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St John's College
Cavendish Lab
Darwin College
Trinity Hall
Punts along the River Cam

The Original Cambridge History Tour

By Cambridge Town and Gown Tours
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Features
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Overview

In this Original Cambridge History Tour we cover a thousand years of Cambridge history from the invasion of the Romans, to the arrival of the students to the Second World War. Discover how Cambridge and the university has influenced the fields of art, literature, science, politics and religion. From the Tudor Reformation to the English Civil War to the Suffragettes, Cambridge has often found itself at the centre of change. Follow the lives of the likes of Isaac Newton, Henry VIII, Oliver Cromwell, Millicent Fawcett and Stephen Hawking and hear what university and town life is like today from guides based at Cambridge University. Our tours are restricted to a maximum of 12 people so small groups are guaranteed. We also offer private tours, please see our website or email us for more details.

Activity location

  • Great St Mary's Church (Church of England)
    • St. Marys Passage, King's Parade
    • CB2 3PQ, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Great St Mary's
    • Senate House Hill
    • CB2 3PQ, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Check availability

Sorry this activity isn't available on Sun, 28 Apr
Please choose a different date

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's includedCambridge University Student Guide
  • What's excludedWhat's excludedEntry / Admission to Colleges

Know before you book

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Great St Mary's Church (Church of England)
  • 10m
Our guide will meet you outside Great St Mary's Church. Look out for the white umbrella! We will begin our tour with a brief and entertaining summary of British and Cambridge history.
Gonville and Caius College
  • 5m
  • Admission ticket not included
We will explain the function of colleges and how the Cambridge college system works before discussing Stephen Hawking's life at Gonville & Caius.
St. John's College
  • 5m
  • Admission ticket not included
We will discuss Cambridge University's uncomfortable links to the Transatlantic slave trade and the campaign of St John's alumni William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson to end it.
Trinity College
  • 10m
  • Admission ticket not included
Discover the incredible history of the college of Isaac Newton and see the 'apple tree'. Find out how Trinity College has influenced the scientific, literary and political landscape of the UK and world.
Trinity Hall
  • 5m
  • Admission ticket not included
Learn about the devastating impact of the Black Death in Medieval Cambridge and why Trinity Hall was founded following the plague.
The Backs (Pass by)
We stroll along the idyllic Cambridge Backs towards our next destination with plenty of time for photo opportunities.
King's College
  • 10m
  • Admission ticket not included
Overlooking King's from the Backs, discover the history of King's Chapel including the role it played during the English Civil War. We will also discuss famous King's alumni, including the incredible and tragic storey of the code breaker Alan Turing.
Darwin College
  • 10m
  • Admission ticket not included
We will discuss the struggles and resistance women faced to attend and gain equality at Cambridge University, and the role of Millicent Fawcett - the first leader of the Suffragists.
Mathematical Bridge
  • 5m
  • Admission ticket not included
See an incredible feat of engineering at the iconic Mathematical Bridge.
Queens' College
  • 5m
  • Admission ticket not included
Learn about the impact that the War of the Roses had on Cambridge and the foundation of Queens' College.
Corpus Christi College
  • 5m
  • Admission ticket not included
Discover how Corpus Christi found itself at the centre of the Tudor Reformation and how this led to the college becoming home to one of the world's finest collection of Medieval manuscripts.
Cavendish Laboratory
  • 5m
Hear about the lab group which has almost thirty Nobel Prize winners to its name at the site where some of the greatest scientific discoveries took place.
Eagle
  • 5m
Hear about the controversy around the discovery of the structure of DNA at the site where the 'secret of life' was announced.
Corpus Clock
  • 5m
We finish our tour with time itself. Learn about the mechanics of the hypnotic Corpus Clock and the strange creature which eats it.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIESGreat St Mary's Church (Church of England)
    • St. Marys Passage, King's Parade
    • CB2 3PQ, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLEGreat St Mary's
    • Senate House Hill
    • CB2 3PQ, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

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