The Almost Complete History of the Old Town of Cambridge

5.0
(2 reviews)

2 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Come on a different walking tour through old Cambridge and discover the Town and colleges from the view of the townspeople through the centuries up to today

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

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

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 probably in for a surprise.

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

What's Included

Historical Humour
Historical Facts
Guided walking tour of the old Town of Cambridge (aka historic town/city centre)
A copy of a 500 year old map to hep you navigate through the Old Town of Cambridge.
We won't be going inside any of the buildings we visit from the outside, including colleges and churches, this tour is all outside.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Find us on Market Hill, in front of the Guildhall. It's the massive building with the clock on it. We'll be wearing white Experience Cambridge hi-viz jackets.

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 2 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Cambridge Market Square

    How did Cambridge become a town? How was the market so important? How was the market laid out in medieval times?

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Great St Mary's Church (Church of England)

    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?

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3

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

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 4

    Site of the earliest church in Cambridge, dedicated to the patron saint of sailors? [outside only]

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    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]

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 6

    Why are we called Cambridge? And Vikings!

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 7
    St. John's College

    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]

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 8

    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.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 9

    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]

    15 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Specialized infant seats are available
Supplied by Experience Cambridge

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Tags

Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Culture
New Product
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

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

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Rating

5.0 Based on 2 2 reviews
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