A guide to visiting Cambridge: what to do and see
The entrance to Cambridge University. All photos by John O’Boyle/The Empty Nest Explorers
Historic Cambridge is less than an hour’s train ride from London and is located along the River Cam.
The city serves as one world’s top academic centers and features wonderful old-world architecture. If you're planning a visit to London, this convenient, historic city is a perfect day trip.
Our tour guide told us an amazing story that Cambridge was founded in 1209 after students fled Oxford to escape rioting townspeople during a dispute between the academics and regular Oxford residents.
Table of Contents
Top attractions to see in Cambridge
Visiting Cambridge University
While Cambridge has lots of great attractions the University of Cambridge overshadows them all. After a dispute at nearby Oxford, Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is the third oldest university in continuous operation.
Famous graduates include Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, and Isaac Newton and it has garnered 121 Nobel Prizes for affiliates.
The University of Cambridge comprises 31 colleges, among the best-known are Trinity College, Kings College, and Pembroke College.
A Cambridge tour guide will give you loads of insights and entertaining stories .
We took a guided tour for our Cambridge visit. We did this since the city’s history is so rich and an expert helped us enjoy it better plus the majority of the schools are closed to the public and a tour helps guide you through the University.
You can get more info about the Cambridge guided tour we thoroughly enjoyed here.
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. This means that if we are recommending a product, activity, or hotel, we might be receiving a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
If you are going to be taking a few day trips from London you might want to read our post: Traveling by train in Britain: a guide for beginners
We particularly enjoyed King's College Chapel. Although it’s called a chapel it is enormous, with the world's largest fan vault ceiling.
The amazing ceiling at King's College Chapel.
If you are in Cambridge in the evening you might want to attend Evensong at King’s College. Evensong is a free 45-minute concert by the choir and the amazing pipework organ.
It takes place Monday to Saturday at 5:30 pm and on Sunday at 3:30 pm.
A beautiful scene while Walking the Backs.
Walking The Backs
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Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. This means that if we are recommending a product, activity, or hotel, we might be receiving a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
If you’ve ever seen a photo of a boat on the river with a beautiful Cambridge building in the background then you’ve seen The Backs.
Visiting the Backs in Cambridge allows you to take in postcard-perfect views in a tranquil setting. It's a must-do activity in Cambridge.
The term "the Backs" refers to the green spaces and gardens along the river that run along the rear of several colleges in Cambridge. These include well-known colleges like King's, Queen's, Trinity, and St John's. The area is east of Queens Road.
A well-maintained path along the Backs makes it easy to enjoy a leisurely walk. All ages and fitness levels can enjoy the walk since it’s a flat, easy route.
While walking the Backs you’ll notice long, flat punting boats gliding along the River Cam. You’ll see both experienced guides leading tours and tourists trying punting on boars they have rented (more on that below).
Best of all walking the Backs is totally free, so it’s perfect for budget travelers or families.
Punting on the River Cam
Punting is pushing flatboats along the River Cam using long poles, think Venice gondolas but British. The River Cam in the area of The Backs is a perfect area for punting with a great view of famous buildings.
There are a variety of companies that will take you on a guided punting tour. You can check out some highly rated Punting on the River Cam tours here.
Punting is a leisurely, relaxing activity, making it ideal for anyone. You can sit back and enjoy the scenery as your punter takes care of guiding the boat. While we were walking along the river we noticed people of all ages enjoying their punting experience.
It's a good idea to book your punting tour in advance during peak tourist seasons. This is especially true if you are coming on a day trip and only have a short window for punting experience.
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum was created in 1816 to house the artwork bequeathed to the University of Cambridge by Viscount Fitzwilliam.
Not only are the artwork and rare books a reason to visit but the museum's building is an architectural masterpiece, designed by George Basevi in the Neoclassical style. Basevi’s design was based on the temples of ancient Greece and Rome.
Visitors are treated to works by Rembrandt, Vincent van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, Picasso, and many others. Best of all, admission is free.
In addition to its permanent collections, the Fitzwilliam Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year. You can find more information on the Museum’s website.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Cambridge Botanic Garden covers 40 acres and houses 8,000 plant species from all over the world. While the garden welcomes 345,000 visitors annually its main mission is to support the University's teaching and research projects.
The Garden is a 15-minute walk from the center of Cambridge with entrances on Trumpington Road and Hills Road.
Tickets are £8.00 and can be purchased online in advance. The hours vary throughout the year so it’s best to check the Garden’s website for update details.
Market Square
Traders have been operating stalls at the Cambridge market square since the Middle Ages. You can buy fresh food, artwork, clothes, jewelry, and books from the outdoor stalls.
Market Square is located at the center of Cambridge, making it easily accessible to both residents and wandering visitors.
The market has an eclectic variety of stalls. The food stalls feature a wide variety of food from around the world but the market also offers clothing, arts and crafts, books, and antiques. The market is open Monday – Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Mathematical Bridge over the River Cam
See the Mathematical Bridge
Mathematical Bridge spans the River Cam and connects two parts of Queens’ College.
A popular story is that the bridge was built by Sir Isaac Newton without nuts or bolts. The story continues that a group of Cambridge students took the bridge apart to prove that it was only built with wood but were unable to put it back together again.
The real story is not as exciting as the legend. William Etheridge designed the bridge which was built by James Essex after Newton had died. It has been rebuilt twice but has kept the same overall design.
The View from Great St Mary’s Church
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Great St Mary’s Church is the university church for the University of Cambridge. The church is not only beautiful but it is old, really old. It dates back to the year 1010, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1290 and then rebuilt.
The real attraction at the church is the view from the top of the tower. After climbing the 123 steps you’ll enjoy a 360° view from the newly-refurbished outdoor viewing platform.
Tickets for the tower are £6 for adults, £4 for children (age 5-16) and £16 for a family ticket (2 adults + 2 children).
Church hours are Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm with last entry to the tower at 5.30 pm. Sunday hours are 12 noon–5 pm with the last entry to the tower at 4.15 pm. Hours can vary based on church services.
Sedgwick Museum Of Earth Sciences
If dinosaurs, fossils, and rocks are your thing then the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences might be a great stop. Not only does the museum house 2 million rocks, minerals, and fossils but the admission is free.
The museum is named after Adam Sedgwick, a renowned geologist who was one of the founders of modern geology.
The museum is open Monday - Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Getting to Cambridge from London
Taking the train is the fastest way to travel to Cambridge from London. Trains depart from either London's Kings Cross or Liverpool Street train stations and arrive at the Cambridge train station in under an hour.
We traveled from Kings Cross station and purchased our tickets through Trainline. We highly recommend Trainline for European train tickets and use the website all the time.
If you are interested in seeing more of Britain by train check out our blog post: Traveling by train in Britain: a guide for beginners
You can also drive from London to Cambridge in about an hour and a half (without traffic) via the M11 highway.
Driving tip
While we recommend taking the train if you do drive you can stop at the beautiful Audley End House and Garden. Audley End is one of England’s grandest mansions and is located right off Highway M11. Check out the video below for a tour of Audley End.
Best places to stay in Cambridge
You can easily see most of the Cambridge sites on a day trip but there are many great places to stay overnight.
Graduate Cambridge
While this hotel is a bit pricey it is located right on the River Cam, and many rooms have balconies overlooking the river. The hotel has on-site parking, a restaurant, and even an indoor pool.
More information here
University Arms
A beautiful, classy hotel located right in the heart of Cambridge. Rooms are modern yet the hotel retains the charm of Cambridge.
More information here
Christ's College Cambridge
If you are looking for more of a budget accommodation then Christ's College offers adults-only accommodations in one of Britain’s most historic university buildings. The rooms come with free WiFi and many overlook the scenic gardens.
More information here
This post was researched and written by John of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here.
Some highly-rated Cambridge tours
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