Day: February 9, 2010

Just cause I was asked to do it for somebody and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to put in online for future reference.

Things to do in Cambridge

Cambridge is an ancient university town and it’s not so much a question of finding things to do in Cambridge as deciding which of the things you’re not going to do in Cambridge.

An absolutely essential thing to do in Cambridge is to go river punting on the Cam. There is a definite technique to this and you’re well advised to watch how other people do it before venturing out on a punt yourself. You can hire someone else to do the punting for you, whilst you and your friends sit back and relax – however, it’s no where near as much fun as doing it yourself.

Cambridge has many attractions to suit just about all ages and tastes. The university colleges are a sights to see. Unless you are a student at the university, most colleges charge a small fee to let you see what life for a Cambridge student is like – living in an old and possibly historic building. Some of the bigger and better known colleges do also offer full-blown tours at pre-determined times. Most colleges close completely to visits during mid-May to mid-June; the main university examination period.

The oldest college in Cambridge and, therefore, an inevitable attraction is Peterhouse College which was founded in 1284. Attractions to see at Peterhouse include the 17th century chapel and a restored 13th century hall. Trinity College is probably the de facto Cambridge College attraction. Built by Henry VIII the brick gateway is the original structure from 1535. The Great Court is the largest of its kind anywhere and reputedly the place where an apple fell on Sir Isaac Newton’s head.

Quite rightly describing itself as “ … one of the iconic buildings in Cambridge” is Kings College, founded in 1441 by Henry VI. The Kings College Chapel is a worthy sight in itself and often hosts choir concerts.

Cambridge is a delightful place just to walk around. A classic walk is along ‘The Backs’ – this is the area literally at the back of some of the colleges, most notably Trinity, Claire, Kings, Queens and Peterhouse. It is a parkland area with the River Cam running through it. A walk through The Backs is attractive at any time of year but the autumn sees it at its best. Of the many bridges in The Backs one of the best is the one at Clare College. Quite famous, it is very ornate with decorative balls and is the oldest of the bridges on The Backs dating back to 1639.

Museum aficionados will enjoy the The Fitzwilliam museum, one of Britain’s earliest public museums and described as “the finest small museum in Europe”. The original building was designed by George Basevi, and opened in 1848.

The present collections contain: Western European paintings ranging from the 14th Century to the present day; Egyptian, Western Asiatic, Greek and Roman antiquities; and the applied arts of Western Europe and Asia including sculpture, ceramics, furniture, coins and medals. There are also illuminated musical and literary manuscripts and rare private books. The whole collection now forms one of the most important provincial museums in the country. A wide range of temporary exhibitions are also on offer, as well as an annually-changing display of contemporary sculpture in the Museum’s grounds.

Eating out in Cambridge.

Midsummer House – not surprisingly on Midsummer Common- is a 2 Michelin Star restaurant that is smart and sophisticated with both food and wines that can thrill any palate. The menu mainly presents French Mediterranean cuisine. You’re advised to book at least two weeks in advance as despite being expensive it is enormously popular. La Mimosa, on Thompsons Lane, is a nice and cozy italian eatery right next to the river, with reasonable prices and a good selection of fish and seafood. Alimentum, on Hills road, is an up-and-coming restaurant with a reputation built around providing affordable, ethical, award-winning food. The Alimentum Jazz Club is a highly acclaimed weekly music and supper club featuring rising stars and the cream of the UK jazz circuit.

Drinking in Cambridge.

Drinking is always an option in Cambridge. Historically, Cambridge has been well served with pubs. In 1597 there were 80 ale houses, although this was reduced to 50 because too much corn was being used for ale instead of bread! By 1749 the number had risen to 156 inns and pubs, serving a population of 10000. Today, the 110 pubs serve a population of around 125000, an average of 1136 people per pub. Visit http://www.cambridge-pubs.co.uk/ for a complete list and description of the pubs, as well as suggested pub-crawl itineraries.

An option here is to find one of the pubs in Cambridge that back on to the River Cam, which also hire out punts. These pubs and bars often have a good mix of tourists, locals and students/academics in them; with the added attraction of being a convenient place to hire a punt from. Well known ‘punting pubs’ are the Granta on Newnham Road, the Fort St George on Midsummer Common and, inevitably, the Boathouse on Chesterton Road. The Fort St George is also the oldest pub in Cambridge, dating back to the 16th century.

If you’re off out in Cambridge for a drinking session then the Eagle on Benet’s Street is a good bar to go to. Apart from selling the great session beer, Greene King IPA – this was the favourite haunt of Crick & Watson during their unravelling of DNAs structure in the 1950s. Legend has it that they spent as much time in the pub as in the labs! Look up at the ceiling in the bar where you’ll see many signatures of US airmen, who were at bases in Cambridgeshire during the Second World War.

Various sources: University of Cambridge, Wikipedia, Cambridge Pubs, VisitCambridge.org

Current Mood: Rushed