Tour guides England > Cambridge

5 ideas for guided tours in Cambridge

• Best colleges to visit in Cambridge

  

  Planning a visit to Cambridge also means stepping inside its colleges, places of stone and tradition where British architecture speaks for itself. You move from courtyard to cloister, with that blend of calm and history that lingers in memory.

  – King’s College often tops the list. Founded in 1441, it owes much of its fame to its Gothic chapel, celebrated for a choir renowned across the country. Extend the visit and you’ll discover the history of the place and stained glass windows whose scenes and colors shift with the light of the day.

  – Trinity College is worth a detour for its size and legacy. Founded in 1546, it is the largest of the university’s colleges. Here you’ll find splendid 16th-century buildings and the “Bridge of Sighs,” an arched walkway over the Cam that recalls Venice, a curious nod set among the gardens.

  – Pembroke College, founded in 1347, is the third oldest college in Cambridge. Historic buildings, a peaceful atmosphere, and quiet paths invite unhurried walks. Visitors can step into the chapel and the library, catching glimpses of student life across the centuries.

  – Jesus College, founded in 1496, stands out for its chapel, which preserves remarkable works of art. The gardens are also worth a look, a simple meeting of architecture and nature, perfect for a pause before continuing the city tour.

• The Round Church

  

  The Round Church, aussi appelée « Church of the Holy Sepulchre », se repère tout de suite dans le paysage de Cambridge. Édifiée au XIIe siècle, sa forme circulaire surprend, parenthèse au milieu des nefs plus classiques de la ville.

  La construction commence vers 1130, sous le règne d’Henri Ier, et s’achève autour de 1150. Élevée à l’emplacement d’un ancien sanctuaire saxon, l’église fut d’abord dédiée à Sainte-Marie, détail fréquent à l’époque mais qui dit déjà quelque chose de son histoire.

  Entièrement bâtie en pierre, elle adopte un plan rond d’environ vingt-quatre mètres de diamètre, avec une nef unique et une petite sacristie à l’est. Le portail d’entrée, richement orné dans le goût normand, donne le ton. À l’intérieur, colonnes romanes, chapiteaux sculptés, fresques murales, un ensemble sobre, précis, qui gagne à être observé lentement.

  Au fil des siècles, The Round Church traverse plusieurs épisodes marquants: lieu de rassemblement pour des soldats pendant la guerre civile anglaise au XVIIe siècle, puis controverse religieuse dans les années 1830. Aujourd’hui, c’est toujours une église vivante, ouverte au culte, et aussi un point de rencontre pour la communauté, avec concerts et événements qui rythment l’année.

• Punting on the Cam River

  

  Punting has been part of local life for centuries. While the image may sometimes evoke Venice, it’s in Cambridge that the flat-bottomed boat found a second life. Once a means of transport, it gradually became a leisurely ride along the River Cam, an activity that has kept its simple charm and still appeals today.

  In town, several companies offer punting trips, each with its own style. Some include a Cambridge guide who poles the boat and shares stories, while others let visitors try steering themselves. Small punts for intimate outings, larger boats for groups, flexible durations ranging from an hour to a little over two—there’s something for everyone.

  On the water, you glide beneath humpback bridges, including the Queen’s Bridge. The façades of the colleges—King’s and Trinity most notably—reveal themselves from a new angle. Along the way, the Jesus Green watermill comes into view, followed by the wide lawns of Midsummer Common. The guide spices up the ride with local tales and anecdotes, just enough to bring the scenery to life.

• Botanical Gardens

  

  The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a place for unhurried walks, where curiosity lingers over leaves, bark, and scents. Following the paths, you come across botanical collections, rare plants, and themed gardens that flow together with ease.

  Created in 1846, the garden stretches over more than 16 hectares and brings together over 8,000 species. Warm glasshouses in winter, ponds and streams, small bridges, shaded corners—the scenery shifts from one section to the next, inviting you to slow down.

  Here, uncommon plants; there, towering trees; further on, bursts of colorful flowers and unexpected fragrances. It’s a small-scale journey, with spaces dedicated to the Mediterranean, the Himalayas, South Africa, and a few other regions that complete the walk.

• Fitzwilliam Museum

  

  On Trumpington Street, a museum that spans the centuries, from the earliest ages to modern times. You wander from display case to gallery, from painting to ceramics, archaeological finds to ancient manuscripts—a winding path that invites you to slow down.

  The story begins in 1816, when Richard, Viscount Fitzwilliam, bequeathed his collection of art and books to the University of Cambridge. Since then, the spaces have expanded, the holdings have grown, making it one of the country’s leading institutions for art and antiquities.

  The building itself draws the eye with its neoclassical style, airy volumes, and light sliding across the cornices. The galleries follow clear themes: ancient art, European painting, contemporary creation, ceramics, sculpture, graphic arts, and many more dialogues across time.

  Among the highlights are works by Rubens, Gainsborough, Constable, and Turner. Nearby, fine collections from ancient Greece, Egypt, and regions across Asia. Music lovers will also find an extensive collection of historical instruments, from harpsichords to pianos—a subtle reminder of another way to approach the arts.