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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Destination Guide

Cambridge

United Kingdom

Best things to do in Cambridge

37 curated attractions in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Handpicked for every kind of traveler.

Best time

May - September

Average temp

11°C/52°F

Budget

Expensive

Safety

Generally safe

About Cambridge

Cambridge is a university city that leans heavily into its academic heritage, with the university's roots stretching back to the thirteenth century. The colleges, particularly Trinity, Pembroke, and Downing, dominate the skyline, creating a setting that draws in tourists and scholars alike. The River Cam winds through the city, inviting visitors to try their hand at punting, while the Fitzwilliam Museum showcases art and antiquities that are often more impressive than the average visitor anticipates. The presence of the Science Park points to a modern edge within this historical context, making the city a blend of scholarly pursuits and contemporary innovation. People actually come for the chance to explore some of the oldest academic buildings in the English-speaking world and to soak in the atmosphere of intellectualism, punctuated by cyclists zipping across cobbled streets.

Who it's for

Ideal for those who appreciate history, architecture, and the quirks of academia. If you're not a fan of bicycles or prefer sprawling urban environments, you might find the city a tad too quaint and the crowds a bit too scholarly for your taste.

Getting around

Public transport: Good

  • The city centre is compact enough to walk end to end in about twenty minutes
  • Buses run frequently, and cycling is the quickest way to navigate, though you may need to dodge the occasional tourist
  • The nearest major train station is about a mile from the university, with services to London taking an hour
Anglesey Abbey

Anglesey Abbey

Historic houses & mansions
Church of St. Mary the Great

Church of St. Mary the Great

Churches & cathedrals
ADC Theatre

ADC Theatre

Theatres & opera houses
Trumpington

Trumpington

Streets & neighbourhoods
Downing College

Downing College

Historic libraries & universities
Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Science & natural history museums
The Corpus Clock and Chronophage

The Corpus Clock and Chronophage

Fountains, statues & public art
Kettle's Yard

Kettle's Yard

Art museums & galleries
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

History museums
Sheeps Green

Sheeps Green

City parks
Mathematical Bridge

Mathematical Bridge

Bridges
Wren Library

Wren Library

Historic libraries & universities
The Round Church

The Round Church

Churches & cathedrals
Parker's Piece

Parker's Piece

City parks
Cambridge Market

Cambridge Market

Local & craft markets
Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Botanical gardens
St. Bene't's Church

St. Bene't's Church

Churches & cathedrals
Cambridge University Press Museum

Cambridge University Press Museum

Specialty & quirky museums
Jesus Green

Jesus Green

City parks
Corpus Christi College

Corpus Christi College

Historic libraries & universities
Cambridge Science Centre

Cambridge Science Centre

Science & natural history museums
Grantchester Village

Grantchester Village

Traditional villages
Fitzwilliam Museum

Fitzwilliam Museum

Art museums & galleries
Scott Polar Research Institute

Scott Polar Research Institute

Specialty & quirky museums
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial

Cemeteries & tombs
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences

Science & natural history museums
Grantchester Meadows

Grantchester Meadows

Rivers, canyons & gorges
Pembroke College

Pembroke College

Historic libraries & universities
King's College Chapel

King's College Chapel

Churches & cathedrals
Mill Pond

Mill Pond

City parks
The Backs

The Backs

Botanical gardens
Clare College

Clare College

Historic libraries & universities
Trinity College

Trinity College

Historic libraries & universities
The University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge

Historic libraries & universities
River Cam

River Cam

Rivers, canyons & gorges
Cambridge Market Square

Cambridge Market Square

Squares & plazas
St. John's College

St. John's College

Historic libraries & universities

Where to eat in Cambridge

The places worth planning a meal around.

The Eagle pub

The Eagle pub

British · $$

★ 4.4 · 7,724 reviews

The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie

The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie

British · $$$

★ 4.4 · 2,645 reviews

The Cambridge Blue

The Cambridge Blue

British · $$

★ 4.5 · 2,511 reviews

The Cambridge Chop House

The Cambridge Chop House

British · $$$

★ 4.4 · 2,198 reviews

The Pint Shop

The Pint Shop

British · $$

★ 4.3 · 1,921 reviews

Midsummer House⭐⭐ Michelin

Midsummer House

Modern British · $$$$

★ 4.7 · 754 reviews

Things to do in Cambridge

Tours, cruises and experiences, rather than places to visit.

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