Cambridge – “can such places be?”
King's Cross Railway Station (meet by the mainline ticket office near the Leon cafe by the Nigel Gresley Statue
Guided by Simon
Walk Times
| Day | Walk Type | Start Time | End Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 October 2024 | Day Trip | 9 am | 6.30 pm | Summer | |
| 22 October 2024 | Day Trip | 9 am | 6.30 pm | Summer |
You’re on the Cambridge page. For The Cotswolds trip click here. For the Oxford and the Cotswolds trip click here. For the Day Trips portmanteau page click here.
THE ESSENTIALS
This is not mass tourism. There are only so many places available. Equally to the point, the tour can only go ahead if the uptake reaches the (low) minimum required number of participants.
Not surprisingly, the tour often sells out so early booking is advisable. As soon as you book you will receive a confirmation that your place has been reserved. The link you use to pay for the tour will be sent to you a few days before the tour.
The total cost is £94 per adult; £89 for Super Adults (over 65s), Loyalty Card holders and full-time students; £84 for Super Adults and Full Time Students with the Loyalty Card; £59 for children.
The charge covers everything – guide’s fee, travel costs, entrance fees – except your lunch!
N.B., the deadline for late booking – should there be places available – is mid-day on the day before the tour. Payment must be made by 6 pm that day.
OK, LET’S GO TO CAMBRIDGE
This wonderful photo’s by Chris, a Cambridge-based professional photographer. www.
Short say: Miraculum orbis. Wonder of the world, annexe to heaven.
Customer’s say: “We had been on two other London Walks day trips in England several years ago. These tours were very good, and we always wanted to see Cambridge. Simon’s tour of Cambridge was excellent. The cost is very reasonable as it includes a round-trip train to Cambridge, buses in Cambridge, the entrance to King’s College, and Simon’s leadership and commentary. Being an engineer, I wanted to hear a lot about the great scientists who studied at the Cambridge colleges. Simon had many stories, relating to Newton, Darwin, Hawking, Turning, Watson & Crick, and Sedgewick. In addition to the stories, he showed us places where these great scientists lived and worked. However, the best part of the tour was the time we spent within the King’s College Chapel. Simon sat us down and told us the background of the chapel construction and details of the beautiful stained glass windows. We capped off the day with punting on the River Cam. Don’t miss this, as you see some great sights of the colleges that you would not see otherwise. Overall, it was a great day due to Simon’s leadership, knowledge, and enthusiasm.” Craig J. St. Louis, Missouri
Long say: Cambridge. Bridge of Sighs. Mediaeval courts. Velvet-soft emerald lawns. The unearthly beauty of Kings. Newton’s room. And the garden where he experimented. That apple tree. Think of him “forever voyaging through strange seas of thought.” The calm of the tree-fringed Backs. The Cam’s willow-shrouded banks. The plaintive note of the World War II American cemetery. Darwin’s college. Stephen Hawking and The Theory of Everything. Alan Turing – yes, welcome to The Imitation Game. The pub where the structure of DNA was announced. Punting on the Cam (we get a really generous discount if you want to take a turn – or, indeed, just go along for the ride). Leafy streets and twisty alleys. Whispering wind and yellow lantern. Shadowed passage and haunted bookstore. Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall! Bicycling students. Cheese and fish stalls in the market. People who talk like books. Let alone the royal imprimatur, that new title for William and Kate – the Duke of Cambridge and his Duchess. Guided by Simon.
Good listen: here’s an interview with Guide Simon in which he goes into considerable detail about where the Cambridge trip goes, what happens on it, why it’s special, etc.
AND AS FOR THE GUIDING
CAMBRIDGE TOUR – THE PRACTICALS
The meeting time for the Cambridge Tour is 9 am. The meeting point is by the main ticket office (near the Leon Cafe) of King’s Cross Railway Station.
This is a full day tour that meets back to London around 6:30pm
We go to Cambridge on selected Tuesdays from May 7th to October 22nd and on Saturday November 2nd.
The total cost per adult is £94; for super adults (over 65s), Discount Card holders, and full-time students it’s £89; and for children it’s £59.
The charge covers the guide’s fee plus your train, coach and entrance fares.
This is not mass tourism. We limit the group size. Equally to the point, the tour can only go ahead if the uptake reaches the (low) minimum required number of participants.
So do book early 1) to make sure you get a place and 2) we can gauge the coach size we’ll need for that day’s tour. (Cambridge Railway Station is on the outskirts of Cambridge, a mile from the town centre. Which is why we charter a local coach. It meets us at the station for the trip to the town centre at the beginning of the tour and back to the station at the end of the day to catch the train back to London. You won’t have to make that long walk into and back out of Cambridge. We get you to the town centre swiftly and comfortably. And we also make use of the coach for our excursion out to the American cemetery and, en route, to see a very interesting and important part of Cambridge that’s not within walking distance.)
Basically, the day – the Cambridge Tour – has been thought through very carefully. It’s a crème de la crème excursion – the best possible way to “see Cambridge” and its environs.
We send you links for payment a few days before the tour is set to go. N.B. Re payment and refunds: it’s like buying a theatre ticket – if the show goes ahead there are no refunds. If we are not able to run the tour because of something unforeseen – a wildcat rail strike, for example – all of your money will be refunded.
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“Best Tourism Experience in England” Gold Medal Winner, Visit England
“London Walks was acknowledged as the premier walking tour company in the entire world” American Tour Guides Convention
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
“If this were a golf tournament every name on the Leader Board would be a London Walks guide”
LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!
MIND THE GAP
Kathy Obana –
Simon is fantastic!- a fund of knowledge , generous, a true lover of history. We had a fantastic day. Thank you !
Gabrielle Panetrat –
I’ve been on quite few walks with Simon (didn’t choose, just happened to bump into him all over London Walks!) and I’ve never EVER been disappointed. And this Cambridge tour did follow the rule.
Huge sense of humour, huge knowledge, funny anecdotes, loads of kindness and mindfulness, that’s Simon. And the tour itself is perfectly organised and designed: American cemetery, college, red flag area, college chapel (King’s College!!!!), Darwin collection (WOW), college, and finally punting (there’s a fee but it’s worth it I’d say) down all the colleges we saw one way or another… A lot of history seen through many individual and collective stories. AND Simon managed to keep us on time and stick to the program as well even though the train to Cambridge was late in the first place.
Thank you again Simon, it’s a real pleasure and always interesting bumping into you!
“France”, acknowledging British savoir-faire at last =)
Marianne Blair –
Even in the rain, Cambridge was beautiful. Our tour of Cambridge with Simon in July 2024 was so well organized, and his enthusiasm for his subject never waned. Simon did an amazing job of holding the interest of the entire group with fascinating stories of the history of the town of Cambridge, the American cemetery, the University, and the many amazing scientists who studied, researched, and taught within its walls. The beauty of King’s College Chapel was breathtaking, and punting on the Cam at the end of the day was the cherry on top of a wonderful tour!
Anthony –
I did the Cambridge Tour with Simon on 07 May 2024 and I just wanted to say how super it was. Cambridge is of course, iconic. And Simon knows Cambridge so well and shares his insights happily with the group. He’s very well-organised and capable of holding a very disparate group together – with a mix of good humour and excellent time-keeping.
I couldn’t recommend this tour highly enough.
Judith Phillips –
I thoroughly enjoyed this fabulous day with Simon exploring Cambridge. He is very knowledge, witty, and friendly as well as being very organized, well-researched, and entertaining. Among my favorite spots that he took us to were the Cambridge American Cemetery, the Eagle Pub, Cambridge’s Museum of Zoology where there are multiple exhibitions from Darwin and Wallace, and the day ended beautifully with our punting on the Cam. Thank you Simon for a wonderful tour to Cambridge!
Andy Faulkenberry –
London Walks tours are the perfect way to explore new locales with friendly, professional, and knowledgeable guides.
We recently joined Simon Law on a walking tour through historic Cambridge and we had the most wonderful time!
From the moment we set off, Simon captivated us with fascinating anecdotes and insights into Cambridge’s rich history and vibrant culture.
With each step, we unearthed hidden gems and iconic landmarks, including the renowned colleges, picturesque bridges, and charming streets that define this beautiful historic city.
What truly made the experience unforgettable was Simon’s passion for sharing Cambridge’s stories, bringing its past to life with humor and enthusiasm.
His depth of knowledge was truly impressive, making every stop along the way an enriching and enjoyable learning experience.
And don’t let the possibility of rainy weather worry you – it rained during half of our tour and it actually added to the charm of the experience!
Without hesitation, we would highly recommend London Walks for guided tours. Whether you’re a history buff, a culture enthusiast, or simply looking to immerse yourself in the charm of some of the world’s most iconic cities, London Walks offers an unforgettable journey through storied streets, hidden treasures, and iconic landmarks. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore with such a fantastic group of guides!
Kelsey –
Simon is a gem of a guide. He has a way of being genuine and humorous in equal parts and that makes spending the day with him very fun and entertaining. I had originally planned on doing Cambridge on my own, but I am very glad I decided to do this tour with London walks. It took all the stress away from the day and allowed me to really enjoy the sites and the city. Cambridge is such a lovely town that I do hope to return on my own in the future and further explore some of the areas that Simon took us to. The itinerary is very thoughtfully laid out and really helps maximize the number of things that can be seen in a day trip. I can’t wait to return and do more day trips with London walks in the future!
Loretta Greenman –
We really enjoyed the tour of Cambridge and would highly recommend it! It was lovely to be able to see everything and not have to worry about the particulars as Simon took care of all of those. He was well organized and very knowledgeable and entertaining. Punting on the River Cam was a wonderful way to end the day (be sure to have some cash on hand) as it offered a different and very scenic view of the city away from the busy sidewalks. Don’t miss the opportunity. We’re looking forward to our next London Walks.
Marcus, Ginny and Betsy –
We enjoyed an insightful and convivial day with Simon exploring Cambridge. He was very knowledge, witty and approachable. Simon was extremely organized, proactive and flexible. His knowledge was clearly well-researched and entertaining. We highly recommend Simon for a fun and rewarding tour to Cambridge.
Wendy –
Spent an amazing day in Cambridge with Simon. He brought the sites of Cambridge to life with interesting stories and fact. There is no way I would have seen as much of the city on my own.
After the tour I have already booked Oxford with Simon as my guide.