Cambridge is without doubt one of the most well-known cities in England because of its historic college and faculties that date again to 1208. There are many fantastic issues to do in Cambridge from punting alongside the River Cam to exploring the well-known “Backs” of the universities and visiting the numerous museums.
I first visited Cambridge on a faculty journey a few years in the past and immediately fell in love with the place. From the unimaginable structure on show throughout the town to the large array of fascinating museums, parks, gardens, and glorious pubs and eating places, it’s a spot I am going again to time and again.
A few of Cambridge’s prime locations to go to embody the historic King’s Faculty, the Polar Analysis Institute, and the Botanic Gardens. Town can also be an excellent place for foodies as a result of many glorious cafes, bistros, bars, and eating places to check out. It’s someplace I normally go for particular events and it’s nice for {couples}.
Greatest Issues To Do in Cambridge
Beneath, you’ll uncover a large and diversified record of Cambridge points of interest to swimsuit all tastes, together with all the highest sights within the metropolis. There are issues to do in Cambridge for households, {couples}, solo vacationers, and everybody in between.
1. Take a Guided Strolling Tour of Cambridge
Cambridge is certainly a metropolis for strolling, and I’ve spent many completely happy days wandering by way of the historic metropolis streets, faculties, and parks. Top-of-the-line issues to do in Cambridge, and the easiest way to get an introduction to the town, is to take a strolling tour with an area information.
You’ll get to study all in regards to the lengthy historical past of the place and go to 5 of the universities and different well-known landmarks, such because the eleventh Century St Benet’s Church, the Cavendish Laboratory, and the historic Eagle Pub, the place biologists Watson and Crick introduced their discovery of DNA.
The tour lasts for one and a half hours and units off from the Cambridge Present Store on Rose Crescent within the metropolis heart. The historic strolling tour prices simply £20 per particular person.
2. Go to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
The fascinating Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is my favourite museum and among the best free issues to do in Cambridge. Uncover the historical past of humanity by way of a collection of fascinating shows, together with every little thing from totem poles to Egyptian relics, Roman pottery, and way more.
The gathering consists of many distinctive objects from cultures world wide, from prehistory to fashionable occasions. There are pictures on show in addition to visiting exhibitions, workshops, and a number of modern artwork to see. The museum is open Tuesday by way of Saturday from 10:00 am to five:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm to five:00 pm (closed Mondays).
Together with the close by Fitzwilliam, that is positively one of many prime locations to go to in Cambridge and I urge anybody visiting the town to spend at the least an hour discovering the fascinating collections discovered right here.
3. Go on a Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour
One other glorious technique to get oriented is to take the 24-hour metropolis sightseeing hop-on, hop-off bus. Get pleasure from panoramic views of the town, River Cam, and faculties whereas listening to a pre-recorded commentary that gives you with a historical past of the locations you move by.
The ticket is legitimate for limitless journeys inside a 24-hour interval and is the right technique to get round if you wish to give your legs a relaxation. The route consists of 16 stops across the metropolis and passes the well-known Jesus Lane, Fitzwilliam Museum, Market Road, and Botanic Gardens, amongst others.
The bus tour tickets value simply £16.50.
4. See the Well-known Backs of the Faculties
The Backs actually refers to a number of the most well-known faculties at Cambridge College that ‘again’ onto the river. Right here Trinity Faculty, Clare Faculty, King’s Faculty, and Magdalene Faculty, amongst others, again onto the River Cam and a big space of parkland.
That is one in every of my favourite locations within the metropolis and strolling alongside the Backs is without doubt one of the nice issues to do in Cambridge for {couples} given the romantic environment. That is additionally the place to return should you’re trying to seize some Insta images to remind you of your journey.
If it’s a pleasant day, I like to recommend selecting up some provides from one of many bakeries on the town and having a picnic beside one of the best views in Cambridge. As this can be a public space it’s open 24/7 and also you don’t must pay to stroll alongside the route. It’s additionally good to crisscross a number of the historic bridges over the river comparable to King’s Faculty Bridge.
5. Go Punting Alongside the Cam
Punting alongside the backs of the universities on the River Cam is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do round Cambridge. Sit again and benefit from the views at a leisurely tempo as you’re transported alongside the river with a commentary out of your chauffeur.
You’ll get to move seven of probably the most prestigious faculties and journey again in time over 800 years as you study in regards to the well-known alumni from Isaac Newton to King Charles, hear tales of pupil life, and see the town from a novel perspective.
This 45-minute punting expertise covers the size of the Cam and departs from the touchdown level at Students Punting Cambridge. Punting tour tickets value simply £25 for this exercise.
6. Take a Tour of the Faculties with an Alumni
If you wish to study a few of Cambridge College’s most well-known alumni from a tour information learning at one of many esteemed faculties, that is the tour for you. You’ll get to study all about pupil life from a graduate information and see the place luminaries comparable to Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking began out their illustrious careers.
Wander across the hallowed halls of Trinity, King’s Corpus Christi, and Pembroke faculties. See the King’s Chapel, Nice St Mary’s Church, and the Cavendish Laboratory the place 20 Nobel Prize winners studied.
This 90-minute tour consists of entry into three of the universities (King’s, Pembroke, and Trinity), kicks off from King’s Parade, and finishes on the Eagle Pub. You possibly can e book on-line for the faculty tour tickets right here.
7. Have a go at Rowing
There has all the time been a pleasant rivalry between the 2 college cities of Oxford and Cambridge, and one of many prime examples of that is the annual Boat Race. Groups from every college have been battling it out for supremacy since 1929.
You possibly can see precisely what these women and men are product of by having a go at rowing a coxed eight boat, similar to those used within the race annually. This distinctive rowing expertise is open to freshmen, as there’s an indoor coaching session on a rowing machine earlier than you hit the water.
The session lasts for simply over three hours and is an effective way to work off the entire scrumptious meals on supply on the metropolis’s eating places. Tickets value £66 per particular person, and teams are made up of groups of eight.
8. Go to the Scott Polar Analysis Institute
My lifelong dream is to go to Antarctica, however whereas ready to make {that a} actuality, the following neatest thing is the Scott Polar Analysis Institute and Museum within the coronary heart of Cambridge. Be taught all about my heroes, comparable to Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and their ill-fated journeys to the ice.
There are interactive shows that train about life at some of the excessive locations on earth. Study each the Arctic and the Antarctic by way of a collection of shows, visiting exhibitions, pictures, and drawings spanning over 100 years.
The museum is open to guests from Wednesday to Saturday between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. Audio guides can be found, and there’s an onsite store promoting souvenirs and clothes associated to the Arctic that helps fund the work of the institute. Entrance is free, however a small cost is requested for the audio guides.
9. Go to the Botanic Backyard
Cambridge is a metropolis with lots of inexperienced areas, public parks, and its very personal botanical gardens only a fifteen-minute stroll from the middle of city. This is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Cambridge for households, as there are many actions to maintain little ones engaged.
You possibly can stroll round at your personal pleasure, take a guided tour of the gardens, or interact in a number of the enjoyable issues to do on the College’s Backyard on the primary Saturday of every month. Hunt for chosen crops within the Glasshouse and uncover an array of flora from tropical to alpine and every little thing in between.
Tickets value £8 for adults, and youngsters underneath 16 go free. The gardens are open every day from 10:00 am to six:00 pm. You should definitely test the web site to see what occasions are going down throughout your go to.
10. Store on the Cambridge Out of doors Markets
One of the enjoyable issues to do in Cambridge is to discover the open-air markets. I like searching the stalls of arts and crafts, native produce, connoisseur meals, and different knick-knacks. There’s been a market within the metropolis since medieval occasions on the historic market sq. within the coronary heart of Cambridge.
The city market is open every single day of the week (besides Christmas and New 12 months) from 10:00 am till 4:00 pm. For those who’re caught for stuff to do in Cambridge, (which you actually shouldn’t be after studying this), it’s simple to whereas away a few hours merely searching the stalls.
Only a quick stroll from the principle market sq. is the Trinity Road market within the backyard of All Saint’s church. This can be a market particularly for artwork and crafts and different handmade items equipped by native artists. Right here, you’ll discover every little thing from handmade jewellery to pottery, sculptures, and work. Be aware that the Trinity Road market is just open on Saturdays, nonetheless.
11. Go on a Creepy Cambridge Ghost Tour
Top-of-the-line issues to do in Cambridge at night time is go on a spooky ghost tour of the town and study its ghoulish previous. You’ll soak up Market Sq., Magdalene Bridge, and Trinity Faculty, amongst different prime landmarks.
Slightly than studying all in regards to the prestigious alumni, you’ll as a substitute hear darkish tales in regards to the hangman’s home, Oliver Cromwell, and different bloodthirsty figures from the town’s historical past.
The tour lasts for 90 blood-drenched minutes and prices £18 per particular person. It begins at Magdalene Bridge within the metropolis heart, and you’ll e book the ghost tour tickets right here.
For those who’re on the lookout for extra spooky issues to do try these Jack the Ripper excursions in London.
12. Go on a Cambridge Treasure Hunt
This interactive treasure hunt is an effective way to discover Cambridge and is particularly enjoyable for youths and younger adults. Remedy a collection of clues by way of your smartphone and soak up a number of the prime sights throughout the town from the well-known faculties to historic buildings, landmarks, and a few hidden gems.
The fantastic thing about this self-guided tour is that you are able to do it at your personal pleasure and tempo, and might begin and end everytime you like. The expertise prices £9.99 and also you’ll obtain a hyperlink to your cellphone that may be shared with everybody in your group. You possibly can e book the Cambridge treasure hunt tour right here.
13. See Nice St Mary’s Church
Nice St Mary’s Church is without doubt one of the prime points of interest in Cambridge together with the universities. It’s the largest church within the metropolis and dates again to 1205 with foundations courting way back to 1010. Nonetheless, as the unique was destroyed by hearth in 1290 the present church dates again simply 500 years to 1519.
Nice St Mary’s, (GSM as it’s colloquially identified to differentiate it from Little St Mary’s – LSM), is positioned within the coronary heart of the town on King’s Parade. It’s a Grade II listed constructing and serves the Church of England diocese for Cambridge.
Top-of-the-line causes to go to the church is to climb the tower for beautiful views throughout the town skyline and faculties. There’s additionally an onsite store and cafe, and companies are open to the general public. The tower is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Saturday.
14. Go to Duxford Imperial Conflict Museum
As a toddler, one in every of my favourite issues to do close to Cambridge was to go to the Duxford Plane Museum. It’s a part of the London Imperial Conflict Museum and hosts the annual Duxford Air Present annually. I couldn’t depend what number of occasions I’ve been to Duxford, nevertheless it’s so much.
That is the largest air museum in Europe and is totally filled with every little thing from Spitfires to a Concorde. Shows embody the American Air Museum, the Battle of Britain, and Air, Sea, and Land Warfare. It’s even potential to e book your personal flight expertise and take to the skies.
Tickets value £26.35 for adults and £13.15 for kids and the museum is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm every single day. From Cambridge, it’s a nine-mile drive to the air museum alongside the M11, or you’ll be able to take the Myalls Coaches bus no 132 from Cambridge railway station.
15. Take a Cambridge and Oxford Tour from London
Top-of-the-line locations to go to close to Cambridge is the rival college city of Oxford (and also you’ll have the ability to see for your self why I’m biased and imagine Cambridge is one of the best). A good way to see Cambridge, in addition to Oxford, is to take a day journey from London.
This 10-hour tour departs from London’s Victoria Coach Station and consists of strolling excursions of each cities. You’ll get to expertise all the most important landmarks in each locations and see the well-known universities.
The tour consists of all transport between London, Cambridge, and Oxford, and also you’ll have your personal host with a commentary on the historical past of the locations you go to. Tickets value £69 per particular person, and the college tour may be booked on-line.
Fast Journey Itineraries For Cambridge
Typically it’s troublesome to know the place to start out with so many issues to see in Cambridge, so I’ve put collectively some helpful itineraries that will help you get probably the most out of your journey. Whether or not you intend on spending a day, or for much longer within the metropolis, these guides embody all the highest vacationer points of interest in Cambridge.
1 Day in Cambridge Itinerary
Begin on the Scott Polar Analysis Institute and uncover the fascinating artifacts on show referring to polar exploration. Stroll to King’s Faculty Bridge and cross over the Cam, heading north alongside the Backs. Take within the magnificent views of the universities and embark on a tour with former college students.
Proceed alongside the River to the Galleria Restaurant for lunch overlooking the Cam, or have a picnic alongside the Backs (if the climate permits). Head to the All Saint’s Craft Market to browse and store for handmade items and native produce.
Make your method right down to Market Sq. earlier than visiting the Museum of Archeology and Anthropology (remember to go to the Roman and Egyptian sections). End up on the Tiffin Truck for a night of genuine Indian meals and cocktails.
2-3 Days in Cambridge Itinerary
Observe the itinerary for day one above, and for day two, add in a punting journey on the Cam. For those who’re feeling extra energetic, have a go at rowing. Make use of the Hop On, Hop Off sightseeing in Cambridge bus to get round and discover one of many different museums, just like the Fitzwilliam.
To essentially become familiar with the town, take a strolling tour or treasure hunt the place you’ll get to see Cambridge off the overwhelmed path along with the same old landmarks.
1 Week in Cambridge Itinerary
With a whole week in Cambridge, you’ll actually get to know the town properly. Observe the above itineraries for days one to a few and make sure you embody a number of the prime eating places comparable to Trinity (named after the faculty), the Tipsy Vegan, and, the Oak Bistro.
Embrace journeys to the Botanical Gardens, climb the tower at Nice St Mary’s church, and spend a while searching Cambridge’s historic marketplace for some treats to take residence.
You possibly can plan a day journey to the close by Imperial Conflict Museum at Duxford and take into account this tour of each Oxford and Cambridge from London. With London so shut, you’ll be able to expertise a number of the prime sights in Britain’s capital too.
The place to Keep in Cambridge
Because it’s a small metropolis, staying within the heart, near all the most important locations to see in Cambridge is sensible. These are just a few of one of the best locations to remain in Cambridge for vacationers.
Graduate Cambridge – Greatest for {Couples}
The Graduate Cambridge is a trendy but cozy lodge proper by the River Cam. It’s only a quick stroll from St Catherine’s Faculty, the Museum of Archaeology, and most of the prime eating places within the metropolis. The rooms include a balcony, and there’s an onsite restaurant, bar, lounge, and backyard.
West Courtroom – Jesus Faculty – Greatest for First-Time Guests
Do you know you’ll be able to really keep at one in every of Cambridge’s historic faculties? The comfy and spacious rooms at West Courtroom embody floor-to-ceiling home windows and a balcony overlooking Cambridge College.
There are alternatives for personal or shared bogs and breakfast.
Gonville Resort – Greatest for Nightlife
The Gonville Resort, a four-star lodge, is a five-minute stroll from the middle of city and all the highest issues to do in Cambridge. It’s near many bars, eating places, and nightclubs, and every bed room has its personal iPad put in with a valet system providing room service on the contact of a button.
Greatest Eating places in Cambridge
I like consuming out in Cambridge and it’s someplace I am going simply to have a meal (although I’ll normally pop into one of many free museums first). Cambridge is without doubt one of the solely locations in England the place you’ll additionally see lots of road meals on supply, particularly on the markets.
Picnicking within the parks alongside the river can also be an excellent possibility for sunny, summer season days. Nonetheless, the restaurant scene within the metropolis is superb, so listed here are just a few of my favourite locations to eat in Cambridge:
Galleria Restaurant
Galleria is a family-run restaurant that overlooks the river and provides implausible views out throughout the universities. The cooks satisfaction themselves on mixing traditional dishes with a up to date twist (go for the pan-fried sea bass). Costs are very cheap for the placement with most mains underneath £20.
Trinity Restaurant
Named after the well-known faculty, Trinity Restaurant is positioned within the coronary heart of the town heart and provides a high-quality eating expertise with unbeatable service and an modern menu and wine record. It’s not low cost, nevertheless it’s value each penny (starters round £16 and mains round £30). The pork stomach is to die for – belief me.
The Tipsy Vegan
I as soon as took my girlfriend to the Tipsy Vegan for her birthday (I’m not vegan, however she is) and each of us had been blown away by the meals and repair. Assume Mediterranean with a vegan twist (plus some unimaginable cocktails). The restaurant is true on the river and provides each indoor and outside eating.
The Tiffin Truck
The Tiffin Truck is a hip restaurant within the heart of city that serves up conventional Indian road meals/market dishes and drinks (the Indian cocktails are a must-try). This is without doubt one of the coolest locations in Cambridge and is certainly value a cease should you’re on the lookout for one thing a bit out of the abnormal.
The Oak Bistro
The Oak is a captivating bistro within the heart of city with an excellent lunch possibility. From Tuesday to Friday, there’s a 3-course set lunch menu with a selection of starter, major, and dessert for simply £22. It’s additionally an excellent place for dinner with mains starting from £16 to £30. The menu is continental European delicacies.
Getting To Cambridge
Cambridge is conveniently positioned near London Stansted Airport with home and worldwide flights to many cities round Europe and past. Attending to Cambridge from the airport is straightforward with two Stansted Specific companies to the town each hour (journey time: 25 minutes).
Cambridge can also be simply reachable from London by street and rail. Trains depart Liverpool Road station and take between one hour and 90 minutes. At simply 60 miles, it ought to take across the similar time to drive. Top-of-the-line methods to expertise Cambridge from London is to take a tour.
The middle of Cambridge and all the most important points of interest, faculties, eating places, and museums are inside simple strolling distance of one another, so there’s no want for a automobile as soon as within the metropolis.
Issues To Do in Cambridge: FAQs
Listed here are some solutions to generally requested questions on visiting Cambridge.
Cambridge is thought for its well-known college and faculties which have seen alumni from Isaac Newton to Alan Turing, Stephen Hawking, British Prime Ministers, sports activities personalities, and a number of the best considering of our time. Town can also be well-known for its annual boat race towards Oxford.
Cambridge is a implausible vacation spot at any time of yr as there’s a lot to see and do inside and outside. To get one of the best out of your journey, spring by way of to fall is an effective time to go as you’ll be able to benefit from the metropolis parks, dine al-fresco subsequent to the river, and stroll across the historic collages.
Cambridge is certainly value visiting and is without doubt one of the most nice cities within the UK. With so many glorious points of interest just like the Scott Polar Analysis Institute, Fitzgerald and archaeology museums, and botanic gardens, there’s one thing for everybody.
Three to 4 days (i.e a protracted weekend) is the right period of time to spend in Cambridge to get probably the most out of your journey. If planning on staying for longer then there are some glorious day journeys close by like Duxford Air Museum, Oxford, and London.
Cambridge is taken into account one of many most secure cities in Europe and there aren’t any areas which are off-limits. Take standard precautions by avoiding dimly lit streets at night time and preserving valuables out of view.
Punting on the River Cam is without doubt one of the hottest issues to do in Cambridge, as is visiting well-known faculties like Trinity, Corpus Christi, and Magdalene.
Cambridge is an inland metropolis so there aren’t any seashores, nonetheless, seashores within the southeast comparable to Walton and Frinton are reachable by practice.
There are some implausible eating choices in Cambridge from vegan choices to high-quality eating and nation pubs. Cambridge can also be well-known for its sausages flavored with ginger and nutmeg and Cambridge pudding.
In Closing
Now what to do in Cambridge, which of those implausible points of interest or historic websites will you go to first? From exploring the traditional faculties the place a number of the world’s best thinkers began out to punting alongside the river or having fun with high-quality eating at one of many prime eating places there are many issues to see and do in Cambridge.
Cambridge might be my favourite metropolis within the UK, and it’s someplace I like going again to repeatedly. I’m by no means caught for issues to do in Cambridge, because the city is bursting with a lot historical past, meals, and leisure that I can’t keep away for very lengthy.