Eagle, Cambridge Travel Guide

The Eagle opened as a coaching inn in 1667 and ranks as Cambridge’s second-oldest pub. Its timber-framed frontage dates from around 1600. In February 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson, regular lunchtime visitors from the nearby Cavendish Laboratory, announced the double-helix structure of DNA to patrons here. Blue plaques updated in 2023 also recognise Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. During the Second World War, RAF and US airmen inscribed names, squadron numbers and doodles on the rear-bar ceiling using candles, lighters and lipstick; the markings were later uncovered and preserved.

The building comprises a street-front bar, a middle room containing commemorative plaques and a dedicated table, and the rear RAF Bar with its graffiti ceiling. A galleried courtyard wing leads to an outdoor beer garden. The rooms are compact and traditional, with wooden floors, low ceilings and walls lined with historic notices. The site is owned by Corpus Christi College and sits directly opposite Cambridgeshire’s oldest surviving building.

The menu offers classic pub dishes including steaks, pies, Sunday roasts and small plates, alongside vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. A commemorative “Eagle’s DNA” ale is brewed for the pub. Seating is available indoors year-round and outdoors when weather permits. The operation is family-friendly and dog-friendly, with free Wi-Fi and wheelchair access. No entry fee applies; spending centres on food and drink.

Most visitors arrive on foot from Market Square or nearby colleges, pause to read the exterior plaque, then move inside to view the ceiling and plaques before ordering. The pub remains busy with a blend of academics, students and tourists, particularly at lunchtime and early evening. The front rooms feel cosy and enclosed while the beer garden offers a lighter, open setting in fine weather.

The location lies within Cambridge’s pedestrian historic core, a few minutes’ walk from King’s Parade and Market Square. City buses stop nearby; the railway station is a 20–25-minute walk or short bus ride. Vehicle entry to the centre is restricted; drivers use nearby multi-storey car parks such as Grand Arcade. Cycling is straightforward and common. The surrounding streets contain university buildings, churches and market activity.