Immerse yourself in the life of a Cambridge student on this superb tour. Join Emmanuel College graduate and popular Travel Editions’ lecturer and guide, Julian Humphrys to explore the ancient past (as well as his own more recent time there) and present of this beautiful city and its famous colleges. Accommodation is in Christ’s College so that you are within a few footsteps of all the main sights – a dinner here in the sumptuous dining hall will replicate a Cambridge student institution. You will also be joined on the tour by Dr Nicola Tallis, an independent historian and researcher who will give a talk on Lady Margaret Beaufort and her strong connections to Cambridge and Christ's College.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive independently at Christ’s College from 15.00.
This evening there will be a welcome reception, talk from Julian Humphrys in the Lloyd Room of Christ’s College and private dinner with wine in the Dining Hall.
Day 2: Walking tour of the city, King’s College and Kettle’s Yard.
Our day starts with a walking tour of the beautiful and historic city of Cambridge with a Blue Badge guide who will show you some of the 31 colleges dotted around the city’s beautiful centre. This afternoon, we visit King’s College, one of the grandest and oldest colleges which was founded in 1441 by Henry VI. The college is an architectural gem and widely regarded as one of the greatest examples of late Gothic English architecture. It is famed throughout the world for its chapel whose stained-glass windows and wooden chancel screen are some of the finest from their era. Our final visit for the day is to Kettle’s Yard Art Gallery and House. It is the University of Cambridge’s modern and contemporary art gallery, whilst the historic house is home to the remarkable collection assembled by Jim and Helen Ede, who lived here from 1958 until 1973. This evening we have a talk in the Lloyd Room of Christ's College by Dr Nicola Tallis - 'Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch', before you have the rest of the evening at leisure to enjoy dinner in one of the host of restaurants in the city centre.
Day 3: Emmanuel College, punting on the Cam and Fitzwilliam Museum.
Our day starts with a tour of Julian’s old college, Emmanuel, with an anecdote or two to entertain about his time here where his lifelong fascination with history was forged and some behind the scenes visits not normally available to the general public. The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth and its 1677 chapel was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Time free for an early lunch (not included) before a chauffeured punt trip on the Cam, without which no visit to Cambridge is complete. Finally, our last visit is to the superb Fitzwilliam Museum with its superb collection of art, comprising some 1700 paintings from the 13th to the 21st centuries. Its myriad collections also includes coins, ceramics, armour, manuscripts, including the original draft of Keats’s Ode to a Nightingale and antiquities. Return to Christ’s College for approximately 17.00.
All tours are conducted on foot, so a reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required for this tour.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour managers' discretion.
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 48 passengers.
INCLUDED
- Two nights’ bed and breakfast accommdation at Christ's College based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
- Welcome reception
- First night private three-course dinner with wine at Christ’s College
- All talks, guided tours and admissions
- Tour manager throughout
NOT INCLUDED
- Transport to the hotel is not included
- Single supplement
- Holiday insurance
- Extra nights on a bed and breakfast basis
- Meals other than those stated
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
- Porterage and gratuities
HOTEL
Christ’s College, Cambridge
Stay in one of the city’s most famous and oldest colleges, established in 1437, in a modern, clean and comfortable student room with private bathroom. They do not have hotel facilities such as TV and telephone but breakfast is served in the college and they have free wifi. Please be aware that the College has no lift.
Parking: There is no car parking available at Christ’s College. The closest multi-storey car park to the city centre, colleges and riverside is the Grand Arcade Car Park on Corn Exchange Street. There is another car park on Park Street which is a 10-minute walk into the city. There are also five park and ride sites around Cambridge which permit overnight parking. For all details on the car parking available please call us for an information sheet.
MORE INFO -
Your Guides and Speakers
Julian Humphrys
Julian read history at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, has worked at historical sites both in Britain and overseas and is now a trustee of the the Battlefields Trust and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has a very infectious enthusiasm for history and has published numerous books on castles and battles. He currently leads more than a dozen tours for Travel Editions and imparts his extraordinary historical knowledge with wit and panache, making a tour led by him both an educational and entertaining experience.
Event organiser is Travel Editions.
Disclaimer: All information was correct when the listing was prepared. Any questions about the event should be directed to the event organiser.