Cambridge

Cambridge is a serene and beautiful university city on the gentle river Cam, its ancient colleges strung along the willow-lined lawns of the Backs. The crowning glory is King's College Chapel, whose soaring fan-vaulted ceiling is one of the wonders of English Gothic, and the timeless pleasure of the place is to drift beneath its bridges in a punt, past the colleges where Newton and Darwin once studied.

What to look for

• King's College Chapel - the soaring fan-vaulted Gothic masterpiece.
• The Backs - the college lawns and gardens along the river.
• Punting on the Cam - drifting beneath the bridges past the colleges.
• The colleges - the ancient quadrangles of Trinity and St John's.

When to go

Spring to autumn for punting, open colleges and the best weather; colleges may close to visitors during exams and events, so check ahead. It is an easy day trip from London.

Things to know

Like Oxford, colleges charge, keep limited hours or close during exams and graduation, so check before going. The centre is busy with tourists and students, and punt touts can be pushy. Its beauty is spread across the colleges and the river rather than one central sight.

Nearby

The Fens and Ely with its great cathedral are nearby; London is an hour south.

Key facts