What is the cancellation policy for this tour?

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

How long does this tour take?

This tour lasts approximately 1 hour.

The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour

Q: Where does this tour start?

This tour starts at: Find us at the gates of St Benet's Church, opposite the Eagle pub. We'll be wearing white Experience Cambridge hi-viz jackets..

1 hour

Home ›United Kingdom›England›East of England›Cambridge › The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour Book Now →

Overview

From humble beginnings as the Anglo-Danish town of Grantabridge to the thriving city of Cambridge, we'll walk through over 1000 years of history in 1 hour as we tell the whole (slightly abridged) story of Cambridge.

Using maps, fun facts and a big dollop of humour; we'll visit key sites in our story and understand the development of town beyond what the tourists tours and guidebooks will tell you.

May contain: Anglo-Saxons, Fires, Vikings, Normans, Town vs Gown drama, Fairs, Kings, Queens, Common Land, Churches, Charters, Chancellors, Monks, Mayors, Markets, and a few beheadings.

If that wasn't enough, we're a local social enterprise promoting Cambridge history, culture and sustainable tourism; your fantastic Experience Leaders will be local people with lived experience of exclusion, particularly homelessness, in Cambridge.

Gallery

The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour — photo 1

The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour — photo 2

The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour — photo 3

The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour — photo 4

The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour — photo 5

The (abridged) Complete History of Cambridge Walking Tour — photo 6

What's Included

✓ Included

Historical Humour
The story of Cambridge over a thousand years (in 1 hour!)
1 hour guided walking tour of Cambridge centre
Historical map booklet

✗ Not Included

We won't be going inside any of the buildings we visit from the outside, including colleges and churches, this tour is all outside.

Itinerary

Stop 1

We start our story of Cambridge in the oldest standing building in Cambridge and learn about the Angles and Danes of Grantabridge who built it.

Stop 2

How did Cambridge become a town and how was King John involved? What was the town charter, why is the town hall called the Guildhall, how has it developed over the centuries? How was the market so important? How was the market laid out in medieval times?

Stop 3

Originally St-Mary's-by-the-market, now the famous University Church, what's the story behind this building and the arrival of the scholars in Cambridge?

Stop 4

Monks, monasteries, reformation, regicide, a few beheadings.. what's not to love? [no access to college - we are old townspeople after all]

Stop 5

A medieval public hospital, and scholars annoying monks, and the founding of the first college. [Not entering the college or church - just looking from outside like the common townspeople we are]

Stop 6

A certain king pops up again, the wealthiest of them all, the world's most famous apple tree (sort of) and the invention of cat flaps. All viewed from the outside.

Stop 7

Oldest bookshops, the right to print, Dr Caius' strange requests, the Senate House, the worlds most famous chimes.

Stop 8

On our way to our final stop we'll admire King's College (from the outside), with a few related facts about King's and Cromwell.

Stop 9

Last stop, the 20th century's most important scientific discoveries, the secret of life, the town becomes a city, the future and the past.