Cambridge Original History Tour Experience

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.

Meeting Point

Great St Mary's

The University Church, Senate House Hill, Cambridge CB2 3PQ, UK

Our guide will meet you outside of Great St Mary's Church. Look at for the white umbrella.

What's included:

• Cambridge University Student Guide

Not included:

• Entry / Admission to Colleges

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

Great St Mary's Church (Church of England)

St. Marys Passage, King's Parade, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ

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.

10 minutes

Gonville and Caius College

Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TA

We will explain the function of colleges and how the Cambridge college system works before discussing Stephen Hawking's life at Gonville & Caius.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

St. John's College

St. John's St., Cambridge, CB2 1TP

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.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Trinity College

31 Trinity Street, , Cambridge, CB2 1TB

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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Trinity Hall

Trinity Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1TJ

Learn about the devastating impact of the Black Death in Medieval Cambridge and why Trinity Hall was founded following the plague.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

The Backs

Queen's Road, Cambridge, CB3 9AH

We stroll along the idyllic Cambridge Backs towards our next destination with plenty of time for photo opportunities.

Pass by without stopping

King's College

King's Parade, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1ST

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 story of the code breaker Alan Turing.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Darwin College

Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EU

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.

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Mathematical Bridge

Queens' College, Cambridge, CB3 9ET

See an incredible feat of engineering at the iconic Mathematical Bridge.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Queens' College

Silver Street, , Cambridge, CB3 9ES

Learn about the impact that the War of the Roses had on Cambridge and the foundation of Queens' College.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Corpus Christi College

Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RH

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.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Cavendish Laboratory

Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge CB3 0FZ, UK

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.

5 minutes

Eagle

Bene't St, Cambridge CB2 3QN, UK

Hear about the controversy around the discovery of the structure of DNA at the site where the 'secret of life' was announced.

5 minutes

Corpus Clock

58 Trumpington St, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, CB2 1RH

We finish our tour with time itself. Learn about the mechanics of the hypnotic Corpus Clock and the strange creature which eats it.

5 minutes