Cambridge Pub Crawls

Cambridge offers an eclectic tapestry of historic pubs, trendy bars, and intimate hideaways, perfect for young visitors eager to explore local culture through a series of spirited pub crawls. By grouping venues according to neighbourhoods—ranging from the ancient bastions of Castle Hill and Bridge Street to the bohemian lanes off Mill Road and Petersfield—these itineraries provide diverse themes and paces. For an immersive experience, an interactive map plotting each venue by area can serve as a dynamic guide, ensuring seamless navigation and real-time discovery of ratings and highlights.

1. Castle Hill Pub Crawl (9 pubs)

Launch your exploration at The Architect, Cambridge’s dedicated Fish-&-Chips and Pie-&-Mash bar where modern décor, twenty-plus gins and Friday-night live music set an upbeat tone for the evening. A two-minute stroll downhill brings you to The Castle Inn, a split-level 1740s Adnams house whose leafy beer garden is perfect for early pints in the sun.

Cut left onto Pound Hill for The Punter, a converted coaching inn whose candle-lit stables dining room and courtyard invite relaxed conversation over craft coffee, wine and its house blonde ale. Retrace your steps across Magdalene Bridge to The Pickerel Inn, Cambridge’s oldest licensed pub (1608); soak up four centuries of history in the oak-beamed bar or the cobbled courtyard before moving on.

A few doors south stands Baron of Beef, the Grade II-listed haunt where computer pioneers once quarrelled and Doctor Who’s Tom Baker enjoyed a pint. Continue along Bridge Street to its near neighbour, The Mitre, whose 18th-century coaching-inn roots now support Nicholson’s rotating cask line-up and hearty British dishes.

Swing east through St John’s Street to The Orator at the Cambridge Union. Housed in the Union’s 1866 debating chamber, this stylish brasserie-bar balances Victorian grandeur with a hidden walled garden—ideal for cocktails or a quick ale before the final leg.

A gentle amble down Portugal Place delivers The Maypole, a family-run freehouse famed for its eight casks (arranged pale-to-dark), 40-plus gins and homemade Italian food. Round off the night by following Thompson’s Lane to riverside Byron’s Bear, the 2025 pub that replaced La Mimosa yet keeps its sunny terrace overlooking Jesus Green. Spin a record on the in-house player, raise a toast to Lord Byron’s legendary pet bear and watch punts drift by as your nine-stop crawl comes to a memorable close.

Castle Hill Pub Crawl Carousel

Leaflet Interactive Map – Castle Hill Route

Byron’s Bear  combines the best of both worlds: the stunning riverside location that made La Mimosa special, now enhanced with quintessentially British pub amenities including craft beers, local ales, and traditional pub fare. The venue features outdoor seating with views over Jesus Green, a record player corner where patrons can bring their own vinyl, and a piano for impromptu performances. This unique blend of La Mimosa’s cherished location with Byron’s Bear’s innovative pub concept creates a fitting finale to any Cambridge pub crawl, where the past and present converge in perfect harmony along the banks of the River Cam.

2. Petersfield Pub Crawl (9 pubs)

The Petersfield area in Cambridge combines neighbourhood charm with a diverse array of pubs, from traditional locals to innovative brewrooms. This revised nine-stop route begins at The Dobblers Inn, a sports-centric boozer with a lively courtyard and quiz nights, before weaving through corner pubs, CAMRA award winners, family-run breweries, and gastropubs. Each venue is no more than a five-minute stroll from the last, ensuring the focus remains on sampling ales, enjoying bar games, and soaking up local atmosphere rather than long walks. The crawl culminates at the Devonshire Arms, where a wood-burning stove and simple grill menu offer a cosy end to an evening of exploration. An interactive map and Bootstrap carousel below make it easy to visualise and integrate this itinerary into any website.

Petersfield Pub Crawl Carousel

Leaflet Interactive Map – Petersfield Route

Begin your Petersfield pub crawl at The Dobblers Inn, where Sturton Street’s local community gathers around five large screens to follow sport and to enjoy a pint in the courtyard. The casual atmosphere and pizza-tinged bar snacks make it an ideal meet-up point, especially on quiz-night Tuesdays when competition is as lively as the ale selection.

A short two-minute walk east brings you to The Alexandra Arms, a bright corner pub on Gwydir Street distinguished by its stripped wooden floors and open fire. Here, real ales share the bar with gourmet burgers, karaoke machines and live music on weekends, attracting a diverse crowd from student punters to LGBTQ+ locals.

Continue east to The Geldart on Ainsworth Street, honoured by the local CAMRA branch in 2023 for its inventive hot rock dishes, musical instrument décor and ever-rotating guest ales. Its candle-lit bar and live music stage create an intimate environment for sampling local brews and appreciating the pub’s punny tribute to Elvis’s entrance.

Retrace your steps slightly north to Calverley’s Brewery on Hooper Street, a family-run taproom where brewing tours and tasting flights offer insight into Cambridge’s craft beer revival. The focus here is on crisp, fresh pints served directly from the source in a snug, communal setting.

Stroll up Sturton Street to The Petersfield, a low-key wood-accented pub with a garden tucked behind its corner façade. Known for its hearty Sunday roasts and welcoming atmosphere, it embodies the neighborhood spirit, drawing in families, dog-walkers and local residents alike.

Cross back to Gwydir Street for The Cambridge Blue, a cozy beer-garden pub where an international bottled beer menu complements simple British snacks. The eclectic crowd and ivy-clad exterior make it a favourite for leisurely afternoons and al fresco pints.

A two-minute wander north leads you to Kingston Arms, whose sizable garden and locally sourced menu provide a tasteful pause. Choose a rotating cask ale paired with seasonal small plates and take in the pub’s relaxed charm away from the main drag.

Venture down Mill Road to find White Swan, where five large screens dominate the interior for live rugby and sports viewings. Open late into the evening, this tavern offers pub-grub classics and a dynamic crowd that keeps energy levels high.

Conclude the route at the Devonshire Arms, just a further five-minute walk along Devonshire Road. This stripped-back ale house combines a roaring woodburner with a simple grill menu of burgers and grill dishes, providing a cosy, solid finale to your Petersfield pub crawl.

In total, this nine-stop circuit covers barely a mile and a half, linking pubs and breweries that showcase the area’s blend of sporting passion, gastropub innovation and craft-beer creativity. With each venue within easy reach of the next, your group can focus on sampling real ales, enjoying bar games and soaking up the friendly neighbourhood atmosphere that defines Petersfield.