Cambridge
Cambridge City Guide
Introduction
Cambridge is a beautiful city that has been shaped by its academic heritage. The campus is spread out in colleges dotted all over the city and the university dominates life here. The presence of so many students in such a small city makes for a lively yet laid back atmosphere, so it’s a pleasant place to spend a couple of days.
It’s a good idea to get a visitor Card. Costing only £2.50, it gives discounts and special offers on a great number of attractions, shops and restaurants in and around the city.
Attractions
Colleges
The University of Cambridge is structured in the collegiate system, with departments and faculties divided among a network of autonomous colleges, of which there are over 30. Each one has its own unique history and heritage. Here are some of the highlights for visitors:
• King’s College
King’s is the most visited of all the Cambridge colleges, principally for its marvellous 15th century chapel, the oldest remaining building of the college. The chapel’s traditional boy’s choir still sings evensong daily during term time.
• Queen’s College
With its picturesque Tudor courtyards, Queen’s College, founded in 1448, is one of the prettiest colleges in the city. The Great Hall has portraits of one of its most famous students, Erasmus, who studied in the tower of the President’s Lodge in the early 16th century.
• Peterhouse
Founded in 1284, Peterhouse is the oldest college of the university. One of the few remaining original buildings is the 13th century hall, which was redesigned by William Morris.
• Caius College
Caius is the Latinised name of co-founder John Keys, who designed the gates of the beautiful Caius Courtyard to represent the cornerstones of educational enlightenment: the Gate of Humility, the Gate of Virtue and the Gate of Honour.
• Trinity College
Founded by Henry VIII in 1546, many of the buildings of Trinity College date from the 16th and 17th centuries. It’s the largest college in the University and has the biggest courtyard, the Great Court. It also boasts a magnificent library designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
• Magdalene College
Magdalene College is home to the Pepys Library, a magnificent collection of books bequeathed by the famous 18th century diarist Samuel Pepys.
• Jesus College
The Cloister Court at Jesus College is undoubtedly the prettiest in the whole of Cambridge. Its walls are adorned with ivy and the hanging baskets all around add a beautiful burst of colour.
• Emmanuel College
Behind the neo-classical main building of Emmanuel College stand two of Sir Christopher Wren’s earliest buildings, the chapel and the cloister gallery.
• Downing College
The austere neo-classical façade of Downing College, which is arranged around a large open lawn rather than a central courtyard, is visually quite different from the other Cambridge colleges.
• Corpus Christi College
The Old Court of Corpus Christi College is where Christopher Marlowe wrote Tamburlane as a student. The library and chapel of this college are also steeped in history – the former contains an extensive collection of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and the latter pre-dates the college itself, making it one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge.
The river and bridges
A visit to Cambridge wouldn’t be complete without a punt along the River Cam. The boats can carry up to six people and there are rental points all along the riverbank. It’s a good way to see some of the city’s well known bridges, such as Clare Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge.
Churches
Many of the most impressive churches in Cambridge are housed within the colleges, as listed above, but there are many more noteworthy churches around the city. The 15th century Gothic St Mary’s Church has a magnificent tower, which can be climbed for excellent views of the city. Even older is the Round Church, built in the 12th century. As most churches are designed in a cross shape, this building is very unusual and is thought to represent the resurrection of Christ. The thick pillars and ornate arches in its interior are typical of the Norman style.
Museums
Many of the city’s best museums are of course owned and run by the University. There’s a great complex of museums along Downing Street, such as the Museum of Zoology, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Sedgwick Geology Museum and the Whipple Museum of Science. The most interesting museum, though, is the Fitzwilliam Museum, which contains a vast amalgamation of many private collections of ancient Egyptian and Greek artefacts as well as 19th and 20th century paintings and sculpture. Art lovers shouldn’t miss Kettle’s Yard, an old building converted into a spacious gallery displaying some great works of modern art. Also of interest is the Folk Museum, housed in the historic former White Horse Inn, which provides a refreshing break from the academic history of the city. Through a fascinating range of exhibits and displays, the museum depicts local Cambridge life throughout the centuries.
Eating Out
As Cambridge is a student city, there are plenty of cheap cafes and bars serving food, but gourmet restaurants are a little thin on the ground. However, there is something for everyone and it’s just a matter of finding the right place.
The Roof Garden of the Cambridge Arts Theatre on St Edward’s Passage and the Copper Kettle on King’s Parade are two of the city’s best cafes. As far as pubs are concerned, The Vaults on Trinity Street and the River Bar and Kitchen on Quayside serve very good bar meals and snacks. For something a little fancier, Twenty-Two on Chesterton Road is a beautiful townhouse restaurant serving exquisite modern British and European dishes. The Midsummer House on Midsummer Common is an exclusive riverside restaurant with a mouth-watering menu of Mediterranean specialities.
Nightlife
Mainly catering for students, the nightclubs in Cambridge have a young and vibrant atmosphere. The newly refurbished Soul Tree on Corn Exchange Street has an enormous dance floor and a great balcony overlooking it. There’s regular live music as well as a changing list of DJs, so every night there’s something different on. Kambar on Wheeler Street is another popular student haunt. It’s in an old listed building, which contrasts with the sleek and funky modern interior.
As a centre of academic excellence, Cambridge has a thriving arts scene, particularly during term time. The Corn Exchange has a year-long calendar of events. Check out the Varsity or What’s On Cambridge? guides for listings.
There are plenty of fairs and festivals in the city, particularly at the end of the academic year. Balls and parties are held in the first two weeks of June to celebrate the start of the summer holidays, which is rather strangely referred to as May Week. The highlight of the festival is the ‘May Bumps’ boat race on the River Cam. Cambridge is well known for two excellent music festivals – the Midsummer Fair, in which all the concerts and gigs are free, and the Cambridge Folk Festival, which attracts a range of modern and traditional folk acts.
