Discover the Magic of Cambridge

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 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 eateries, 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 attractions and activities 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 visiting.

King’s College Chapel

Flamboyantly finished in carved Gothic flourishes, King’s College dominates the centre of Cambridge. 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 a 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 eminent artists.

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 mysteries of the ages were solved over pints in Cambridge’s public houses, and you can still listen in on serious intellectual discussions today. Favored watering holes include the Eagle, where Crick and Watson talked over the structure of DNA into the early 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 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 it’s advisable to check for space availability on warm weekend evenings.

Go to the Footlights

Cambridge’s ADC Theatre is the home stage of Footlights, the university’s legendary student comedy club. The troupe has been putting witty students on stage since 1883, producing comedy heavyweights like Richard Ayoade, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Miriam Margolyes, Emma Thompson, and members of Monty Python. It’s best to check for upcoming events on their websites.

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 offers dizzying views over the college quarter from the top of its 113ft (38m) tower. A leg-straining climb up a narrow spiral staircase delivers 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 enjoyed a Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies. Generations of students have gathered here for a powerful sugar hit between lectures, where their buns are drenched in sticky syrup and brimming with spices and currants. Whether you choose to dine in or take away, these delicacies are perfect for a leisurely afternoon on one of the college greens.

Pedal the backstreets

Generations of Cambridge students have navigated the streets by pedal power, making it easy to join them by hiring a bike in town or at the train station. After exploring the city, consider stopping by Espresso Library, just east of Parker’s Piece green, which entices 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 lesser-known artists that leaves a lasting impression.

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

The prevalence of packed afternoon teas reflects the demographic of the university intake. For an elegantly boxed selection of buns and sandwiches to enjoy on a picnic blanket at Jesus Green, head to Harriet’s Cafe Tearooms on Green Street and delight in a sugar hit before resuming your adventures.

Go church hopping

As well as the college chapels, Cambridge is studded with interesting medieval churches, many with notable 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 holds its own unique anecdotes.

Have a splash at the Jesus Green Lido

While there are too many punts for the Cam to be suitable for swimming, the Jesus Green Lido serves as a close second. This unheated, open-air pool has been welcoming locals and visitors since the 1920s, offering a refreshing experience that is in high demand on sunny days.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Like Kew Gardens in miniature, Cambridge’s botanic garden is a chlorophyll-filled wonder. While many make a beeline for the tropical greenhouses with their lush collection of palms and ferns, it’s the back paths, hidden clearings, and secret spaces that make these gardens particularly special. With kids in tow, it’s also a great spot for a game of hide and seek.

St John’s College

Every Cambridge college boasts a list of famous alumni as long as a punting pole, but the honors list at St John’s is particularly impressive. William Wordsworth, William Wilberforce, former Indian PM Manmohan Singh, and writer Douglas Adams all studied here. As well as an array 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 provide a fabulous resource for anyone craving instant education. College museums cover everything from archaeology and anthropology to zoology and the history of science itself, but perhaps the standout 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 need to take a 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 aeronautical. 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 for upcoming events; many aircraft still take to the skies for annual airshows.