Discover Cambridge

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 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

to the brim with fantastic museums – many of them free to see. Marvel at trinkets and treasures from all corners of the globe at the Fitzwilliam Museum or get a taste for the thrilling polar adventures of explorers at the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum. Then there’s the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, where almost two million rocks and fossils are waiting to transport you through 4.5 billion years of history. The Imperial War Museum is also not to be missed. As the largest aviation museum in Europe, it’s the place to go if you’re interested in vintage aircraft.

Drink and dine in style

Cambridge has no shortage of lovely pubs, restaurants and bars to sample. After a long day seeing the sights, serious foodies should book a table at the Michelin-starred Midsummer House, which serves up excellent British-French dishes next to the river. For something a little lighter, head out of town to the charming village of Grantchester for lunch at The Orchard Tea Garden. An old stomping ground for academics including Alan Turing and Stephen Fry, these tearooms are known for having the best cream teas around. The Green Man, also in Grantchester, is the place to go for pub grub and a pint, and the appropriately

named Pint Shop is also worth checking out. Its Grade II-listed building was once home to EM Forster, but now houses a long list of beers from breweries all over the country.

Rent a bike to see the sights

The first thing you’ll notice about Cambridge is that everyone cycles everywhere. Dodging bookbalancing students on bicycles is part of what makes navigating this compact city so charming. Cycling is a great way for tourists to explore the city too. Be sure to swing by the Corpus Clock, an art piece on the front of the Taylor Library, before meandering slowly through Cambridge’s Botanical Gardens. Stop off at Market Square to pick up a souvenir or two and satisfy your inner bookworm at Heffers bookshop. You’ll soon fall in love with how easy it is to explore this city on two wheels. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122