Top 15 Attractions in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

The city of Cambridge is widely recognized for its prestigious university, which has origins tracing back to the early 13th century.

Renowned for its exceptional academic reputation, the list of notable alumni from Cambridge is extensive, featuring distinguished figures such as Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, and Sir Isaac Newton.

As anticipated, an institution of such significance is accompanied by a variety of remarkable museums to explore.

Numerous colleges in Cambridge were established by royalty, and they are filled with exquisite architecture and rich historical narratives regarding former students and faculty members.

Along the River Cam, visitors should take a leisurely stroll along The Backs or partake in punting to admire iconic sites such as King’s College Chapel and the Mathematical Bridge.

1. College Tours

Official tours of the individual colleges are conducted by the university’s authorized Blue Badge Guides, who have successfully passed rigorous examinations to obtain their positions.

These guides possess exclusive access to locations within the colleges that are typically restricted to the public, providing intriguing insights into prominent former students, historical events, unique traditions, and legends.

Self-guided tours of the colleges are also permitted, as detailed below.

It is advisable to consult the respective websites for hours of operation, as access is significantly enhanced outside the Quiet Period during May and June when examinations are underway.

2. King’s College

Established by Henry VI in 1441, King’s College and its chapel, along with the Front Court, are the most iconic representations of Cambridge.

The expansive Front Court, bordered to the north by the Chapel and to the west by the neoclassical 18th-century Gibbs’ Building, exudes grandeur, especially during the evening when sunlight illuminates William Wilkins’ Neo-Gothic screen located on the eastern side.

The pinnacle of Cambridge’s architectural achievements is the Kings College Chapel, constructed in phases from 1446 to 1515, representing one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic architecture.

The chapel features the largest fan vault globally, completed in the 1510s, with a stunning early Renaissance rood screen and stained glass windows added later in the 1530s.

3. Trinity College

Trinity College was founded by Henry VIII in 1546, with his statue prominently displayed in a decorative niche above the Great Gate.

Notable alumni of this college include Sir Isaac Newton, Lord Byron, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.

The Great Court, recognized as Europe’s most expansive enclosed courtyard, was redesigned by Thomas Nevile, the college’s master during the early 17th century.

In the northeast corner, you will find the E Staircase, where Newton resided, and in the center, a charming Renaissance fountain enhances the ambience.

Nevile’s Court was completed in 1614, featuring the Wren Library on its western facade, constructed between 1676-1695 and named after its architect, Sir Christopher Wren, one of England’s most renowned architects.

The Grade I listed Chapel, characterized by Tudor-Gothic architecture, dates back to the mid-16th century, distinguished by its Perpendicular tracery and pinnacles.

Within the chapel’s antechamber, statues of prominent alumni such as Newton and Francis Bacon are on display.

4. St John’s College

For those eager to explore more of Cambridge’s colleges, St John’s requires a £10 admission fee, deemed a fair investment.

Founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of King Henry VII, her coat of arms is prominently displayed above the Tudor Great Gate on St John’s Street, flanked by mythical creatures known as “Yales.” As with many colleges, St John’s features a layout of interconnected courtyards, transitioning from the First Court (1511) to the Second Court (early 17th century) and the Third Court (1624), showcasing Tudor and Jacobean architectural styles.

Venture through the college and observe intricate details such as ornately carved doorways, statues, oriel windows, and heraldic coats of arms.

The Dining Hall, featuring linenfold paneling dating back to 1528, is complemented by the splendid College Chapel designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century, celebrated for its stained glass depicting narratives from the life of Christ.

5. Fitzwilliam Museum

This complimentary attraction serves as one of the leading art and antiquities museums, befitting a prestigious institution of higher education.

The Fitzwilliam Museum encompasses five departments: “Paintings, Drawings and Prints,” “Manuscripts and Printed Books,” “Coins and Medals,” “Applied Arts,” and “Antiquities.” The collections are vast and impressive.

Among the fine art displayed are masterpieces created by renowned artists such as Titian, van Dyck, Monet, Rubens, and Picasso.

In the realm of antiquities, visitors can admire sarcophagi, stelae, busts, ceramics, treasured paintings, and an array of curiosities from Ancient Egypt, Nubia, Greece, and Rome.

The “Applied Arts” department additionally merits acknowledgment for its remarkable Korean and Japanese artworks, alongside exquisite European pottery, furniture, and glassworks.

6. Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Located just west of Cambridge Railway Station, the Botanic Garden possesses aesthetic appeal that complements its scientific significance, featuring over 8,000 plant species across 16 hectares.

Originally planted in 1831 away from the city center by John Stevens Henslow, a mentor to Charles Darwin, nearly half of the species thrive within glasshouses designed to replicate environments found on Oceanic Islands, mountains, tropical rainforests, arid landscapes, and the prehistoric era before flowering plants emerged.

Visitors can closely observe carnivorous plants as well as the diverse ecosystems of South Africa and Southwest Australia, which were once part of the same landmass.

Outdoors, wander through the lavender beds, rock gardens, herbaceous borders, scented gardens, and the national plant collections encompassing various species from ruscuses to tulips.

7. The Backs

The Backs, where a succession of Cambridge colleges adjoin the River Cam, serves as the most picturesque location for a leisurely stroll throughout the city.

It is designated as a Grade I Historic Park, encompassing the grounds of St John’s, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King’s, and Queens’. Historically, this area was occupied by orchards and grazing fields; however, it now features open lawns graced by mature trees.

A wide gravel pathway winds through the lawns next to the river, offering views of “punters” gliding by.

Throughout this delightful walk, enjoy unobstructed vistas of some of Cambridge’s most renowned monuments, including the magnificent King’s College Chapel.

8. Queens’ College

This college, situated on both banks of the Cam, was established by two queens during a period of division within the English monarchy.

Margaret of Anjou, a Lancastrian queen, was the first to found the college in 1448, and later it was re-established in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville, the wife of Yorkist King Edward IV. Admission to Queens’ College is £3.50, allowing access to the Old Court from the mid-15th century, where England’s earliest celestial globes from the 16th century can be found in the Old Library.

In the adjoining Cloister Court, the elegant half-timbered President’s Lodge (erected in 1460) stands as a highlight. The college’s ancient structures on the east bank of the Cam connect with newer buildings across the river via the Mathematical Bridge.

This bridge, initially constructed in 1749, was rebuilt to the same design in 1866 and again in 1905. Despite its apparent arch, the structure is composed entirely of straight timbers.

9. Kettle’s Yard

The property located on Castle Street was once the residence of Jim Ede, the collector and first modern art curator of the Tate Gallery, during the 20th century.

Kettle’s Yard comprises four distinct cottages that have been joined, and every afternoon, Ede and his wife Helen would welcome visitors for tours showcasing his art collection.

The home and its complete art collection were bequeathed to the University of Cambridge in the 1960s, preserving the unique layout, books, furnishings, and relaxed ambiance reminiscent of the Ede’s era.

The collection features notable works from British avant-garde artists of the early 20th century, including Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, and David Jones, as well as pieces by Joan Miró, Helen Frankenthaler, and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.

10. Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology boasts extensive collections that span nearly two million years of human history, representing artifacts from all inhabited continents.

Founded in 1884, the museum relocated to its designated building in 1913 and underwent a refurbishment, reopening in 2013 to commemorate its centennial.

Among the most intriguing exhibits are ethnographic items collected by explorer Captain James Cook during his late 18th-century voyages.

Roman and Anglo-Saxon artifacts uncovered in excavations around Cambridge and East Anglia are also on display, with the oldest piece being a stone tool found in Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge, estimated to be 1.8 million years old.

One notable exhibit includes a towering 19th-century Haida totem pole from Tanu in British Columbia.

11. The Polar Museum

Founded in 1920 as a tribute to Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team, who perished in Antarctica in 1912 during their return journey from the South Pole, the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) operates this museum.

The SPRI manages the museum, dedicated to documenting the accomplishments made during the “Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration,” featuring photographs, archival footage, illustrations, and paintings.

Additionally, the museum showcases crafts and art from indigenous Arctic communities, equipment utilized in polar expeditions, and the last letters penned by Scott during his ill-fated journey.

12. Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences

Open to the public without charge, the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences stands as Cambridge’s oldest museum, established when geologist John Woodward bequeathed his fossil collection to the university in 1728. Some of Woodward’s original fossils can still be viewed within their 18th-century display cases.

In total, the museum houses approximately two million specimens of rocks, fossils, and minerals.

Standing watch at the museum entrance is Iggy the Iguanodon, a plaster replica of a dinosaur skeleton discovered in a mine in 1878, which was a gift to the museum from the King of Belgium that same year. Additionally, the collection features over 2,000 rocks and fossils collected by Charles Darwin during his expedition aboard the HMS Beagle, along with various meteorites displayed with thin sections illustrating their optical properties.

13. Christ’s College

While interior access to Christ’s College buildings is restricted, visitors are permitted to explore the college grounds and Fellows’ Garden.

This opportunity is particularly significant as you’ll walk the same paths as illustrious alumni such as Charles Darwin and John Milton.

Christ’s College was founded in 1437, featuring Late Gothic and Early Tudor architecture in the First Court built shortly thereafter, including the wisteria-covered Master’s Lodge, chapel, and Great Gate Tower facing St Andrew’s Street.

The Fellows’ Building in the Second Court dates back to 1640, leading to the Fellows’ Garden, which contains two historic mulberry trees, one of which was planted in 1608, the year John Milton was born.

14. Punting

The optimal destination for punting on the River Cam is along The Backs.

This activity, introduced in the early 20th century, involves navigating a shallow-bottomed boat known as a punt using a wooden pole with a metal “foot” at the end. In sections of the river bordering the colleges, the riverbed is shallow and composed of gravel, making it accessible for beginners to quickly grasp the technique, provided they navigate the influx of other punters during the summer months.

For a more tranquil experience, venture a mile or two upriver past the weir to reach the village of Grantchester.

This rural backdrop provides an opportunity to enjoy lunch at a pub before leisurely drifting back towards Cambridge.

15. Imperial War Museum Duxford

The largest aviation museum in the United Kingdom is located at a former RAF base, situated 10 miles south of Cambridge.

The facility features five hangars, including the newly expanded “Hangar 1,” which showcases over 30 aircraft from the First World War onward.

Hangar 2 exhibits operational planes, where visitors can observe restoration efforts, while Hangar 3 combines naval aircraft and vessels, and Hangar 4 is dedicated to the Battle of Britain during the Second World War.

Additionally, guests can explore Duxford’s preserved Operations Room, examine tanks, artillery, and armored vehicles in the Land Warfare Hall, and marvel at iconic aircraft such as the B-52 and Blackbird in the American Air Museum.