The 10 best things to do in Cambridge: How to spend a day in the UK’s famous university town
CAMBRIDGE is a magical city with so much to offer its visitors.
Its streets are bursting with history and make you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a Harry Potter film, even if none were actually filmed there.
The jewel in its crown is the prestigious Cambridge University, which is over 800 years old and has seen the likes of Charles Darwin, Emma Thompson and even the King pass through its halls.
But it’s not all dusty libraries and science labs in this city — there are plenty of exciting activities that are fun for all the family.
Cambridge makes for a great day trip from London as the train takes less than an hour, so here’s our round-up of must-dos while you’re there.
Go punting
Nothing is as quintessentially ‘Cambridge’ as floating down the River Cam in a wooden punt.
It’s the best way to view the city’s most famous buildings, as many of these are spread along the banks of the river and cannot be seen from the centre of town.
Punting is also the only way to see all the stunning bridges which give the city its name, including the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge (which, according to urban legend, was constructed using no nuts or bolts).
You can get a chauffeured tour complete with a guide or simply rent your own, but be warned, first-timers are known to occasionally fall in.
Don’t worry if you’re visiting during the colder months — punting firms will equip you with blankets to stay warm and umbrellas in case of bad luck with the weather.
Prices vary by season and by company, but guided tours on a shared boat cost around £15-30 per person for adults and roughly £10 for kids.
If you fancy a go at pushing the punt yourself, it will cost between £24-£36 per hour.
Have a drink at The Eagle pub
The Eagle may look like a run-of-the-mill boozer from the outside, but inside it is steeped in history.
The pub is where Francis Crick and James Watson stood up in 1953 to announce that they had discovered the structure of DNA.
Tucked away at the back of the building you’ll also find the RAF bar, where WW2 airmen wrote their names and squadron numbers on the ceiling using lighters and lipstick.
Visitors can enjoy a family meal or try a pint of the pub’s own special ale, ‘Eagle’s DNA’, while taking in the preserved graffiti.
Visit the many museums
Tourists are spoilt for choice in Cambridge when it comes to museums.
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the best for history buffs and houses over half a million objects from Egyptian mummy cases to ancient suits of armour.
It is open every day except for Mondays, and entry is free.
Kids love the Museum of Zoology, complete with its incredible 21-metre-long whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling and no entry fee.
After browsing the bone collections of mammoths and dodos, you can grab a drink in the Whale Café.
And for artistic types, Kettle’s Yard is always a hit.
The house is an art gallery and contemporary museum, and tickets are £10.50 for adults but free for anyone aged 25 or under.
Walk around the market square
Cambridge’s picture-postcard market square has stood in the city centre since the Middle Ages and is the perfect place for some shopping.
There are stalls selling everything from second-hand books to vinyl records, souvenirs to home-made chocolate.
Tourists looking for some lunch can pick between Thai, Spanish, Greek or traditional British food (be prepared to queue for the Chinese dumplings), or get a sweet snack at the much-loved Belgian waffle stand.
Climb Great St. Mary’s Tower
On the edge of the bustling market square, Great St. Mary’s church is easily overlooked by sightseers.
But hiding at the top of the church tower’s 123 winding steps are some of the most impressive panoramic views of the city.
The tower has an outdoor viewing platform which offers great photo opportunities with 360° views of the Cambridge skyline.
Tickets for the tower cost £7 for adults, £4.50 for children and are free for under-5s.
Grab a snack at Fitzbillies
No trip to Cambridge is complete without a snack from the city’s favourite bakery.
At over 100 years old, Fitzbillies sits opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum and is a favourite among students and locals, with even Stephen Fry stating his love for it.
It’s famous for its super-sticky Chelsea buns, so make sure to get one before they run out.
Explore the Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden is a natural paradise that’s home to over 8,000 plant species.
You can explore the greenhouses and arboretum or lounge on the grass, and children can enjoy running around the grass maze.
There is a café on-site, but visitors are also welcome to bring their own food and have a picnic if the weather is good.
The garden is open every day except for during the Christmas period, with last admission being 30 mins before closing time.
Admission is £7.70 for adults and under-16s do not pay.
Make your own gin
For anyone that fancies getting nerdy on their visit to Cambridge, the good news is that adults can try their hand at some lab work.
The Cambridge Gin Laboratory is a tucked away, interactive experience offering hour-long gin making, gin tasting and gin mixing sessions.
For £35 you can blend your very own drink while learning all about gin production, but you’ll need to book ahead as slots are limited.
Head inside King’s College chapel
The awe-inspiring King’s College Chapel was founded by King Henry VI and is the second-largest chapel in the world after the Sistine, taking over a century to build.
It is considered a symbol Cambridge and is one of the most photo-worthy spots in the city.
You might recognise it from TV, as it is here that Carols at King’s is broadcast from every Christmas Eve.
Tickets are slightly cheaper if booked online in advance and family passes are available.
Wander the streets of the city
One of the best and most affordable ways to enjoy the picturesque charm of Cambridge is on foot.
The city centre is full of gorgeous cobbled streets lined with the university’s historic colleges and listed buildings hiding around corners.
Some of the prettiest streets include Rose Crescent, Green Street, Trinity Lane, Senate House Passage and King’s Parade.
By taking a stroll you’ll also likely stumble across several Cambridge gems; Isaac Newton‘s apple tree, some ‘Dinky Doors’ and the slightly terrifying Corpus Clock.
Be careful of the bikes — Cambridge has the highest number of cyclists in the UK and the pavements can be narrow.
If you’d like to catch a glimpse of the punts as they pass, wander down to Mill Pond or Quayside and soak up the scenes with a drink from one of the neighbouring pubs.