• Cambridge University Botanic Garden - Cambridge University Botanic Gardens is considered one of Cambridge’s hidden gems, and there is great anticipation in sharing this remarkable garden with visitors. Established by the visionary John Stevens Henslow, who mentored Charles Darwin, this exquisite botanic garden is undoubtedly Cambridge’s most enchanting collection of flora and fauna.

Located just a short walk from Cambridge train station, the Botanic Gardens are stunning year-round and feature hidden treasures like the renowned ‘Brick Tree,’ which your guide will highlight as you explore one of Cambridge’s most tranquil spots.

For avid gardeners wishing to spend extra time here, the guide will gladly adjust the itinerary on the day.

• 22 Fitzwilliam St - 22 Fitzwilliam Street is where Charles Darwin resided after returning from his voyage on the Beagle. It was here that Darwin began cataloging his specimens before relocating to London to marry.

This brief stop outside 22 Fitzwilliam Street offers a glimpse into the life of one of history’s most significant scientific minds during his time in Cambridge.

• Fitzwilliam Museum - The Fitzwilliam Museum is a stunning collection of antiquities, paintings, sculptures, and more. Established in 1816 through a generous donation from a former Cambridge University student, the Fitzwilliam Museum offers something for everyone.

During your visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum, your guide will showcase some of their impressive collection. Although time may not permit seeing everything, the guide will strive to highlight the parts of the collection that interest you personally. Additionally, your guide will recount one of the most unfortunate incidents at the Fitzwilliam Museum involving a staircase, a falling visitor, and half a million pounds worth of the collection that required restoration!

Please note that the Fitzwilliam Museum is closed on Mondays, so tours on Mondays will not include this location. Instead, Monday tours will allocate extra time to explore more of the Botanic Gardens.

• Pembroke College - Pembroke College is the first of several Cambridge Colleges to be visited during the tour. This college features a magnificent chapel, the first building designed by the esteemed architect Sir Christopher Wren.

At Pembroke, your guide will explain how Wren, who was working at Cambridge’s rival Oxford at the time, came to construct his first church. Undoubtedly, without this initial chapel at Pembroke, Wren would not have gone on to create his masterpiece, Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London.

While exploring Pembroke, your guide will also share stories of the college’s alumni who have become renowned comedians, actors, poets, and even a Prime Minister!

• Fitzbillies - Enjoy a local Cambridge delicacy at Fitzbillies Bakery. Known to students, academics, and visitors for their Chelsea buns, this is an opportunity to pause for coffee and cake.

While resting, your guide will share the history of this Cambridge institution and how its Chelsea Buns gained fame.

• Queens’ College - Queens’ College sometimes challenges grammar enthusiasts. Fortunately, the apostrophe is correctly placed, as the college has been associated with numerous Queens, from its founder Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Famous for its warm brick buildings, which lend the college an intimacy sometimes lacking in others, the college was home to notable figures, including the Dutch philosopher Erasmus, Shakespeare’s son-in-law, and Alexander Crummell, an early Black rights activist who graduated in 1853.

Perhaps the most famous feature at Queens’ College is the renowned Mathematical Bridge, connecting the old red brick buildings with the modern Cripps Court. The only wooden bridge in Cambridge, it is said that the original bridge was designed by Sir Isaac Newton and constructed without nails or bolts—something impossible to replicate when the bridge was dismantled for repairs.

• St Botolph’s Church (Church of England) - St Botolph’s Church stands at the site of one of Cambridge’s old entrances. The gatehouse is long gone, but the church where people gathered to pray for safe journeys remains.

If the church is open and no services are underway, visitors are welcome to say a prayer or, if preferred, find the memorial to Charles Darwin’s grandson, as the Darwin family were parishioners here.

• Corpus Christi College - Outside the renowned Corpus Christi College, your guide will explain not only the history of this prominent Cambridge institution but also how one of its fellows was the first known victim of smoking, how two of Shakespeare’s rivals attended Corpus, and how one of them was evidently a spy!
• Corpus Clock - The Corpus Clock is a distinctive timepiece and sculpture. Located at Corpus Christi and designed by the renowned inventor John C. Taylor, this clock is unlike any other worldwide. Each element of the clock holds unique significance, and this landmark clock has been a favorite among tourists and locals since its unveiling in 2008.
• Eagle - The Eagle is where Francis Crick announced that he and James Watson had ‘discovered the secret of life’ after developing their DNA concept. This historic pub, originally established in 1667, is also where numerous Royal Air Force and American Air Force crews had their final drink before embarking on missions over occupied Europe. Even today, their names are graffitied on the ceiling of the RAF Bar, where we will pause for a drink, lunch, and a chance to rest before continuing the tour.

If interested in trying a local British beer, your guide will assist in selecting a choice that complements your palate and lunch.

Please note that lunch is not included in the tour price.

• Old Cavendish Laboratory - As you pass by the Old Cavendish Laboratory, learn how this Victorian building played a crucial role in the discovery of DNA. You’ll also hear about some renowned scientists who worked here during their time at Cambridge.
• Great St Mary’s Church (Church of England) - Our first stop will be Great St Mary’s Church, the official center point of Cambridge. Dating back to 1205, the current building was constructed after a fire destroyed the original church in the 15th century. This stunning Gothic church is unique due to its status as both the University Church in Cambridge and a local parish church. This means it features two church organs, one for the town and one for the ‘gown’ or university.

While at Great St Mary’s Church, you’ll discover its fascinating history, including how its 15th-century restoration was partially funded by two rival kings—Richard III and Henry Tudor. The church also offers the chance to view a first edition King James Bible, donated in the 1920s.

Finally, those interested can climb the 123 steps to the top of the church’s tower for majestic views of Cambridge and beyond. Tower entry is not included in the price.

• Cambridge University Press Bookshop - The Cambridge University Press Bookshop is located opposite where the very first book was published by the University Press in 1583, initiating an unbroken line of printing in Cambridge until 2013. The shop itself is the oldest continuously operating bookshop in England, with books sold here since 1580.

At the Cambridge University Press Bookshop, your guide will explain the history of the university press, why printing remains vital to major academic institutions like Cambridge, and why being published as an academic is significant. While here, you’ll also have time to explore the bookshelves and purchase a souvenir or two!

• King’s College Chapel - King’s College Chapel is one of the most breathtaking sites of Christian worship in the United Kingdom. Considered one of the finest examples of late Gothic English architecture and renowned for having the largest fan-vaulted ceiling in the world, this magnificent building is a highlight of any Cambridge tour.

While at the chapel, your guide will explain the founding of the College and the Chapel, why the college is closely associated with numerous Kings of England, and why the college would not exist without the help of one of Shakespeare’s most infamous villains—the hunchbacked Richard III.

You’ll also have time to explore the Chapel, admire the glorious stained glass windows, and appreciate Rubens’ The Adoration of the Magi, which now serves as the Chapel’s altarpiece.

• King’s College - King’s College was founded in 1441 by King Henry VI, also known as the ‘royal saint.’ Known for admitting only Etonians for 400 years and allowing students to graduate without examinations, King’s is one of the UK’s most prestigious academic colleges, with alumni including Alan Turing and Zadie Smith.

At King’s College, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the beautiful grounds before entering King’s Chapel, one of the stunning highlights of this trip.

• The Backs - The Backs offer some of the most impressive views of the Colleges that back onto the River Cam. From here, you can enjoy iconic views of Kings, Trinity, St. John’s, and Queens’ Colleges, their famous bridges, and their lush landscapes. As you walk along the Backs, your guide will be happy to take as many photos as you like and explain how Cambridge’s punts became popular with students and tourists alike.
• Trinity College - Trinity College is the largest and wealthiest of all the Cambridge Colleges. Founded by Henry VIII, it boasts over 32 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, as well as Sir Isaac Newton and HRH Prince Charles.

While at Trinity College, you’ll have the chance to see apple trees descended from the tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity. You’ll also have the opportunity to view the great court and the fountain that Lord Byron famously bathed in, much to the dismay of the college’s officials.

While at Trinity, your guide will also explain one of the biggest scandals of the Cold War, where it was revealed that senior members of the British Secret Service had been passing covert intelligence from the British and Americans to the USSR. The Cambridge Spy Ring, as it became known, was one of the biggest espionage failures of the 20th century, with all five members being recruited from Trinity College Cambridge.

• Entry into the Botanic Gardens
• Entry to Kings College
• Standard Class Train Tickets to and from London to Cambridge
• Entry to Trinity College

• Food and Drink
• Gratuities

We love Cambridge and cannot wait to share its stunning colleges, beautiful pubs, and gorgeous views with you. After meeting your guide at King’s Cross Station your guide will whisk you away via train to the stunning city of Cambridge where you will have the chance to explore some of the most renowned colleges, linked to one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

In Cambridge, you will have the chance to explore Kings College and its awe-inspiring chapel, see an original copy of the King James Bible (one of the most important Christian documents in the world!), visit a pub which was popular with RAF crews during the Second World War, and learn how a group of Cambridge graduates, known as the Cambridge Spy Ring, almost destroyed the ‘special relationship’ that exists between the UK and the USA during the height of the Cold War!

Taking in some of the most breathtaking scenery in the east of England, your guide will return you to London making this trip stress free.

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