Travel
Discover Cambridge
It’s best known for its esteemed university, but Cambridge is also the crown jewel of UK city breaks. In fact, many would argue that it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With holidays abroad looking like an unlikely prospect this summer, many of you will be looking a little closer to home when planning your next breaks. If centuries of history, exquisite architecture, tranquil manicured gardens and beers by the riverside all sound like your type of holiday, the university town of Cambridge could be the perfect base. No more than ninety minutes from London, it’s easy to reach from the Midlands too. Meander the charming, cobbled streets, hop between worldclass museums, discover the city’s fantastic drinking and dining scene, and tick off the sights on a lazy punting tour; there’s so much to do, a long weekend probably won’t be enough. Not sure where to begin? Here’s a small snapshot of the top sights and experiences: Go punting They say the best way to experience a new city is to live like the locals do. Luckily, Cambridge’s favourite pastime is also one of the best ways to see the city. Relax, soak up the views and watch some of Cambridge’s most famous sights sail by, including
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the Bridge of Sighs, Kings College Chapel and the Mathematical Bridge. On many punting tours you don’t even need to steer the boat yourself; simply sit back and let the guides do all the hard work. Take a university tour Visiting Cambridge without seeing its ancient university buildings is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. They draw tourists in from around the world – plus they’re hard to ignore. After all, dating back to 1209, Cambridge University is one of the oldest English-speaking universities in the world, second only to Oxford. Dominating the city centre, the university is easy to explore on foot. Naturally, the best people to show you around are the students themselves. Book a guided tour around Clare, Trinity, Christ’s and King’s Colleges, where Stephen Hawking, David Attenborough, Charles Darwin and Alan Turing once studied. Photograph famous chapels and libraries, drinking in the exquisite architecture, and marvel at the colleges’ perfectly groomed grounds. Whether you’re into history or not, it’s impossible not to be in awe of the sheer academic excellence soaked into every inch of this university’s walls. Visit some museums If all that academic brilliance is making you want to learn a thing or two, you’re in luck. Cambridge is full
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