Cambridge
A serene university city on the river Cam - ancient colleges, the soaring fan vaults of King's College Chapel, and punts drifting past lawns along the willow-lined Backs.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Real photos (1)
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 you actually see
- 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.
Honest expectations
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.
What to pack for Cambridge
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
