The city of Cambridge sits nestled next to the flat wetlands of East Anglia, known as the Fens. The city has an abundance of landmarks and attractions linked to its eminent and long-standing university, while the surrounding countryside has many more important sights hidden amongst the rural beauty.
Academic history and heritage
The heart of the city of Cambridge is the university. This is actually a collection of more than 30 separate colleges that date back to medieval times. There’s so much history immersed within these walls, it’s a challenge to take it all in.
Try to find time to wander along the narrow streets of King’s Parade and Pembroke Street which thread through the university buildings. You’ll be walking in the footsteps of generations of students, some of whom went on to become Nobel prize-winners and world leaders. You’ll see many of today’s academics cycling past or rushing to lectures clutching books.
Another must-see spot is ‘The Backs’. This is essentially the backs of the colleges and their gardens that run down to the River Cam. It’s a favourite spot if you fancy a punt, while the west bank is a perfect place for a picnic while you admire the tranquil view.
Tour the cultural hotspots
Not all of Cambridge's noteworthy buildings are used for academic study - there’s plenty more amazing architecture elsewhere in the city.
Look for the grand colonnaded façade of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Owned by the university, here you’ll find an impressive collection of art and antiquities with the added bonus of free admission.
The Centre for Computing History is another attraction worth popping into. It houses some the UKs oldest computers and features hands-on exhibitions and workshops so everyone can get involved.
Nearby, the Polar Museum, part of the Scott Polar Research Institute, commemorates the brave expeditions of early polar explorers with displays of their equipment and other artefacts.
When you feel like enjoying a relaxed retreat from the bustle of the colleges, it’s great to wander among the exotic plants in the Botanic Garden, just to the south of the inner ring road.
Taking in wider Cambridgeshire
Take a trip out of Cambridge to see the Jacobean house and working watermill at Anglesey Abbey, a short way to the north. This former priory has extensive gardens that are a local favourite for walks, from the snowdrop season in February until the autumn colours of late October.
The A10 road will take you 14 miles northeast to the small city of Ely, which boasts one of the great cathedrals of England. This pre-medieval church has a unique octagonal tower that dominates the flat surrounding landscape.
Nearby is Cromwell House - once the home of the Roundhead leader and the former Ely Gaol, it has since been converted into a museum showcasing Ely’s history.
All around the pancake landscapes of Cambridgeshire you’ll find patches of the original Fenland, a type of marshy, reclaimed wetland that dates back many centuries. If you fancy a stroll in these interesting areas, there’s a celebrated walking trail along the Cam and Ouse Rivers called the Fen Rivers Way.
Meanwhile, for a glimpse of the history of the fens, drive to the museum at Fag Fen, to the west of Cambridge. Archaeologists found a long prehistoric wooden causeway across the marshes here that originally used 60,000 timbers.
Also to the west of Cambridge is the Great Fen, a vast, ongoing environmental project to create a huge nature reserve. You’ll see unusual wildlife and the lowest point in Britain at Holme Post. It stands an incredible nine feet below sea level.
