History of Cambridge Old Town Tour

5.0 (5 reviews) 2 hours Free cancellation

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5 reviews

5.0

History of Cambridge Old Town Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

History of Cambridge Old Town Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Discover the (almost) complete history of the Cambridge Town (and a bit of Gown) in a fun, unusual walking tour led by our fantastic Experience Leaders - local guides with lived experience of homelessness in Cambridge.

We lead you on a different tour through old Cambridge and discover the Town from the view of the townspeople through the centuries up to today. This is our story, not the standard university history.

Using a 500-year-old map, facts and a big dollop of humour; we'll navigate all around the historic Town and it's politics through 2000 years of history to the City we live in today.

Warning! Contains: Anglo-Saxons, Fires, Beheadings, Vikings, Normans, Town vs Gown fights, Fairs, Kings, Queens, Civil War, Common Land, Churches, Charters, Chancellors, Monks, Mayors, Markets and more.

If you're new to Cambridge you'll come way understanding the story of the Town in a way most visitors never will.

If you think you know Cambridge, you're in for a surprise.

Private and Luxury Historical Tours Walking Tours Culture Low Supplier Cancellation Rate Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate New Product Short term availability

At a glance

Duration: 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Experience Cambridge

Ages: Infants (0–11 years) · Children (12–17 years) · Adults (18–59 years) · Seniors (60–120 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Historical Humour
Included: A copy of a 500 year old map to hep you navigate through the Old Town of Cambridge.
Included: Historical Facts
Included: Guided walking tour of the old Town of Cambridge (aka historic town/city centre)

Not included

Not included: Admission fees: 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

Cambridge Market Square

10 min

How did Cambridge become a town?

How was the market so important?

How was the market laid out in medieval times?
Great St Mary's Church (Church of England)

10 min

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?
Sidney Sussex College

10 min

Monks, monasteries, reformation, regicide, a few beheadings.. what's not to love?

[no access to college - we are old townspeople after all]
St, Clement's Church

10 min

Site of the earliest church in Cambridge, dedicated to the patron saint of sailors?

[outside only]
Jesus Green

15 min

Common land, enclosure, arrival and kingdom of the East Angles, fairs - who/what set the borders of the old town and what happened outside of them?

[also toilet and rest break]
Magdalene Bridge

10 min

Why are we called Cambridge?

And Vikings!
St. John's College

10 min

Cambridge joins the new Kingdom of England.

The Norman's turn up.

The Round Church is built.

The medieval public hospital and monk annoying other monks.

[Not entering the college or church - just looking form outside like the common townspeople we are]
Cambridge University Press Bookshop

10 min

Old bookshops and the right to print, Dr Caius strange requests, the Senate House, fighting for space and some fun facts about King's College Chapel.
St Bene't's Church (Church of England)

15 min

The oldest building, Angles again, Corpus Christi College, the secret of life, the Eagle pub, end of the old town and back out into the city.

[No entry to buildings - all outside]

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Find us by the colourful statue at the corner of the Guildhall, by the market.

The Guildhall is the massive building with the clock on it.

We'll be wearing white Experience Cambridge hi-viz jackets.

End point

Find us by the colourful statue at the corner of the Guildhall, by the market.

The Guildhall is the massive building with the clock on it.

We'll be wearing white Experience Cambridge hi-viz jackets.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

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

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.