https://www.visitcambridge.org
Cambridge, England is the quintessential college town. Located an easy train ride north of London, its cobbled streets and winding river make it a perfect stop on any tour of England.
History
With settlements dating back 3500 years, Cambridge has always been a strategic town in what is now known as England. It was an important trading village during Roman and Viking times and eventually became a seat of higher learning in the 13th century by Oxford students fleeing persecution. Henry VIII took a vested interest in the college and finished the King’s College chapel that is one of the most visited sites on campus.
Wars in the 20th century changed the town. One in four students and faculty members were killed during The Great War. During WWII, the town became a military center and housed a Royal Air Force training site. The town itself escaped much destruction from German bombs and became a refuge center for those escaping the Blitz in London. In 1944, Cambridge’s Trinity College was the site of a secret meeting to plan the allied invasion of Europe – D-Day.
Cambridge now has over thirty colleges housed within the university, and the entire town is centered around the college and its students. Several well known students include William Wordsworth, Isaac Newton, King Charles III, and several actors and actresses including Emma Thompson.
Visit
Cambridge is an easy one hour train ride from London’s King’s Cross station, which makes it a great day trip if you’re staying in the city. We drove to Cambridge from our cottage in Northampton while on our England trip in 2022.
The town is small and easy to navigate. It is fun wandering its streets, and you don’t want to miss punting on the River Cam! I recommend starting your tour at the town’s tourist information center to pick up a map. Also be sure to consult Rick Steves’ self-guided walk around town (found in this book – affiliate link).
Punting on the River Cam
With kids, one of the best (and most fun!) ways to see the town and the colleges is to go punting on the River Cam. I recommend hiring one of the many guides at Scudamore’s Punts (in two locations – near Queen’s or Magdalene colleges) to take you down the river. Don’t get lulled into a self-hire – punting is hard and you don’t want to end up in the river! It’s an unforgettable experience as you drift on the calm river, hearing all about the different colleges and their histories from a student. My boys were enthralled, especially learning about students who put their professor’s car on a bridge!
We loved seeing the beautiful colleges from the riverside, and doing this tour first gives you a better idea of what you’d like to see on a walking tour of the city.
Cambridge University Buildings
Many of the colleges require tickets and/or entry fees so research ahead of time those you’d like to enter. Some will let you peek in so ask at the gatehouse! Take a virtual tour of the colleges through the city’s tourism website.
If you go in one building, make sure it’s King’s College Chapel, one of the most beautiful chapels in all of England. Buy your tickets ahead of time to ensure entry or check in with its visitor center on the King’s Parade across from the entrance for walk-up tickets. We didn’t get a chance to go in on this visit, but I did see it while studying here in college. It’s breathtaking even from the river!
The chapel has some of the oldest stained glass in all of England and was built mainly by Henry VIII. The choir screen commemorates his marriage to Anne Boleyn (even though she was already dead by the time it was completed!). I’d love to come back and attend one of the chapel’s renowned daily eveningsong.
Another college to see is just a few minutes away. The exterior of Trinity College has a statue of its founder, King Henry VIII, over its arched doorway. If you’d like to see the Wren Library and the Trinity grounds, walk around to the River Cam entrance.
Don’t miss Newton’s tree in the yard of the main Trinity entrance. This apple tree is supposedly a descendent of the one that Sir Isaac Newton used to investigate gravity (he spent thirty years at Trinity).
Museums
Cambridge and its colleges also have many museums of interest. Plus the area is home to one of my favorite museums in the entire country!
- The Fitzwilliam Museum is renowned for its art and artifacts.
- Animal lovers will want to visit the Museum of Zoology, which is especially great for kids!
- One of the best museums we’ve been to is located just outside of Cambridge on a former RAF base. The Imperial War Museum Duxford is a must see for history buffs. We spent over three hours exploring its WWII-era planes and could have spent an entire day! It has so much that kids will love! Be sure to read my review!
Other Historic Sites
- Great St. Mary’s Church – We thought this church with its WWI memorial window was beautiful. You can also climb to the top of its belltower.
- St. Bene’t’s Church – the oldest surviving building in Cambridge
- Oliver Cromwell’s House (in nearby Ely) is the only remaining house of the English Civil War leader outside of Hampton Court.
Area Manor Homes
The Cambridge area is home to many former manor homes that are now tourist sights. They are so atmospheric and provide a glimpse into a rarified life from days gone by.
- Audley End House and Gardens – One of England’s finest mansions. Also has a miniature railway perfect for kids nearby!
- Wimpole Estate – tour this 17th century manor
- Anglesey Abbey – this Jacobean house has its own water mill to tour!
As you float down the lovely River Cam, the jewels of Cambridge will go by. From ornate chapels to scholarly libraries, it’s a wonderful place to visit to see the studious side of England!
Helpful hints:
- Most of these sites can be seen in 1-2 days. I’d recommend making it a day trip from London or stopping through on your way north to York. If you have WWII buffs or aviation enthusiasts, you could easily spend a whole day at the IWM Duxford, so add in a night’s stay.
- There are some lovely historic hotels in Cambridge. The town’s oldest hotel, University Arms, is ranked as one of the best hotels in the entire UK. I want to stay at the Clayton Hotel just to read in its fabulous library! Check out the tourism site’s recommendations, including rooms in the colleges.
- Dining: There are quaint old pubs in the historic city center, including The Eagle, the oldest pub in town. Eating riverside is also lovely at The Anchor. I always recommend Cote Brasserie and Prezzo for families. If it’s a nice day, grab a picnic lunch from the Marks and Spencer Foodhall at Market Hill Square and eat riverside (ask at the gate before picnicking on a college lawn). We also loved our sweet treats from Fitzbillies.
- Shopping: Cambridge is home to Market Hill Square which has been a shopping district for over 1000 years! Many of the colleges also have their own shops, so if you can’t get tickets to the King’s Chapel, visit its shop!
- Bookstores: Across the street from Trinity is one of Cambridge’s best bookstores, Heffers (part of Blackwells). Book lovers will also want to stop in the Cambridge University Press shop, the oldest bookseller site in Britain (founded in 1581!). There is also an outpost of the Waterstones chain.
Books to Read:
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Guidebooks
Adult/Young Adult
- The Story of Cambridge
- The History of the University of Cambridge
- Isaac Newton
- A Brief History of Time
- Ariel: The Restored Edition: A Facsimile of Plath’s Manuscript, Reinstating Her Original Selection and Arrangement
- Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death: Grantchester Mysteries 1
- Case Histories
- Time and Time Again
- Ashton Hall
- The Versions of Us
Middle Grade
Picture Books
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