Top Cambridge Historical Tours

Experience one of the world’s most famous universities on a walking tour of the prestigious Cambridge University. Follow your guide, a University of Cambridge student, around architectural highlights like Trinity College, King’s College, and Corpus Christi College; see the halls where alumni like Sir Isaac Newton, C.S. Lewis, and John Harvard once walked; and peek into student haunts like The Eagle Pub. This small-group tour is limited to 20 people for a personal experience.

Combine two classic Cambridge experiences into one tour—a walking tour of Cambridge University and a punting cruise along the Cam River. First, embark on a tour of the prestigious university colleges and get an insight into student life from your Cambridge University graduate guide. After admiring architectural highlights like King’s College, Trinity College, and The Senate House, hop aboard a traditional punt for a cruise. As you glide along the river banks, enjoy unbeatable views of The Backs, the picturesque parks, and colleges that line the waterfront.

Shared Cambridge Punting Tour Come Punting in Cambridge in style with Rutherford's, only the best will do! Raised seating, beautifully clean blankets and tables on all the boats. Don't settle for anything else but the best! The highlight of any Cambridge experience our shared punt tours will take you on Rutherford's quality assured 45-minute river tour through the backs of the colleges, showing you the most breathtaking views Cambridge has to offer. You will be guided by one of our own professional chauffeurs who will bring Cambridge to life with the fascinating story this city has to offer. Your tickets can be purchased on a walk-up basis on-station or for the best deal plan ahead and save money with an online e-ticket. All our boats have raised seating and tables.

The university colleges of Cambridge are widely considered among the prettiest and most academically successful in England, with a history dating back centuries. This walking tour from the city center takes you to the heart of Cambridge University and the famed King's College, and shines a light on the famous actors, inventors, mathematicians, Nobel Prize-winners and scientists who have lived and worked here.

Discover Cambridge the way you want, at the pace you want, on a private 2-hour walking tour. Use the flexible itinerary to tailor your sightseeing to your interests, and learn about the city’s history and university from your private guide. Choose to visit famous colleges like Trinity and Queens’, admire King’s College Chapel, or just absorb the atmosphere and architecture on a stroll through the medieval streets. Entrance fees at own expense.

This wonderful shared punting tour in Cambridge is a great way to combine the experience of seeing famous colleges from a unique vantage point, and learning about Cambridge’s history at the same time. Take the stress out of rushing for a specific time slot, as timing is flexible. Simply show up during opening hours to be allocated the next available spot. You’ll have a personal chauffeur to steer the punt, as well as entertain you with stories about Cambridge.

Witness exquisite architecture and verdant public spaces on this hop-on hop-off Cambridge sightseeing bus tour.  With your 24-hour pass, relax for the hour-long full tour, or design a personalized itinerary with 16 possible stops with easy access to Trinity College, King’s College Chapel, The Backs and more. Enjoy unobstructed views from the open-air viewing deck and fun onboard commentary as you savor this medieval university town.

Looking for an independent and flexible way to see Cambridge? This self-led audio tour via smartphone app offers a convenient, budget-friendly sightseeing option. Upon booking, download the app to your phone, and enjoy lifetime access to the recording. When you’re ready, make your own way to 9 King's Parade, pop in your headphones, and let the tour—recorded by a former Cambridge student and resident—guide you around the city.

Discover the delights of the Cam River and enjoy a quintessentially English adventure on this punting tour in Cambridge. Hop into your punt on the banks of the river and make yourself comfortable. Glide gracefully along the peaceful waterway as your guide points out sites of interest such as King's College Chapel, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Mathematical Bridge, and gain insight into Cambridge’s fascinating history. In case the English summer takes a turn for the worse, your punt is equipped with blankets, cushions and umbrellas.

This is your shortcut to discovering some of the most important historic buildings in Cambridge, without putting in hours of research time. Set off on a route that showcases Trinity College, St. John’s College, and King’s College—which is known for its famous chapel and choir. As well as colleges, the guide also reveals one of Cambridge’s oldest pubs, and the home of the old Cavendish Laboratory.

Take to the water for a quintessential Cambridge experience on this punting tour. Step aboard a traditional punt and drift downstream on the Cam River, past the famous college ‘Backs’. Glide beneath the Mathematical Bridge and Bridge of Sighs; admire views of landmarks like the King's College Chapel and Trinity Hall; and listen as your guide unveils fascinating facts about the legendary university city. You can even have a go at ‘driving’ the punt yourself!

This small-group walking tour is the perfect way to tick off lots of top Cambridge landmarks and to learn about the city's history too. Hear fascinating insights all the way back to medieval times, that you likely wouldn't uncover if exploring independently. The tour showcases famous colleges, historic sights, and hidden secrets too. Along the way, listen to stories about the University's famous alumni, and hear quirky tales that aren't featured in guidebooks.

A punting ride is an essential Cambridge experience, but driving your own punt can be much trickier than it looks. Instead, let someone else do the hard work for you with this shared punting experience. Set off on a group tour with a guide to steer and maneuver the boat. Along the way, tick off famous colleges—such as St. John’s, Trinity, and King’s—and find out interesting stories about the city.

Historic Cambridge is so compact it can be hard to navigate using apps. Discover the perfect walking route for your group—including access to some university colleges (entrance fees may apply)—with all the benefits of your own private qualified Cambridge guide. Choose between two tours, one focused on Cambridge city center, which includes many university buildings, the second highlighting the university and a scenic riverside walk.

The narrow alleyways, cobblestone streets, and historic college buildings make Cambridge the perfect city to explore on foot. With this tour, save time staring at a map, and let someone else do the navigating instead. The tour showcases a shortlist of essential Cambridge sights, including the Corpus Christi Clock, King’s College, Senate House, and the Old Cavendish Library. Along the way, enjoy insightful commentary and fun facts about the city.

This tour is a great choice for history fans. Learn about Cambridge’s past and how it became the world-class University city it is today. Save time waiting in long visitor lines by having a ticket to the Round Church included. You’ll explore the historic church which dates back to the 12th century, before walking into the center past Cambridge University colleges. See the Senate House, the Cambridge University Press bookshop, the Cavendish Laboratory, and many of Cambridge’s most interesting sights in one day.

A shared punting experience is a cost-effective alternative to hiring a private punt for just your group, and this tour has been specially adapted to meet COVID-19 safety and sanitation measures. Get assigned a private seating area (for up to three or six travelers) on a shared punt with perspex screens to separate you from other parties. Along the way, see the backs of seven Cambridge Colleges and learn fun facts about the city.

Save hours reading up on the history of Cambridge, and instead, learn in an immersive and entertaining way with this history-themed walking tour. As you follow your guide around the city, learn about the Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings, and the Normans with humor and plenty of amusing stories. Along the way, pass by top sights such as Cambridge University's colleges, the Market Square, and Castle Hill.

Get more out of your time in Cambridge by learning as you walk around the city, thanks to this easy-to-access self-guided audio walking tour. Simply use your smartphone to access insightful commentary by a local guide or historian. Then, make your way around the city to learn about its University, stunning architecture, and famous alumni—such as King Charles III and the late Stephen Hawking.

Discover Cambridge’s most important spots by solving clues and unlocking stories on your phone. Play the engaging exploration game, reenacting the story of an Uncanny Zoologist, working with the weirdest and most magical creatures in the world. As you solve challenges, the story unfolds and directions on your phone will guide you to the next location. Ready for an adventure? Highlights include: • Explore the University Library, Queens College, Sedgwick Museums Site Archway and other lesser-known places. • Enjoy a uniquely crafted story brought to you by our top-notch writers. • Explore a certain famous pub! • Try a new type of experience, the perfect mix between a tour, outdoor escape game, and treasure hunt. • Find out who unraveled the shape of DNA. After your booking you will receive an email with instructions on how to download and play the game on your phone. We recommend that each user purchases a ticket for an optimal experience, although several people can share a phone.

Cambridge is known for its University and ancient buildings, but a lot of visitors miss out on the haunted history and mysterious stories associated with its famous buildings. With this tour, tick off top sights such as the Market Square, Magdalene Bridge, Clare College, and Trinity College—but instead of the usual historical information, hear stories about hauntings, occultists, witches, and phantom fellows. Highlights include tales of Oliver Cromwell, the hangman’s house, and the Round Church.

I tailor each tour to the individual interests of the tourists in the group. I am fascinated by Cambridge's history and its magnificent sights, and have in-depth knowledge of its past and present. I can draw on my special expertise in the history of science, mathematics, and computing in Cambridge. My approach is thorough yet not too serious, sometimes light-hearted and always considerate. We shall explore the very heart of Cambridge, where new and old look out at us from every nook and cranny – hear stories of mediaeval strife and riots, struggles and labours of many a generation of students and scholars, and triumphs of the human thought. On our way, we shall discuss how ideas and life itself have changed over centuries, and what today’s Cambridge is like – both the City and the University.

Many people come to Cambridge to see its magnificent university buildings, but if you’d like to discover a different side of the city, and hear the stories that don’t usually feature on traditional walking tours, then this ghost tour is a great pick. As you follow your Cambridge University alumni guide past college buildings, discover more about the city’s most haunted places, and learn about famous ghosts—such as Oliver Cromwell.