Colleges and The Backs
Distance – 2.5 km (1.5 miles)
Time - 30 mins
Outline route
A short walk taking in the most historic of The Colleges, including Kings, Trinity, St John’s and Clare. The walk includes river crossings and a stretch along ‘The Backs’
if you only have a short time available in the City, this might be the walk for you.
The walk starts and ends in the marketplace in front of The Guildhall.
Directions
Directions
The start of the walk
The Guildhall on Market Hill
With your back to The Guildhall.
Turn left and slightly right as you enter St Mary’s Passage, keeping Great St Mary’s Church on your right. It is possible to climb church tower to get a great view over the city.
St Mary’s Passage
You will soon reach Kings Parade and be faced by the Kings College Chapel, the most recognisable building in the City
Turn left along Kings Parade. At the corner of Benet Street, look out for the amazing Corpus Clock. Gold plated, with a huge grasshopper, ‘eating time’
The road continues as Trumpington Street. Follow this, passing Corpus Christi College on your left and St Catherine’s College to your right.
At the junction, turn right along Silver Street and cross the bridge. Take time to look at the Mill pond on your left and The Mathematical Bridge on your right.
Continue past Queens College on your right, then follow the footpath to the right to begin a section of the walk along The Backs.
Follow the footpath keeping the road to your left and you will pass a number of Colleges, including Kings College, with the famous view across the grazing meadow and The River Cam to the chapel.
After the gate to Clare College, turn right along Garrett Hostel Lane, over the bridge and continue between the College buildings.
View from Garrett Lane Hostel Bridge
At the T junction, turn right along Trinity Lane and then left, to follow Senate House Passage. You will pass the Senate House on your right, just before you reach Trinity Street.
Turn left along Trinity Street and pass Gonville and Caius, Trinity and St John’s Colleges.
At the end of Trinity Street, turn right along Bridge Street. You will see The Round Church in front of you.
Follow Bridge Street as it turns into Sidney Street.
just past the entrance to Sidney Sussex College turn right and walk along the cobbled Green Street.
At the end, turn left along Trinity Street, then immediately left into Rose Crescent, one the prettiest streets in Cambridge. This will lead you back into the Market Square and back to where you began this walk.