Any former councillor who served for 10 years or longer can be appointed as an honorary councillor. If the councillor also served as mayor, they only need to have served for 8 years.

Former councillors can request the title or sitting councillors can sponsor the appointment. The Civic Affairs Committee considers each request. If they accept the request, two thirds of the full Council must then vote in favour.

If an honorary councillor is voted back onto the Council, they cease to be an honorary councillor.

Honorary councillors are given various rights and privileges. These include being invited to civic functions alongside serving councillors, where circumstances permit. They also have reserved seating at all Council meetings.

When an honorary councillor dies, we will fly a flag at half-mast above the Guildhall.

There are currently 29 honorary councillors.

• See also: Past councillors

Conservative councillors

• Sylvia Dolby: 11 years (1976 to 1987)
• Graham Edwards: 24 years (1976 to 1978 and 1978 to 2000)
• George Reid: 14 years (1976 to 1982 and 1987 to 1995), mayor in 1990/91

Labour councillors

• Frank Gawthrop: 12 years (1978 to 1990)
• Lewis Herbert: 19 years (2004 to 2023)
• Daphne Roper: 8 years (1991 to 1999), mayor in 1997/98
• Richard Smith: 26 years (1980 to 2006), mayor in 1999/2000
• Terry Sweeney: 16 years (1972 to 1988), mayor in 1987 (part year), also county councillor (1973 to 1977)
• John Woodhouse: 12 years (1980 to 1992), mayor in 1986/87 and 1989/90

Liberal Democrat councillors

• Jenny Bailey: 6 years (2002 to 2008), mayor in 2007/08
• Max Boyce: 11 years (2003 to 2014)
• Rod Cantrill: 16 years (2004 to 2020)
• Mike Dixon: 12 years (1999 to 2011), mayor in 2008/09
• Sarah Ellis-Miller: 10 years (2000 to 2010)
• Gaynor Griffiths: 11 years (1992 to 2003), also county councillor (2005 to 2009)
• David Howarth: 17 years (1987 to 2004)
• Chris Lakin: 8 years (1994 to 2002), mayor in 2001/02, also South Cambridgeshire councillor
• Jennifer Liddle: 11 years (2000 to 2007 and 2008 to 2012)
• Ian Nimmo-Smith: 22 years (1990 to 2012), mayor in 2011/12
• George Pippas: 9 years (2011 to 2020), mayor in 2017/18
• Sian Reid: 14 years (2002 to 2016)
• Joye Rosenstiel: 26 years (1982 to 2008), mayor in 1994/95
• Philippa Slatter: 13 years (1995 to 2008), mayor in 2002/03
• Catherine Smart: 18 years (1998 to 2016)
• Baroness Smith of Newnham (formerly Julie Smith): 12 years (2003 to 2015)
• Sheila Stuart: 10 years (2004 to 2014), mayor in 2010/11 and 2012/13
• Amanda Taylor: 18 years (1994 to 2012), also county councillor (2013 to 2021)
• Damien Tunnacliffe: 10 years (2011 to 2021)
• Roman Znajek: 9 years (1991 to 1999, 2010 to 2012)