Start at Market Square and finish at the Round Church
This route begins at Cambridge Market Square and finishes outside the Round Church on Bridge Street. The distance and walking time are approximate and exclude time inside attractions, cafés or colleges. The route uses public streets, public foot and cycle paths, Silver Street Bridge and Garret Hostel Bridge. It does not require entry to college grounds.
Open the full walking route in Google Maps
Stay on the named public streets, paths and bridges below. Do not use a college gate or private lawn as a shortcut.
Follow the route street by street
- Market Square to Great St Mary’s. Leave the south-west corner of Market Square by St Mary’s Passage. Great St Mary’s is immediately ahead beside King’s Parade.
- Senate House and King’s Parade. Walk north through Senate House Passage for the public exterior of Senate House, then return to King’s Parade and head south along the pavement beside the King’s College frontage.
- Corpus Clock to The Eagle. Continue south on King’s Parade and Trumpington Street to the Corpus Clock. Turn left into Bene’t Street for The Eagle, then turn right into Free School Lane for the Old Cavendish Laboratory exterior.
- Free School Lane to Silver Street Bridge. Continue to Pembroke Street, turn right, then turn right again onto Trumpington Street. Turn left into Silver Street and cross the public Silver Street Bridge.
- Queens’ Green and Queen’s Road. On the west side of the river, follow the public path through Queens’ Green towards Queen’s Road. Turn right and keep north on the public path along the east side of Queen’s Road, outside the college boundaries.
- Garret Hostel Bridge. Turn right into Garret Hostel Lane and cross the steep public foot and cycle bridge over the Cam. Continue east to Trinity Lane.
- Trinity Lane to the Round Church. Turn left along Trinity Lane, continue to Trinity Street, then turn right towards Bridge Street. Finish outside the Round Church.
Know what is public and what needs admission
| Stop | Public exterior view | Optional interior |
|---|---|---|
| Great St Mary’s and Senate House | Both façades are visible from public streets and passages. | Church and tower access follows Great St Mary’s current opening and ticket arrangements. Senate House is not assumed open. |
| King’s College | The chapel and main gate are visible from King’s Parade. | Chapel and grounds require a valid visitor ticket when open. Use the college visiting guide for current practical details. |
| Corpus Clock, The Eagle and Old Cavendish | The clock and laboratory exterior are visible from public streets. The Eagle is a working pub. | Entering the pub is optional and subject to its own opening and customer arrangements. |
| Queens’ and The Backs | Silver Street Bridge gives a public view towards the Mathematical Bridge. The Queen’s Road path and Garret Hostel Bridge provide public Backs viewpoints. | Queens’ College admission is separate. College lawns and private bridges are not part of this route. |
| Round Church | The exterior is visible from Bridge Street. | Visitor-centre access depends on its current opening arrangements. |
For a shorter river-focused option, use the named public route around The Backs.
Build the route around live access
The public route remains usable when college interiors close. Services, examinations and university events can still change optional admission, so place a confirmed ticket into the day rather than detouring to an uncertain gate.
Wear comfortable shoes for cobbles, uneven paving and the steep Garret Hostel Bridge. The centre is busy with bicycles and pedestrians, so allow more time than the map estimate if the route is crowded. The City Council travel guidance helps with arrival choices.
If you would prefer a social orientation without a fixed ticket price, compare the current tip-based tour format.
Would you prefer a guided walk?
A self-guided walk gives you control over cafés, photos and detours. If you would also enjoy interpretation and company, a guided walk can help you connect the university, colleges and city while someone else leads the route.
If you want student perspective or an optional King’s visit, compare the alumni-led walking tours. If you want the riverside skyline without relying only on public viewpoints, the walking-and-punting combination changes the angle.
Use the alumni-led route for the university stories, then return independently to the places that held your attention.
Last checked 1 November 2026. Time-sensitive facts carry direct official links where available. Recheck those sources for the date you plan to visit.