Exploring Cambridge
5 day holiday – Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Highlights...
Best of Cambridge Guided Tour
Boat Tour on the River Cam
Anglesey Abbey
Cambridge has developed from a sleepy market town with a small academic community to a thriving city, home to a world-beating university and Europe's largest technology cluster all making it a fascinating place to visit. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country, which is mainly due to the beautiful architecture and majestic college buildings of its prestigious University, with colleges dating back to the eleventh century. 13th century monks chose it as a more tranquil place to study than Oxford, sowing seeds for what was to become Cambridge University. It has given us some of the greatest minds in science; Sir Isaac Newton, Crick and Watson with their pioneering DNA work, the world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking and Rutherford with his early experiments in nuclear physics. With this in mind, it is easy to see why Cambridge University has more Nobel Prize laureates than any other university on the planet.
During our visit we will get to explore some of the very best places of interest with the benefit of them being situated a short walk from one another within a small area of the town. An experienced local guide will lead us on an enlightening and entertaining tour, at a leisurely pace, to discover Cambridge’s landmarks and rich history. Narrow, medieval streets and secret passages unfold with stories of the city, its history, religious heritage and architecture. A must-see Cambridge landmark is King's College Chapel, founded by Henry VI in 1446, it took over a century to build. It has the largest fan-vaulted ceiling in the world, a magnificent altarpiece by Rubens and some of the finest medieval stained glass. Nearby is the Senate House, an impressive neo-classic building belonging to the University of Cambridge, used mainly for graduation ceremonies.
Another gem is St Bene’t’s Church, the oldest building in Cambridge dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. Close to this is the Eagle pub where in 1953 Francis Crick announced that he and James Watson had discovered DNA. Included in the cluster of Cambridge’s most vis- ited buildings is the Fitzwilliam Museum, which houses over half a million beautiful works of art, including famous paintings by Rubens, Monet and Renoir and notable artefacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, China and Europe.
The Gonville Hotel, Cambridge 4*
We will be staying at the 4-Star Gonville Hotel, a stunning, boutique hotel ideally situated in the city for easy access to local attractions. Classed as one of the best hotels in Cambridge, their attention to detail to ensure a perfect stay is reflected all around from the gracious hospitality to fine artistry in a building steeped in history. Bedrooms are of modern décor and offer a pillow menu allowing you to relax in comfort. The rooms feature en-suite bathrooms with complimentary shower gel, shampoo and conditioner (toothpaste and shaving gel on request) and have a large flat screen TV, complimentary WiFi, tea & coffee making facilities with biscuits, room service, and air conditioning, irons are available on request. There are lifts to all floors. Meals are created using locally sourced ingredients and the three-course dinner every night includes two glasses of wine or soft drinks.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Wenesday 3rd September
Arriving by door-to-door car at the Bull Hotel, Gerrards Cross, you will be greeted by your tour manager who will be with you throughout the holiday. Coffee or tea with pastries will be served before we board the coach. A light lunch will be served at Marygreen Manor Hotel in Essex before we continue to our destination. ‘Exploring Cambridge’ starts at the second oldest building in the city, the 12th century Round Church, where we learn about the history of Cambridge, whilst seated through a 25-minute film and looking around the exhibition. Afterwards we continue to the Gonville Hotel where we can relax, settle in and enjoy our riverside surroundings.
Day 2 – Thursday 4th September
After breakfast we will take the short walk to the University Botanical Gardens for a 90-minute guided tour. We will then return to the hotel to board the coach and make our way to The Red Lion Inn for our lunch stop. Following lunch, the coach will take the journey to Audley End House and Gardens. This largely 17th-century country house is known to be one of the finest Jacobean houses in England and our visit here will enable us to discover how this great house worked in years past. We will explore the Great Hall, State Rooms and intimate private apartments, and the fine furniture and works of art within these, as well as the 1830’s Nursery with replica toys and the Coal Gallery; where you can learn how the servants used to keep the house in coal and hot water. This delightful property also offers a unique insight into life ‘below stairs’ during the 1880s, a place often forgotten but the hub of many grand homes.
Day 3 – Friday 5th September
Today we will begin by taking the short drive to the Plough Inn where we will board boats via an easily accessed point then relax and enjoy the leisurely 90-minute cruise, along the River Cam, past historic college boathouses, experiencing a unique view of Cambridge from the river. A light lunch is served at the Plough Inn after the trip, before we continue to National Trust property Anglesey Abbey, another Jacobean-style house full of rich history. The richness of the inside can be seen through the fine furnishings, books, paintings, silver and rare clocks, whilst outside there is a spectacular garden with planting for all seasons.
Day 4 – Saturday 6th September
Joined by a knowledgeable guide at the hotel, we will board the coach taking us to a central drop-off point, centrally located for our walking tour. After an enjoyably informative guided tour in King’s College Chapel our guide will take us to look at Senate House, next to the Chapel which we pass as we continue to St Bene’t’s Church. We have a guided tour of this Anglo-Saxon Church then continue for our light lunch venue. In the afternoon our guide accompanies us to provide a guided tour of the impressive Fitzwilliam Museum. We then return to hotel.
Day 5 – Sunday 7th September
Today is departure day. On our journey home we will stop at the delightful Gotha Gardens at Pembroke Farm. The gardens were started in 1990 and there are plenty of formal surprises to enjoy. The formal areas include: a topiary garden, rose gardens, woodland garden, tea lawn and cottage garden beds. The Garden also has an Artisanal Botanical Candlery and Natural Perfumery along with a gift shop. We will enjoy a small plate, light lunch here with tea and coffee. Afterwards we continue to the Bull Hotel where refreshments will be served before our door to door cars arrive.
Total Price of the Holiday: £2,625 per person
Deposit: £200
National Trust Discount: £17
English Heritage Discount: £17
Balance due: 9th July 2025
Whats Included:
- Door to door cars from your home to the meeting point and back
- Coach travel throughout the holiday
- 4 nights at the 4-Star Gonville Hotel
- 3-course dinner with two glasses of wine every night
- Full English or continental breakfast every morning
- Light lunch with coffee or tea on three days
- 2-course lunch with coffee or tea on last day
- Morning refreshments on the first day
- Afternoon refreshments on the last day
- Admission/talks/tours at all properties visited on excursions stated in the programme:
- The Round Church
- University of Cambridge Botanical Gardens • Audley End House and Gardens
- Boat Cruise on the River Cam
- Anglesey Abbey
- King’s College Chapel
- St Bene’t’s Church
- Fitzwilliam Museum
- Gotha Gardens
- Gratuities
- The services of a Blue Badge Guide
- The services of your Tour manager throughout your stay
- V.A.T. 
For more information or to book call020 4568 3377
