16 Must-See Spots in Cambridge – A Free Self-Guided Walking Tour
Text & photography by Anna Kmiecik, private tour guide
You can also read this post in Polish.
Cambridge is a picturesque historic town located 60 miles from London, and home to The University of Cambridge, the world’s third-oldest university, after Bologna and Oxford.
And one of the most rewarding cities to explore, even if you only have a day.
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is associated with some of the greatest minds in history — including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking — as well as celebrated figures like naturalist David Attenborough and King Charles III. Not to mention its 126 Nobel Prize winners and 194 Olympic medalists!
In this post, you’ll discover 16 iconic spots worth exploring in Cambridge.
Enjoy the walk, watch where you put your feet…
… and don’t forget to bring an apple! :)*
*more about it in a second!
Maps tell the route, I tell the stories!
Discover Oxford, London, or Cambridge with An on a private, tailor-made tour.
To inquire about my availability for bespoke private walks, please contact me at:
contact@walkmeblog.com
+44 7742098448
or reach out via my social media channels.contact@walkmeblog.com
Top 16 Things to See and Do in Cambridge
1. Before You Walk, Float!
Before we start strolling the streets of Cambridge on foot, I strongly recommend beginning your adventure by experiencing how goods (including books!) were once transported along the River Cam — the main river running through town — long before cars took over.
In other words: go punting!
Punting means riding in a small, square-ended, flat-bottomed boat, using a long pole to push against the riverbed to move along.
You can try punting yourself, or let one of the locals (often students!) do the navigating.
They’ll also share with you some great Cambridge tales along the way!
There’s no better way to enjoy the village-like natural scenery of Cambridge alongside its architectural wonders.
So treat yourself to a peaceful 50-minute ride — and perhaps enjoy some Pimm’s while you’re at it!
You’ll find plenty of punting companies by the River Cam, where Bridge Street meets the river, as well as near Silver Street Bridge.
2. The Round Church
If you thought this academic hub was all about square courts, think again!
You’re about to see a structure that’s not only round — but also older than the University itself.
The Round Church in Cambridge was built around 1130 and it was inspired by Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
It’s one of only four round churches still standing in England today.
3. Where Great Minds Have Spoken (and Drunk!)
After admiring the Round Church, take a little detour just behind it, where one of Cambridge’s true hidden gems awaits: the Cambridge Union Society.
Founded in 1815, the Union has been the stage for spirited debates for over 200 years — and for the last 160 years, those debates have taken place in this historic building.
If you’re lucky enough to find the doors open, step inside and soak up the atmosphere.
When you’re ready for a pause, slip next door to The Orator, a stylish bar and restaurant that’s perfect for relaxing and reflecting.
Look closely at the walls, and you’ll spot portraits of some of the legendary names who once spoke in its Debating Chamber: the Dalai Lama, Ronald Reagan, Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher… to name just a few.
4. Where Scholars Cross the Bridge of Sighs: St John’s College
After leaving The Orator, continue on to one of the most breathtaking colleges in the city: over 500 years old, St John’s College.
Its history stretches back to 1511!
From outside you can admire its imposing gatehouse, adorned with a figure of Lady Margaret Beaufort — the formidable grandmother of Henry VIII and founder of the college.
But I strongly encourage you to pay the small entrance fee and step inside the college grounds too.
You’ll discover its many magnificent courts and one of Cambridge’s most iconic spots: the Bridge of Sighs, gracefully spanning the River Cam.
If it feels familiar, you’re not imagining things — St John’s featured prominently in the Oscar-winning 2014 film The Theory of Everything, which tells the story of Stephen Hawking, one of Cambridge’s most celebrated scholars.
5. Apple Selfie Outside Trinity College
Follow St John’s Street a little further, and on most days you’ll spot a crowd of people honouring one of the greatest minds in history— with an apple!
Isaac Newton first walked through the gates of his alma mater, Trinity College, over 360 years ago.
Back then, the future father of the laws of motion and universal gravitation lived in a room overlooking this street.
Below his window stands an apple tree that, according to city legend, is a descendant of the very tree that inspired his revolutionary idea all those years ago.
The original Newton apple tree stood in the orchard of his family home, Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, where he spent time during the Great Plague of 1665–1666, when Cambridge closed its doors to students.
6. Dinky Doors
The amazing personal story of Isaac Newton (and other Cambridge scholars) might inspire you to look up at the sky — but I also recommend looking down as you walk the streets of this charming town.
After all, attractions here come in all shapes and sizes!
It would be a real pity to miss the enchanting, magical Dinky Doors, especially if you’re visiting Cambridge with little ones.
One of them is right nearby, opposite the ever-popular apple tree outside Trinity College.
You can find more information — including a map of all the Dinky Doors around Cambridge — right here.
You’ll find more Dinky Doors hidden throughout Cambridge. See how many you can spot!
7. Henry VIII Holding a Wooden Chair Leg
Trinity College ranks highly in all sorts of college rankings — it’s one of the largest, best-funded, with excellent academic results and some of the most famous alumni, including Isaac Newton and King Charles III at the top of the list.
King Charles studied archaeology, anthropology, and history here from 1967 to 1970.
But it’s also the college that makes observant visitors smile the most.
Look up at the nearly 400-year-old statue of its founder, Henry VIII, above the Great Gate, and you’ll notice something odd: instead of a sceptre, he proudly holds… a wooden chair leg.
This quirky feature is said to be the result of a prank by the legendary Cambridge Night Climbers about a hundred years ago.
The sceptre was stolen and replaced with a chair leg — and despite a few attempts to restore it over the years, the chair leg keeps magically reappearing.
It seems the students — and maybe even Henry himself — prefer it that way!
8. Stephen Hawking’s Cambridge
As you follow the street, keep an eye to your right and you’ll soon spot Trinity Lane — a narrow, picturesque street immortalised in the film The Theory of Everything, where a young Stephen Hawking (brilliantly portrayed by Eddie Redmayne) races through on his bicycle with his friends.
Trinity Lane runs between two of the colleges closely associated with Hawking: Trinity Hall, where he completed his PhD, and Gonville & Caius College, where he became a Fellow and spent much of his career.
9. Cambridge University Press Bookshop
Just a short stroll from Trinity Lane, you’ll find the Cambridge University Press Bookshop and the grey plaque above its doors celebrating Cambridge University Press — the oldest university press in the world, printing books since the 1580s.
Over the centuries, the Press has helped spread the ideas of great minds — from Newton to Darwin, Hawking, and many more — by printing and publishing their work.
Today, this beautiful bookshop in the heart of Cambridge is not only a haven for book lovers, but also a great place to pick up Cambridge-themed souvenirs.
10. See Cambridge from Above-University Church
The University of Cambridge was founded after a group of scholars from Oxford left their city following a dispute with locals in the early 13th century.
The church, located in the heart of Cambridge, provided a space where they could begin delivering lectures — helping to spark what would eventually become the University of Cambridge.
That’s how Great St Mary’s earned its title as the university church.
Today, Great St Mary’s also offers visitors a chance to enjoy elevated views of the city by climbing its 35-metre-high tower via a 123-step spiral staircase.
It was also the site of Stephen Hawking’s funeral in 2018, before his cremation and the interment of his ashes at Westminster Abbey in London.
11. Cambridge Market Square
Right in the heart of the city, Cambridge Market has been a lively meeting place for centuries.
Open daily on Market Square, it’s packed with colourful stalls selling everything from fresh local produce and flowers to books, crafts, street food, and souvenirs.
It’s the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere and pick up a little piece of Cambridge life.
12. Ryder & Amies– The Original University Store
Ryder & Amies, a much-loved outfitter on King’s Parade, has been dressing Cambridge students, graduates, and visitors since 1864.
Best known for its university gowns, the shop is also a treasure trove of classic souvenirs—many in the iconic Cambridge Blue, the official colour of the University.
13. King’s College Chapel
King’s College Chapel, with its breathtaking fan-vaulted ceiling and glowing stained glass, is Cambridge’s most iconic sight.
In my view, it’s a true Cambridge must!
This is a ticketed attraction. You can buy tickets online or at the King’s College Visitor Centre just outside the college.
14. Fitzbillies Cake Shop
No visit to Cambridge is complete without stopping by Fitzbillies, a favourite cake shop for both students and locals.
Its famous Chelsea Bun is a must-try, but the menu is much wider, offering a tempting selection of cakes, pastries, and other treats.
There are a few locations, but I recommend visiting the original at 52 Trumpington Street, which has been delighting both short- and long-term Cambridge visitors for over 105 years.
15. Cambridge Time-Eater
Benet’s Street is one of the most visited streets in Cambridge.
One of its main attractions is the Corpus Christi Clock—a mysterious LED-lit clock topped with a giant grasshopper that seems to “eat” time.
The clock was designed by one of the world’s most successful inventors and a Cambridge alumnus, Dr. John Taylor.
The man behind the automatic switches in electric kettles around the world!
It was unveiled to the public in 2008 by Stephen Hawking.
16. Eagle’s DNA
The grand finale of this walk?
The Eagle—Cambridge’s most famous pub and the spot where, in 1953, Nobel laureates Francis Crick and James Watson famously celebrated (presumably over a pint!) their groundbreaking discovery of the structure of DNA.
You’ll probably agree that “sampling the Eagle’s DNA” (at The Eagle) is the perfect way to end this walking tour!
Well, you’ve reached the end of this post! I hope you enjoy it.
Keep the adventure going and check more free self-guided walking tours!
Maps tell the route, I tell the stories!
Discover Oxford, London, or Cambridge with An on a private, tailor-made tour.
To inquire about my availability for bespoke private walks, please contact me at:
contact@walkmeblog.com
+44 7742098448
or reach out via my social media channels:
