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Meaning of travel in English

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travel verb ( MAKE JOURNEY )

• I like to travel but, then again, I'm very fond of my home .
• It's often quicker to travel across country and avoid the major roads altogether .
• Passengers without proper documentation will not be allowed to travel.
• The elderly travel free on public transport .
• We like to travel in the autumn when there are fewer tourists .
• The tragedy is that cultures don't always travel well, and few immigrant groups can sustain their culture over the long term .
• around Robin Hood's barn idiom
• communication
• public transport
• super-commuting
• transoceanic
• well travelled

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

travel verb ( MOVE )

• The objects travel in elliptical orbits .
• In 1947, a pilot flying over the Cascades saw nine metallic flying objects travelling at an estimated 1,200 miles per hour .
• The elevator travelled smoothly upward .
• White light separates out into its component wavelengths when travelling through a prism .
• As the material travels through the winding machine , excess liquid is squeezed out by rollers .
• Lead dust travels easily from hands to mouth and can't be seen .
• body English
• kinetic energy
• repair to somewhere

travel verb ( BREAK RULE )

• goaltending
• granny shot
• half-court press
• reverse dribble

travel noun ( ACTIVITY )

• They offer a 10 percent discount on rail travel for students .
• The price includes travel and accommodation but meals are extra .
• His work provided him with the opportunity for a lot of foreign travel.
• The popular myth is that air travel is more dangerous than travel by car or bus .
• Passes are available for one month's unlimited travel within Europe .
• break-journey
• circumnavigation

travel noun ( MOVEMENT OF OBJECT )

• It can be difficult to predict the travel of smoke from smouldering fires .
• The travel of the bullets and blood spatter showed that he was lying on the ground on his side when he was shot .
• This seemed to prove that light has a finite speed of travel.
• Striking the ball when the clubhead is already past the lowest point of its travel gives a slight overspin.
• The actuator then rotates its output shaft to the extremes of its travel.
• bring someone on
• go the distance idiom
• non-competitor
• park the bus idiom
• play big idiom
• step/move up a gear idiom

travel | American Dictionary

Travel | business english, examples of travel, collocations with travel.

These are words often used in combination with travel .

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Translations of travel

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love someone to the moon and back

to love someone very much, usually used to tell someone how much you love them

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• travel (MAKE JOURNEY)
• travel light
• travel (MOVE)
• really travel
• travel (BREAK RULE)
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Cambridge Travel Tips

Last Updated: August 31, 2023

Cambridge is an iconic English city home to some of the country’s best universities, parks, museums, and theatrical productions. It’s a lively small city with a young student population that keeps things affordable.

Like Oxford , life here revolves around the university, but there are many other things to do here as well. I enjoyed the museums, wandering around the parks, and embracing the relaxed pace of life (there are only around 125,000 people here compared to the almost 10 million in London!).

Since Cambridge is just a few hours from London , the city is a popular day-trip destination, however, I enjoyed it enough that I would recommend it for at least a night since there’s so much to do here.

This Cambridge travel guide can help you plan your visit to this fun, beautiful, and historic destination.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Cambridge

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Cambridge

1. Visit the colleges

Founded in 1209, Cambridge University is an architectural marvel made up of 31 colleges. The school’s Kings and Queens Colleges have the most beautiful buildings, while Corpus Christi, St. Johns, and Trinity have iconic, stunning quads. Pembroke has buildings from every century since its foundation in 1347, while Newnham College has stunning gardens and gorgeous architecture. Spend some time wandering the university.

2. Visit the Fitzwilliam Museum

Founded in 1816, the Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge. It has more than half a million works of art, including masterpiece paintings and historical artifacts, with origins ranging from ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities to modern-day art. Some highlights include masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Gainsborough, Constable, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, and Picasso. Admission is free.

3. Visit Great St. Mary’s Church

This university church is home to some of the best-preserved English architecture in the country. Constructed in the 15th century, this Late Gothic church offers excellent panoramic views of the city from its bell tower at the top of 123 steps. Admission is free and the bell tower costs 6 GBP. The award-winning Michaelhouse Café located inside the medieval chapel within the church offers breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.

4. Go punting and see the Backs

Punting is a classic Cambridge sport that involves pushing a wooden boat with a pole (instead of rowing with oars). Punting is the only way to see the Cambridge Backs, a picturesque area along the River Cam named for the view of the (literal) backs of the nearby colleges (Magdalene, St John’s, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King’s, and Queens’). Punting along the tranquil, tree-lined river is also the best way to take in the sights of some of Cambridge’s most famous landmarks such as King’s College Chapel, The Wren Library at Trinity College, and the Bridge of Sighs. Guided tours start at 20 GBP but can be as much as 100 GBP depending on the type of tour and season. Make sure you only book with a licensed operator. Renting your own boat costs around 20-35 GBP.

5. Shop at Cambridge’s market square

Since the Middle Ages, vendors have been selling their wares at Cambridge’s market square in the center of town. Open daily from 10am-4pm, you can find everything from second-hand clothing and bikes to cheap eats and local produce. Even if you don’t purchase anything, walking the aisles is a nice way to spend some time taking in the city and people-watching.

Other Things to See and Do in Cambridge

1. take a free walking tour.

Cambridge is a great place to walk around for a few hours, admiring the beauty of the parks, river, and old historic buildings. A free walking tour is the best way to get the lay of the land and see the main sights (it’s how I start all my visits to a new city). Footprints Walking Tours has the best free walking tour in the city. It lasts a couple of hours and includes all the main highlights. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Visit the Botanical Garden of Cambridge University

For a quiet afternoon, head to the Botanical Gardens. John Stevens Henslow, the mentor to Charles Darwin, created the gardens for research purposes in 1831. Today, the gardens boast over 8,000 plant species from around the world. Hang out in the Woodland Garden and Lake, or visit the Glasshouse Range, a series of buildings with themed environments, including deserts and tropical rainforests. The Winter and Autumn Gardens are seasonal glasshouses that are especially colorful during the right months! Admission is 7.50 GBP.

3. Attend a lecture

It’s possible to attend one of the university’s lectures if you plan ahead by looking at the list of public talks on the university’s website. They have lectures on everything from molecular science to the global learning crisis to archaeological mysteries. Talks are usually free and operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.

4. See a show at the ADC Theatre

To take in the local art scene, attend an amateur performance at the ADC (Amateur Dramatic Club) Theatre. The university’s playhouse is entirely student-run, offering productions by students and other local theatrical groups. In operation since 1855, ADC is the oldest university playhouse in the country and has been the launching point for the careers of countless famous actors and comedians. Tickets are 7-16 GBP depending on the show and day of the week.

5. Attend the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival

Every summer over the course of six weeks, more than 25,000 people gather to see different Shakespeare plays performed in the gardens of the various colleges. Arrive early as the good spots fill up quickly (there are only 200 seats on a first-come, first-served basis). There’s also a picnic area if you want to bring a blanket and a snack to enjoy before the performance. Tickets are 18 GBP per performance.

6. Watch a rowing race

Cambridge is renowned for its rowing club. All colleges have their own clubs, which compete with one another in regular races. Besides punting, this is the most popular activity in town. Watch a race from the river’s edge or grab a pint and sit outside at the riverside pub, The Plough to cheer on the athletes.

7. Visit Anglesey Abbey

Less than 7 miles (11 kilometers) outside of Cambridge, Anglesey Abbey is a stunning Jacobean country house with colorful gardens and a working watermill. Originally built in 1600 (but extensively remodeled in the early 1900s), the interior consists of medieval vaulting, 17th-century paneling, and rooms full of antique furniture and books. Two of the main highlights are the pair of Tudor royal portraits, including the earliest likeness of Henry VIII. In the early spring, a carpet of white snowdrops blooms across the 100 acres of gardens, making for a scenic stroll. You can tour the watermill, the house, and the grounds for 15 GBP.

8. Tour Wren Library

While at Trinity College, be sure to stop at the Wren Library to see its impressive collection of 55,000 books — all of which were published before 1820. A.A. Milne’s original Winnie the Pooh is here as Milne and his son, Christopher Robin, were graduates from Cambridge. Named for famous architect Christopher Wren (whose masterpiece is St. Paul’s Cathedral in London), the building was completed in 1695 and is an important piece of history itself. Visiting is free, though it is currently closed to tourists due to COVID.

9. Explore the Polar Museum

If you’re interested in learning about the world’s earliest explorers, visit the Polar Museum (part of the Scott Polar Research Institute). It was founded in 1920 as a memorial to explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who famously died with his team in 1912 on his return trip from the South Pole. There are photographs, archival videos, ship models, drawings, paintings, and even the last letters written by Scott during his final journey. It’s free to visit.

For more information on other cities in England, check out these guides:

• Bath Travel Guide
• Brighton Travel Guide
• Bristol Travel Guide
• Liverpool Travel Guide
• London Travel Guide
• Manchester Travel Guide
• Oxford Travel Guide

Cambridge Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Cambridge currently has one hostel. A bed in a dorm with 4-6 beds costs 20 GBP per night. Currently, due to COVID, you can only book private rooms, which cost around 59 GBP per night. Free Wi-Fi is included, and there is a bar on-site as well as self-catering facilities.

If you have a tent, there are campgrounds outside the city with basic facilities that cost between 15-20 GBP per night for a tent pitch without electricity.

Budget hotel prices – A budget hotel costs 50-60 GBP per night (70-80 GBP in high season). Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, coffee/tea maker, TV, and AC.

When university is not in session (and when there is no pandemic), you can book a room to stay at one of the colleges. Prices vary but expect to spend around 75 GBP per night (although prices can be as low as 55 GBP and as high as 100 GBP).

Airbnb is available around Cambridge, with private rooms costing 65-90 GBP per night while an entire home or apartment costs 90-140 GBP. Prices are slightly higher in the summer months. There are much cheaper options further out in the countryside if you have a car.

Food – While British cuisine has evolved in leaps and bounds due to immigration (and colonialism), it’s still very much a meat and potatoes country. Fish and chips remain a popular staple for both lunch and dinner while roasted and stewed meats, sausages, meat pies, and the quintessential Yorkshire pudding are all common options as well. Curry (and other Indian dishes, such as tikka masala), are super popular too.

Since there are so many college kids in the city, there are a lot of budget food options here. Lunch specials cost around 8 GBP, and you can get a deli-style sandwich for around 5 GBP. If you have an appetite, don’t miss the heaping portions of Jollof (a rice dish that’s popular in West Africa) at Africfood’s food stall in Cambridge Market for 9 GBP.

Dinners out cost between 11-20 for a main dish. A burger at a pub costs 12-15 GBP. But, since Cambridge is a student town, there are often cheaper specials and happy hours away from the touristy areas of Sidney Street, Fitzroy Street, and Bridge Street.

For a multi-course meal and a drink in a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay closer to 30 GBP. Fast food like McDonald’s costs around 6 GBP for a combo meal.

Beer is around 5 GBP while a latte/cappuccino is 3 GBP. Bottled water is around 1.50 GBP.

Buying your own food at a grocery store costs 40-55 GBP for a week’s worth of groceries. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, vegetables, and some meat. The best places to buy cheap groceries in the UK are Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, or Tesco.

Backpacking Cambridge Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Cambridge, expect to spend about 55 GBP per day. This budget covers a hostel dorm, walking and taking public transportation, cooking all your meals, limiting your drinking, and doing mostly free activities like free walking tours and free museum visits. If you plan on drinking, add another 5-10 GBP to your daily budget.

A mid-range budget of 150 GBP per day covers staying in a private Airbnb or private hostel room, eating out for most meals, having a few drinks, taking the occasional taxi, and doing more paid activities such as going punting or visiting the botanical garden.

On a “luxury” budget of 245 GBP or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, drink more, rent a car or take more taxis, and do as many tours and activities as you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you might spend more and some days you might spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in GBP.

Cambridge Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Since Cambridge is a student-oriented city, you can find lots of ways to cut corners on your budget. Here are my top tips for saving money when you visit Cambridge:

• Attend a lecture – Attending a free lecture at the university is well worth it. You can experience what the students do and be immersed in the academic world for an afternoon. Check the university’s website for the official public talks to play student for the day!
• Walk in the parks – The parks are mostly free here (the Botanical Garden charges a small entrance fee) and are a great place to relax. Bring a book, pack a snack, and lounge the day away!
• Take a free walking tour – If you want to get a better feel for the city, be sure to take a free walking tour. They only last a couple of hours and are a great way to engage with the city’s history. Don’t forget to tip your tour guide!
• Visit the Visitor Information Centre – Pop into the Visitor Information Centre as they often have discounted tickets for punting and other activities around the city. They can let you know what’s happening and show you how to save money.
• Stay with a local – If you’re on a budget, use Couchsurfing to get free accommodation. It’s a great way to cut costs while connecting with a local. Many students are away in the summer, however, so be sure to apply early.
• Bike or walk everywhere – Cambridge is not a large city so you can pretty much walk or bike everywhere. Skip taxis and public transportation if you’re on a budget.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Cambridge

Cambridge only has one hostel; everything else is a budget hotel or a guesthouse. With limited budget accommodation, you should book early. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• YHA Cambridge
• A & B Guest House Cambridge Ltd

How to Get Around Cambridge

Public transportation – Cambridge is pedestrian-friendly and you can pretty much walk everywhere. However, there’s also a bus available if you need to go further afield.

City bus fares cost 1-3 GBP per ride depending on how far you go. An all-day pass is 4.50 GBP.

Additionally, London is only an hour away from Cambridge by bus or train, making it easy to plan a day or weekend trip to the university town. Flixbus has tickets for as little as 4 GBP, but the timings are pretty anti-social (think midnight or later). National Express has options for around 21 GBP but you have to change at Heathrow.

Expect to pay anywhere between 8-29 GBP for a train that is quicker and more direct (trains leave from Liverpool Street, Kings Cross, and St Pancras and take 50 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on which station you leave from). Note: buying in advance can lower prices significantly.

Bicycle – Renting a bike is a great way to explore the outer areas of the city. Full-day rentals (8 hours) cost around 15 GBP.

Taxi – Taxis start at 2.80 GBP and go up 1.75 GBP per mile. Since prices add up fast, I suggest skipping the taxis if you can.

Ridesharing – Uber is available here, however, since you can walk everywhere and the bus is super affordable, I suggest skipping the rideshares.

Car rental – Car rentals can be found for as little as 18 GBP per day for a multi-day rental, however, you definitely don’t need one to explore the city. I’d only suggest a car rental if you’re traveling around the region. Just remember that driving is on the left and that most vehicles have manual transmissions.

When to Go to Cambridge

Like London, Cambridge can be rainy and foggy year-round. Summer is the hottest time of year, with temperatures averaging 20°C (68°F) between June and September. This is also Cambridge’s peak travel season, so expect bigger crowds and inflated prices (especially during festivals and events).

Spring and autumn are the shoulder seasons, with milder temperatures and moderate rainfall. The atmosphere in town is upbeat, as the school year is in full swing. Prices are also lower, so you can afford to splurge a little more.

Winter can be very cold, with temperatures hovering around 6°C (43°F). December and January can be rainy, so be sure to pack lots of layers if you visit during this time.

How to Stay Safe in Cambridge

Cambridge is one of the safest cities in the UK. But like anywhere, it’s good to keep your wits around you — especially after a fun night out. If you keep your valuables secure and use common sense, you won’t have any trouble here.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

Everywhere around the university is generally quite safe. It gets seedier if you venture into the King’s Hedges or Arbury areas, but even in those places, you’re unlikely to get into much trouble.

While scams here are rare, if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

If you do experience an emergency, dial 999 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Cambridge Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Cambridge Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling England and continue planning your trip:

The 14 Best Things to Do in Bristol

Where to Stay in London: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

The 8 Best Hostels in London

How to Spend a Week in London

The 9 Best Walking Tour Companies in London

70+ Free Things to Do in London

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The 22 best things to do in Cambridge right now

From punting to theatre, here’s how to smash a weekend break in this picture-perfect city

Photograph: Miriam Balanescu for Time Out

When you think of Cambridge, you probably think of the university (where a bunch of very famous and very clever people started out). But you’ll find when you visit that that culture and creativity exists all over the city, from its museums and galleries to its epic food scene.

Apt for exploration by punt, bike or foot, Cambridge boasts a hell of a lot; comedy, theatre, live music and art galleries sit against architectural marvels and lush greenery, making this not just a fascinating place but a darn romantic one, too. Looking for a quiet weekend break? This is the spot. Here are the best things to do in Cambridge right now. 

RECOMMENDED: 🍝 The best  restaurants in Cambridge 🏘️ The best  Airbnbs in Cambridge 🚣 A perfect day in Cambridge

Words and original photos by  Miriam Balanescu , a writer based in Cambridge.  At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines .

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

What to do in Cambridge

1.  punt down the river cam.

• Attractions
• Rivers, lakes and ponds

What is it?  Cambridge’s most famous pastime (apart from reading loads of books) and  o n e of the best ways to see the city. The good news is you don’t even need to work your own arm muscles.

Why go?  To get within sniffing distance of Cambridge and not go punting is like going to Pisa and not seeing the leaning tower. The brave and the skilled do the stick-bit themselves, but if you’re a first-timer, book a gondolier-like guide to navigate the River Cam for you.

2.  See modern masterpieces at Kettle’s Yard

What is it?   The most homely art gallery you’ll ever come across (because it used to be someone’s home).

Why go?   Kettle’s Yard was once the residence of Jim and Helen Ede. Thanks to Jim’s job as a curator at the Tate Gallery, the couple filled their home with artworks by famous names like Barbara Hepworth and Joan Mirò. Then, in an act of extreme generosity, the Edes gave it all to Cambridge University. You can now visit it and see the art lovingly arranged around the house, which still feels like a home.

3.  Find the new footlights at the ADC

What is it?   This student-run theatre isn’t your typical am-dram set up: it’s where Sue Perkins, Emma Corrin and Tom Hiddleston first trod the boards, so you might witness a star in the making.

Why go?   With multiple shows on a week in term time, catch dramatic monologues and cutting-edge comedy at a budget price. There are often classics like ‘Grease’ on the programme, but try to get a ticket for one of the Footlights’ original sketch shows for a proper Cambridge night out.

4.  Try unusual ice-cream flavours at Jack’s Gelato

What is it? An ice-cream shop like no other. Since popping up on Bene’t Street in 2010, the tiny dessert shop has become a big draw for locals and tourists alike.

Why go? Jack’s Gelato has all your fave regular flavours, but that’s not why you should visit. Highlights have included marmalade, panettone and rooibos gelato, and white peach sorbet. To dodge the queue, a second much-less-busy branch opened in 2023, five minutes away on All Saints Passage. If you can’t get enough – and we wouldn’t blame you – pint tubs are available via their website to enjoy at home. 

5.  Browse the ever-changing market stalls

What is it? Grab lunch with the locals at the tightly packed street-food stalls in the centre of town.

Why go? There are some great restaurants in the city, but if you want to try something cooked right in front of you, this is your best bet. Think Chinese pancake wraps, posh Scotch eggs, veggie Brazilian fare and unbeatable mac and cheese. 

6.  See art and antiquities at The Fitzwilliam Museum

What is it? Cambridge’s first-rate art and antiquities museum where you can marvel at objects from around the world.

Why go? The Fitzwilliam is owned by Cambridge University and, like Oxford’s Ashmolean, is a treasure chest of a museum. Unlike the supersized British Museum in London, the Fitzwilliam is home to enough diverse trinkets, ornaments and paintings to make you marvel, but not enough to give you brain-overload. Plus, it’s free entry.

7.  Eat a Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies

What is it? A cinnamon-spiced treat somewhere between a cake and a pastry, made by a century-old bakery – which happens to be a Cambridge institution almost as hallowed as the university itself.

Why go? Ignore the London-hailing name – you haven’t really been to Cambridge until you’ve tasted this bakery’s revered, irresistibly sticky raisin-studded bun. (They’ve been making them since 1920 and churn out over 200,000 of them every year.) Even though the buns are all anyone seems to talk about, Fitzbillies ’ offerings don’t stop there – they do a pretty darn good brunch and lunch too.  

8.  Immerse yourself in greenery at the Botanic Gardens

What is it? Some 40 acres of gorgeously green (and pink and yellow and red…) botanic gardens owned by Cambridge University, where you can earnestly study horticulture or snooze on the lawn.

Why go? Cambridge’s botanic gardens are an Arcadian paradise hidden behind a fairly nondescript entrance at the station end of town. What sets them apart from other city gardens is the woodland vibe. Lose yourself in a maze of lush foliage and leave all your troubles behind.

9.  Explore King’s College Chapel

What is it? The stunning gothic chapel that dominates the centre of Cambridge. It’s a must-visit, even if church-spotting isn’t your sport.

Why go? Every festive season, the BBC’s Christmas Eve carol service is recorded in King’s College Chapel, giving sherry-filled adults the chance to embarrassingly cry over the first crystalline bars of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Relive this tradition with a visit inside the breathtaking chapel itself, which boasts housing the world’s largest fan vaulted ceiling – then head round the corner for drinks at The Eagle . 

10.  Watch a gig at Cambridge Junction

What is it?  An independent arts venue where you can see comedy, music, theatre, spoken word, movies and more. 

Why go?  The Cambridge Junction must be one of the UK’s best music venues. It makes some canny programming choices, is run by a friendly team and offers everything from alternative rock and folk to one-off Edinburgh Fringe previews from top stand-ups.  Don’t miss its incredible monthly queer night Club Urania, which always has a stunning line-up of performers but most of all is just a really nice place to be.

11.  Grab a drink at The Maypole

What is it? Only the best pub in the whole of Cambridge, where you can choose from an unrivalled array of beverages, with separate menus dedicated to Belgian beers, gins and whiskeys.

Why go? The Maypole is a few paces away from the ADC and it’s where most actors, crew and audiences head post-show. It’s also one of a handful of freehouses in the city, meaning it has a seemingly endless selection of real ales on tap and local brews. Take your pick from its impressive range of tipples – from chocolate stouts to cherry blossom gins – and listen in on some thespian gossip.

12.  Take a stroll through Grantchester

What is it? A tiny village on the outskirts of Cambridge, most famous for its sprawling, riverside meadows – and being the filming location for the BBC detective series of the same name.

Why go? Despite its small size, this quaint village packs a lot in. The Orchard Tea Garden was once a favoured haunt of the city’s literati. (Rupert Brooke, Xu Zhimo, E. M. Forster and Virginia Woolf were apparently all regulars for cream tea.) The local parish church keeps a shrine to the fictional crime-solving priest in Grantchester’s TV namesake. And, murder aside, its meadows are the perfect picnic spot.  

13.  Unearth vintage treasures along Mill Road

What is it?  A long, street art-splashed road to the west of the city that encompasses quaint terraces and cool independent shops.

Why go?  You’ll find vintage shops galore along Mill Road, so if you’re looking for some ’70s-style homeware or an offbeat addition to your wardrobe, spend an afternoon browsing to your heart’s content. Vinyl nerds should head to  Relevant Records  for secondhand LPs and new releases (and some great coffee). If it’s food you’re after, Italian deli  Limoncello  may well have the best Mediterranean snacks in East Anglia.

14.  Get nerdy at the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum

What is it? A niche museum that’s all about Cambridge University’s world-class polar research. 

Why go? Fancy yourself a bit of an explorer but only ever manage to take day trips around the UK? Well, the Polar Museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute will introduce you to genuinely intrepid (and cold) historic explorations of far-flung corners of the globe, all from the comfort of Cambridge. Free entry.

15.  Tour the city on two wheels

What is it? Cambridge is well known for its sheer barrage of bikes. Because of this, the city is well set up for riders, and locals on foot are used to dodging wayward wheels.

Why go? Given its modest size, Cambridge is best navigated by bike. There are loads of places to hire them from , and you can lock them just about anywhere. There are plenty of cycle lanes – sometimes so well-hidden that a pack of bikes seem to come out of nowhere, so keep an eye out. Cambridge really is a cyclist’s paradise.

16.  Feed your inner bookworm at Heffers

What is it? Sure, it’s a bookshop, but what a bookshop. It's perhaps better described as a palace of literature.

Why go? If there’s a city in the UK where a person shouldn’t have to apologise for being a bit of a geek, it’s Cambridge. Feed your inner bookworm until it bloats and blossoms into a beautiful butterfly at Heffers , the oddly named bookshop where browsing and buying are both a pleasure.

17.  Order cocktails at Bar 196

What is it? The go-to spot to sip a roasted coconut daquiri al fresco while watching the world go by. 

Why go? From Bar 196 ’s handwritten menus to the unusual (and slightly unsettling) picture collages on the loo walls, this cocktail bar has gained cult status among Cambridge locals. Its extensive drinks list is a mix of familiar favourites and twists on old classics – with the bar staff happy to whip up pretty much any drink on request. In summer, you might have to fight for a prime seat on the pavements of Mill Road, where you can feel Parisian as the sun sets over Mill Road bridge. And, in winter, this bar’s dimly lit interior is a great place to cosy up.

18.  Cross the mathematical bridge

What is it ? A bridge in Queens’ College that looks curved but is made entirely of straight timbers. It’s so clever that Oxford copied it, but you should see the original.

Why go? Perhaps you never realised you wanted to see a great feat in mid-eighteenth-century architecture, but you should. The design for this bridge was dreamed up by engineer James King – though tour guides love to spread the rumour that this bridge was originally designed by Sir Isaac Newton. Legend has it that nothing but the wooden beams held it up, but after the wood rotted and no one could remember what exactly Newton had done, they had to rebuild it with nails. While sadly not true, for definite Newton-related landmarks head down the road to Trinity College to see the fabled tree responsible for the scientist’s theory of gravity. 

19.  Catch a glimpse of The Corpus Clock

What is it?  A very large and bizarre clock designed to make you fear the incessant ticking away of each moment on earth. Just don’t head here if you actually need to know the time.

Why go?  The Corpus Clock is on the front of the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College. It’s less a clock (although it is accurate every once in a while) and more of an art piece. The marvellously creepy insect straddling it appears to ‘eat’ time – a reminder that we don’t have as much of it left as we think.

20.  Climb to the top of Great St Mary’s

What is it? A panoramic view of the city, 123 steps up.

Why go? St Mary’s is next to the marketplace, meaning it’s easy to get to, and you’ll have plenty of energy left for the steep but manageable climb to the top. And boy is the view worth it. The church is even older than the university – with the foundations built as early as 1010 (fun fact: King Henry VII donated 100 oak trees to construct its roof). Want to learn more history? Then have a go on the building’s interactive touch screens.

21.  Visit the Centre for Computing History

What is it? A museum full of vintage electronics, including everything from a mammoth microprocessor to Pac-Man. 

Why go? If you came to Cambridge to geek the hell out, you might as well do it properly. Get in a metaphorical time machine and remind yourself of the days before iPhones and Alexas. We bet you’ll love it, because who isn’t obsessed with the ‘90s? Gen Z, prepare to have your minds blown.

22.  Go behind-the-scenes on a university tour

What is it? A student’s eye view of the world-famous university, giving visitors an insider’s introduction to its most beautiful nooks and crannies.

Why go? As a city, Cambridge is pleasingly compact and easy to navigate on foot. The same is true of the university, which dominates the centre. Take a stroll through and around the institution with those who know it best as a guide: real-life Cambridge students.

More great things to do in Cambridge

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Cambridge Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: July 15, 2024

Our Cambridge Travel Guide includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for one of the most famous university cities in the world. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Cambridge!

• Plan your visit to Cambridge

Located 55 miles north of London is the city of Cambridge. Home to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious universities this ancient seat of learning, and historic city, is smaller and more compact than Oxford.

Spend the day exploring some of its 31 architecturally stunning colleges and famous museums, or take to the river for a spot of punting.

Read on for Cambridge travel tips and advice to help you plan your visit.

What you will find in this complete Cambridge Travel Guide

🏆 Top 3 tours in Cambridge

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• Cambridge walking tour with optional access to King’s College Chapel
• Cambridge guided punting tour
• Cambridge historic walking tour

Cambridge travel guide – Visiting Cambridge FAQ’s

Cambridge is one of England’s most beautiful cities and a fantastic destination, no matter what time of year you plan to visit.

During the summer, Cambridge is the perfect destination to try punting. Look at the river and enjoy views of the bridges and university buildings as you meander.

Cambridge is one of the UK’s driest cities, so with luck, you should have a pleasant and dry day whatever time of year you choose to visit.

The Cambridge Folk Festival, the biggest folk festival in Europe, is held annually from June to July.

Cambridge’s main sights and attractions can be seen in a day, making it the perfect day trip from London .

The city’s main attractions and sights are within easy walking distance, making Cambridge a great destination for exploring on foot.

To make the most of your visit, we recommend joining a guided wa lking tour ( I recommend taking a tour which includes access to King’s College Chapel)

Both cities have their unique charms and are worth a visit.

Cambridge is a smaller city than Oxford. There is less to do and see but it is a beautiful and easy city to explore in a day.

Oxford is the larger city and has lots of things to see and do so could easily fill 2 days if you wish to explore all its colleges and museums. It is also the perfect destination to visit if you are considering a road trip to the Cotswolds.

If you are a Harry Potter fan head to Oxford where you will find several film locations used in a number of the movies.

Read more about visiting Oxford in my Oxford Travel Guide .

As I have mentioned, both cities are doable for day trips from London by train. If you only have one day and want to see both cities take this Oxford & Cambridge Day Tour from London.

What is the best way to travel to Cambridge from London?

For timetables and tickets we recommend the trainline . Take the train to Cambridge for the day or incorporate it into your UK train travel itinerary.

Tip – If this is your first time catching a train in the UK read our complete guide to UK train travel ebook which includes all the information you need to know to make travelling around the UK by rail a relaxing and stress-free experience.

• Distance from London: 55 miles
• Time taken by train: 50 minutes to 1 hour 50, depending on the route
• London St Pancras International to Cambridge is the quickest route.

Cambridge is 55 miles from London and takes over an hour and 30 minutes to reach by car. Unless you are planning to visit from London and head to other destinations in the UK, we recommend taking the train!

If you do plan to drive to Cambridge, parking is expensive, so we recommend using the  Park and Ride scheme . There are five locations around the city where you can park your car and catch a bus .

We recommend these day tours to Cambridge from Get Your Guide.

• City and University Tour including King’s College – Visit the iconic landmarks of Cambridge University and enter the famous King’s College Chapel. Enjoy a walking tour with a Cambridge University student and see the world behind the institution’s closed doors.
• Exclusive Chauffeur: London to Cambridge and Woburn Abbey – Enjoy the luxury and comfort of your own private chauffeur whisking you out of London to beautiful Cambridge and Woburn Abbey. Discover the beauty of the English countryside on this exclusive private tour.

One Day in Cambridge Itinerary (coming soon) with information about the best things to do in Cambridge and an itinerary for your day, including visiting the Fitzwilliam Museum, going for a punt on the River Cam, exploring Cambridge’s Colleges (each an architectural marvel) such as St John’s King’s College and much more!

Accommodation in Cambridge

We have stayed in Cambridge twice over the past few years to spend additional time exploring this beautiful English city. As we were travelling by train, we chose the Centennial Hotel located near the train station (which gave us the option of catching the bus to the centre or a 20-minute walk)

Located near Cambridge Railway Station and opposite the University Botanic Gardens, the recently refurbished Centennial Hotel is a budget-friendly option with historic charm.

This comfortable hotel is conveniently located a 15-minute walk from the University Colleges and city centre hotspots and is on bus routes.

Book the Centennial Hotel

• Gonville Hotel >> 4 star | 5-minute walk from the historic centre | 2 restaurants
• Westminster College >> Centrally located | Free WiFi | Private parking
• Hotel du Vin Cambridge >> Grade II Listed | 5-minute walk from city centre | French bistro
• University Arms, Cambridge >> Central location | 192 rooms & suites | Parker’s Tavern
• ibis Cambridge Central Station >> 24-hour front desk | On-site coffee shop | Near attractions

🏨 Find more special stays in our Accommodation Guide for England.

There are numerous walking tours (and punting tours) available in Cambridge.

• University Punting and Walking Tour – Discover the beauty of Cambridge on a combined 90-minute walking tour and 50-minute punting cruise along the River Cam.
• Guided Walking Tour of Historic Cambridge – Take a two hour guided tour of historic Cambridge with an accredited Cambridge Green Badge guide. The fun and family-friendly tour will show you the city’s stunning buildings and tell you about its many famous names.
• Cambridge University Guided Walking Tour with a Graduate – Get an insight into life at one of the world’s most elite universities on a 1.5-hour historical walking tour of Cambridge University with a graduate guide. Visit some of the most famous colleges, such as Clare College and Trinity College.

Two recommendations (you can find more in our itinerary planners), but we had a fabulous Sunday roast at the Cambridge Chophouse. And a visit to Cambridge is not complete without a drink and a meal at the Eagle Pub! (see below why this historic pub is a must!)

Cambridge is proud of its literary heritage and connections with famous authors who have studied or taught at one of its colleges. We recommend reading some of their works to fully appreciate and enjoy your visit to Cambridge.

These include

• William Wordsworth
• Sylvia Plath
• E.M.Forster
• Zadie Smith
• Sebastian Faulks
• Stephen Fry
• Salman Rushdie
• Margaret Drabble
• Joanne Harris
• Nick Hornby

You will find more inspiration and ideas to help plan your travels around England in these travel guides:

• Devon Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)
• Liverpool Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary & map)
• York Travel Guide (including essential travel tips, itinerary + map)
• Peak District Travel Guide
• Lake District Travel Guide
• 10 virtual tours of famous landmarks in the UK

Looking for more inspiration for your travels in England? Check out my England Travel Planning Guide which has lots of ideas, tips and resources to plan your itinerary.

Cambridge Office for Tourism

10 summertime activities in cambridge.

Check off Cambridge’s summer bucket list!

10 WAYS TO GET OUTSIDE IN CAMBRIDGE

These outdoor activities are not to be missed when visiting Cambridge.

TUNE IN TO CAMBRIDGE’S LIVE MUSIC SCENE

Find live music in all corners of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

10 FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge was named the Most Family-Friendly City in the U.S.

VISITOR CENTER

Visit the Cambridge Visitor Information Center, located at 1374 Massachusetts Avenue, for maps, directions, information on local attractions plus recommendations for your visit to Cambridge.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Those with a nose for adventure will be greatly rewarded, especially when it comes to exploring Cambridge’s friendly neighborhoods. Learn what makes each of them worth a stroll, in their own quirky and lovable ways.

NEIGHBORHOOD VIDEOS

Explore Cambridge's unique and eclectic squares through our destination videos. Beware! Watching our destination videos will make you want to visit Cambridge ASAP.

PICTURE CAMBRIDGE

What does Cambridge look like to you? Tag your Instagram photos with #picturecambridge; your snapshot may be featured on our homepage. We want to share what the city looks like through your eyes.

HISTORIC SITES

Cranking out historical significance since 1630, Cambridge is a timeless fount of architecture and artifacts—from the glorious 18th-century mansions of “Tory Row” to the geek-chic tributes on the Entrepreneur Walk of Fame.

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Get to know the real Cambridge with these can't miss spots

Oct 2, 2021 • 9 min read

Medieval magnificence flows through the streets of Cambridge and many activities are free Cristian Bortes / EyeEm

Medieval magnificence flows through the streets of Cambridge like the lilting waters of the River Cam, which meanders past the ‘backs’ of such legendary seats of learning such as King’s College, Trinity College and Peterhouse.   

Viewed from a gently gliding punt, or on foot from the tangled lanes that sneak between the colleges, Cambridge is exceptionally beautiful, and arguably more accessible than Oxford, thanks to its manageable scale and lower tourist profile. It’s also great fun, with historic pubs, student-oriented places to eat, picnic-friendly college greens and the ever-nostalgic charm of punting on the river. 

There’s loads to see and many things are free, but it pays to make a plan before you arrive. Here are some tips for the top things to see and do in Cambridge. 

Note: due to Covid, many colleges have restricted entry to pre-booked visitors, or closed to non-students, but you can still view these lavish establishments from outside. Things can change quickly, so check the latest advice before you visit. 

King’s College Chapel 

Flamboyantly finished in carved Gothic flourishes, King’s College dominates the centre of Cambridge. With advance booking, you can experience the full grandeur of the 16th-century college chapel , whose extravagant wood-carving and stained glass is only exceeded by the world’s largest fan-vaulted ceiling towering overhead. 

The chapel was founded by Henry VI, but it took a further five English monarchs to complete this extraordinary monument (look for Henry VIII’s carved initials inside, added during the final stages).The stained glass is original–Oliver Cromwell reputedly ordered it spared during the English Civil War out of nostalgia for his own college days.     

Trinity College 

The largest Cambridge college, Trinity is wrapped around an enormous quadrangle that emerges dramatically as you step through the college’s monumental Tudor gateway (with its stern statue of Henry VIII, holding a table leg rather than sceptre after a student prank). Grand gothic architecture rises on all sides, and the college’s famous Wren Library has original copies of works by Shakespeare, Newton and Swift. 

Check the latest on their opening policy; if the interiors are closed to non-students, you can still view the dramatic frontage and the rear of the college from a punt on the Cam. 

The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitz is a museum to rival anything in London, Edinburgh or Oxford. This was one of the first public art museums in Britain, displaying treasures accumulated by Viscount FitzWilliam in the 18th-century, alongside a treasure trove of more recent acquisitions. Egypt, Roman Britain and ancient Cyprus are particularly well represented, as are ancient and modern ceramics and glassware. Upstairs are paintings by da Vinci, Rubens, Picasso and other big brush-wielders.  

Take a punt along the Cam

Okay, so it’s unashamedly touristy, and fairly costly, but hiring a punt for a gentle glide on the Cam is one of the best ways to admire the medieval city. From the punt stations at Mill Lane and Quayside, you can swoosh past the backs of the colleges and view the genteel reality of student life behind the college’s lavish facades. 

En route, you’ll pass under a string of elegant college bridges, from Christopher Wren’s graceful stone construction at St John’s College to the flimsy-looking Mathematical Bridge at Queen’s College. Take your pick from self-poled punts or chauffeur-driven boats with a waterborne tour; Scudamore’s is the biggest operator. For a change of pace, head upstream to the picture-postcard suburb of Grantchester, a favorite student escape.  

Browse the latest from the University Press 

The University Press bookshop on Trinity St is a monument to knowledge, and a great place to get a feel for the latest high-brow thinking to come out of the Cambridge colleges. University publications cover everything from climate change and genetics to gender identity and social reform; even reading the dust covers of the latest tomes will leave you measurably better informed.

Gonville & Caius College

With the unusual distinction of having been founded twice (hence the double name), Gonville & Caius is one of the best colleges to view from outside. Three magnificent gates–known as Virtue, Humility and Honour–invite students into the college, and usher them onward to graduation at the adjacent Senate House, via the occult-looking Porta Honoris. If you’re totting up famous alumni, this was the alma mater of Crick and Watson and Stephen Hawking. 

Have a pub debate 

Some of the mysteries of the ages were solved over pints in Cambridge’s public houses, and you can still listen in on some serious intellectual discussion today. Favored watering holes include the Eagle , where Crick and Watson talked over the structure of DNA till the wee hours, and the hipster-friendly Cambridge Brew House , with brews on tap from the on-site microbrewery. 

Watch sunset from the Varsity roof terrace 

The boutique Varsity Hotel emerges unexpectedly from the backstreets north of the centre, and its open-air Roof Terrace bar is undisputedly the best spot in the city to watch the sunset. With a cocktail in hand, you can look out over a sea of church spires and college turrets, but book ahead; space is in demand on any warm weekend evening. 

Go to the Footlights

Cambridge’s ADC Theatre is the home stage of Footlights , the university’s student legendary comedy club. The troupe has been putting witty students on stage since 1883, turning out such heavyweights of comedy as Richard Ayoade, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Miriam Margolyes, Emma Thompson and the Monty Pythons. Check the websites for upcoming events.  

Great St Mary’s Church 

Facing off against the opulent chapel of King’s College, Great St Mary’s Church may not win the battle of the chapels, but it does offer dizzying views over the college quarter from the top of its 113ft (38m) tower. A leg-straining climb up a narrow spiral staircase will deliver you to the rooftop, with vertiginous views directly over King’s College, the Senate House and Gonville & Caius College.

Have a Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies 

You haven’t been to Cambridge until you’ve stepped in for a Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies . Generations of students have gathered here for a carb hit between lectures, and their buns are drowned in sticky syrup and jam-packed with spices and currants. Eat in, or grab some neatly boxed to go and retreat to one of the college greens.  

Pedal the backstreets 

Generations of Cambridge students have navigated the streets by pedal power, and it’s easy to join them by hiring a bike in town or at the train station. To recharge after a scoot around the city, drop into Espresso Library , just east of Parker’s Piece green, which lures in bikers with the aroma of strong coffee and wholesome world food offerings.  

Kettle’s Yard 

Some museums keep the art at arm’s length, but not Kettle’s Yard . Previously the home of a curator from London’s Tate Gallery, this fascinating museum is full of lived-with artworks, from paintings and sculptures to found objects, scattered around lived-in spaces. Big names like Henry Moore and Miro are represented, but it’s the work by less well known artists that sticks in the memory.  

Take a pub and food crawl along Mill Road 

No matter where you are, student life means pub crawls followed by a kebab or curry and Mill Road is where these sessions usually stagger to a halt. Start off in a town pub and drift slowly eastwards as the evening wears on, then browse the inexpensive Asian and Middle Eastern eateries on Mill Road.

Have a packed afternoon tea

It says something about the demographic of the university intake that packed afternoon teas are a thing. For an elegantly boxed selection of buns and sandwiches to munch daintily on a picnic blanket at Jesus Green, head to Harriet’s Cafe Tearooms on Green Street and pretend you’re pausing for a sugar hit before rushing off to a debate.  

Go church hopping

As well as the college chapels, Cambridge is studded with interesting medieval churches, many with famous pedigrees. Little St Mary’s is a popular stop for its familial links to US president George Washington, but the wonderfully arcane-looking Round Church is more atmospheric. One of only four round medieval churches in Britain, it was built by a mysterious order of monks after the First Crusade and it hides one of the clues to the location of the Holy Grail...okay, we can’t back that up, but if it turned out to be true, we wouldn’t be surprised. 

Have a splash at the Jesus Green Lido 

There are far too many punts about for the Cam to be suitable for swimming, but the Jesus Green Lido comes a close second best. This unheated, open-air pool offers a similar jolt-you-awake experience to river swimming, and it’s been welcoming locals and visitors since the 1920s. On sunny days, the sun-bathing spots around the pool are in heavy demand. 

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Like Kew Gardens in miniature, Cambridge’s botanic garden is a chlorophyll-filled wonder. Most make a beeline for the tropical greenhouses with their steamy collection of palms and ferns, but it’s the back paths, hidden clearings and secret spaces in between the planted beds that make the gardens so special. With kids in tow, it’s a great spot for a game of hide and seek. 

St John’s College  

Every Cambridge college has a list of famous alumni as long as a punting pole, but the honors list at St John’s is particularly cosmopolitan. William Wordsworth, William Wilberforce, former Indian PM Manmohan Singh and writer Douglas Adams all studied here. As well as a full hand of stately college buildings, the college is famous for its medieval Bridge of Sighs, a masterpiece of stone tracery that often forms the focus for college pranks.  

Cruise the college museums 

Assuming they’re open to non-students (check first), the university’s museums are a fabulous resource for anyone craving an instant education. College museums cover everything from archaeology and anthropology to zoology and the history of science itself, but perhaps the stand out is the Polar Museum , devoted to the likes of Scott of the Antarctic, Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton, with original items from polar expeditions.     

Detour out of town to the Imperial War Museum  

You’ll have to day trip out of Cambridge to reach the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, but it’s worth it for an epic spread of military history, much of it of the aeronautical variety. Britain’s largest aircraft collection covers everything from famous WWI and WWII fighters and bombers (Hurricanes, Spitfires, Lancasters and the like) to a retired Concorde. Check the website for upcoming events; many aircraft here still take to the skies for annual airshows. 

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12 Top Things to Do in Cambridge, England

Gowned students attending their graduations and freshers whizzing past the grand college facades on their bikes—the university is Cambridge's lifeblood. But the city has a strong local vibe too, with streets full of independent shops, pop-up food events, music and movies, microbreweries, and a tribe of artisan food trucks. And for outdoor enthusiasts, the ancient fenland and sparkling river are perfect for exploring.

Walk the Hallowed Halls

Few places in the world have created as many notable graduates as Cambridge University . Whether you’re visiting for a week or a weekend, make sure to see some of the 31 colleges. Not all are open to the public—and those that are still close for exams and events—so check at the porter’s lodge when you arrive.

King’s College Chapel is the jewel in the university’s crown. The stained-glass windows alone took 30 years to install, and the fan-vaulted ceiling is a jaw-dropping feat of building and design.

At Magdalene, visit the Pepys library, a feature of the college since 1724. As well as Pepys’s diaries, the library has a copy of the Canterbury Tales from 1483, and an almanac believed to be signed by Francis Drake.

At Trinity, visit the 343-year-old Wren Library, a vast store of knowledge and history, some of which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Don’t miss the handwritten notebook of poems belonging to Milton among the items on display.

Other highlights include Trinity College Chapel , which has a light-filled antechapel full of marble statues of the college’s alumni including Alfred Tennyson and Isaac Newton.

Discover a Classic English Country House

Around an hour by train or 30 minutes by bus is Audley End House , one of the best surviving Jacobean mansion houses in Britain. Built for entertaining royalty including James I, it has an opulent interior, with 18th-century furnishings and old master paintings, and sweeping grounds designed by Capability Brown.

There are plenty of ingredients here for a great day out and lots for children to enjoy, including a reconstructed Victorian kitchen and scullery, a working stable block, and costumed characters bringing the history to life.

Voyage Into the Deep

The Museum of Zoology 's collection dates back to 1814 and contains some astonishing items, including a skeleton of a 10,000-year-old elephant-sized sloth, and a 146-million-year-old fossilized bird. Specimens Darwin collected during his voyage on HMS Beagle are also on display. Cleverly designed to capture visitors’ imagination, whale skeletons float in mid-air and shoals of fish are projected on the ceiling, as if you are at the bottom of the sea. Reopened by Sir David Attenborough in 2018 after a 4.1 million pound redevelopment it will delight both children and adults. Admission is free.

Take to the River

Peacefully winding its way through the city, the River Cam is one of Cambridge's main assets. Tourists punt along the "backs" for views of the colleges across manicured lawns, but this can be pricey and crowded. Instead, hire a kayak or a canoe and paddle to Grantchester. The two-hour journey takes you alongside woodland and water meadows, and you might spot a heron, pheasant, or an otter. Take out British Canoeing membership, and you can paddle as far as Ely in around four hours.

Scudamore ’s at the bottom of Mill Lane rents out canoes and kayaks. Granta Moorings at the Mill Pond rents out canoes. All rivercraft can be hired by the hour, for the whole day, or for longer.

Do Some Retail Therapy

Cambridge has many independent shops where you can find unique clothes, artwork, and gifts. Stop by ethical jewelry pioneer Harriet Kelsall on Green Street to see some of her goldsmiths working on commissions. Swing by the Cambridge Satchel Company in St Mary’s Passage for colorful bags that have been featured in Vogue. Have a look around Cambridge Contemporary Art on Trinity Street, which sells ceramics, glassware, prints, and paintings—some of them by local artists.

Honor Fallen Heroes

During World War II, thousands of Americans served in some of the riskiest missions of the war, including the Battle of the Atlantic and the aerial bombing of Germany. Nearly 4,000 of them are buried at Cambridge’s Madingley American Cemetery —more than a quarter of them from the legendary eighth air force. The only American World War II military cemetery in Britain, it has a 472-feet-long stone "Wall of the Missing" memorial to another 5127 missing veterans. In the visitor's center, an exhibition brings the story to life. Admission is free, and guided tours can be arranged. Get there on the Citi 4 bus.

Channel Your Inner Explorer

Excavations around Cambridge have uncovered everything from Iron Age hill forts to Bronze Age burial grounds. Many of the findings are on display in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology —as well as objects from far-flung corners of the earth.

On the ground floor, don’t miss the Trumpington Cross , a gleaming gold and garnet cross found at an Anglo-Saxon burial site in Trumpington Meadows, on the body of a 16-year-old girl. On the first floor, you’ll find a 26-foot totem pole from the Queen Charlotte Islands, and a dugout canoe, used for explorations of Papua New Guinea, which is suspended from the ceiling because it’s so long. Admission is free, and there’s also a small shop with gifts inspired by the collections.

Eat Your Way Around the World

Away from the colleges in the Victorian part of the city, Mill Road is packed full of interesting restaurants and foodie shops. Dine at Lagona for authentic Lebanese cuisine, Athithi for Indian food, Vanderlyle for all things seasonal and plant-based, and Tradizioni for inexpensive Italian. As well as restaurants, you’ll also find Chinese, Korean and Middle Eastern supermarkets stocking huge tubs of curry paste, jars of kimchi, zaatar spice, tinned jackfruit, giant olives, goat cheese, and even specialties like kibbeh.

Go On a Church Crawl

Cambridge is full of old churches charting centuries of history. Great St. Mary’s on Senate House Hill is where the university first delivered lectures before the colleges were built. Climb the 114-foot tower for spectacular views of King’s Parade and the market. St. Benet’s , which will celebrate its 1,000-year birthday in 2020, has a Saxon tower from 1020, which is the oldest structure in the city. On Bridge Street, the Norman Round Church is one of only four similar-shaped churches in the U.K.

Ignite Your Curiosity

If you like weird and wonderful objects, you'll love the Whipple Museum . Dedicated to the history and philosophy of science, the museum’s collection includes one of Darwin’s telescopes and a particle accelerator from 1936. There are shining instruments for mapping the skies, intricate astrolabes (models of the universe), sundials, and globes. One of the oddest items on display is an E-meter, used by the Church of Scientology to supposedly read thoughts. Housed in a 400-year-old building on Free School Lane, the main hall has a rare Jacobean open timber-beamed roof. You can see the whole collection in a couple of hours and admission is free.

Try a Local Tipple

Courtesy of Cambridge Gin

As well as experiencing a gin boom, in recent years, England has seen the popularity of its wines and beers blossom. Cambridge is no exception; there is a small but dynamic craft beer scene, and several distilleries and vineyards in the area.

Gin lovers should head to the Gin Lab on Green Street for a gin cocktail made with gin created by the award-winning Cambridge distillery in Grantchester. Oenophiles can open a bottle of English sparkling wine at the Bridge Street Wine Bar , or pay a visit to Chilford Hall vineyard in Linton. For local beer try the Cambridge Brew House , a lively pub-cum-microbrewery, or Calverley's , which has a taproom on weekends.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Cambridge is surrounded by countryside and villages. Cycle or walk the Fen Rivers Way , running for 50 miles to Kings Lynn through the Fens—ancient marshes dotted with farms and full of wildlife. Walk the Lodes Way, an eight-mile track through the Lodes, man-made waterways used to transport goods in medieval times. Or take the Wimpole Way through Anglo-Saxon villages to the 18th-century Wimpole Estate . Bikes can be hired from Rutland Cycling or City Cycle Hire for a day, a week or longer.

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27 Things to do in Cambridge England: A Detailed Guide + Tips & Map!

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

In today’s post, we’re going to share with you all our favourite things to do in Cambridge. As you’ll find out, there’s something for everyone in this compact city!

Located a 1-hour journey north of London, Cambridge is one of the UK’s most well-known university cities.

With a history dating back to the 1st century AD, there’s a great deal to see here to fill up at least a day of your time, and Cambridge is a popular place to visit as a day trip from London. From traditional pubs to punting trips to awesome museums and gorgeous old churches and colleges, Cambridge has something for everyone.

We’re also going to share our tips for how to get around Cambridge, where to stay in Cambridge, tips for getting here and away, and the best time of year to visit Cambridge. Let’s get started.

27 Things to do in Cambridge UK

As you’ll see from this list, there’s no shortage of things to do in Cambridge, from ancient English pubs to fantastic museums and gorgeous colleges.

We’ve included what we think are some of the best attractions in Cambridge, and hopefully you’ll find plenty of ideas for your trip to the city.

Visit the Cambridge University Colleges

Founded in 1209, Cambridge University is the second oldest university in the English speaking world (Oxford university is the oldest, see our guide to visiting Oxford here) . The University itself consists of 31 colleges, each of which provides accommodation and manages the entry and tuition of their students.

The 31 colleges are divided into the “old” colleges, which were founded between 1284 and 1596, and the “new” colleges, founded between 1800 and 1977.

No visit to Cambridge is complete without visiting at least some of the Cambridge Colleges. We’ve already mentioned the King’s College Chapel and the Wren Library of Trinity College, but we wanted to include a few more of our favourite colleges that you can visit.

You can explore many of these on your own, or you can take a walking tour of the Cambridge Colleges , where you will learn from a Cambridge graduate all about life at the colleges, as well as lots of history and information.

Please do note that all of the colleges in Cambridge are places of work and study, so always abide by the rules and behave with respect and courtesy to those who live and work here. If in doubt as to whether a college is open, we recommend stopping at the porters office, which will be at the entrance to the college, where you can ask for information.

Trinity College Cambridge

Trinity College in Cambridge is one of the largest colleges in the city. It was founded by King Henry VIII in 1546, and attendees included Isaac Newton, Lord Byron, and Betrand Russell, to name but a few. Trinity College has in fact produced 33 Nobel prize winners to date, more than any other Cambridge or Oxford college.

Speaking of Newton, it is oft speculated that the tree in the Great Court is the famous tree that inspired his theory of gravity. This is in fact incorrect – the actual tree is an apple tree, which can be seen at Woolsthorpe Manor , some distance north of Cambridge.

Highlights of a visit to Trinity College include seeing the Great Gate, the Great Court, and the Clock Tower, as well as the Wren Library.

You can visit the aforementioned Wren Library free of charge. For access to the Great Court and Chapel, there’s a small entrance fee of £3 at time of writing, payable at the visitors booth in the Great Gate. Opening  days and hours vary depending on the time of year. See more on the official website here .

Christ’s College Cambridge

Originally founded as God’s House in 1437, Christ’s College was refounded under its present name in 1505.

Christ’s College was where Charles Darwin and John Milton studied, and it is consistently amongst the top performing colleges in Cambridge in terms of academic standards.

The college is open to visitors, with highlights including the original 15th century buildings and round lawn of the First Court, the Great Gate entrance on St. Andrews Street, and the Fellow’s Garden.

The Old Library though is our favourite reason for visiting Christ’s College. This library is home to over 50,000 rare printed books, largely acquired through generous donations. Book include first editions of the works of alumni John Milton and Charles Darwin, as well as many other treasures.

The Old Library is open from 2pm – 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursday, with visits outside of these hours possible by appointment. The college itself can be visited throughout the year 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm, and access is free. You can see more about visiting in general here , and visiting the old library here .

Pembroke College

Pembroke College was founded in 1347, making it the third oldest college of Cambridge University. It has stunning buildings, but it is perhaps best known for its gardens, which are beautiful.

Other highlights include the chapel, and visitors are welcome to wander the grounds, although other than the chapel you cannot enter the other buildings.

Pembroke College is free to visit, and is open year-round from 10am – 5pm, with the exception of examination times. It’s also included on various walking tours of Cambridge, such as this one which also includes punting. See more about visiting here .

St. John’s College Cambridge

Founded in 1511, St. John’s College has produced ten Nobel Prize winners, seven UK prime minsters, twelve archbishops, two princes and three Saints. Attendees include Douglas Adams, author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (my favourite book!), William Wordsworth, and Paul Dirac.

It’s a beautiful college to visit, with a stunning chapel, the famous 1831 Bridge of Sighs, and extensive gardens.

St. John’s is well setup for visitors. There’s a signed self-guided walking tour that runs around the main sights of the college, including the iconic Bridge of Signs across the River Cam. You can download an accompanying leaflet for the walk from the official website here .

There’s a fee to visit St. John’s College, which is £10 per adult. The grounds are open to visitors year round (except from 25th Dec – 2nd Jan), from 10am – 5pm March – October, and 10am – 3.30pm the rest of the year. See more on the official site here .

This was just a slice of some of the many colleges that you can visit in Cambridge. You could easily spend a day or more in Cambridge just visiting these stunning properties! You can also stay in some of the colleges outside of term time – see our guide to where to stay in Cambridge towards the end of the post for more information.

Finally, if you are visiting Cambridge with educational or research purposes in mind, you can also get access to some of the college’s rich archives. Some of these have public visiting hours but for many you need to book an appointment.

For example, if you are researching Winston Churchill , you might want to visit the large collection of documents from the Churchill era (1874-1965) available at Churchill College.

Take a Walking Tour

If you want to get a good overview of the history of Cambridge and see some of the many highlights of the city, then a great way to do this is to take a walking tour. There are a number of different tours available, and we’ve highlighted some of our favourite options here.

• A Cambridge University Walking tour with a Graduate . This tour takes you to a number of the Cambridge Colleges, and as you are led by a graduate of the university, you’ll get to learn all about what life is like when you are a student here. A similar tour is also available as a private tour .
• A Cambridge University and City Highlights guide . Led by a qualified Cambridge green badge tour guide, this private tour covers the highlights of the city as well as a number of the colleges, giving you a great overview of the city. A similar tour is available as a group tour here .
• A combined Cambridge Punting and Walking tour . This tour combines two popular activities into one tour, and includes a guided punting experience as well as a tour of Cambridge. Both of these activities are with Cambridge Alumni, and the walking tour covers the highlights of the city as well as a number of the colleges.

If you’d rather see the city by bus, you might consider buying a ticket for the sightseeing bus. You can buy tickets for the Cambridge hop on hop off bus here .

Scott Polar Research Institute

The Scott Polar Research Institute , also known as the Polar Museum, is a museum dedicated to the north and south poles of our planet.

As with many of the other museums in our guide to Cambridge, it is a part of the University of Cambridge museums consortium – of which there are eight in total in Cambridge. Each museum has a different focus and content, and they are all worth visiting!

The Scott Polar Research Institute is named for and in memorial to Captain Robert Scott, often referred to as Scott of the Antarctic. Scott was a British naval officer and explorer who died on an expedition to the South Pole in 1912.

The expedition successfully reached the pole, becoming the second team ever to do so, but all the members of the team passed away on the return leg.

Today, the Scott Polar Research Institute, which was established in 1920, performs two main functions – it’s a research base for a wide variety of Arctic and Antarctic research programmes, and it is the home of the Polar Museum.

The museum houses numerous artifacts and displays relating to both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. They cover the history of polar expeditions as well as the history, geology, and wildlife of the two regions themselves.

It’s a fascinating museum, with objects including the last letters written by Scott, and is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in our planet’s Poles, and exploration in general. The museum is open daily from 10am – 4pm, Tuesday – Saturday, and is free to visit (donations greatly appreciated).

They also host special events including talks, and special exhibitions. See the official website for more.

The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitzwilliam Museum is dedicated to art and antiquities, and was established in 1816 using the art collection  bequeathed to the University by Richard Fitzwilliam. In 1848, the museum relocated to its present building, the beautiful Founders Building.

A highlight of this building is the entrance hall, which was designed by Edward Middleton Barry.

The Fitzwilliam Museum has a wide range of items on display, ranging from 16th century musical manuscripts to paintings by J.M.W Turner, as well as Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, and art from China, Japan and Korea.

There’s also an extensive collection of coins.

The museum is fairly large with a lot to see, although you can also just visit and take in the highlights if you prefer. Entry is free (donations are appreciated), and the museum is open 10am – 5pm Tuesday – Saturday, and midday – 5pm on Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays. For more on what’s on and up to date opening times, see the official website here .

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences

The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is where you’re going to come if you want to learn all about geology. Established in 1728, this is the oldest of the University of Cambridge museums, which is appropriate given that the subject matter will take you on a 4.5 billion year journey through the history of the earth!

The museum has in its collection over 2 million specimens, which include fossils, minerals, and rocks, and which cover the majority of the lifespan of planet earth. As you would imagine, not all of this can be displayed at once, but there is a great deal to see and learn here.

The museum is open every day except Sunday. From Monday to Friday, it’s open from 10am – 1pm, and 2pm to 5pm. On Saturdays it’s open from 10am – 4pm. It’s free to visit, and you can see more about what’s on display here .

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The fourth museum on our list, and dating from 1884, is the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology . This museum is all about the history of people and the objects made for and used by people throughout the ages.

The ages in this case span a couple of million years and about a million artefacts, so there’s plenty to see and learn about here if you’re curious about where we came from and how we got to where we are today. It covers archaeology which is local to Cambridge as well as world archaeology, and there’s also a whole floor on anthropology.

Highlights of the collection include the Haida Totem pole, as well as Roman and Anglo Saxon artefacts from Cambridge and surrounds.

The museum has free admission, and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10.30am – 4.30pm, and Sunday from noon – 4.30pm. See the official website for more.

Museum of Zoology

If you are interested in the natural world, then you’ll want to make a stop at the Museum of Zoology . This is a part of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology, which owns around two million specimens – thousands of which are on display at any one time.

From the 22 metre long fin whale in the entrance area, through to elephants, insects, and molluscs, the museum has specimens on display which span the entire animal kingdom. There are also historically important items, including specimens discovered by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, originators of the Theory of Evolution.

We think this would make a great museum visit for families in particular. There are Zoologists Clubs for different age groups, which run events throughout the year and have free membership. The museum also runs talks on various topics throughout the year, and there are rotating exhibitions.

Entry is free, with the museum open from 10am to 4.30pm Monday – Saturday, and noon to 4.30pm on Sunday. See more on the official website .

The Centre for Computing History

The father of computers, Charles Babbage , studied Mathematics at Cambridge in the early 19th century. Babbage would go on to design the “Difference Engine”, which is generally regarded as being the first computer ever to be designed.

As such, it is appropriate that Cambridge is home to the Centre for Computing History , a museum which is home to a collection consisting of over 24,000 items relating to computers and computing history. These include books, vintage computers, memorabilia, game consoles and even mobile phones.

This is definitely an excellent museum for those of you with an interest in computing, and there are loads of interactive and hands on exhibits to keep you entertained. It reminded us a bit of the Computer History Museum in California . The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am – 5pm, and there’s a small fee to visit.

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

As should be apparent by now, Cambridge has a museum for pretty much every interest! The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is another of the University of Cambridge’s eight museums, and this one focuses, as the name makes clear, on the history of science.

The museum houses a great many objects such as scientific instruments, models, pictures, and prints, which are used to relate the history of science. These cover a wide variety of scientific disciplines.

The collection is based upon the artefacts donated to the University of Cambridge by Robert Stewart Whipple, a 19th century scientist who grew up with a father as a scientist, and who spent his life creating (and collecting) scientific instruments.

Highlights of the objects on display include a copy of Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica , Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine No 1, and some of Charles Darwin’s microscopes. These scientists were giant’s in their fields, responsible for some of mankind’s greatest scientific achievements, and being able to see first hand the tools and books they used and wrote is a wonderful experience.

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is currently closed as it is undergoing refurbishment, and is scheduled to reopen in April 2019. See the official website for more information.

Kettle’s Yard

For 20th century and contemporary art, you’ll want to head to Kettle’s Yard . This is found in the former home of Jim and Helen Ede, which consisted of four cottages that were merged into one unique property.

The property has been largely left laid out in the informal style of the Ede’s, and much of the art on display is from their art collection. When they lived in the house, they would regularly hold open house tours to students of the university, and when they left Cambridge for Edinburgh, they gave the house and art collection to the University, which has been running it as an art museum ever since.

Entry is free, and the house is open from 11am – 5pm Tuesday – Sunday. Note that whilst it is free to visit, the house operates a timed ticketing system to manage visitor numbers. These are available from the house itself, or you can book them online up to a month in advance here , which we would recommend doing if you want to be sure to visit.

Cambridge Science Centre

If you’re visiting Cambridge as a family or with kids, you may want to head to the Cambridge Science Centre . Whilst technically a museum, this is really a hands-on interactive learning centre where children and young people can find out all about what makes the world work.

As well as the permanent exhibition, which includes content on everything from how cells work to how we survive in the present day, there are interactive shows and activities available throughout the day. Levers can be pulled, buttons can be pressed, and anyone with a love of science will have a great time here.

The Cambridge Science Centre is open Tuesday – Sundays from 10.30am – 5pm in school holidays, and has varied opening hours during term time. See more on opening hours and admission fees on the official website here .

Museum of Cambridge

By this point you might be wondering if there’s anything apart from museums to see in Cambridge. Or, you’re thrilled at the wealth of knowledge awaiting you, and struggling to decide which to visit.

Whichever side of that divide you fall on, this is the last museum in our list!

The Museum of Cambridge  is found at the northern end of the city, and focuses on the history of Cambridgeshire, specifically over the last 300 years. This is the place to come if you want to learn everything about what has helped shape Cambridge into the city it is today.

It’s set in a former 17th century coaching inn, giving it a very authentic setting, and has objects covering everything from social history to toys, art and clothing.

There’s a small fee to visit the Museum of Cambridge, and it’s open all week, although on Mondays, visits are by guided tour only. You can see the opening times and further information on their website .

Corpus Clock

The Corpus Clock is an incredible gold plated, 1.5 metre wide time piece and art installation. You’ll find it at the junction of Bene’t Street and Trumpington Street on the side of the Taylor library.

The clock involved over 200 people and the project to create it cost over a million pounds. It takes the form of a large golden disc, atop which sits a huge grasshopper, which is known as the Chronophage. This is Greek for “time eater”, which is appropriate, as the grasshopper appears to eat the seconds as they tick by.

The clock is accurate, but as it moves erratically, it’s only truly accurate once every five minutes. Still, you’re not here to tell the time (which is challenging as there are no hands or dial to read, and so you need to understand the LED layout), you’re here to appreciate a marvel of clockmaking, which was named as one of Time magazines best inventions of 2008.

The clock is free to visit and runs year-round. It’s also often included on walking tours such as this one .

Great St. Mary’s Church Tower

If you want to get a great view of Cambridge, we recommend heading to Great St. Mary’s Church , where for a small fee you can climb to the top for panoramic views of the city.

The church is in the heart of the old part of the city, surrounded by cobbled streets and colleges, and is directly across from Kings College Chapel. As you would imagine therefore, the views from the roof are among the best you’ll get in Cambridge.

Of course, the church itself, which dates from the 15th century and is a listed building, is also worth spending time visiting. It’s the university church of the University of Cambridge, and is home to the University Organ and University Clock.

The church also plays another role in Cambridge university life. All university undergraduates must live within three miles of the church, and university officers must live within 20 miles of it.

The Church is open Monday – Saturday from 10-5.30pm (4.30pm in winter), and 12.15 – 5pm on Sundays (4pm in winter). Tickets for the tower can be purchased at the gift shop, after which it’s a 123 step climb to the top up a narrow winding medieval staircase! See more on the official website .

Castle Mound

It’s time for some of the other highlights of Cambridge, of which there are many. We’ll start off with Castle Mound, which is just across from the Museum of Cambridge.

This mound is all that is left of what was once a fairly formidable castle which dated back to the 11th century, and which was built following the Norman invasion in 1066 to control the route from London to the north of England.

Over the years the castle saw various uses, including being used as the city gaol. However, much of the stone was incorporated into the construction of other buildings in Cambridge, including the colleges, and all that is left is the grassy motte.

This is still worth visiting though, as from the top of the motte you can get nice views across the city, and this is a popular spot to come to watch the sunset.

King’s College Chapel

If there is one building which symbolises Cambridge, it would be King’s College Chapel . This is the chapel of King’s College.

A chapel, in case you were wondering how a chapel differs from a church, is usually a place of worship that is a part of a large nonreligious institution. This is why most colleges have chapels.

Whilst chapels are often relatively small, this is absolutely not the case with King’s College Chapel, which is a large and seriously impressive structure.

Built in the Perpendicular Gothic style of English architecture in the 15th century, King’s College Chapel is a fantastic building that needs to near the top of your to-do list in Cambridge.

It has the largest fan vault in the world, spectacular stained-glass windows, and a rood screen that was funded by Henry VIII as part of his wedding celebrations for Anne Boleyn.

The chapel is still in active use, and it is the home of the King’s College Chapel choir. It’s possible to visit here and watch both mass and concerts, and the acoustics are excellent.

If you’ve ever watched the BBC’s Christmas programming, there is always a broadcast of a solo performer singing Once in Royal David’s City live from the chapel.

King’s College Chapel has an entrance fee, with tickets available from the King’s College visitor centre, which is opposite the chapel and college grounds. Tickets can also be purchased online here , to save you from queuing on the day. You can also take a tour which includes King’s College like this .

The ticket gives you access to the chapel and the grounds of the College. The chapel is open every day of the week, but opening times vary depending on the time of year. You can see prices and full opening hours here .

Wren Library

The Wren library is arguably the most impressive of all the college libraries at Cambridge. It was designed and built for Trinity College by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The two storey library consists of a single long room. The bookshelves go up to the height of the first floor, above which the huge windows allow light to pour in. This was the first library to be designed with windows large enough to allow for sufficient light in for reading.

At the end of each bookshelf you’ll find the bust of a noted author, as well a a limewood carving by Grinling Gibbons, whose work can also be found at Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace, and who was generally regarded as the finest wood carver in England.

Inside the library there is a section of display cases containing some of the libraries most notable books and manuscripts. These include Isaac Newton’s first edition of Principia Mathematica , which has Newton’s handwritten notes for the second edition, A.A. Milne’s manuscripts for Winnie the Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner , and an 8th century copy of the Epistles of St. Paul , to name but a few.

The library is still very much a working university library, and as such access is carefully managed to as not to disturb those using it for academic purposes. Visiting hours are limited to 12-2pm, and visitors are restricted to 15 at a time. Photography is not permitted inside.

It’s free to visit though, and there’s a small souvenir shop where you can pick up postcards, although this is cash only.

Note – as of April 2023 the Wren Library is closed to the public. Check the official website here for more information and to see if it has reopened.

One of the most popular activities to do in Cambridge is to go punting. If you’re not sure what that means, a punt is a type of flat bottomed boat, and punting involves pushing yourself along the river using a long pole to propel yourself.

Punting is a lot harder than it sounds as we know from experience. So whilst you can hire a punt yourself and give it a go, we’d generally recommend that if you actually want to see some sights, you might prefer to take a tour with someone who knows what they are doing.

There are a variety of punt tour operators in Cambridge, with the majority offering tours of between 45 minutes and an hour – like this one with the Traditional Punting Company . Your punter will normally give you commentary about what you are seeing whilst also doing all the hard work, meaning you get to sit back and enjoy the unique views of Cambridge from the river.

Mathematical Bridge

Built in 1749, this famous Grade II listed wooden footbridge is a popular sight in Cambridge. Its unique construction give it the impression of being an arched bridge, but the reality is that it is built entirely from straight timbers.

This clever engineering design is why the nickname “ Mathematical Bridge ” has stuck.

The Mathematical Bridge is in Queen’s College, so to visit the Bridge you need to visit the college during its public visiting hours and  pay the visitors fee, which is £3.50 at time of writing. You can see the opening hours of the college and visitor information here .

In our opinion though, the best view of the Mathematical Bridge is to be had from a punting tour, which will take you directly under the bridge. You can also get a more distant view from the Silver Street road bridge, just a little to the south on the river.

Have a Pub Lunch

One of the fascinating things about visiting Cambridge is the sense of history that seems to permeate the air here – particularly a history of scientific achievement. You can literally visit the places where some of science’s biggest discoveries were made and unveiled.

In the case of the Eagle pub in Cambridge, you can both sit in the same place where Watson and Crick announced their findings on DNA, and enjoy a tasty pub lunch.

Of course, there are lots of places to have a great pub lunch. The Eagle is pretty special though, other than it’s connection with Watson and Crick. First, it’s arguably the oldest operating pub in the city, having opened in 1667. It also has a room known as the RAF room, where the graffiti of World War II airmen covers the walls.

Classic pub lunch fare in Britain includes dishes like steak and ale pie, fish and chips, gammon steak and eggs, or sausage and mashed potato.

We had an excellent pub lunch and pint of ale here, and you might want to come here or find another great pub in the city to do the same.

Cambridge Botanical Garden

Covering an area of 40 acres just to the south of the city centre, the Cambridge University Botanical Garden is a lovely place for a stroll.

Opened to the public in 1846, today the garden is home to a wide variety of plants and trees, which cover both British and international variants. There are large glasshouses which contain over 3,000 species, as well a a pretty fountain.

The garden is open year round, and there are self-guided trails you can take to explore the various collections on display. Opening times vary depending on the month, with the garden normally opening at 10am. At time of writing there’s a £6 fee to visit, with concessions available. See more on the official site here .

Cambridge Market

Found right in the heart of Cambridge at the Market Square, next to Great St. Mary’s Church is Cambridge Market . An outdoor market has been held in this location in the city since the Middle Ages!

Today, there’s a wide variety of products on sale, from books and clothes to food, plants and mobile phone accessories.

The market operates Monday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm. On Sundays, there’s an arts and craft market, which also includes organic produce sales.

The Round Church

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre , more commonly known as the Round Church, is a 12th century stone built Parish church found in the centre of Cambridge on Round Church street.

The Church is managed by and is the home of Christian Heritage, and is one of only four medieval round churches still in use in England.

The church has an exhibition about the history and influence of Christianity on education and science, as well as a film about the history of Cambridge, and a display on the history of the church itself.

The church is open to visitors, and there’s an admission fee, which at time of writing is £3.50. It’s open every day except Sunday from 11am – 4.30pm.

The Christian Heritage charity also runs guided walking tours of Cambridge, which focus on Christian history, and which depart from and can be booked at the Round Church visitor center, or on their website here .

Map of Things to do in Cambridge

To help you visualize our recommendations for things to do in Cambridge, we’ve put them all in map. You can see this map on Google maps here .

Tours to Cambridge

Cambridge is a popular city to visit as part of a tour – either as a day trip from London, or on a multi-day tour of the UK. Here are a few options to consider, including tours of the city.

• A full day tour to Cambridge with departure from London, which includes transport and a guided tour of the city followed by free time to explore. This is another version of this tour .
• This full day tour to Oxford and Cambridge from London, which includes round trip transport and a guided tour of both Oxford and Cambridge. This will let you get a taste of both university cities. Another version here . Tours are also available from Oxford
• A five day tour through the heart of England and Wales , which includes time in Cambridge, as well as other highlights such as York, Stratford upon Avon, the Peak District, and Snowdonia

As you can see, there are a number of tour options, and we’re sure you’ll find one to suit your specific requirements.

When to Visit Cambridge

Cambridge is a good city to visit year round, with lots of both indoor and outdoor attractions. It is likely to be most busy during the summer months of July and August, and quieter in the off-season months like November and January.

One of the big attractions in Cambridge is of course the colleges, and these are active places of study. As such, they may close or have limited access for examinations.

The majority of exams take place in between April and June, however exams can occur at other times, and if there is a particular college you want to see, you will definitely want to check their website to see if they have any visitor restrictions due to exams.

Also be aware that some colleges are rarely or almost never open to the public so be sure to check if there is one you particularly want to visit.

If you’re visiting Cambridge for the day, we’d advise checking opening days for any attractions you are keen to visit. In particular, many of the museums in Cambridge are closed on Mondays for example, so you might want to avoid visiting Cambridge on a Monday if you want to visit these museums.

How to Get Around Cambridge

Cambridge is an easy city to get around on foot. From the train station to the city centre is around a 15 – 20 minute walk, although there are also buses, taxis, and Uber available.

If you think you’ll be taking the bus a few times in Cambridge, you might consider buying a day ticket . For £4.50 (at time of writing), you’ll get unlimited rides for one day across the centre of the city and immediate surrounding area on Stagecoach buses, including everywhere on our things to do list.

Tickets can be purchased on the bus, with both cash and contactless payments accepted.

Another option of course is to take the Hop on Hop off bus . Tickets for these open top double decker buses will give you 24 hour riding privileges, which includes an audioguide, and the route stops at the majority of the highlights in the city. Buy your ticket here in advance .

How to Get to Cambridge

Cambridge is a well connected city which is easy to get to from other parts of the UK. From London, the best way to reach Cambridge is to take the train. Trains depart multiple times an hour from Kings Cross station, with journey times varying between 50 and 80 minutes.

We advise buying your ticket in advance here to get the best prices.

It’s also possible to take the bus to Cambridge, however from London this will usually take a couple of hours, so we’d advise taking the train where possible. You can check bus times and prices here .

The nearest airport to Cambridge is London Stansted, from where you can take the train or bus to Cambridge.

How Long to Visit Cambridge For?

We’d suggest spending at least a full day in Cambridge if you can.

However, as you can see from our list of things to do in Cambridge, there’s is a great deal to see and do. So whilst visiting Cambridge on a day trip is both a popular and viable option, if you stay for two or three days you will easily be able to fill your time.

Where to Stay in Cambridge

If you choose to visit Cambridge for longer than a day, you’ll want somewhere to stay. Cambridge has a wide variety of accommodation options, from hostels to hotels.

We’ve gone through and picked out some of the best options in Cambridge across a range of budgets to help you find the right place for you.

• YHA Cambridge . If you’re looking for a hostel in Cambridge, this YHA is found between the train station and the town center. Accommodation ranges from dorm beds to private en-suite rooms.
• Cambridge City Mill – a great value aparthotel found between the city centre and the train station. Offers free wi-fi, and a variety of en-suite rooms, perfect for a family
• A & B Guesthouse – a well reviewed good value guesthouse for those of you looking for more of a B&B type experience. Rooms have tea/coffee making facilities, it’s found between the city center and the train station, and breakfast is available
• The Waterman – this traditional Cambridge pub is found just north of the city centre, and offers well-rated en-suite accommodation. There’s on-site dining, and breakfast is also available.
• Christs College  – if you want to stay at a College, this is a good option, although note that you can only book for certain times of the year outside of term time
• The Gonville Hotel  – this is a well reviewed 4* hotel just south of the city centre. It offers free bike hire, on-site dining, en-suite rooms with tea/coffee making facilities, and breakfast is available
• University Arms Hotels – part of the Autograph Collection, this 4* hotel in the city centre has lovely rooms, an excellent location, and all the facilities you would expect, from ensuite rooms to a fitness centre, bar, on-site restaurant and complimentary WiFi.

As well as the above, during summer and school breaks it is possible to sleep in the dormitories of some of the university colleges, such as  Christs College .

Hopefully this gives you some ideas for where to stay in Cambridge. Take a look at all the options, from apartments to hotels, here .

Further Reading

That’s almost it for our detailed guide to visiting Cambridge in the UK. Before you go though, we wanted to share some more of our UK content to help you plan your trip here.

• If you’re staying in London, you should check out our 1 day London itinerary , 2 day London itinerary , 3 day London itinerary and 6 day London itinerary , which will give you plenty of ideas for how to fill your time in the UK’s capital city
• We have a guide to visiting Oxford from London , as well as a guide to taking a day trip to Stonehenge from London
• Cost is often a key factor when planning a trip. See our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK to help out
• If you’re planning on renting a car in the UK, we have some tips for driving in the UK to help out. We also have detailed one week and two week UK road trip itineraries
• We also have guides to many other cities in the UK, including things to do in Bristol , things to do in Edinburgh , things to do in Portsmouth , and things to do in Glasgow , to name but a few.
• If you’re interested in a guide book for your trip to Cambridge, we can recommend the Rick Steves England book  or the Cambridge Greater than a Tourist guide

And that’s it for our guide to things to do in Cambridge! As always, we’re happy to hear your feedback and answer your questions – just pop them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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There are 4 comments on this post

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Kwok Fung Au Yeung says

6th March 2023 at 2:12 am

Wren Library is close to public

Laurence Norah says

8th April 2023 at 8:27 pm

Thanks for letting me know! We always recommend checking opening hours and times before visiting any attraction as they can close for various reasons. I hope you still enjoyed your time in Cambridge 🙂

Linda Watt says

5th April 2021 at 6:14 am

The beautiful Cambridge American Cemetery, with its visitor center that tells the story of the air war that was critical to the Allied victory in WWII, is so worth a visit!

Very helpful article on Cambridge, by the way!

5th April 2021 at 11:48 am

Thank you very much, and thank you also for that tip Linda! We haven’t made it to the Cambridge American Cemetery but it sounds very interesting – we’ll definitely check it out on our next visit to Cambridge 🙂

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The best things to do in Cambridge

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Most visitors to Cambridge go nuts about the place. Most of those who are stuck there for a few years as students only figure out how lovely it is, and how lucky they were, much later in life. Like olives and whisky , Cambridge is largely wasted on the young. Perhaps this has to do with the city’s alarming and, in a way, almost unbearable concentration of history and brilliance and beauty, which can seem overwhelming. The trick is to revel in the beauty without getting too hot up about the brilliance or the history. Go, as they say, with the flow. And as a visitor to Cambridge, that’s easy enough. During the summer months, there are people who, for a small consideration, will propel you with, or even against, the flow of the Cam, the river that runs through the middle of the city and gives it its name, in a long, low boat by means of a long, thin stick, beneath willow trees and bridges and past all manner of architectural marvels.

Cambridge is also a thriving 21st-century city, a centre of the tech industry. But its ancient, stony heart remains untroubled by progress. On a quiet night in the Lent term, as you clatter home through empty cobbled streets with the saints that loom over heavy doors glaring down at you through the fog, you’ll feel as though you’re just a power shortage away from a previous century. Vladimir Nabokov, who studied here in the early 1920s, wrote of it as a place where ‘nothing one looked at was shut off in terms of time, everything was a natural opening into it’. His idea of Cambridge as a series of doorways to the past, left forever ajar, is spot on. The fantastic thing about the city is the extent to which those doors remain open – not just to soulful literary types such as Nabokov, but to anyone who passes through them. (My only word of advice is to be nice to the college porters, who can, if they don’t like the look of you, slam the door in your face.) Nowhere else on earth is it as easy to travel across such great reaches of time, among such illustrious ghosts, in such a small geographical area, as it is in Cambridge.

Above: Senate House

Where to get your culture fix

Kettle’s Yard is a reminder of the marvellous ways in which the objects we surround ourselves with at home – furniture, photographs , flowerpots, whatever – can improve and enrich our everyday lives. It reopened in 2018 after a comprehensive three-year redevelopment and expansion, and is now better than ever. Its original owner, Jim Ede, was a curator at the Tate Gallery in London . He and his family moved to Kettle’s Yard in 1956 and, 10 years later, gifted the house and its contents to the University of Cambridge. The Edes’ exceptional collection of works by Ben Nicholson, David Jones, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Joan Miró, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, among others, was, and still is, displayed with the meticulousness and elegance of a haiku, a poem in glass, china, wood, stone and canvas. Today Kettle’s Yard is a house, a museum, an art gallery and a centre for research and education – as well as a uniquely moving expression of one man’s very particular taste and temperament.

Address : Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AQ Telephone : +44 1223 748100 Website : kettlesyard.co.uk

Where to find a smart supper

For a while, serious foodies and undernourished students whose visiting parents would foot the bill had a pair of Michelin-starred restaurants to choose from. Last October , the figure was halved and the element of choice abolished altogether. Now, only Midsummer House remains, although with two of those coveted stars. It is sometimes referred to – amusingly if not altogether fairly, since chef Daniel Clifford is really quite unlike Heston Blumenthal – as The Fat Duckling. Meanwhile, across Parker’s Piece, the windswept common where the rules of football were formulated, is Tristan Welch’s Parker’s Tavern, also in a hotel, the University Arms. The latter emerged in 2018 after a renovation that magically turned an ageing frog into a fresh prince. Its combination of John Simpson froideur on the outside and Martin Brudnizki flash on the inside is irresistible. There is no better hotel in the city. Welch’s fabulous contemporary-British restaurant and elegant velvety bar seal the deal.

Websites : midsummerhouse.co.uk , tasting menu from £115; parkerstavern.com , about £50 for two

Read our full review of the University Arms

Where to pull a pint

Cambridge has never been a place where finding a drink was a matter of overwhelming complexity. Finding a good one, however, was a trickier business, unless you happened to be in possession of the keys to the fellows’ cellar in one of the grander colleges. The situation is improving. In addition to the bar at Parker’s Tavern, there is The Orator (previously 1815), in the Cambridge Union, which is now open to the public. In its former life, it was careworn and charming, with rattly windows and groaning floorboards, but the building underwent a revamp in 2020 and is now a smart, Farrow & Ball-finished space with bicycle wheels instead of art and large, library-like tables.

**Address:**The Orator, Round Church Street, Cambridge CB5 8AD Website : theoratorcambridge.co.uk

Above: roasted pumpkin on toast at Espresso Library.

Where to satisfy your sweet tooth

No visit to Cambridge would be complete without a Chelsea bun from Fitzbillies. ‘The world’s stickiest’ is their proud boast, though the recipe remains a closely guarded secret. (My guess is one-third pastry, one-third golden syrup, one-third reconstituted cannon ball.) The original Fitzbillies on Trumpington Street caught fire in 1998 and came within a cindered ace of oblivion. But it rose again – and a second Fitzbillies has recently opened over on Bridge Street.

Address : Fitzbillies, 51-52 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RG Telephone : +44 1223 352 500 Website : fitzbillies.com

Where to get the best coffee

The likes of Jack’s Gelato ( pictured below ), Bould Brothers Coffee ( pictured above ) and Hot Numbers, back in the gownie centre, may seem a trifle square after Mill Road. But Jack scoops handmade, providence-centric gelati (inventive flavours include salted balsamic caramel, Somerset apple brandy and Chelsea bun) from his minimal space on Bene’t Street. Around the corner from St John’s College, brothers Alex and Max Bould are devil-is-in-the-detail espresso-obsessives; or there’s Hot Numbers’ two outlets for single-origin stuff from Ethiopia, Colombia and Guatemala.

Websites : jacksgelato.com ; bouldbrotherscoffee.co.uk ; hotnumberscoffee.co.uk

Where to find sophisticated cocktails

Mill Road, to the east of the city centre, used to be a no-go area but is now one of the buzziest and most characterful corners of Cambridge – the Dalston of the Fens. At number 196 you will find 196. Something of a revelation. A serious cocktail bar, complete with heavily whiskered mixologists who are on first-name terms with bourbon producers in Kentucky and Tennessee and hand-scribbled drinks lists (try the Margarita with mescal, Cointreau, agave syrup and lime, or a Thomas H Handy Sazerac). Within a few minutes’ walk of 196 are the Relevant Record Café, for vinyl discs and proper java; Urban Larder, for equally convincing java, the vinyl replaced by tubs of Lego on each table and fat doughnuts behind the counter.

Website : 196bar.com ; relevantrecordcafe.co.uk ; urbanlarder.coffee

Above: The Old Schools at the University of Cambridge.

Where to shop

I don’t think you could, hand on heart, describe Cambridge as any sort of shopping wonderland. With, perhaps, one or two exceptions. The stalls on the Market Square are a lifesaver for impecunious chaps in need of a dirt-cheap second-hand monkey suit for a May Ball – so long as your date doesn’t mind the odd bit of moth damage and a cut that is more reminiscent of the age of Elizabeth I than Elizabeth II. And Cambridge is almost certainly the loveliest place in the land to purchase a bible. The Cambridge University Press Bookshop, located on a spot where books have been sold since 1581, including the Authorised Version of the Bible since it first appeared in 1611, will get you back onto the paths of righteousness, or near as, after all that carousing in cocktail bars.

Address : Cambridge University Press Bookshop, 1-2 Trinity Street, Cambridge CB2 1SZ Telephone : +44 1223 333 333 Website : cambridge.org

Where to explore

And what about the famous colleges, without which Cambridge would hardly be Cambridge? Good question. There are, however, 30-odd of them, and each is a little universe unto itself. If you’re pressed for time, a reliable guide is worth his or her weight in gold. Many of the stories you hear repeated – of Lord Byron’s pet bear having its own set of rooms at Trinity College, or the gravity-defying feats of engineering that keep the Mathematical Bridge at Queens’ propped up – are total bunk. A friend of mine used to take tourists punting on the Cam in the summer holidays , when the punts are available. To amuse himself, he would point to any old building along the river and blithely inform his charges that it had been designed by Sophia Loren. You’d be surprised, he told me, how many people would simply nod and mutter: ‘Ah, yes. Mmm-hmm. Sophia Loren.’ Sir Christopher Wren was, of course, behind a number of buildings in Cambridge. Among them is the delightful little chapel at Pembroke College, which was, unless I’ve been misinformed, too, the first of his designs ever to be built.

Website : cambridgetourguide.co.uk

The best houses to rent in Cambridge

Take the bike path five miles outside the city to Waterlily Cabin, where you can watch birdlife bathe, skim and swim in the natural pond from the comfort of your own bed. The dinky space is built for two, with a private jetty for jumping off and a wicker swing seat for moments of solitude. Owner Jo leaves homemade goodies in the fridge, and she delivers a mean cooked breakfast too.

Price : From £100 a night Website : kiphideaways.com

Just off Mill Road, Vaiva’s chic house is ideally located for exploring the city at your own pace – pick up lunch from Meadows Deli, stroll back through Parker’s Piece and pop back as often as you like. There’s space for six guests and a sunny garden , so make the most of the bright, minimalist property by gathering a group of friends and renting bikes to freewheel along the River Cam. It’s the perfect place for a university reunion – whether you graduated from Cambridge or not.

Price : From £250 a night Website : airbnb.com

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Honey-soy chicken at Bread & Meat.

A pint at Petersfield pub.

The Bould Brothers and baristas, Alex and Max.

Bare Edison bulbs at Espresso Library café.

Bicycles behind one of Trinity Lane's beautiful doorways.

Bread & Meat café on Bene’t Street.

Reading materials at Espresso Library.

The rooftops of Trinity Street.

The interiors at Bould Brothers café.

Guest room at The University Arms Hotel, Cambridge.

A Scotch egg at the Petersfield pub.

Adventures of Alice

Cambridge Day Trip: The Perfect 1 Day Itinerary

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If you’re planning a Cambridge day trip, you’re in for a treat! I’ll say this time and time again, but Cambridge is one of my favourite cities in the UK. It’s also right around the corner from where I live, so I’ve been able to visit over and over again and really explore the city in depth.

However, many visitors to the historic city do so as a day trip from London or elsewhere in the UK. So, I’ve put together the perfect itinerary so you can see the best of Cambridge in a day. 

My favourite travel resources for Cambridge

✅ Here’s my favourite hotel in the city . ✅ Here’s t he best punting tour in Cambridge ✅ Don’t forget your travel insurance .

Is Cambridge worth a day trip?

100% yes, Cambridge is worth a day trip. I live less than an hour from the city and take a day trip to Cambridge multiple times a year. I love sightseeing in Cambridge.

It’s a great place to act like a tourist for a day and explore sights that I’ve seen countless times before but never seem to lose their charm.

If you’re a first-time visitor to Cambridge, you can quite easily fall in love with it. It’s much calmer than London and much prettier (in my opinion).

I also love how green it is and how stunning the architecture is. It’s pretty easy to spend a day in Cambridge and you’ll most likely end up wishing you had more time!

✅ If you’re coming from London, this is the perfect way to see Cambridge in a day.

How do I spend a day in Cambridge?

I won’t lie to you – there are quite a lot of things you shouldn’t miss in Cambridge . Whether you want to visit the historic colleges, explore the river, or go for a walk in one of the many parks and green spaces that surround the city, there are many things that you can do during your stay.

For a day trip to Cambridge, I’d recommend staying in the city’s centre. The colleges are Cambridge’s top attractions and the beautiful River Cam also runs right through the middle of the city.

As well as this, you can explore the market stalls, museums, and much more in the city centre. Plus, it means you don’t need to travel far the get around, as this entire itinerary can be done on foot.

The perfect Cambridge day trip itinerary

So whether you make this trip by car or as a train trip from London ; whether it’s your first time in Cambridge or your fourth, here’s my perfect itinerary for spending a day in Cambridge.

9:00 – Visit King’s College

Cost : £14.50 per adult on weekdays and £15 on weekends

Start your day trip to Cambridge at the city’s most famous attraction. King’s College is easily one of Cambridge’s top attractions. Located in the heart of the city, the beautiful building has hosted welcomed people such as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.

When you arrive, you’ll first explore the main college and then walk around to the exterior and the grounds. You can see a range of different things including paintings, sculptures and the architecture of the building. It’s great for imagining what Cambridge’s life was like in the past. 

My personal favourite part of visiting King’s College is the chapel and the grounds outside. The view across the river of the collage and the interior of the chapel is stunning.

✅ This is a great way to learn more about the history of Kings College .

10:00 – See the Corpus Clock

Cost : Free

Located right next to King’s College, the Corpus Clock is a beautiful piece of engineering. Also known as the Grasshopper clock, it was designed by artist John Taylor and given to Corpus Christi College in 2008.

It’s a really eye-catching feature of the college and is worth seeing if you’re in Cambridge. It also has an interesting symbolism with the grasshopper representing the passing of time. 

10:15 – Visit the Fitzwilliam Museum 

This is one of my favourite places to visit in Cambridge for free and great if you love history. 

I can still hardly believe that the Fitzwilliam Museum is completely free to visit. It honestly shocked me when I first visited because of how interesting it was. I fully expected to be charged to visit a place like this!

The building itself is also beautiful with towering columns outside and a grand staircase inside the entrance hall. Then, there are lots of interesting exhibits from artistic paintings to artefacts from ancient Egypt. 

All in all, it might take you a couple of hours to properly look around the museum (longer if you want to read all the information). It’s well worth it and one of the best museums in Cambridge.

13:00 – Head to the Market Square for Lunch

Cost : Depends on what you purchase!

The Market Square in Cambridge is one of the best places to stop for food – in my opinion of course! There are so many wonderful places to eat in Cambridge, but if you want a great selection and a range of stalls that are all very close to one another, you can’t go wrong with street food. 

Every time I visit the Market Square in Cambridge, I get something different. You can choose from authentic Spanish paella, Thai noodles, Greek souvlaki, Indian curries, Brazilian stews, and much more. It’s a treat for the tastebuds and a great stop for lunch. 

Fun Fact : Some people actually travel from surrounding towns specifically to try the food here – one lady told me she’s travelled an hour to visit one of the market stalls!

14:00 – Climb Great St Mary’s Church for Views over the City

Cost : £6 for adults and £4 for children

For the best views in Cambridge, you have to climb this tower. Located right next to Kings Collage and Market Square, this is the next stop on your Cambridge day trip itinerary.

The inside of the church is beautiful in itself, but the views from the top are some of the best you’ll see of King’s Collage. 

There’s a very tight winding staircase you’ll need to climb to reach the top of the tower. This isn’t too bad as it’s only 123 steps, but can still get you a little out of breath. But the views from the top are well worth it.

Top Tip : The staircase is too narrow to let people up and down at the same time so there is a traffic light system in place. You wait for the light to go green before you can start climbing down the tower again to let those coming up reach the top. 

15:00 – Explore Trinity College and Wren Library

Cost : £5 per adult for the guided tour

Another of Cambridge’s beautiful colleges (and trust me, there are plenty) Trinity is a stunning building. The architecture is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles, but the highlight for me was Wren Library. The college was built in 1546 and was founded by Henry VIII.

Before you leave Trinity, be sure to check out the Chapel with its stained glass windows, which are absolutely stunning. Also, although the college itself requires a guided tour ticket to enter, the Wren Library is completely free and definitely one of the best free things to do in Cambridge . 

This absolutely beautiful library contains many world-famous books such as Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica or Charles Darwin’s Origin Of The Species.

You can also explore exhibitions on display about college life in Cambridge over the last few hundred years to find out more about campus history. Easily one of the best things to do on a Cambridge day trip, the College and the Library are must-sees.

16:00 – Visit St John’s College

Cost : £12 per adult

Just a 1-minute walk from Trinity College, St John’s College is one of the oldest and most famous colleges in Cambridge. Founded by Lady Margaret Beaufort, Queen Elizabeth I’s godmother, some of the best academics in the world, such as Stephen Hawking, have studied within its walls.

The college offers a range of things for visitors including tours around its grounds (I suggest booking ahead), lectures from leading professors, concerts at its chapel, or their free evensong events. It’s another of Cambridge’s prettiest architectural gems and well worth a visit.

17:00 – Go Punting on the River Cam

Cost : Rent a punt from £32, go on a group guided tour from £20, or go on a private tour from £79

Finally, finish your Cambridge day trip with a sunset punting trip on the River Cam. Possibly one of the most iconic things to do in Cambridge you simply cannot visit the historic city without adding this to your itinerary. 

The river meanders through all sorts of picturesque spots – with both town and university buildings lining its banks. You’ll pass the Mathematical Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, the Backs, Kings College, and many other top sights in Cambridge.

Plus, if you pick the guided tour option , you’ll also learn a few facts about the city on the way!

It’s a great way to spend an afternoon and is available all year round as well, so don’t be put off if you’re visiting Cambridge in the colder months. The punters simply wrap you up in a blanket and provide warm drinks to keep you toasty.

Punting is one of my favourite things to do in Cambridge. It’s not only a fun activity but also allows you to explore this stunning city from an entirely different perspective and is the perfect way to end your day in Cambridge.

✅ For the views, the facts, and a laugh with the guides, I recommend this tour!

If you have more than a Cambridge day trip

If you’re lucky enough to be spending more than one day in Cambridge, here are some other wonderful ways you could spend your time.

1. Go for Brunch

Cambridge is a city known for good food – brunch being pretty high on the list! Featuring some of the best restaurants in the entire country, including the Michelin-starred Midsummer House, it’s a must to enjoy some of England’s favourite meals.

Known for their delicious and creative avocado toast dishes, speciality coffees, yummy homemade pastries such as the walnut brownie, and pizza weekends,

I recommend Hot Numbers for brunch in Cambridge. You’ll find two venues, one on Trinity Street and the other on Gwydir Street.

Also, be sure to check Fitzbillies as they sell the best and stickiest Chelsea buns in the city!

2. Wander the Streets

One of the top things to do in Cambridge is to simply wander the historic streets. Cambridge has many beautiful, winding alleys, cobbled pathways, and picturesque lanes in the centre of this busy city.

Some of the prettiest streets in Cambridge include Rose Crescent, Orchard Street, Trinity Lane, and Senate House Passage. My personal favourite is Trinity Lane as it’s lined with turrets from the adjoining colleges and has a lovely Tudor feel.

As you wander the streets, you’ll pass many of Cambridge’s most iconic sites. For example, if you walk through Trinity Lane towards Trinity College, then make your way to King’s Parade before heading out past Clare College on St John Street (a gorgeous cobbled lane) and onto Gonville Place, there is a beautiful row of Georgian houses overlooking Parker’s Piece.

England doesn’t get more beautiful better than this!

3. View the Mathematical Bridge

One of the most beautiful bridges in Cambridge, the Mathematical Bridge is a photographer’s dream.

You will almost certainly pass by it on a punting tour of Cambridge , but you can also see the bridge on foot by walking to the bridge on Silver Street – that was where the photo above was taken and is one of the best views in the city.

The bridge was designed in 1748 by William Etheridge and built a year later. It is made entirely out of straight timbers, which is strange considering its arched shape. The clever engineering is what ultimately gave it its name.

It’s worth bearing in mind that there are always lots of tourists here, so it might not be ideal if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.

However, I love this spot because the views are just gorgeous – plus there’s plenty of space to get creative with your photography techniques on both sides.

4. Visit the other museums

Cambridge has a lot of museums . And if you have more than a Cambridge day trip, it’s well worth checking out some of the other museums in the city. These include:

• Kettle’s Yard – a unique art museum inside former houses, 
• The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences – a museum of geology located on the University of Cambridge’s Downing Street Site,
• The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology – Another Cambridge University Museum, you’ll find a fantastic collection of antiques and archaeology here from around the world.
• The University Museum of Zoology – A museum dedicated to the zoology research of the University of Cambridge.
• The Museum of Cambridge – A folksy museum dedicated to the history of the city of Cambridge itself.

5. Take a trip to the surrounding villages

I love exploring little villages and the areas surrounding Cambridge are home to some of the prettiest towns and villages in England . I particularly love Grantchester, St Ives, and Fenstanton, but there are lots of places here to see. 

You can wander through the villages themselves, explore the nearby nature reserves and go for a walk, or head to the pubs for a drink and a bit to eat. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon and a wonderful way to see the outskirts of the city.

How to get to Cambridge

Cambridge is an easily accessible city from many places around the UK. Here are some of the easiest ways to get there. 

The city is located around 60 miles north of London and will take about 2 hours to drive there from the capital. However, driving to London can mean a fair bit of traffic. 

It’s also worth mentioning that parking in Cambridge isn’t cheap. I’ve paid over £20 for 4 hours before, so I advise against parking in the main city centre car parks like the Grand Arcade or the Grafton Centre.

If you are planning on driving, either use Queen Anne’s Terrace car park which is a little cheaper, or use the park-and-ride service . 

By Public Transport

Cambridge is well-connected by train. Direct trains run regularly from London King’s Cross and Liverpool Street stations. The journey from London King’s Cross takes around 50-60 minutes. 

If you’ve flown into the UK and need to get to Cambridge, there are also plenty of easy ways to do this. The nearest major airports are London Heathrow (LHR) and London Stansted (STN).

From Heathrow, you can take a train to London King’s Cross or Liverpool Street stations and then transfer to a train to Cambridge. From Stansted, there’s a direct train to Cambridge.

You can also easily get to the city by bus. National Express provides long-distance bus services to Cambridge from a range of cities in the UK including Birmingham and Bristol .

✅ This is how I book all of my train travel in the UK

Is Oxford or Cambridge better for a day out?

Both Oxford and Cambridge are historic and beautiful cities with rich cultural and academic traditions and there’s usually a lot of competition between the two. 

Oxford is known for its stunning architecture, including the Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, and various colleges. It’s also somewhat more historic, with the Ashmolean Museum and the Oxford Castle. Plus, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll love it as so many Harry Potter filming locations are in Oxford. 

Cambridge also boasts impressive architecture, including King’s College Chapel, the Mathematical Bridge, and various beautiful college buildings. It’s famous for punting on the River Cam which is a popular and picturesque activity, especially in the summer months .

Plus, the market square in the city centre is vibrant, with a variety of shops, cafes, and street performers.

When trying to choose between the two, I’d consider your interests. If you’re more inclined towards Harry Potter and diverse museums, Oxford might be more appealing. If you’re interested in punting, the great outdoors, and gorgeous architecture, Cambridge might be a better fit.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Cambridge for a Day

Overall, I think Cambridge is the perfect UK day trip. It’s a compact city, meaning you can explore most of it on foot and see many of the popular attractions within a day. Yet, it’s also diverse enough that you could come back time and time again.

It’s also an incredibly interesting city with lots to see and do from history to natural attractions, and also plenty of places surrounding the city for you to explore. Overall, it’s one of the best cities in the UK and a Cambridge day trip will not leave you disappointed.

If you’re spending longer than a day in Cambridge, check out the best places to stay in the city .

My favourite tools for finding cheap travel

• SKYSCANNER – For amazing flight deals.
• BOOKING.COM – For affordable hotels and accommodation.
• SAFETY WING – For affordable, reliable travel insurance.
• DISCOVER CARS – For cheap car hire around the world.
• OMIO – For trains, coaches, and transfers.
• GET YOUR GUIDE – For attractions and tours.
• AIRALO – For a global eSim that keeps you connected.

Disclosure: Some of the links above may be affiliate links that earn me a commission at no extra cost to you. If you purchase through my links – thank you so much! I only recommend products and companies that I use and love.

Alice Smith is a full-time travel blogger and content creator and the founder of Adventures of Alice. Following an unexpected redundancy from her career as a Content Marketing Specialist, she embraced her passion for exploration and turned her hobby of travel blogging into a full-time career.

From her roots near Cambridge, UK, she's ventured to over 30 countries since 2016. With a passion for the outdoors and a knack for finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, Alice is on a mission to show that budget travel can still be luxurious and that every destination, no matter how touristy, holds hidden gems.

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Thank you so much for all of this helpful information. We are traveling to London for a week in early June. I convinced everyone that it was worth taking a day trip to Cambridge before I’d done any actual online research. Then I found your blog and am happy to see your enthusiastic confirmation that Cambridge is well worth a day trip.

Haha, I’m glad to hear! 🙂 Its definitely worth it. Cambridge is one of my favourite cities in England and there’s just so much to see and do! I hope you have a wonderful time when you visit and fingers crossed for good weather! 😀

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A weekend in Cambridge: 2-day Cambridge itinerary

Posted on Last updated: October 1, 2022

How to spend a weekend in Cambridge: Discover the best things to see, do, eat and drink in Cambridge in a two-day itinerary featuring this university city’s colleges, museums, punts and parkland.

* This site contains affiliate links , where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.

There’s long been a rivalry between the great British university cities of Oxford and Cambridge. And after living in Oxford, I thought I knew where my loyalties lay – and who to cheer for in the boat race. But my first trip to Cambridge started to sway me.

Like Oxford , Cambridge has a fascinating history, beautiful buildings, punts on the river, cobbled streets and enough museums and libraries to feel like you’re getting cleverer by osmosis. But the river running past the colleges adds an extra level of prettiness that had me considering switching allegiances. So if you’re planning a visit, here’s my 2-day Cambridge itinerary to help you plan the perfect weekend in Cambridge.

How to spend a weekend in Cambridge

Friday evening

Check into your accommodation then start your weekend in Cambridge with a pre-dinner drink on the Varsity Hotel’s Roof Terrace . It has a 360º view over the college rooftops which you can enjoy with a cocktail, mocktail, wine or beer. Or in winter or if the weather’s bad, head one floor below to SIX brasserie and bar, whose views are almost as good.

Then have dinner at the Cambridge Chop House . This historic corner building looks out onto King’s College Chapel. The menu focuses on traditional British comfort food, and it’s a favourite with meat-lovers for its 28-day aged steaks and pork chops. But you’ll also find a few fish and vegetarian options – and they have gluten- and dairy-free menus.

Saturday morning

Start the day at the heart of Cambridge – its university. The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 by a group of scholars from its famous rival Oxford, who set up a new university after a dispute with Oxford locals. Since then it’s become one of the world’s most prestigious universities, educating 14 British prime ministers and 47 heads of state.

Get a glimpse into Cambridge student life with a tour of its colleges. The university is made up of 31 independent colleges, where students live and study. Most of them are open to visitors to take a look around at least part of the time – though opening times vary, and can be limited during exam periods, so check in advance.

The University’s three big-hitters are King’s, Trinity and St John’s, but don’t discount the smaller colleges which each have their own stories and secret spots. King’s College is famous for its Gothic Chapel, which has a rare fan-vaulted ceiling and huge stained-glass windows. It’s got fantastic acoustics and you can hear the chapel choir sing during services .

Trinity is the largest and wealthiest college. It’s home to the Wren Library , designed by Christopher Wren in 1676 and housing historic books like Isaac Newton’s notebook and the manuscript of Winnie-the-Pooh (normally open 10.30am–12.30pm on Saturdays but currently closed to visitors – check their website for the latest on reopening).

St John’s has beautiful grounds, and is where you’ll find the Bridge of Sighs. It’s also where a lot of the film The Theory of Everything , about Stephen Hawking’s life, was filmed (although in real life he actually studied at Trinity Hall). Or if you want to get an insiders’ view of Cambridge life, you can take a tour the colleges * with a past student.

Stop for lunch at the Michaelhouse Café , in a converted medieval church. The daily menu features simple, fresh food like soups, sandwiches, homemade quiches and cakes. Then grab an ice cream from Jack’s Gelato – they have a whole range of constantly changing flavours, from strawberries and cream to Chelsea bun or roasted banana.

Saturday afternoon

You can’t visit Cambridge without getting out on the water in a punt. The River Cam runs through the centre of the city, and one of the most scenic stretch is known as the Backs. This is where seven of the colleges back onto the river, and you get a great view of their buildings, bridges and well-manicured grounds as you sail by.

Scudamore’s are Cambridge’s oldest punt hire service and run a range of different tours. You can take a 45-minute private or shared tour * with a chauffeur giving a guided commentary, or hire a hire a punt for up to six people and do it yourself.

Some of the highlights of the backs are the views of King’s College Chapel and the Wren Library. You also pass a string of bridges, including the Bridge of Sighs (named after the bridge in Venice) and the Mathematical Bridge, which was designed in the 18th century and looks like an arch despite only being made up of straight pieces of wood.

Finish the day off with a view of Cambridge from above at Great St Mary’s Church . It’s known as the University Church and over the last thousand year it’s seen riots, royal visits and even been burnt down and rebuilt. It also has one of Cambridge’s best views if you climb up the 123-step spiral staircase to the top of the church tower.

Then head to The Eagle pub on Bene’t Street , which has been serving drinks since 1667. The pub was where scientists Crick and Watson announced they’d discovered DNA in 1953. And when you’re at the bar, look up and you’ll see the RAF ceiling, where pilots coming back from the Second World War signed their names and squadron numbers.

Finally have dinner at The Oak Bistro , a friendly, independent bistro on the site of an old coaching inn with a courtyard garden that’s perfect for summer evenings. Their menu features British and European dishes like pan-fried sea trout, aubergine parmigiana and confit duck leg. There’s also a diverse wine list with some unusual options.

Sunday morning

Start the day with a morning walk or cycle ride into Cambridge’s parks and meadows. Cambridge has a higher proportion of cyclists than anywhere else in the country, and its 80 miles of cycle routes (and lack of hills) make it a good place to join them. You can hire a conventional bike or a motorised ebike if you want to take it easy.

Grab a picnic before you leave – or stop for lunch afterwards – at Aromi . This Sicilian café is a little taste of the Mediterranean in Cambridge, using authentic Italian ingredients to make tasty sourdough pizzas, focaccias, paninis and creamy cannoli.

You can head south along the river on a 2.5-mile route to nearby Grantchester, which has been made famous by the detective series of the same name that’s set in the village during the 1950s. The route runs south out of Cambridge across Skater’s Meadow and through the peaceful Grantchester Meadows flood plain where you’ll see cattle grazing.

Or take the 6.6-mile route east to Waterbeach, which runs through Midsummer Common and along the banks of the River Cam, past canal boats and rowers. And if you want to go further afield you can also download cycle route maps from the local council website .

Sunday afternoon

After lunch, head to the Fitzwilliam Museum , a stunning building that houses art and antiquities from around the world and is free to visit. It was built in 1848 to house the vast collection of objects that Viscount Fitzwilliam had bequeathed to the University of Cambridge. And today it has over half a million objects in its collections.

Take a wander around some of the galleries – there’s an a eclectic range of exhibits to choose from, including Egyptian tombs, Turner’s watercolours, Michelangelo’s bronze sculptures, Virginia Woolf’s hand-written manuscript and a suit of armour for a horse.

Then finish off your weekend in Cambridge in genteel style with afternoon tea at Fitzbillies , whose original branch is located on Trumpington Street near the museum. This Cambridge institution is famous for its extra sticky, spiced Chelsea Buns. They’ve been made to the same recipe since 1922, and they now produce over 160,000 of them each year.

They also do a traditional afternoon tea of delicate finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and mini cakes and macarons, which you can have with or without a glass of Champagne. And there are vegan and gluten-free versions available too.

Map of things to do in Cambridge

The details

How to get to cambridge.

Cambridge is 50–90 minutes from London by direct train *, depending on which station you depart from – there are frequent services from London Kings Cross, St Pancras, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Blackfriars and City Thameslink stations.

If you’re driving, Cambridge is around 60 miles (1.5 hours’ drive) north of London. Overnight car parking is available at the Grand Arcade (CB2 3QF), Queen Anne Terrace (CB1 1ND), Grafton East (CB1 1PS) and Grafton West (CB1 1HE) car parks.

Or if you want to avoid the city centre traffic you can use the Park and Ride car parks on the edge of the city at Milton, Madingley Road, Trumpington, Newmarket Road and Babraham Road. Parking is free, you just pay for the bus in and out of the city.

The nearest airport is London Stansted, 27 miles to the south. It’s a 30-minute drive away or direct trains from Stansted Airport to Cambridge also take 30 minutes.

Getting around Cambridge

Cambridge is easy to get around on foot. If you want to explore by bike you can hire them from Rutland Cycling at Cambridge train station, with a choice of standard bikes (£15.99 for four hours) or electric bikes for a power boost (£24.99 for four hours).

Where to stay in Cambridge

Splash out on a luxury stay at The Varsity *, tucked between St John’s and Magdalene colleges on the banks of the River Cam. It has stylish, boutique-style rooms in the modern main building, named after different colleges, with balconies on the higher floors. There’s also a spa and restaurant in a 19th-century warehouse conversion next door.

The University Arms * is Cambridge’s oldest hotel, in a former coaching inn dating back to 1834. It’s been recently redeveloped with a huge 192 rooms and suites, painted in Cambridge Blue with leather-padded desks and bookshelves to give it that collegiate feel. There’s also an aromatherapy spa and Parker’s Tavern brasserie and bar.

Or get a taste of Cambridge student life with University Rooms , who rent college accommodation out to visitors. There’s a mix of double, twin and single rooms with shared bathrooms or en-suites, some with breakfast included. Availability is mainly in the Easter and summer holidays, with rooms available to book two–three months in advance.

Looking for somewhere to stay in Cambridge?*

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Monday 23rd of September 2019

Thanks for this program Lucy! I'm french, and visited my boyfriend in Cambridge ...30 years ago, and I'll come again with my daughter for her 20th birthday, in November, I'm so excited! As I only remember of Saint Mary's church, your post is very very helpful:)))) On Sunday morning, if it's raining, can we go walking and shopping? Are shops open on Sunday? Many thanks:))) Pascale

Hi Pascale, yes most shops will be open on a Sunday from 10am-4pm so you should be fine – have a great trip!

• 1 Understand
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.3 By cycle
• 2.4.1 Park and Ride
• 3 Get around
• 4.1 Colleges
• 4.2 Parks and gardens
• 4.3 Museums and galleries
• 4.4 Churches
• 4.5 Further out
• 5.1.1 Events
• 9.3 Splurge
• 10.1 Country pubs
• 10.3.1 Café chains
• 11.1 Budget
• 11.2 Mid-range
• 11.3 Splurge
• 12 Stay safe
• 14.1 Laundry
• 14.2 Gyms and swimming pools
• 14.3 Places of worship

Cambridge is a university city in Cambridgeshire in England . It is a city of crocuses and daffodils on the Backs, of green open spaces and cattle grazing only 500 yards (450 m) from the market square. Cows sometimes wander into the market area, since they are not fenced in. The Cambridge of Brooke, Byron, Newton and Rutherford, of the summer idyll of punts, 'bumps', cool willows and May Balls is worth seeing.

Cambridge brings many images to mind: the breathtaking view of King's College Chapel from across the river Cam, the rich intricacy of Gothic architecture, students cycling to lectures, and lazy summer punting on the River Cam.

Cambridge manages to combine its role as an historic city with a world-renowned university and, since the 20th century, an internationally acknowledged centre of excellence for technology and science. The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute with townsfolk. They chose the quiet town of Cambridge as a suitable location for study. In the 17th century Cambridge University educated many of the founders of an American university called Harvard, which is also in a place called Cambridge (named after the English university). Cambridge University has many famous alumni, including: mathematicians such as Sir Isaac Newton, scientists such as Stephen Hawking and Charles Darwin, philosophers such as Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein, and writers such as John Milton and Lord Byron. It was the site of Rutherford's pioneering work in nuclear physics, and Francis, Crick, and Watson's DNA work (see the Eagle pub below). Cambridge academics have won more Nobel Prizes than those of any other university in the world. The rumour that just one college, Trinity, had more Nobel prize-winners than France, however, is false.

The city is surrounded on all sides by heritage villages, towns and ancient monuments (such as Ely and Peterborough ), all within easy travelling distance. Like Oxford, Cambridge was spared from the German carpet bombing that devastated many other British cities during World War II, and is thus one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the UK

More than 6 million visitors come to Cambridge every year to savour the delights of the historic city. The city itself is quite compact with many of the main attractions in easy walking distance. Cambridge is an ideal base for exploring some of the gentlest (read flattest; good for leisurely walks, poor for hills with viewpoints) and most unspoilt countryside in England.

• Visit Cambridge tourist information.

Cambridge is around 50 mi (80 km) north of London . Two railway routes connect Cambridge with the capital, with additional routes to towns and cities throughout the East of England and the Midlands . Several major routes including the M11 motorway connect the city with other UK destinations.

Cambridge is around 30 mi (48 km) from 51.885 0.235 1 London Stansted Airport ( STN  IATA ) . You can fly into Stansted from destinations throughout Europe , the Middle East and North Africa , and domestic destinations including Belfast , Edinburgh , Glasgow and Newquay . A large number of routes are operated by Ryanair and Jet2.com .

You can travel from Stansted Airport to Cambridge by train, which takes roughly 35 minutes. Trains are operated by CrossCountry (towards Birmingham New Street) and Greater Anglia (towards Norwich), both part of the National Rail network. You can also travel from Stansted to Cambridge using National Express coaches - routes 727, 728, 767 and 777. There is a Car Rental Village at Stansted Airport , where drivers can hire a car from several companies including Alamo, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt.

Other airports with links to Cambridge includeː

• 51.4775 -0.461389 3 London Heathrow Airport ( LHR  IATA ) - Flights from most major international airports, including in cities throughout Africa , Asia , Europe and North America . Direct National Express coaches to Cambridge - routes 727, 728 and 788. Rail routes includeː   ELI   to Farringdon then Thameslink to Cambridge;   ELI   to London Liverpool Street then Greater Anglia to Cambridge; or,   PIC   to King's Cross St Pancras then Great Northern / Thameslink to Cambridge.
• 51.147222 -0.190278 4 London Gatwick Airport ( LGW  IATA ) - Flights from international airports throughout Europe and North America. Direct Thameslink trains connect Gatwick with Cambridge, which run at least twice per hour throughout the day.

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Both railway stations are on the National Rail network. You can book "PlusBus" tickets from any National Rail ticket retailing website or at station offices for a combined rail and bus ticket. Find out more onː PlusBus.info

You can get direct trains to Cambridge from several London stations, includingː

• Farringdon ( Interchangeː   CIR     H&C     MET     ELI   ) - Fast services by Thameslink .
• Finsbury Park ( Interchangeː   PIC     VIC   ) - Fast and stopping services by Great Northern and Thameslink .
• King's Cross ( Interchangeː   CIR     H&C     MET     NOR     PIC     VIC   ) - Express, fast and stopping services by Great Northern and Thameslink , including the "Cambridge Cruiser" non-stop route, which takes between 40 and 45 minutes.
• Liverpool Street ( Interchangeː   CEN     CIR     H&C     MET     ELI     OGD   ) - Fast and stopping services by Greater Anglia .
• London Bridge ( Interchangeː   JUB     NOR   ) - Fast services by Thameslink .
• St Pancras International ( Interchangeː   CIR     H&C     MET     NOR     PIC     VIC   and   EUS   ) - Fast services by Thameslink .
• Tottenham Hale ( Interchangeː   CEN     CIR     H&C     MET   ) - Fast and stopping services by Greater Anglia .

You can also catch direct trains to Cambridge from London Gatwick Airport ( Thameslink ) and London Stansted Airport ( CrossCountry or Greater Anglia ).

There are also regular, direct trains from destinations further afield, includingː

• Birmingham New Street ( Interchangeː   1   ) - Fast services by CrossCountry .
• Brighton - Fast services by Thameslink .
• Ely - Fast and local services by CrossCountry , Greater Anglia , Great Northern .
• Ipswich - Local services by Greater Anglia .
• King's Lynn - Local services by Great Northern .
• Leicester - Fast services by CrossCountry .
• Norwich - Local services by Greater Anglia .
• Peterborough - Fast and local services by CrossCountry and Greater Anglia .
• Stevenage - Fast and local services by Thameslink and Great Northern .

Cambridge is famous for its cycling culture and you can travel into the city by bike from the surrounding towns using signposted routes. National Cycle Network Route 11 connects Saffron Walden, Duxford and Waterbeach with Cambridge using local roads. National Cycle Network Route 51 connects Huntingdon, St Ives and Newmarket with the city centre. The route - part of NCN51 - between St Ives and Cambridge is traffic-free, next to The Busway into Cambridge North. A different traffic-free cycle route connects the village of Fenstanton with Girton, next to the A14 dual-carriageway.

You can hire bikes fromː

• 52.198021 0.11272 9 City Cycle Hire , 61 Newnham Road, Cambridge, CB3 9EY , ☏ +44 1223 365629 . ( updated Dec 2023 ) Off Fen Causeway in Newnham, west of the city.
• 52.203594 0.121044 10 Primo Cycles , Grand Arcade, 10 Corn Exchange Street, CB2 3QF , ☏ +44 1223 307655 . ( updated Dec 2023 )

You can also hire Voi e-bikes [dead link] using an app within the set zone. Check the app for riding and parking details.

Remember to follow local riding rules. You must not cycle on the pavement (sidewalk) unless blue signs or road markings specify otherwise. Cycling on the road is almost always allowed, even where there are adjacent cycle lanes. One-way street rules apply to cyclists, unless signs specify otherwise. Cyclists must stop at red traffic lights, but bike-only green lights allow riders to leave early. Always lock your bike with a solid lock. If your bike is stolen, you can report it to Cambridgeshire Constabulary by phone on 101 or online .

Other routes into Cambridge includeː

Park and Ride

You can park free of charge at five Park and Ride sites on the outskirts of Cambridge, then travel into the city centre. Return bus journeys into the city centre start from £3. Check the pricing on the Park and Ride website .

The Park and Ride sites areː

You can get to Cambridge by coach from destinations throughout the UK and Europe.

National Express coaches from several destinations, includingː

• London Stratford (̩490)
• London Victoria (490)
• London Heathrow Airport (727, 728, 788)
• London Luton Airport (788)
• London Stansted Airport (727, 728, 767, 777, 788)
• Birmingham (777)
• Great Yarmouth (727)
• Leicester (767)
• Norwich (490, 727, 728)
• Nottingham (767)

Flixbus operates coaches to Cambridge from UK and international destinations. Some coaches call at Cambridge Trumpington Park and Ride only, rather than the city centre. Destinations includeː

• Amsterdam Sloterdijk (UKN601)
• Antwerp (UKN601)
• Paris Bercy Seine (UKN603)
• Utrecht (UKN601)
• London Stratford (UKN603)
• London Victoria (UK006)
• Birmingham (UKN603)
• Leeds (UKN601)
• Leicester (UKN601)
• Manchester (UKN603)
• Nottingham (UKN601)
• Sheffield (UKN601)
• Stevenage (UK006)

There are local buses from nearby destinations, includingː

• Bedford ( Stagecoach 905 - Change at Bedford for Stagecoach X5 to Oxford)
• Ely ( Stagecoach 9/X9 )
• Haverhill ( Stagecoach 13/X13 )
• Huntingdon ( The Busway B , The Busway C - Change at Huntingdon for Stagecoach 904 to Peterborough)
• Newmarket ( Stephensons 11 , Stephensons 12 )
• Saffron Walden ( citi 7 )
• St Neots ( Stagecoach 905 )

Cambridge is mostly pedestrian-friendly: most sights can be easily reached on foot and much of the central area is traffic-free. Some of the pavements are shared use between pedestrians and cyclists; this can catch you out unless you watch out for it. Cambridge walking directions can be planned online with Google maps & other websites & apps. Students and locals often use bikes to get around and hiring a bike is a viable alternative to simply walking.

You can also opt for a hop-on, hop-off open-top sightseeing bus which provides commentary in several languages. The sightseeing bus passes the railway station, American Cemetery, and many of the historic colleges, but as the city centre is pedestrianised, it can approach the more central colleges on only Sundays.

There is little need to use the local bus services unless you are staying in a far-flung area of the city, but they are clean and efficient if you need to. Citi buses cost between £1 and £2 for individual cash fares within Cambridge City (change is given but drivers may refuse large denomination notes), contactless payments are available on most buses, but just tell the driver your destination as you board and take your ticket from the machine. The dominant bus operator is Stagecoach but Whippet also operate buses within the city and offer day tickets for their buses only. There is a multi operator bus day ticket available for £8 which you can purchase on the bus services of any participating operator. If you are arriving in Cambridge by rail, Plusbus tickets offer good value.

Cambridge City Council discourages car use. Parking charges are high and although the hated rising bollards are now gone they have been replaced by bus gates and lanes which are monitored by cameras and fines are issued to unauthorised vehicles passing through them.

Uber ride-hailing is available, and there are many taxi companies in Cambridge.

• Panther Taxis , ☏ +44 1223 715715 .  
• Camtax , ☏ +44 1223 313131 .  
• Camcab , ☏ +44 1223 704704 .  
• Hyfly Taxis , ☏ +44 1223737300 , [email protected] . ( updated Nov 2022 )
• NLG Airport Transfers ( NLG Trading ), 1 Hadleigh Court , ☏ +447762052568 , [email protected] . 24 hours . £90 . ( updated Jul 2023 )

Cambridge University consists of a number of semi-independent colleges, many central, some up to 3 mi (4.8 km) from the town centre (traditionally measured from Great St. Mary's church). The following are a good selection for sightseeing. Most of the colleges within the central area are worth a look, if you have the time.

Some colleges charge for entrance. It can be expensive, around £5 per person or more. If you're friends with a student, they're allowed to bring a visitor in for free. Colleges are typically closed to visitors during the University exam period, at the end of May and the first week of June.

Please remember to be respectful when visiting the colleges. They are students' homes for much of the year, and the workload and pressure at the University can be immense. Do not enter buildings you are not explicitly invited to, do not stare into people's windows, and be polite when taking photographs; be especially discreet in the libraries. Always remember that the colleges' role is first and foremost that of academic institutions; they are not there for tourists, and it is rude to do anything which impedes or inconveniences the people who live and work in them.

Parks and gardens

• 52.2051 0.1117 13 The Backs . The gardens by the river behind various colleges. Heading downstream from King's you can pass through the gardens of Clare, Trinity and St John's Colleges (which has the "Bridge of Sighs").  
• 52.2021 0.1281 16 Parker's Piece . One of the best known open spaces in Cambridge. In the centre of the city, it is bordered by Park Terrace, Regent Terrace, Parkside and Gonville Place.  
• 52.2061 0.1251 17 Christ's Pieces . In the centre of the city, it is bordered by the bus station, Christ's College, Emmanuel Road and King Street. It is of typical Victorian park design with tree lined avenues. The formal seasonal bedding displays planted in the 'petal beds' near Emmanuel Road, provide all year round colour. There are also large ornamental shrub beds around the perimeter to add further year round colour and interest.  
• 52.19847 0.116597 18 Coe Fen . A beautiful, semi-wild green near the centre of the city, but far enough out to be quiet. Less manicured than some of the college gardens and parks around Cambridge, but nonetheless a great space to be in the summer with cows roaming and the Cam running through.  

Museums and galleries

• 52.21081 0.11474 26 The Museum of Cambridge ( formerly: Cambridge Folk Museum ), Castle Street . M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM . The only local social history museum in Cambridge and is the most comprehensive collection representing life in the South Cambridgeshire villages. Housed in an old Coaching House, the museum is home to some 20,000 objects representing the history of local life away from the University. Staffed by volunteers which may cause unscheduled closures, phone to confirm if required. Standard £6, students & 16-17 £4.50, -16 free . ( updated Jul 2023 )
• 52.2051 0.1073 28 The University Library , West Road . M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-4:30PM . Exhibition of treasures and highlights from the Library's world-class collections of manuscripts and printed books. Two major exhibitions are held each year (roughly January to June and September to December): check website for details.  

The history of Cambridge is entwined with that of the Church of England. The colleges (see above) all have chapels which can be visited, but town churches also offer a rich insight into the history of the town and university, and are usually free. Even if you aren't interested in places of worship, they are well worth a few minutes attention and are peaceful places to enjoy.

• 52.215381 0.139775 35 St. Andrew's, Chesterton , Church Street, CB4 1DT , ☏ +44 1223 306150 , [email protected] . A walk from town, but with an impressive (if somewhat faded) medieval Doom painting around the chancel arch, showing the Judgement and giving worshippers good reason to pay attention to the sermon.  

Further out

• Further north see Ely for Stretham Old Engine and Wicken Fen.

• 52.177 0.096 41 Grantchester : "The women there do all they ought, the men observe the Rules of Thought...." - Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) was in Berlin when he wrote this semi-comic paean to the village. It's 3 miles south and upstream from Cambridge, a pleasant afternoon stroll or punt. The Church of St Mary and St Andrew (C of E) dates from 12th century, with several distinguished figures in its graveyard. There are thatched cottages, several pubs, and the famous Orchard Tea Gardens , open daily 10AM-6PM. The orchard was planted in 1868; in 1897 a group of student visitors asked if they could take tea there rather on the lawn, and this became a fashion. Brooke took up lodging at The Orchard in 1909 and attracted a glittering coterie: They love the Good, they worship Truth, they laugh uproariously in youth . . . Continue upstream to the pool below the weir at the confluence of the Cam and Brook. This was frequented by Europe's most famous "wild swimmer" Lord Byron.
• 52.205 0.082 42 Bourn Windmill , Caxton Rd, Bourn CB23 2SU ( Off A1198 ), ☏ +44 1223 243830 . 13/14 May and then five Sundays between May and September 2023 (see website for details) . A medieval post-mill, probably the oldest mill in Britain. It's at risk of collapse and stabilisation is under way; it will be open for a few days in 2023. £3 adult, £1 child . ( updated Apr 2023 )

• Explore the backs. It's free, and gives you a real flavour of the city. You can walk through King's College, onto King's Parade, a beautiful row of exclusive shops. You can also experience the backs by punt which is extremely popular.
• Punting . 9:30AM-dusk daily. If anything is stereotypically 'Cambridge', this is it. Punting involves propelling a flat bottomed boat with a long wooden pole (quant) by pushing a pole against the shallow river bottom. For the full effect, take strawberries and Champagne to quaff as you glide effortlessly down the river. You can either travel along the famous College Backs or head out towards the village of Grantchester. Guided tours are also available from around £20.00 per person on the day. Save by booking online at ( Traditional Punting Company , Let's Go Punting , Rutherford's Punting Cambridge , Scudamore's and Cambridge Chauffeur Punts . If you're up for more of an adventure, try it out for yourself on a self-hire boat (typically about £30/hour for an entire punt, so can be a lot cheaper if you are part of a group). Punting to Grantchester (upriver) takes about an hour and a half for an experienced punter or tour, and the complete journey takes much longer for first-timers. Along the Grantchester route there are riverbanks on the way for mooring up with meadowland suitable for picnics (Note that pranksters have been known to push unattended punts out into the river.)
• Walking tours. Guided walking tours are available all year round with a range of walking tours to choose from. These tours can be tailored to suit group interest with the central tourist office . There is also the option to experience Cambridge virtually with some University Colleges providing their own tours. These include King's College and St John's College with a
• Rowing . Cambridge is renowned for rowing on the Cam. All colleges and some schools have their own clubs, and there are over half a dozen large 'town' clubs. There are a number of regattas and head races on the river throughout the year, though the highlight in the rowing calendar on the Cam is the annual bumping races. For College crews, the 'May' bumps are in June, for the local clubs, this normally is the fourth week in July. Over four evenings of racing (Tuesday - Friday), eights attempt to gain higher position by catching the crew ahead of them before being 'bumped' by the crew behind. Races take place downstream (north) of the city, between the A-14 road bridge and the railway bridge at Stourbridge Common, and are best viewed from the towpath alongside the river, or from the Plough pub in Fen Ditton, both accessible by foot from the town centre - words of warning though - if on the towpath side, be careful for the massive number of bikes that accompany the crews racing, if in the pub, you may not get a seat, and beer prices are at a premium.
• Cycling . Rent a bicycle and bike the mostly flat terrain around Cambridge. Popular destinations are Grantchester (3 km), American Cemetery (5 km), along River Cam towpath to Milton Country Park (5 km), Wicken Fen (12 km), Duxford Imperial War Museum especially during air-shows (15 km) and Ely (23 km). (More trips)
• Football: 52.21225 0.15421 1 Cambridge United , Newmarket Rd CB5 8LN , ☏ +44 1223 566500 . United play soccer in League One, the game's third tier. Their home ground Abbey Stadium (capacity 8000) is two miles east of city centre. ( updated Jun 2021 )
• Cambridge RUFC were promoted in 2023 and now play rugby union in the RFU Championship, their second tier. The home ground is Grantchester Road, capacity 1250.
• Cambridge University RUFC plays the annual Varsity Match against Oxford but doesn't play in a regular league.
• Play tennis for free for up to 45 minutes at a city-council tennis court . No need to book – just bring racquets and balls. Parktennis runs free social games at Jesus Green most Saturdays at 10–11AM.
• Play table tennis for free at Ping Pong Parlour [dead link] in the Grafton Shopping Centre (balls and bats provided), or on an outdoor table .
• 52.213 0.184 2 Cambridge Ice Arena , Newmarket Road CB5 8AA , ☏ +44 1223 848830 . Tu-Su . This rink has public skating, ice hockey, curling, figure skating, and lessons. ( updated Feb 2022 )
• 52.2117 0.1185 3 Lets Go Punting , Landing Stage, Thompsons Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8AG , ☏ +44 1223 651659 , [email protected] . 9AM - dusk . Independent punting company offering private and shared punting tours in Cambridge. Tours last 45-50 minutes along the college backs. From £20 . ( updated Nov 2022 )
• 52.21199 0.118867 4 Traditional Punting Company ( Punting Cambridge ), Landing Stage, Thompsons Ln, Cambridge CB5 8AQ , ☏ +44 1223 782306 , [email protected] . 9AM - dusk . The Traditional Punting Company offers the best punting in Cambridge, where you'll see the world-famous College Backs in the heart of the city. Expert chauffeurs will guide you along the River Cam, entertaining you with Cambridge’s inspiring history and secrets of the city over the last 800 years. Tours last 50 minutes and are a return journey. Shared Tours from £20, Private Tours from £79 . ( updated Mar 2022 )
• 52.20433 0.11972 5 Cambridge Corn Exchange . The city's centre for arts and entertainment.  
• 52.20851 0.11998 6 ADC Theatre , Park Street . The University's playhouse. Hosts student and local amateur productions. Look out for performances by Footlights , this has been the training ground for many famous comedians. Tickets £4-10 .  
• 52.19071 0.13591 7 Cambridge Junction , Clifton Road ( close to Cambridge railway station. Bus Stagecoach #3 ). Artistic centre offering club nights, gigs, and new theatre, comedy, and dance. Ticket prices vary depending on the show/gig. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• 52.20286 0.12349 8 Arts Picture House , 38–39 St Andrew's St . Various foreign and art-house films (see the current listing ). A more conventional selection can be found at the large multiplex at the Grafton Centre as well as the Light Cinema at Cambridge Leisure Park in Hills Road. ( updated Jan 2017 )
• 52.20442 0.1187 9 Arts Theatre , 6 St Edward's Passage . Hosts a varied mix of professional drama, dance and opera including touring productions and an annual pantomime.  
• Cambridge Summer Music Festival . Perhaps the most romantic way to appreciate the magnificent architecture of the many College Chapels is to hear a concert performed in their marvellous acoustics. Cambridge Summer Music offers world class performances in the well-known Chapel of King's College as well as many of the city's hidden gems.  
• Midsummer Fair . (mid-June), Midsummer Common.  
• 52.2102 0.1295 10 Strawberry Fair . On Midsummer Common in early June.  
• Festival of Ideas . (October–November) A festival of free events celebrating the arts, humanities and social sciences.  
• Cambridge Literary Festival ( Spring and winter ). Twice yearly literary festival with talks, readings and events featuring local and national literary figures.  
• Mill Road Winter Fair ( First Saturday in December ). Annual community festival based around the city's Mill Road featuring music, parades, food and art organised by local residents. The whole road is closed off just for the day.  

Most lectures are only open to members of the university; however, a variety of public talks and lectures are organised:

• Cambridge University public lectures and seminars
• Cambridge Video & Audio
• Trinity Public Lecture Series
• Darwin College lecture series
• Madingley Hall Public Lecture Series

There are a large number of summer schools, mostly English language, but also some offering tuition in a wide range of other subjects.

It is also possible for members of the public to attend residential summer schools within the University, such as Lite Regal Education

Cambridge University students aren't allowed to work during term-time, so there are often possibilities for punting, hotel services, bar or waitering work for foreign nationals. Those from outside the EU require a work permit, see the Work section of United Kingdom for more details.

There are also the Science Park and Business Park located around the city limits which are home to many global gaming, digital, technology, bio-tech and pharmaceutical companies.

King's Parade has numerous souvenir shops and gift shops with Cambridge (and London) branded merchandise. Scour the charity shops down Burleigh Street, Regent Street and Mill Road for bargains. Book collectors will find many shops especially Trinity Street. The market square in the centre of town has a general market Monday to Saturday with fruit and vegetables, bread and cakes, books, bicycle repair, tea and coffee, fast food and clothes, and a more arts-and-crafts oriented market on Sunday with pottery, ceramics, prints, clothing, etc. The surrounding streets and the nearby 52.20398 0.12181 1 Grand Arcade and 52.20488 0.12085 2 Lion Yard shopping centres have most of the common retail names and many individual shops to cater for most needs. The 52.20624 0.13469 3 Grafton Centre has all the usual high-street shops in a mall and surrounding streets.

M&S Food (part of the Marks and Spencer department store chain) have a mini-supermarket that sells high-quality sandwiches, prepared meals, snacks and other groceries - usually at a high price. The main supermarket in the city centre is Sainsbury's on Sidney St. which stocks a full range of groceries and everyday products as well as alcohol and cigarettes. There are many more supermarkets including large Tesco (Chedder's Lane & Yarrow Road), Asda, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose superstores as well as a large Aldi discounter on the edge of the city.

• 52.20504 0.11791 4 Ryder & Amies , 22 King's Parade , ☏ +44 1223 350371 . "The University Store" sells Cambridge University merchandise.  
• 52.20372 0.12262 5 John Lewis , 10 Downing Street , ☏ +44 1223 361292 . Large department store.  
• 52.20439 0.11775 6 Primavera , 10 King's Parade , ☏ +44 1223 357708 . High quality contemporary art & crafts.  
• 52.20581 0.1181 7 Cambridge Contemporary Art , 6 Trinity Street , ☏ +44 1223 324222 . More art & crafts.  
• 52.20778 0.11888 8 Cambridge Cheese Company , 4 All Saints Passage , ☏ +44 1223 328672 . Excellent selection of cheese and delicatessan counter.  
• 52.20568 0.11804 9 Cambridge University Press Bookshop , 1 Trinity Street , ☏ +44 1223 333333 . Only sells CUP books, but it is the oldest bookshop site in the country - books have been sold there since at least 1581.  
• 52.20707 0.11823 10 Heffers , 20 Trinity Street , ☏ +44 1223 568568 . Large bookshop, with academic sections. ( updated Aug 2019 )
• 52.20563 0.14503 11 Beehive Center , on the A1134 ( by foot about 10 minutes east of the Grafton Centre ). A series of shops including Asda, DW Sports Fitness, TK Maxx, Next Home & Dreams. Further up Newmarket Road at the Cambridge Retail Park, there are several additional large stores like Tesco, Sports Direct and Curry's PC World. ( updated Aug 2019 )

Cambridge has a good range of eateries, as well as a daily market next to Great St Mary's Church where there are maybe 10-15 food stalls. Many of these offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, all for reasonable prices (a falafel wrap, for example, is £4-5).

• 52.205987 0.118135 1 Michaelhouse Cafe , Trinity St ( inside St. Michael's Church ). M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM . Beautiful cafe serving excellent sandwiches, salads, hot dishes, and soups. Desserts as well. Vegetarian options always available. Lunch served until 3PM. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.206928 0.121208 2 Tatties , 11 Sussex Street . Busy cafe serving jacket potatoes and sandwiches. Very popular with students around lunch time. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.20436 0.123469 3 Savinos , 3 Emmanuel Street . Authentic Italian coffee bar. Best espresso and cappuccino in town. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.202345 0.119245 4 Trockel, Ulmann & Freunde , 13 Pembroke St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.200238 0.136601 5 The Garden Kitchen , 82 Mill Rd . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.206358 0.132373 6 Cafe Oriental Dumpling Bar , 9 Burleigh St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.201078 0.134441 7 Zis Piri Piri , 36A Mill Rd . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.203902 0.117669 8 The Cambridge Chop House , 1 King's Parade, CB2 1SJ , ☏ +44 1223 359506 . Su-Th noon-10:30PM; F Sa noon-11PM . Good British cuisine in a great location, real ale (well kept!), attentive service, fixed lunch & (early) dinner menu (2 course). Booking recommended. £30-40 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.200185 0.126719 9 De Luca Cucina & Bar , 83 Regent St , ☏ +44 1223 356666 . Su 10AM-9:30PM; M-Th 11AM-11PM; F Sa 11AM-midnight . Great little Italian/British Fusion Restaurant with reasonable prices and great staff! ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.202026 0.118068 10 Fitzbillies , 51 Trumpington Street , ☏ +44 870 1413505 . Su noon-5:45PM; M-Sa 9AM-9:30PM . Fitzbillies is a Cambridge institution serving refined food for lunches and dinners, as well as heavenly tea and pastries in the afternoon. Don't forget its adjacent shop selling the best pastries in town, amongst which you will find the world famous Chelsea Bun! They also have a smaller branch at 36 Bridge Street, which is often less busy. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.200654 0.119726 11 Little Rose , 37 Trumpington Street , ☏ +44 870 141 3579 . Su 10AM-9:30PM; M-Th 9AM-10PM; F 9AM-10:30PM; Sa 10AM-11PM . Gastro-pub style food. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.199182 0.113659 12 Sala Thong Thai Restaurant , 35 Newnham Road , ☏ +44 870 141 3666 . Daily noon-2:30PM, 6PM-10:30PM . This small place serves simple tasty Thai food with good service. £20-30 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.204951 0.129526 13 Luk Thai at the Cricketers , 18 Melbourne Place , ☏ +44 1223 778871 . M-Sa noon-1PM, 5:30PM-11PM; Su noon-1PM, 5:30PM-10PM . Average price: £15-25 per person for starter, main, dessert and drinks . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.210498 0.1153 14 Thanh Binh , 17, Magdalene St, CB3 0AF , ☏ +44 1223 362456 . Very good Vietnamese food in a pleasant atmosphere. No alcohol license, but you can bring your own; there is a good wine shop just over the bridge 50 m away. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.210141 0.117531 15 Tipsy Vegan , 6-8 Quayside, CB5 8AB ( Close to Magdalene Bridge over River Cam ). Good quality vegan bar-restaurant with outdoor area. Tables can be booked online. ( updated Aug 2023 )

Many pubs in Cambridge also serve good food at reasonable prices, for example:

• 52.203941 0.118113 16 The Eagle , Bene't St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.202344 0.139284 17 Cambridge Blue , 85-87 Gwydir St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.200351 0.139801 18 Kingston Arms , 33 Kingston St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.214412 0.124734 19 Portland Arms , 129 Chesterton Rd . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.208846 0.118133 20 The Mitre , 17 Bridge St . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.213921 0.124341 21 Restaurant 22 , 22 Chesterton Road, CB4 3AX , ☏ +44 1223 351880 . Set in a converted Victorian house near the river. Serves up quality seasonal food from a monthly changing menu in an intermate dining room. Booking essential. Larger private room up stairs for parties of approx 12. One Michelin Star since 2023. £100+ . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 52.212119 0.128312 22 Midsummer House , Midsummer Common , ☏ +44 870 1416395 . Tu-Th 7PM-9:30PM; F Sa noon-2PM, 7PM-9:30PM . Midsummer Common. By far Cambridge's finest restaurant and one of only ten British restaurants to have earned two stars from the Michelin guide. £100+ .  
• 52.200047 0.128819 23 Cotto Restaurant , Gonville Hotel, Gonville Place CB1 1LY , ☏ +44 1223 302010 . Tu-Sa 9AM-3PM and Th-Sa from 7PM. . The twice-Gold Medallist at the Chef's Olympics, Hans Schweitzer has amassed an impressive repertoire of culinary skills, including training as a Confiseur and Chocolatier in Switzerland and Paris. He is considered the best chef in Cambridge. A contemporary, restaurant, convenient if you are near Parker's Piece, Anglia Ruskin University or the Grafton Centre.  

Charming pubs and peculiar drinking traditions abound. Cambridge has a colossal number of pubs, over 110 at the last count. For specialist and obscure spirits and wines check out Bacchanalia, Vinopolis or any of the Cambridge Wine Merchants stores.

• 52.20234 0.13924 1 The Cambridge Blue , 85 Gwydir Street . A friendly pub with a large garden and good range of real ale.  
• 52.19892 0.13905 4 The Devonshire Arms , 1 Devonshire Rd, CB1 2BH ( Mill Road end ), ☏ +44 1223 318 610 . Good selection of Milton Brewery beers. Good menu. Friendly, and handy for the station. ( updated Aug 2021 )
• 52.2048 0.13044 7 The Free Press , 7 Prospect Row . Mobile phone use is not allowed, making this a pleasant quiet pub. Pub terrace.  
• 52.19968 0.11376 8 The Granta , 14 Newnham Road . A large terrace looks out on the river and surrounding nature. Popular during the summer, this pub serves excellent food, and rents out punts and canoes.  
• 52.20035 0.13976 9 The Kingston Arms , 33 Kingston St, Cambridge CB1 2NU , ☏ +44 1223 319414 . Underrated old-fashioned free house with friendly atmosphere, open later than other Cambridge bars (2AM weekends, drinking-up time generally half an hour).  
• 52.19933 0.13514 10 The Live and Let Live , Mawson Road . A small and very friendly place with an excellent selection of real ales.  
• 52.20967 0.11924 11 The Maypole , 20A Portugal Place, CB5 8AF . A Cambridge institution, still independent and it's noticeable in its style and management. Smart pub, heated outdoor area. Enormous range of alcohol, perhaps slightly higher prices than the local average, but only slightly and it's worth it for the atmosphere. Late opening, last call's at 1 on weekends but boot-out's a good hour later. ( updated Jan 2020 )
• 52.19468 0.13776 13 Old Ticket Office , Cambridge Railway Station, CB1 2JWT ( Just to the right as you come out of the railway station ), ☏ +44 1223 859 017 , [email protected] . M-W noon-11PM, Th-Sa noon-midnight, Su 10AM-11PM . Friendly bar with outdoor seating just next to the station, mostly commuters. Very comfortable seats, live train times on screen. City Pub Co. bought and renovated the former ticket office in 2018 and it's been very successful, with a handful of regulars despite being on the outskirts of town. Wide range of craft beers (more than 30!) and gins (more than 20), wines and cocktails. Extensive hot food menu and takeaway pastries. Pint £4-9 (high abv) . ( updated Oct 2019 )
• 52.20427 0.11919 15 The Pint Shop , 10 Peas Hill, Cambridge, CB2 3PN , ☏ +44 1223 352293 . M–W noon-11PM, Th F noon-midnight, Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 11AM-11PM . Known for their selection of craft beer on tap. ( updated Aug 2019 )
• 52.20293 0.12387 16 The Regal , St Andrews Street . Formerly a cinema, the Regal is the largest pub in the city and according to some, Europe. Offers a broad range of drinks including cheap ales you´d expect from a Wetherspoon´s chain pub, plus music and a rowdy dance floor in the evenings.  
• 52.21097 0.14633 17 The Wrestlers , 337 Newmarket Road . A bit of a walk from the City Centre, but great real ales and some of the best Thai food in town.  

Country pubs

Grantchester is home to four pubs - 52.180404 0.09557 18 the Red Lion . ( updated Aug 2021 ) and the Green Man are closest to the river bank, and the Rupert Brooke and Blue Ball are to the right (Cambridge direction) along the main street of the village.

• 52.1834 0.2218 19 The Six Bells , 9 High Street, Fulbourn, CB21 5DH ( No 1 Citibus to Fulbourn. Last stop. ), ☏ +44 1223 880244 , [email protected] . 11:30AM-11PM . Typical British country pub. Grade II-listed building with thatched roof and large beer garden. Beer festival and musical events in the summer months. Bar food and restaurant. ( updated Jan 2022 )
• 52.20638 0.12066 20 Vinyl ( The Place ), 22 Sidney Street . Affectionately known as 'Life' (its previous name) to students.  
• 52.2044 0.12011 21 Lola Lo , 1 Guildhall chambers, Guildhall Place . Three separate areas over four floors.  
• 52.20453 0.11817 22 Indigo Coffee House , 8 St. Edward's Passage (central) . A tiny cheerful place with excellent coffee and bagels!  
• Savinos , Emmanuel Street . Italian coffee bar. The best place in town where you can relax drinking a true and delicious Italian coffee or if you are hungry you can try a tasty Italian baguette with ingredients imported from Italy. While you are chilling out with your drink you can read Italian newspapers or listening to Italian music.  

Café chains

You'll also find all the usual coffee chains:

• 52.20482 0.11785 23 17 King's Parade , ☏ +44 1223 327 789 . M-F 7AM-8PM, Sa-Su 7:30AM-8PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20609 0.11977 24 11 Market Street , ☏ +44 1223 307 728 . Daily 7AM-8PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20409 0.11276 25 SU1, St. Andrews Street ( Grand Arcade, next to John Lewis ), ☏ +44 1223301406 . M-F 6:30AM-8PM; Sa 7AM-8PM; Su 8AM-8PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.19455 0.13664 26 Station Road , ☏ +44 1223 355309 . M-F 6:30AM-8PM; Sa-Su 7AM-8PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20665 0.13033 27 22 Fitzroy Street , ☏ +44 1223 359656 . M-F 7:30AM-6PM; Sa 7:30AM-6:30PM; Su 8:30AM-6PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• ( inside the Grand Arcade on the first floor ), ☏ +44 1223304746 . Daily 7:30AM-6PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20686 0.13147 28 39 Fitzroy Street , ☏ +44 1223301357 . Daily 7AM-7PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20133 0.12737 29 38/40 Regent Street , ☏ +44 1223354941 . Daily 7AM-8PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20133 0.12536 30 Christs Lane , ☏ +44 1223305291 . Daily 7AM-7:30PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20949 0.14485 31 New Market Road , ☏ +44 1223313819 . Daily 7AM-8PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.19952 0.15756 32 Brooks Rd , ☏ +44 122321401 . M-Sa 7AM-6PM; Su 9AM-4PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• Costa ( inside the Grand Arcade on the ground floor ). M-Sa 7:30AM-7PM; Su 8AM-6PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.1949 0.1369 33 Station Square . M-F 7AM-7PM; Sa 7:30AM-6PM; Su 8:30AM-6PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20582 0.11972 34 22 Market Passage . M-Sa 7:30AM-7PM; Su 8AM-4:30PM . ( updated Nov 2023 )

There is a range of options for accommodation in the city, although not so many for the budget traveller. In addition to guesthouses and hotels, there is a youth hostel and the option of staying in one of the rooms in a college. These rooms can be old with fantastic original features; they're a great base from which to explore the city. Outside of term, these will often be rooms which students have vacated for the holidays. Colleges can be contacted directly for information on accommodation in college, or they can be booked through UniversityRooms.

• 52.19683 0.13547 1 Cambridge Youth Hostel , 97 Tenison Road ( near the railway station ), ☏ +44 1223 354601 , fax : +44 1223 312780 , [email protected] . Check-in: 3PM (luggage storage available) , check-out: 10AM . 99 beds in this YHA hostel in a Victorian town house. Basic but functional. 15 minute walk from centre. Meals available. from £22.10 (under 18), from £24.40 (adult) for bed on shared room. Private room for one person from £25.50 . ( updated Aug 2023 )

There are a number of guesthouses on Tenison Road, about 10 minute walk from the train station towards town.

• 52.19695 0.1352 2 A&B Guesthouse , 124 Tenison Rd , ☏ +44 1223 315702 . Nice clean, small rooms. Ensuite available. £70 double .  
• 52.10777 0.3574 3 Chequer Cottage B&B , 43 Streetly End, Cambridgeshire ( 14 mi (23 km) from Cambridge ), ☏ +44 1223 891522 . Check-in: 3PM , check-out: 11AM . Luxury B&B, 4 Star Silver Award, King size en-suite room set in a beautiful country garden on the edge of the Roman Road. Price includes full English or continental breakfast and wifi.  
• 52.20518 0.12644 4 Duke House , 1 Victoria St CB1 1JP , ☏ +44 1223 314773 . Five rooms in elegant little B&B. HRH Richard Duke of Gloucester stayed here 1967-69 when he studied architecture at Magdalen. No children 1-10 or dogs. B&B double £140 . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• 52.1944 0.1656 5 Holiday Inn Express Cambridge , 15-17 Norman Way ( Coldhams Business Park ), ☏ +44 871 902 1605 . On outskirts of the town, standard rooms, reasonably good free breakfast.  
• 52.2371 0.11548 6 Holiday Inn Cambridge , Lakeview, Bridge Rd, Impington ( northern fringe of Cambridge, about three miles from the city centre ), ☏ +44 871 942 9015 . As well its accommodation, the hotel also has a restaurant and leisure facilities on-site.  
• 52.21665 0.12684 7 Home from Home Guest House , 78-80 Milton Rd , ☏ +44 1223 323555 . Good value, but quite a distance from the city centre.  
• 52.19794 0.12183 8 Royal Cambridge Hotel , Trumpington Street, CB2 1PY ( edge of the city centre ), ☏ +44 1223 351631 . Check-in: 2PM , check-out: 11AM . One of the oldest hotels in Cambridge and was once part of the world famous Addenbrooke's Hospital. Not to be confused with the Royal Cambridge Hotel in London, for which at one point a fairly full entry appeared on this page. £45-80 pppn .  
• 52.20002 0.12886 9 Gonville Hotel , Gonville Place CB1 1LY , ☏ +44 1223 366611 , fax : +44 1223 315470 , [email protected] . Friendly hotel with spa and fine dining, overlooking Parker's Piece. B&B double £190 . ( updated Aug 2020 )
• 52.20207 0.12519 10 University Arms Hotel , Regent St CB2 1AD , ☏ +44 1223 606066 . Grand old hotel overlooking Parker's Piece, part of Marriott franchise and made-over in Edwardian style. Great comfort and service. Assistance dogs only. B&B double £150 . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• 52.09956 -0.09249 11 South Farm ( 10 mi (16 km) southwest of Cambridge ), ☏ +44 1223 207581 , fax : +44 1223 208771 , [email protected] . Fantastic B&B.  
• 52.20327 0.12197 12 Hilton Cambridge City Centre ( formerly the Crowne Plaza ), 20 Downing Street , ☏ +44 1223 464491 . Within walking distance from King's College.  
• 52.21029 0.11804 13 The Varsity , Thompson's Lane, CB5 8AQ , ☏ +44 1223 306030 . Luxury riverside spa hotel in the centre. It is famous for its rooftop bar and terrace. No dogs. B&B double £200 . ( updated Aug 2020 )
• 52.216 0.207 15 Quy Mill Hotel ( Best Western ), Church Rd, Stow-cum-Quy CB25 9AF ( A14 junction 35, 5 mi (8.0 km) east of city ), ☏ +44 1223 293383 . Swish hotel and spa in a 19th C mill, good dining. No dogs. B&B double from £100 . ( updated Aug 2020 )

Although Cambridge is one of the safer cities in the UK, you should use your common sense at night and be careful in badly-lit areas outside the city centre. As of 2019, pick-pockets are taking advantage of the throngs of tourists on King's Parade and the nearby shops; keep an eye on valuables. It is wise to be on your guard around Regent Street & St Andrew's Street after midnight with anti-social behaviour due to people leaving pubs and nightclubs.

Bicycle theft is an ongoing problem. If you have a bike, keep it locked up to a solid object with a strong lock (preferably a D-lock), as cycle theft is big business. There are cycle parking places with cycle stands to lock you bike to, in several places around the city centre and at the railway station. "Secure" covered cycle parking with CCTV surveillance and cycle stands is available in the lower section of the Park Street car park and at the Grand Arcade cycle park.

The city's police station is on Parkside which is next door to the city's fire station. The opening times of the enquiry office is every day 8AM-10PM and bank holidays 9AM-5PM. There are a couple of smaller stations in the nearby villages of Histon and Sawston. The opening time of the enquiry office is for Histon, Mondays; 4PM-8PM, Wednesdays to Fridays; 8AM - midday, with Tuesdays, weekends and bank holidays closed. For Sawston, it is Wednesdays to Friday; 1PM-5PM, Mondays, weekends and bank holidays closed. The non-emergency contact number is 101, calls are fixed rate of £0.15 on landlines and mobiles.

The city's Accident and Emergency department (Casualty department) is located at Addenbrooke's Hospital on Hills Road, south of the city centre.

As of July 2022, Cambridge has 4G from all UK carriers, and you might get 5G with EE, O2 or Three. Wifi is widely available in public places.

• 52.21396 0.12561 1 Launderette , 12 Victoria Avenue . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.19783 0.14439 2 Monarch Launderette , 161 Mill Road . ( updated Nov 2023 )

Gyms and swimming pools

• 52.20111 0.13053 3 Kelsey Kerridge is the public sports centre on the south side of Parker's Piece. Entry is possible without membership. Next door is the large 52.2014 0.13095 4 Parkside public swimming pools.
• In summer it's worth visiting the 52.21308 0.12314 5 Jesus Green Lido , Britain's longest outdoor pool, on Jesus Green, Chesterton Rd CB4 3BD - +44 1223 302579. As of 2021, the Lido is open all year round.

All other gyms are private members only, including:

• 52.2104 0.11813 6 The Glassworks Gym & Spa ( Halfmoon Yard/Quayside ), ☏ +44 1223 305060 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20643 0.14819 7 Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing , 213 Cromwell Rd, CB1 3BA , ☏ +44 1223 859289 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.19394 0.16684 8 David Lloyd Gym , Coldham's Lane, CB1 3LH ( Coldham's Business Park ), ☏ +44 1223 401200 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.21765 0.12178 9 Chesterton Sports Centre , Gilbert Road CB4 3NY , ☏ +44 1223 576110 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.23196 0.14655 10 Revolution Health & Fitness Club , 24 Science Park, CB4 OFN , ☏ +44 1223 395675 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.18733 0.13493 11 Hills Road Sports & Tennis Centre , Purbeck Road, CB2 2PF , ☏ +44 1223 500009 . ( updated Nov 2023 )

Places of worship

• Many Anglican churches, including college chapels and Great St Mary's next to the market square.
• 52.21527 0.10946 12 Resurrection Lutheran Church , 25 Westfield Ln, CB4 3QS . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.2069 0.12952 13 Eden Baptist Church , 1 Fitzroy Street, CB1 1ER , ☏ +44 1223 361 250 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• Roman Catholic : 52.19891 0.12726 14 Our Lady & The English Martyrs , Hills Rd , ☏ +44 1223 350 787 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• Muslim : 52.2002 0.136 15 Abu Bakr Mosque , Mawson Road CB1 2DZ ( off Mill Road ), ☏ +44 1223 350 134 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.2095 0.11816 16 Jewish Synagogue , Thompson's Lane , ☏ +44 1223 354 783 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• 52.20809 0.13462 17 Cambridge Buddhist Centre , 38 Newmarket Road, CB5 8DT , ☏ +44 1223 577 553 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• Sikh : 52.22507 0.12855 18 Cambridge Gurdwara , Arbury Road, CB4 2JQ , ☏ +44 1223 591 469 . ( updated Nov 2023 )
• The local 52.21844 0.1217 19 Hindu community is active but, as of 2020, without a temple - +44 7909 528 091

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

• Grantchester : Take a day trip to enjoy the countryside and have scones and tea at The Orchard . With a long history of famous patrons such as Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf, EM Forster and Bertrand Russell, taking tea in The Orchard is a well established tradition. This large garden planted with apple trees is perfect for lounging on a deck chair in the sun with a cup of tea and a scone for sustenance. Or head out by punt with a picnic hamper.
• Great and Little Gransden Glimpse the real England! Take a bus (30 mins or so, bus no. 18, or 18A ) from Drummer Street to the tiny ancient villages of Little and Great Gransden, which appear in the Magna Carta. Brimming with thatched cottage charm, horses and peaceful country walks, these villages offer escape into English village life. Pub food is available in both villages. Explore the ancient churchyards, the doll path in the meadow between them, and enjoy a leisurely hike around this tranquil village area. The Duncombe Arms in neighbouring Waresly serves excellent food, and offers BnB accommodation. Waresly is one- or two-hour walk from the riding stables at the bottom of Great Gransden. You could even join a horse trek. The undulating road offers wonderful views across farm land, and the ancient Waresly Wood, some of which is National Trust property. The 17th century open trestle post mill Windmill between The Gransden villages is unusually intact. It was last operational in 1912.
• Ely : Market town, with impressive Cathedral towering above the Fens (Ely used to be an island): regular trains and buses (9, X9, 12), or about two hours by cycle via NCN 51 to NCN 11.
• King's Lynn is well worth visiting for its wealth of architectural gems especially Nelson Street and Tuesday Market place. The explorer Vancouver came from here. Museums and churches and the largest brass in the country in St Mary's Church.
• Newmarket : Market town (in Suffolk), with a famous horse-racing venue, and everything horsey related including the National Horseracing Museum . Tu-Su 11AM-4:30PM (22 March - 30 October). Hourly trains and regular buses (10, 11, 12), or about two hours by cycle on NCN 51.
• Bury St Edmunds : Market town, with a brewery, cathedral and gardens. Hourly trains and regular buses (11)

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