The University of Cambridge takes pride in being one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. Located in Cambridge, United Kingdom, the university is known for its libraries, colleges, and campus that sports an old-world charm.
This is one of the hubs of excellence in academics and has students from all over the world. When in Cambridge, there is nothing like exploring the brilliance of this university and admiring how curious the students are to learn something new. Cambridge boasts more than just the university and the brightest minds that live there. From museums and restaurants to spots for watching live performances like music and theatre, there are a lot of places to visit and things to do in Cambridge.
Highlights
• Get a unique glimpse of the city by punting down the river and navigating the narrow lanes on a boat that resembles a Gondola.
• Opt for a walking tour and learn more about the university as you walk around, from the students of the University of Cambridge.
• Check out the vintage electronics at the Centre for Computing History and be obsessed with the gadgets dating back to the 90s.
• Watch the Corpus Clock at Corpus Christi College and admire the artistic presentation of this big clock.
• Explore the city on a bicycle, that too like a local in the most authentic way as you navigate through the narrow lanes of this bicycle friendly city.
How To Reach
- By Car: The University of Cambridge is almost 2 kilometres away from the Cambridge railway station. It will take around 15 minutes to reach the University, which you can reach by taking the St Paul’s road.
- By Bus: Take the Park and Ride bus to multiple stops in the city like Trumpington which is almost 2 kilometres away from the university. You can reach the university by getting down at Cambridge City Centre.
- By Foot: University of Cambridge is 15 minutes away from the centre of the city. Take Norwich Street when travelling from the centre of the city and you will have to walk just 1 kilometre.
Best Time To Visit
University of Cambridge is open throughout the year, so you can plan your visit to the university at any time of the year.
-The best season will be the fall season as this is the time when the climate will be favourable and the university will be bustling with students. If you want to visit the university when the students are not there, you can opt for the winter season in months like December as this is the time when the students will go home for the vacation.
- The best day in the week will be the weekends as the university will have a holiday and you can have the entire premises to yourself.
-The best time of the day will be in the morning when the day is about to begin so that you can explore the different colleges of the university in a day.
Other Essential Information
1.You might have to walk a lot to get around in the city, so dress accordingly.
2.Visiting the university during breaks will help you explore the premises much patiently.
3. Be very choosy when choosing to explore the colleges in Cambridge as there are 31 colleges and exploring all of them can be very tiring.
4. Mill Road comes alive during the winter season, thanks to the Winter Fair, so if you are in Cambridge during this time of the year, do check it out.
5. Apart from the university, places like the botanical garden and the Grantchester village are worth exploring when in cambridge.
.jpeg)
Punt down the river
Apart from attending classes and spending time in the library, students here love to go for punting i.e., boating in the narrow canals of the city. The best part is that you don’t have to row the boat and this is one of the popular ways to explore the city and the university. The boats here are shaped like a gondolier and will give you an authentic old world vibe when you travel.
Visit Kettle’s Yard
This is one the oldest art galleries in Cambridge and was once the residence of Jim and Helen Ede. Jim was once the curator of the Tate Gallery and they both filled their home with different types of artworks. Later, they gave away the home to the University of Cambridge which is now a gallery but continues to give a very homely feeling. After checking out the gallery, head to the cafe nearby to try out some delicious treats.
Explore King’s College Chapel
This is one of the most important structures in the University of Cambridge. The chapel comes alive during occasions like Easter and Christmas, thanks to the carol service which is recorded by the BBC too. The chapel is also famous for the world’s largest fan vaulted ceiling that you can check out when you are in the chapel. After visiting the chapel, you can head to the corner for drinks in a pub known as The Eagle.
Tour the city on bicycles
University of Cambridge is known for the students commuting a lot on bicycles, so why not blend into the crowd and explore the city like a local? The city is modestly small, so you will find plenty of places to hire a bicycle from. When you are cycling, do check out the intricate lanes as they are exclusive lanes for exploring on a bicycle.
Go for a walking tour
There is nothing like exploring the world’s most prestigious university guided by their students. This is a unique experience where students of the University of Cambridge are enthusiastic enough to show the tourists around the city and their university. The walking tour is known to be very pleasant and will give you a lot of insights about the university and its history.