brown concrete palace under blue sky at daytime

Things To Do In Cambridge, UK: A Terrific Complete Guide For Visitors

Cambridge is one of Britain’s most beautiful cities, with a historic center that dates back to the early Middle Ages. It’s also become one of the country’s leading universities in recent years, with five of its colleges situated within the city limits. In fact, it was Cambridge University that gave us the world’s first exam in higher education back in 1231. In case you hadn’t guessed, this city is also home to one of the country’s best museums: The Fitzwilliam Museum. Its displays include works by Degas and Monet as well as ancient Egyptian mummies, Greek art pottery and Chinese jade carvings. It even has its own planetarium so you can experience a virtual trip around the night sky. If you’re not sure where to start when exploring Cambridge, here are some great things to do in this historic city in case it piques your interest:

photo of gray concrete cathedral and bare trees under cloudy sky

Visit Cambridge University

There’s very little that can beat visiting the place where your education began. The city of Cambridge has several colleges that are home to the University of Cambridge, including University of Cambridge, Trinity Cambridge, Downing College, Clare College and King’s College. All of these colleges and the university campus are open to the public and visitors can explore the historic buildings, meet students and faculty members and enjoy the surrounding parkland. When visiting the university, it’s important to remember to be respectful of the property, the people and the surrounding area. Visitors are not permitted to take photos of interior spaces, including some of the university’s most iconic buildings, such as the Great Court. The university also has a strict dress code so make sure you are dressed appropriately.

Walk Around The City Center

If you want a quick and easy way to see the city, a walk around the city center is an excellent idea. It’s possible to walk from one end of the city to the other in just an hour, making it easy to see the city’s main sights in one go. There are plenty of places to stop and relax along the way, making it the perfect way to spend a warm summer’s day. In the city center, it’s important to remember that while many of the buildings are centuries old, they aren’t all that old, so some parts of the city are actually fairly new. There are also a number of cultural and ethnic communities living in the city center, so be respectful of these places and people as you walk around. There’s also a lot to see in the city center, from the university to the market and shopping district, libraries, museums and parks.

white concrete statue in building things to do in cambridge

Explore The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitzwilliam Museum is one of England’s leading museums and home to one of the world’s most extensive art collections. The museum has a permanent collection that includes works by Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso as well as the world’s largest collection of Chinese art, including jade carvings, scrolls and pottery. The museum has a large number of special exhibitions and can also host travelling exhibitions. There’s also a cafe and shop on the premises and children are welcome.

Take A stroll Down Rose Street

Damian Barr, a photographer who lives on Rose Street, made this a world-famous street for photography. Rose Street is home to a number of little cafes and bars that are perfect for a relaxing afternoon stroll. The street is also lined with independent retail stores and art galleries, making it a great place to explore. This is a great street to walk on a sunny day, as the cobbled walkways make for great photo opportunities. In addition to the sights and sounds, take note of the architecture on Rose Street, which has some lovely Georgian buildings.

beige concrete building during daytime things to do in cambridge

Visit Kings College Gardens

The gardens of Kings College are an excellent way to spend a summer afternoon. The gardens are home to a botanic garden that includes many tropical plants and a butterfly house. Visitors can also explore the historic gardens of the college, which have landscaping that includes a maze and paths that wind through a large lake. The college also has a number of historic buildings and a library, making it a great place to spend a few hours exploring.

Check Out St Bene’t’s Church And Gardens

St Bene’t’s Church is a beautiful church, and it is the oldest building in Cambridge. That alone surely makes it worth a visit! It has a large number of historic tombs and monuments. The church has a number of historic monuments inside it and its gardens are also worth exploring. It’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon. When visiting the city, be sure to stop by St Bene’t’s Church and Gardens and take note of the architecture and monuments inside. You can also take a walk around the gardens. This is a great spot for history lovers to explore.

brown concrete building near body of water during daytime

Places to Stay in Cambridge

Cambridge is full of fantastic accommodations. It’s definitely the kind of place you would want to stay overnight so you can really make the most of your trip. If you want to really soak up everything Cambridge has to offer, then you should also stay in one of it’s lovely hotels. Here are our top recommendations for places to stay in Cambridge:

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the best things you can do if you’re only visiting Cambridge for a day is to check out some of the university buildings. Corpus, St John’s and Trinity are some of the highest-recommended ones. If you have time, you should also visit the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Punting is definitely one of the most fun things you can do in Cambridge. This means taking a punting boat down the river. It’s also a great way to see the sights. Make sure to grab a pint in one of Cambridge’s great and ancient pubs afterwards.

If you are sightseeing, then one day is definitely enough to see all the main sights. However, if you’re wanting to visit some of the colleges and museums as well as sightseeing, then you will need some more time.

The general market runs from Monday to Saturday in the market square in Cambridge. Here you can buy vegetables, artworks, antiques, crafts and much much more.

The main zoo nearby is Linton zoo, located in South Cambridge. This is a great place to visit if you’re travelling to Cambridge with kids.

King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England things to do in cambridge

Conclusion

Cambridge is a beautiful and historic city that is also home to one of the country’s leading universities. It has a rich history as a city and is full of culture, history and architecture. When visiting, be sure to explore the historic centers and neighborhoods, including the city’s historic waterfront, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Kings College Gardens and the gardens at St Bene’t’s Church and Gardens.

Cambridge was included in my list of Top Dark Academia Towns To Visit In The UK. Check out my posts here for other similar places to visit.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you back here again soon.

Ta-ta for now! x

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