The Cambridge Physics Walking Tour

The University of Cambridge’s Department of Physics has shaped the course of scientific discovery for centuries. As part of the Cavendish Laboratory’s 150th anniversary celebrations, we invite you on a journey through the heart of Cambridge. On this 75-minute audio walking tour (with an optional 45-minute extension), you’ll wander through historic lanes and cloisters where groundbreaking discoveries were made, from the discovery of electron to the splitting of the atom, and the unravelling of DNA’s structure.

The tour starts at Newton’s Apple Tree outside Trinity College, where you’ll learn about his revolutionary work, and the first part of the tour concludes at the Mathematical Bridge over the River Cam. You then have the option to continue on an additional 45-minute tour to West Cambridge, where you will visit the Ray Dolby Centre, the newest home of the Cavendish Laboratory.

Throughout the tour, Cambridge physicists will be your guides, sharing their insights and stories that bring the science to life. You’ll hear about both legendary breakthroughs and the latest cutting-edge research shaping the future of physics.

Along the way, following the footsteps of some of the greatest minds in physics, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Discover the former site of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, the intellectual crucible where Maxwell, Rayleigh, and others debated their groundbreaking theories
• Spot the Corpus Clock with its peculiar grasshopper escapement mechanism, designed to reflect Big Bang physics
• Visit the Eagle pub where Watson and Crick first announced their discovery of DNA’s double-helix structure
• Explore the historic Old Cavendish Laboratory, where groundbreaking discoveries were made, including the electron by J.J. Thomson in 1897.
• See the spot where Cockcroft and Walton first split the atom in 1932, and find the crocodile carving – a playful tribute to Ernest Rutherford, known as “the father of nuclear physics”
• Hear about both historical breakthroughs and the cutting-edge research shaping the future of physics at the Ray Dolby Centre, the newest home of the Cavendish Laboratory in West Cambridge.

Whether you’re a physics enthusiast, a curious visitor, or simply exploring Cambridge’s rich academic heritage, we hope this tour inspires a deeper appreciation for the discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the universe.

Join us as we uncover the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future of Cambridge Physics.

Don’t forget to provide a review of the tour at the end. This will help us improve the tour experience in the future.

Note: If you are planning to do the full tour including the additional 45 minutes to West Cambridge, you will have the option to hop on a bus from the Mathematical Bridge. The West Cambridge site is also accessible via a 30-minute walk. You can find a picture of the walking route here or simply follow Google Maps to reach the Physics of Medicine building.