Cambridge
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World famous university city
Central England
caym-brige
Cambridge
Cambridge is one of Britain’s most famous cities. It combines the atmosphere of a rural town with the grandeur and tradition of its ancient university which dominates the city. The university began in 1209, when fighting between scholars and locals in Oxford, led to students setting up a university in Cambridge. Today punting on the river Cam is commonplace. Cambridge is also a very bicycle friendly city with plenty of cycle paths connecting all the major attractions. Cambridge has lots of museums including the Fitzwilliam Museum, which houses an outstanding picture collection. The city is also home to one of only 4 round churches in Britain.Cambridge boasts Michelin starred restaurants, and has an diversity of culinary delights including Thai, Italian, French, Spanish and many gastropubs.
One of the best ways to explore Cambridge is via a sightseeing bus tour that takes you to all the major sites and allows you to hop on and off at your leisure.
Activities
Cambridge University contains 31 colleges, some of which can be visited. Kings College, famous because of its chapel, has beautiful stained glass windows and a gravity defying vaulted roof. St John’s College has a replica of Venice’s bridge of Sighs.
The Fitzwilliam Museum houses world class exhibits from many great civilisations including Greek, Roman and Egyptian, including paintings, sculpture, armour, furniture, pottery and glass, oriental art, manuscripts, coins and medals from the 14th century to present.
The Round Church dating back to 1130 features two cylindrical levels with round-arched windows and a conical roof. Inside 8 massive cylindrical pillars feature Norman carvings. The church also houses an exhibition on Christian heritage in the area.
Punting is one of Cambridge’s chief attractions. Punts are flat-bottomed boats which, because they don’t have a keel, are usually steered with a long pole.
The Scott Polar Research Institute holds a unique collection of artefacts, journals, clothing equipment, paintings, photographs, maps and other materials illustrating polar exploration, history and science.
What's nearby
The Imperial War Museum at Duxford, 9 miles north of Cambridge (hourly bus service), has an outstanding Aviation museum, with a an aircraft hall containing over 30 historic British and Commonwealth aircraft.Ely, 12 miles north of Cambridge makes for a great day trip. The stunning cathedral is the city’s main attraction, but a splendid array of medieval buildings, along with a beautiful waterside area and great selection of antique shops and fine cafes make it a pleasant place to stroll.
Ely Cathedral dates back to 1081, with a number of impressive additions since, including the 14th century ‘Octagon’ tower, which is a masterpiece of medieval engineering. The cathedral also houses a fascinating stained glass museum. Ely’s most famous resident was Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England who lived here for 10 years. Today his house has an English Civil War exhibition.
You are not allowed to play tennis on the streets of Cambridge!
Sir Henry Royce (Founder, Rolls Royce)
Richard Attenborough
(Actor, Director)
