Cambridge After Dark: University Ghost Tour by Alumni

Ghostly tales from Cambridge's darkest corners, told by those who studied there

You walk sixty minutes through Cambridge's oldest colleges and haunted streets with a university student or graduate who knows the real history behind the folklore. No props or theatrical scares. Just stories tied to Peterhouse, Corpus Christi, and local landmarks where strange events have been documented. The tour ends near the city centre, ready for dinner or a drink.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cambridge's ghostly history

• Discover science and supernatural links
• Visit historic execution and witchcraft site
• See haunted quiet bookshop
• Investigate pub's mysterious upper floor draft
• Walk across Free School Lane
• Learn about Corpus Christi's dark tales
• Explore oldest college's famous ghost story

The experience

Picture narrow cobblestone streets lit by lamplight, centuries-old college walls rising into shadow, and a guide pausing at a corner to tell you why locals avoid walking here alone after dark. That's how the Cambridge After Dark ghost tour unfolds, not as a theatrical performance with jump scares, but as a 60-minute walk through real places where strange things have allegedly happened for hundreds of years. Your guide is a Cambridge University student or graduate, someone who knows these buildings not as a tourist attraction but as part of their daily life, which changes how the stories land.

The route moves through some of the nicest-looking parts of Cambridge, the kind of place that looks peaceful in daylight. But beneath that calm sits a much older history (executions, heresy trials, witchcraft accusations) all tied to the streets you're walking. You'll stop at a quiet bookshop said to be haunted by what locals describe as the friendliest ghost in the city, then move to a pub where the upper floor has a draft that nobody can quite explain. Free School Lane carries its own weight. People say the energy of what happened there still lingers in the air. Corpus Christi College, one of the oldest, holds stories of restless figures and unexplained noises behind its dark walls. And then there's Peterhouse, the oldest college in town, where a recent haunting made national headlines and, to this day, remains unsolved.

The walk takes exactly 60 minutes and ends near the city centre, close enough to grab a meal or a drink afterward if you want to shake off the spookiness. The tour runs in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. Fair warning: the route includes uneven surfaces, curbs, and busy areas with bicycles and vehicles, so it's not a casual stroll. You're doing a proper walk, and that's part of what makes it work. Wheelchair users are welcome, though some sections may be tricky to navigate.

What’s included

• Sixty-minute guided ghost tour through Cambridge's historic streets and college grounds, led by a Cambridge University student or graduate.
• Stories and folklore tied to Peterhouse, Corpus Christi College, haunted pubs, and other supernatural sites.
• The tour ends near the city centre.

Options for this experience

2 options

English tour18:00 and 19:00Lasts 1 hour

Mandarin tourGuide in Chinese · 18:00 and 19:00Lasts 1 hour

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 18:00 and 19:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cambridge Alumni Tours

Is this one for you?Right for anyone wanting Cambridge's darker history told by someone who actually studied there, without theatrical tricks. Plan for a full hour of outdoor walking on uneven surfaces. That's what lets you visit the actual locations where these stories happened.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Cambridge After Dark ghost tour?

Sixty minutes of outdoor walking through the city's historic streets and college grounds.

Who leads the tour?

A Cambridge University student or graduate guide who knows the colleges and stories firsthand.

Does the tour use props or jump scares?

No. The tour focuses on real supernatural stories and historical events tied to specific locations, without theatrical effects.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair users are welcome, though some sections have uneven terrain and curbs that may be difficult to navigate. The tour operator advises caution due to trip hazards and busy areas with bicycles and vehicles.

Where does the tour end?

Near the city centre, close to restaurants, pubs, and other lively areas.

What stories will I hear about?

The tour covers haunted locations including Peterhouse (site of a recent national headline), Corpus Christi College, a haunted bookshop, a pub with an unexplained draft, and Free School Lane: all tied to Cambridge's darker history of executions and heresy trials.