The Cradle of Science

This unique walking tour invites curious minds of all ages to explore the remarkable city that has shaped—and been shaped by—centuries of scientific breakthroughs.

Follow in the footsteps of scientific legends: Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Ernest Rutherford, Stephen Hawking, and Dorothy Hodgkin, the first British woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Along the way, from the hallowed halls of the Cavendish Laboratory to the colleges that nurtured genius, you'll also uncover the stories of brilliant minds whose contributions were overlooked or under-acknowledged in their time.

Designed by Cambridge science alumni and expert science communicators, this tour brings science to life—accessible, engaging, and unforgettable.

What landmarks are included?

This tour focusses on scientists in Cambridge. Depending on the length of your tour, we will walk by the New Museums Site including the Cavendish Laboratory, and the Zoology Museum, Sedgwick Site, Eagle Pub, Chronophage Clock, front of King’s College , Senate House, Gonville & Caius College, Wren Library, front of Trinity College and St John’s College.

Length: 1.5 or 2 hours.

This tour can be extended to a Full-day by visiting the West Site of the University of Cambridge, with state-of-the-art new buildings such as the Ray Dolby Cavendish Laboratory, and visiting museums such as the Museum of Zoology [Darwin’s beetle collection], Museum of Earth Science [rock specimens collected by Darwin during his five-year journey on the Beagle], William Smith's 1815 Geological Map of England and Wales] or the Whipple Museum of the History of Science [large collection of scientific instrument from the Old Cavendish Laboratory, Darwin’s microscope and many astronomy instruments]

“A tour of Cambridge with a science twist”