Cambridge (original) (raw)

King's College Chapel and punters on the River Cam, seen from The Backs.

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.

King's Parade in the centre of Cambridge, with the University Senate House on the left and Great St Mary's Church on the right.

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 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.

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 51.8850.2351 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

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

There are two railway stations in the city. The first is 52.1941670.13757 Cambridge Cambridge railway station on Wikipedia, approximately 1.2 mi (1.9 km) south of the city centre. You can use several bus routes to travel between Cambridge station and the city centre - including Babraham Road Park and Ride, The Busway Route A, The Busway Route C, Citi 1, Citi 3, Citi 7 and Stagecoach 13. You can also hire a Voi[dead link] e-scooter (driving licence required) or e-bike.

The second is 52.22330.1577788 Cambridge North Cambridge North railway station on Wikipedia, roughly 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Cambridge Science Park. You can use The Busway routes B and C to connect with city destinations including the Cambridge Science Park and the city centre.

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

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

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

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

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.

Cambridge has the highest level of cycle use of any city in the UK.

From London, Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Stansted Airport, you can drive to Cambridge on the motorway. For Cambridge, use junctionsː

You can access the from at Junction 27.

From Birmingham (via ), Peterborough (via ) and Huntingdon, use the and exit atː

From Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Norwich (via ), use and exit atː

Other routes into Cambridge includeː

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

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

There are local buses from nearby destinations, includingː

Intellectual college joke

So the cop pulls over an electron on the city bypass:
"D'you realise you were doing exactly half the speed of light?"
"Oh great," says the electron, "now I'm lost."

Map

'"`UNIQ--maplink-00000053-QINU`"'

Map of Cambridge

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.

Bus services are, in principle, quite frequent with the exceptions of Sundays and public holidays. However owing to the vagaries of staffing, shift changes and general disorganisation, buses may fail to appear regardless of what the timetable or “live” bus signs indicate. (“3 mins” merely indicates that the system believes a bus is at a stop 3 minutes distant - it may choose to wait, may go out of service entirely, or may be entirely nonexistent.) The Stagecoach app offers a live map showing the GPS location of any real coaches, and for time-sensitive trips or infrequent buses this is a more reliable way of checking if the vehicle you expect is going to arrive.

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.

Focus on Architecture

Cambridge, especially the various colleges and university buildings, is fascinating for people with an interest in architecture. The colleges have been built sporadically over the centuries and the result is a mixture of styles both ancient and modern. Although the modern architecture is sometimes controversial, especially in how the newer buildings (fail to) harmonise with adjacent older buildings, it is in its way as interesting as the older. A tour of the backs (see above) gives the visitor a good feel for the various styles and a few small diversions add to the experience. One obvious landmark is the tower of the University Library. The library was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also built the Bankside Power Station in London that is now the Tate Modern. It does have a very industrial feel to it perhaps because of this. On the far side of the library the curious can see Robinson College, the newest college and built in about 1980 and one of the few pieces of modern architecture in Cambridge that has no notable old buildings nearby. If you prefer to see a blend of old and new, it is worth making the way out to Homerton College, which is fifteen minutes walk on Hills Road. Homerton College is particularly interesting as there are examples of various styles of architecture on-site such as the neo-Georgian buildings at the front of the college and the gothic Victorian hall on the inside of the college. This is an excellent place to take a stroll through the grounds which encompass an old orchard, water features and even a small honey farm, in order to appreciate the architecture from afar.

St John's College and Magdalene College also have a number of architectural treats. As well as the Bridge of Sighs, St John's has buildings in almost every style of architecture starting with the 16th-century hall in First Court and ending up with the extremely modern Cripps building. Near the Cripps building there is also the dramatic New Court built in the early 19th century and the School of Pythagoras, one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge which dates from the early 13th century.

Next door Magdalene College - cognoscenti know that Magdalene is accessible from the back of the Cripps building - is quite a contrast. Unlike St John's, which consists mainly of buildings designed as college accommodation, Magdalene has converted a number of old half-timbered inns as some of its accommodation. Magdalene also possesses the Lutyens building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and the Pepys building. The latter, which houses the Pepys library, has an imposing and almost symmetrical facade and looks completely different from the rear. The ugliest Magdalene building, the 1970s Buckingham Court, is fortunately well hidden, while across the river the Magdalene Quayside development (1990) is an excellent example of how the late century architects appear to have learned subtlety and harmony. Quayside is an excellent place to rent a punt.

The Cambridge 2000 website has a list of 100 buildings that have notable architecture for one reason or another.

Cambridge has a number of interesting modern buildings, for example the Centre for Mathematical Sciences

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.

Queens' College, Old Hall

Museums and galleries

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The Fitzwilliam Museum

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.

American Cemetery

Blue plaque to Rupert Brooke in Granchester

Punting is a popular activity in Cambridge

Draw the Cambridge Cat
by recording a GPS track on a 19 km route along major roads

Number of free tennis courts at each place

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

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 52.203980.121811 Grand Arcade and 52.204880.120852 Lion Yard shopping centres have most of the common retail names and many individual shops to cater for most needs. The 52.206240.134693 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.

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).

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

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, or any of the Cambridge Wine Merchants stores.

Grantchester is home to four pubs - 52.1804040.0955718 the Red Lion. OSM directions (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.

You'll also find all the usual coffee chains:

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.

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

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.

Gyms and swimming pools

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All other gyms are private members only, including:

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

A14 ← N S → Duxford → London
King's Lynn ← Ely ← NE SW → Royston → Hertford
Birmingham ← Kettering ← W E → Newmarket → Felixstowe
Bedford ← St Neots ← W E → A14
Huntingdon ← A14 ← NW SE → Linton → Haverhill

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