How long does it take to walk the Women of Cambridge route?

The full walk takes approximately 2 to 3 hours, depending on your pace. This includes time to explore the gardens at Newnham and the distance to Girton College, which is about 2 miles from the city center.

Is Girton College worth visiting on a Cambridge walking route?

Yes, Girton College is historically significant as the first residential women's college in England. While it is located further out on Huntingdon Road, its architecture and history of pioneering education make it a must-see for history enthusiasts.

Can I see where Rosalind Franklin worked in Cambridge?

While the modern DNA research happens at the outskirts, you can visit The Eagle pub where the discovery was announced and the nearby old Cavendish Laboratory site where crucial early X-ray crystallography work took place.

Are the Cambridge colleges free to enter?

Some colleges like Newnham and Lucy Cavendish are often free for visitors during set hours, while others may charge a small fee. It is best to check the individual college websites as they frequently close for exams or private events.

Is this Cambridge walking route accessible for strollers?

The route is generally stroller-friendly as Cambridge is quite flat. However, the historic cobblestones around the city center and Senate House can be bumpy, and the distance to Girton may require using a bus.

What happened at Senate House in 1897?

In 1897, male students staged a massive protest at Senate House against a proposal to grant women degrees. They famously hung an effigy of a woman on a bicycle to mock the 'New Woman' movement, and the proposal was defeated.

When is the best time to visit Newnham College gardens?

The gardens are most spectacular in the spring (April-May) when the flowers are in bloom. They are typically open to the public during daylight hours, but check for 'Quiet Period' restrictions during university exams in May and June.

Zigway - The Guide Follows You

About This Tour

Step into a history that was nearly written out of the records on this self-guided walk through Cambridge. While the university’s spires and chapels are often associated with famous men, the city’s streets hold the echoes of defiant women who fought for the right to learn, research, and lead. This walking route takes you from the beautiful gardens of the first female colleges to the site of historic protests where women’s academic rights were fiercely contested. You will explore how the 'Blue Stockings' transformed Cambridge from a male-only bastion into a modern center of excellence. Along the way, this neighborhood stroll highlights the architectural beauty of Newnham College and the symbolic distance of Girton College, illustrating the isolation early female scholars faced. You will visit The Eagle, a pub famous for scientific breakthroughs, where you can reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of Rosalind Franklin to the discovery of DNA’s structure. The route also stops at Senate House, the scene of a notorious 1897 demonstration where an effigy of a woman on a bicycle was hung by male students to protest the granting of degrees to women. This self-guided adventure is more than just a trip through university history; it is a journey through the evolution of equality. You’ll see the modern legacy of these pioneers at Lucy Cavendish College and the Sidgwick Site, where today’s scholars follow in the footsteps of trailblazers like Anne Clough and Emily Davies. Whether you are a student, a history buff, or a solo traveler, this walking tour Cambridge offers a fresh perspective on the city's academic heritage. Discover at your own pace the stories of the scientists, activists, and educators who changed the face of Cambridge forever. This walking route Cambridge is a tribute to the resilience of those who refused to take 'no' for an answer in the pursuit of knowledge.

Highlights

The stunning architecture and gardens of Newnham College

The site of the 1897 degree protests at Senate House

Rosalind Franklin's legacy at the historic Eagle pub

The pioneering spirit of Emily Davies at Girton College

Stories of the 'Blue Stockings' and early female scholars

The evolution of women's education at Lucy Cavendish College

Tour Stops (6)

Newnham College, University of Cambridge

Start exploring with Zigway at Newnham College, established in 1871. As you stand before its red-brick buildings, imagine the first principal, Anne Jemima Clough, welcoming the first five students into a house in Regent Street before this site was built. Newnham was a radical experiment in women’s education. Notice the stunning Champneys-designed architecture; the college was built with long corridors specifically so that students didn't have to go outside in bad weather—a luxury at the time. The gardens here are some of the most beautiful in Cambridge, once a secluded sanctuary for women who were often barred from the city’s more public academic spaces. It remains one of the few all-female colleges, preserving a unique atmosphere of scholarship.

Sidgwick Site

A short walk brings you to the Sidgwick Site, the modern heart of the humanities at Cambridge. This area is named after Henry Sidgwick, a co-founder of Newnham College and a major proponent of women’s education. While the buildings here are more contemporary, they represent the integration of women into the core of the university's academic life. In the mid-20th century, this site became a hub where female lecturers and researchers finally gained the same standing as their male counterparts. As you wander through the plaza, think of the thousands of women who have walked these paths, from pioneering archaeologists to groundbreaking literary critics, finally claiming their place in the lecture halls.

The Eagle

The Eagle is one of Cambridge's oldest and most famous pubs, known primarily as the spot where Watson and Crick announced they had 'discovered the secret of life'—the structure of DNA. However, this stop on your walking route highlights the 'Dark Lady of DNA,' Rosalind Franklin. Her Photo 51 was the critical piece of evidence that allowed the men to build their model, yet she was long denied the credit she deserved. While the pub’s ceiling is covered in the graffiti of WWII airmen, take a moment to consider the scientific glass ceiling that Franklin and other women in the nearby Cavendish Laboratory had to shatter. It is a place to toast to the unsung heroines of science.

Senate House

Senate House is the ceremonial heart of the University, where degrees are conferred. But for women, it was a site of struggle for decades. In 1897, a vote was held here to decide if women should be granted full degrees. Male undergraduates gathered outside in a frenzy, hanging an effigy of a woman on a bicycle—the symbol of the 'New Woman'—from the windows of a shop across the street. The proposal was resoundingly defeated, and women wouldn't receive full degrees from Cambridge until 1948. When you look at the grand Neoclassical facade today, remember it not just as a place of graduation, but as a landmark of the long, hard-fought battle for academic recognition.

Lucy Cavendish College

Heading north, you reach Lucy Cavendish College. Founded in 1965, it was originally established to provide opportunities for mature women students—those whose education might have been interrupted or who decided to pursue a degree later in life. It is named after Lucy Cavendish, who campaigned for the reform of women's education in the 19th century. The college represents the late-stage evolution of the university’s inclusivity. In 2021, the college began admitting men as well, but its origins remain a testament to the specific barriers women faced in accessing higher education and the creative solutions they built to overcome them. The atmosphere here is peaceful and forward-looking.

Girton College, University of Cambridge

Your final stop is Girton College. Located about two miles from the city center, its distance was intentional. When it was founded in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon, many felt that women should be kept away from the 'distractions' (and potential scandals) of the male students in the center. Girton was the first residential college for women in England to offer a degree-level education. The walk or bus ride out here underscores the physical and social isolation early female students endured. Today, it is a vibrant, co-educational community, but its majestic Victorian Gothic buildings still stand as a monument to the pioneers who proved that women could meet the same rigorous academic standards as men.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 'Women of Cambridge: Trailblazers and Pioneers' self-guided walk is the most comprehensive route. It covers essential landmarks like Newnham College and Senate House, detailing the 150-year struggle for female academic equality.