Cambridge's college walk returns on Sunday 13 September. Waves leave Parker's Piece from 9.30am, adults are £22.50, and up to three under-16s go free.
Six Cambridge colleges will open their grounds to the public on Sunday 13 September for Bridge the Gap, the annual charity walk that starts and finishes on Parker’s Piece.
This year’s route goes into Jesus, St John’s, Trinity, Gonville & Caius, Queens’ and Downing. The organisers change the route every year, and they publish it in advance so walkers know which gates they will be going through.
Registration is open now, and it stays open on the day.
The practical details
- Sunday 13 September. The first wave leaves at 9.30am, then every 15 minutes, with the last wave at 10.30am. You choose your wave when you book.
- Under four miles, staying central to the city. It is not a race.
- £22.50 per adult in advance, or £25 on the day.
- Up to three under-16s go free with every paying adult. A Treasure Hunt for children costs £3 each.
- The route is fully accessible. Only assistance dogs are allowed.
- Book at arhc.org.uk/btg, or call 01223 675888, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
More than 120 volunteers will marshal the route. Parker’s Piece will have volunteer-run cake tents and live acoustic music at the finish, and members of the Society of Cambridge Tourist Guides give their time on the route to explain the colleges and landmarks as walkers pass them.
Where the money goes
All proceeds from the event are split equally between two Cambridgeshire charities. Arthur Rank Hospice Charity supports people living with an advanced serious illness or a life-limiting condition, and those who need end-of-life care. Romsey Mill works with young people, children and families across the county.
Last year’s walk, the 25th, drew almost 2,200 people and raised a record £63,000. Since the first walk in 2001, more than 52,000 walkers have raised over £750,000.
Sharon Allen, chief executive of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, said the money keeps the charity’s work going:
Every year, thousands of people come together to enjoy a fantastic morning exploring Cambridge, while raising vital funds for two local charities. Whether you’re taking part with family, friends, colleagues or on your own, we’d love you to join us on Sunday 13 September.
Neil Perry, chief executive at Romsey Mill, said the walk brings in people “from across Cambridge, the surrounding area and beyond”, and that every registration “supports the vital work of both charities”.
The Cambridge Building Society is headline sponsor for the 18th year. Its chief executive, Peter Burrows, said dozens of the society’s staff would be marshalling and walking again. Cambridge University Press & Assessment and Rotary Cambridge are also sponsors.
What it means for you
If you want to walk it, book before Saturday. Advance tickets are £2.50 cheaper than paying on the day, and you have to choose a wave, so leaving it late means taking whatever slot is left.
It is a way into college grounds that are not always open. The charity’s own description of the route is that it takes walkers “behind the gates” of six colleges that the public cannot always get into, and up to three children walk free with each paying adult.
If you are not walking, expect the city centre to be busy on Sunday morning. Around 2,200 people took part last year, all of them on foot between Parker’s Piece and the colleges between about 9.30am and lunchtime.
If you are driving in, check the parking first. Park and ride is free to park for up to 18 hours and an adult return is £4.50, against £26 for a long stay at the cheapest city centre car park on a Sunday. Prices are on Cambridge roadworks and travel.
If you would rather help than walk, the charity is still looking for volunteers, at events@arhc.org.uk.
Sources
- Bridge the Gap event page, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, for the date, the start waves, the distance, prices, the accessibility and dog rules, the volunteer numbers and the fundraising split.
- One week to go until Cambridge’s iconic Bridge the Gap Charity Walk, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, 2 September 2026, for the marshal numbers, the on-the-day price and the quotes from Sharon Allen and Neil Perry.
- Unique route revealed for annual Bridge the Gap with record numbers anticipated, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, 17 July 2026, for the six colleges, the 2025 totals, the running total since 2001 and the sponsor’s comment.
- Cambridge Park and Ride pricing and Queen Anne Terrace car park, Cambridge City Council, for the parking comparison.
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