make our experience private, easy to hear and safe! She could describe the education process in England so we Americans could understand the differences from ours. She related countless historical tidbits and told engaging stories.
Thank you for your review!
Leans quite heavy on a Christian viewpoint - a little beyond what's necessary to describe the history of the university. That said John was a terrific guide and very knowledgeable, with excellent stories. About the right length and covered the main colleges.
Thank you for your review; we're grateful for your feedback. Our tour is indeed a little different from a standard tourist tour, as we explore the foundational Christian ideas that have shaped Cambridge's intellectual history. We are sorry if the tour was not quite what you were expecting, but are glad to hear you enjoyed it nonetheless!
David our guide had a vast knowledge of Cambridge history, the University, its origins in monasteries and its scholars and their interactions. Also got into Emmanuel college.
We are so pleased that you enjoyed your tour, and would recommend it so highly! Thank you.
