best places to visit near cambridge

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The 22 best things to do in Cambridge right now

From punting to theatre, here’s how to smash a weekend break in this picture-perfect city

When you think of Cambridge, you probably think of the university (where a bunch of very famous and very clever people started out). But you’ll find when you visit that that culture and creativity exists all over the city, from its museums and galleries to its epic food scene.

Apt for exploration by punt, bike or foot, Cambridge boasts a hell of a lot; comedy, theatre, live music and art galleries sit against architectural marvels and lush greenery, making this not just a fascinating place but a darn romantic one, too. Looking for a quiet weekend break? This is the spot. Here are the best things to do in Cambridge right now. 

RECOMMENDED: 🍝 The best  restaurants in Cambridge 🏘️ The best  Airbnbs in Cambridge 🚣 A perfect day in Cambridge

Words and original photos by  Miriam Balanescu , a writer based in Cambridge.  At Time Out, all of our  travel guides  are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines .

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What to do in Cambridge

1.  Punt down the River Cam

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• Rivers, lakes and ponds

What is it?  Cambridge’s most famous pastime (apart from reading loads of books) and  o n e of the best ways to see the city. The good news is you don’t even need to work your own arm muscles.

Why go?  To get within sniffing distance of Cambridge and not go punting is like going to Pisa and not seeing the leaning tower. The brave and the skilled do the stick-bit themselves, but if you’re a first-timer, book a gondolier-like guide to navigate the River Cam for you.

2.  See modern masterpieces at Kettle’s Yard

What is it?   The most homely art gallery you’ll ever come across (because it used to be someone’s home).

Why go?   Kettle’s Yard was once the residence of Jim and Helen Ede. Thanks to Jim’s job as a curator at the Tate Gallery, the couple filled their home with artworks by famous names like Barbara Hepworth and Joan Mirò. Then, in an act of extreme generosity, the Edes gave it all to Cambridge University. You can now visit it and see the art lovingly arranged around the house, which still feels like a home.

3.  Find the new footlights at the ADC

What is it?   This student-run theatre isn’t your typical am-dram set up: it’s where Sue Perkins, Emma Corrin and Tom Hiddleston first trod the boards, so you might witness a star in the making.

Why go?   With multiple shows on a week in term time, catch dramatic monologues and cutting-edge comedy at a budget price. There are often classics like ‘Grease’ on the programme, but try to get a ticket for one of the Footlights’ original sketch shows for a proper Cambridge night out.

4.  Try unusual ice-cream flavours at Jack’s Gelato

What is it? An ice-cream shop like no other. Since popping up on Bene’t Street in 2010, the tiny dessert shop has become a big draw for locals and tourists alike.

Why go? Jack’s Gelato has all your fave regular flavours, but that’s not why you should visit. Highlights have included marmalade, panettone and rooibos gelato, and white peach sorbet. To dodge the queue, a second much-less-busy branch opened in 2023, five minutes away on All Saints Passage. If you can’t get enough – and we wouldn’t blame you – pint tubs are available via their website to enjoy at home. 

5.  Browse the ever-changing market stalls

What is it? Grab lunch with the locals at the tightly packed street-food stalls in the centre of town.

Why go? There are some great restaurants in the city, but if you want to try something cooked right in front of you, this is your best bet. Think Chinese pancake wraps, posh Scotch eggs, veggie Brazilian fare and unbeatable mac and cheese. 

6.  See art and antiquities at The Fitzwilliam Museum

What is it? Cambridge’s first-rate art and antiquities museum where you can marvel at objects from around the world.

Why go? The Fitzwilliam is owned by Cambridge University and, like Oxford’s Ashmolean, is a treasure chest of a museum. Unlike the supersized British Museum in London, the Fitzwilliam is home to enough diverse trinkets, ornaments and paintings to make you marvel, but not enough to give you brain-overload. Plus, it’s free entry.

7.  Eat a Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies

What is it? A cinnamon-spiced treat somewhere between a cake and a pastry, made by a century-old bakery – which happens to be a Cambridge institution almost as hallowed as the university itself.

Why go? Ignore the London-hailing name – you haven’t really been to Cambridge until you’ve tasted this bakery’s revered, irresistibly sticky raisin-studded bun. (They’ve been making them since 1920 and churn out over 200,000 of them every year.) Even though the buns are all anyone seems to talk about, Fitzbillies ’ offerings don’t stop there – they do a pretty darn good brunch and lunch too.  

8.  Immerse yourself in greenery at the Botanic Gardens

What is it? Some 40 acres of gorgeously green (and pink and yellow and red…) botanic gardens owned by Cambridge University, where you can earnestly study horticulture or snooze on the lawn.

Why go? Cambridge’s botanic gardens are an Arcadian paradise hidden behind a fairly nondescript entrance at the station end of town. What sets them apart from other city gardens is the woodland vibe. Lose yourself in a maze of lush foliage and leave all your troubles behind.

9.  Explore King’s College Chapel

What is it? The stunning gothic chapel that dominates the centre of Cambridge. It’s a must-visit, even if church-spotting isn’t your sport.

Why go? Every festive season, the BBC’s Christmas Eve carol service is recorded in King’s College Chapel, giving sherry-filled adults the chance to embarrassingly cry over the first crystalline bars of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Relive this tradition with a visit inside the breathtaking chapel itself, which boasts housing the world’s largest fan vaulted ceiling – then head round the corner for drinks at The Eagle . 

10.  Watch a gig at Cambridge Junction

What is it?  An independent arts venue where you can see comedy, music, theatre, spoken word, movies and more. 

Why go?  The Cambridge Junction must be one of the UK’s best music venues. It makes some canny programming choices, is run by a friendly team and offers everything from alternative rock and folk to one-off Edinburgh Fringe previews from top stand-ups.  Don’t miss its incredible monthly queer night Club Urania, which always has a stunning line-up of performers but most of all is just a really nice place to be.

11.  Grab a drink at The Maypole

What is it? Only the best pub in the whole of Cambridge, where you can choose from an unrivalled array of beverages, with separate menus dedicated to Belgian beers, gins and whiskeys.

Why go? The Maypole is a few paces away from the ADC and it’s where most actors, crew and audiences head post-show. It’s also one of a handful of freehouses in the city, meaning it has a seemingly endless selection of real ales on tap and local brews. Take your pick from its impressive range of tipples – from chocolate stouts to cherry blossom gins – and listen in on some thespian gossip.

12.  Take a stroll through Grantchester

What is it? A tiny village on the outskirts of Cambridge, most famous for its sprawling, riverside meadows – and being the filming location for the BBC detective series of the same name.

Why go? Despite its small size, this quaint village packs a lot in. The Orchard Tea Garden was once a favoured haunt of the city’s literati. (Rupert Brooke, Xu Zhimo, E. M. Forster and Virginia Woolf were apparently all regulars for cream tea.) The local parish church keeps a shrine to the fictional crime-solving priest in Grantchester’s TV namesake. And, murder aside, its meadows are the perfect picnic spot.  

13.  Unearth vintage treasures along Mill Road

What is it?  A long, street art-splashed road to the west of the city that encompasses quaint terraces and cool independent shops.

Why go?  You’ll find vintage shops galore along Mill Road, so if you’re looking for some ’70s-style homeware or an offbeat addition to your wardrobe, spend an afternoon browsing to your heart’s content. Vinyl nerds should head to  Relevant Records  for secondhand LPs and new releases (and some great coffee). If it’s food you’re after, Italian deli  Limoncello  may well have the best Mediterranean snacks in East Anglia.

14.  Get nerdy at the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum

What is it? A niche museum that’s all about Cambridge University’s world-class polar research. 

Why go? Fancy yourself a bit of an explorer but only ever manage to take day trips around the UK? Well, the Polar Museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute will introduce you to genuinely intrepid (and cold) historic explorations of far-flung corners of the globe, all from the comfort of Cambridge. Free entry.

15.  Tour the city on two wheels

What is it? Cambridge is well known for its sheer barrage of bikes. Because of this, the city is well set up for riders, and locals on foot are used to dodging wayward wheels.

Why go? Given its modest size, Cambridge is best navigated by bike. There are loads of places to hire them from , and you can lock them just about anywhere. There are plenty of cycle lanes – sometimes so well-hidden that a pack of bikes seem to come out of nowhere, so keep an eye out. Cambridge really is a cyclist’s paradise.

16.  Feed your inner bookworm at Heffers

What is it? Sure, it’s a bookshop, but what a bookshop. It's perhaps better described as a palace of literature.

Why go? If there’s a city in the UK where a person shouldn’t have to apologise for being a bit of a geek, it’s Cambridge. Feed your inner bookworm until it bloats and blossoms into a beautiful butterfly at Heffers , the oddly named bookshop where browsing and buying are both a pleasure.

17.  Order cocktails at Bar 196

What is it? The go-to spot to sip a roasted coconut daquiri al fresco while watching the world go by. 

Why go? From Bar 196 ’s handwritten menus to the unusual (and slightly unsettling) picture collages on the loo walls, this cocktail bar has gained cult status among Cambridge locals. Its extensive drinks list is a mix of familiar favourites and twists on old classics – with the bar staff happy to whip up pretty much any drink on request. In summer, you might have to fight for a prime seat on the pavements of Mill Road, where you can feel Parisian as the sun sets over Mill Road bridge. And, in winter, this bar’s dimly lit interior is a great place to cosy up.

18.  Cross the mathematical bridge

What is it ? A bridge in Queens’ College that looks curved but is made entirely of straight timbers. It’s so clever that Oxford copied it, but you should see the original.

Why go? Perhaps you never realised you wanted to see a great feat in mid-eighteenth-century architecture, but you should. The design for this bridge was dreamed up by engineer James King – though tour guides love to spread the rumour that this bridge was originally designed by Sir Isaac Newton. Legend has it that nothing but the wooden beams held it up, but after the wood rotted and no one could remember what exactly Newton had done, they had to rebuild it with nails. While sadly not true, for definite Newton-related landmarks head down the road to Trinity College to see the fabled tree responsible for the scientist’s theory of gravity. 

19.  Catch a glimpse of The Corpus Clock

What is it?  A very large and bizarre clock designed to make you fear the incessant ticking away of each moment on earth. Just don’t head here if you actually need to know the time.

Why go?  The Corpus Clock is on the front of the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College. It’s less a clock (although it is accurate every once in a while) and more of an art piece. The marvellously creepy insect straddling it appears to ‘eat’ time – a reminder that we don’t have as much of it left as we think.

20.  Climb to the top of Great St Mary’s

What is it? A panoramic view of the city, 123 steps up.

Why go? St Mary’s is next to the marketplace, meaning it’s easy to get to, and you’ll have plenty of energy left for the steep but manageable climb to the top. And boy is the view worth it. The church is even older than the university – with the foundations built as early as 1010 (fun fact: King Henry VII donated 100 oak trees to construct its roof). Want to learn more history? Then have a go on the building’s interactive touch screens.

21.  Visit the Centre for Computing History

What is it? A museum full of vintage electronics, including everything from a mammoth microprocessor to Pac-Man. 

Why go? If you came to Cambridge to geek the hell out, you might as well do it properly. Get in a metaphorical time machine and remind yourself of the days before iPhones and Alexas. We bet you’ll love it, because who isn’t obsessed with the ‘90s? Gen Z, prepare to have your minds blown.

22.  Go behind-the-scenes on a university tour

What is it? A student’s eye view of the world-famous university, giving visitors an insider’s introduction to its most beautiful nooks and crannies.

Why go? As a city, Cambridge is pleasingly compact and easy to navigate on foot. The same is true of the university, which dominates the centre. Take a stroll through and around the institution with those who know it best as a guide: real-life Cambridge students.

More great things to do in Cambridge

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Beyond Cambridge

The surrounding area of cambridgeshire offers a wonderful range of things to see and do..

Breathe in a land of lazy waterways, rolling countryside, majestic cathedrals, magnificent stately homes, bustling market towns and quaint villages. Discover a whole new shopping experience in quirky stores and exquisite boutiques tucked away along cobbled streets. Climb grand sweeping staircases in the homes of the aristocracy. Relax as you chug along in a leisure boat, watching the wildlife or get a bit closer to nature at our wonderful nature reserves.

Or if you are feeling energetic how about joining one of the many walking tours on offer in Cambridge and the surrounding areas, or hop on two wheels and follow our many cycle routes. You can ride through the fens, through our wonderful parks and tiny villages and call into our picturesque pubs for a refreshing drink and some fine home cooked food.

You might prefer to soak up some culture in one or two of the many galleries and museums. Our local museums offer an insight into the area’s history and a taste of bygone days.

Come and explore you won’t be disappointed!

South Cambridgeshire

Set in 350 square miles of fantastic cycling and walking countryside, the district of South Cambridgeshire offers the perfect opportunity to relax and explore. With its historic monuments, houses and museums set in the tranquil and rural landscape of rolling chalk hills covered with beech woods and flat fertile land, South Cambridgeshire provides a great location for everyone from the lively and adventurous to those who want to unwind and get away from it all.

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Discover Newmarket

Discover Newmarket offer’s an exciting range of options that accommodate all budgets and requirements, from a public tour of The National Stud to a luxury bespoke tour with private access to leading trainers and studs followed by hospitality at Newmarket Racecourses. The options are endless! Visitors are offered a great opportunity to go behind the scenes at racing’s headquarters and to see the equine stars at work.

Discover Ramsey

Ramsey is a quintessential English market town full of heritage and historic buildings, nestling in the stunning open countryside of seemingly never-ending skies. Not only that, but its main street covers a secret which unlocks the key to the history of the town! You can visit over a dozen heritage attractions, enjoy the great outdoors or simply come to wander, take tea or a pub lunch and browse in our independent shops.

Ely is steeped in history and is principally renowned for Ely Cathedral, a magnificent building with its unique Octagon Tower which dominates the landscape for miles around. Ely’s riverside is a favourite spot for visitors wishing to relax, take a boat trip, browse through shops and galleries, enjoy afternoon tea or simply watch the activity on the river.   The River Great Ouse is a natural magnet for visitors to Ely and the long riverside frontage is a great place to watch the world – and a host of aquatic birds – go by.

West Suffolk

West Suffolk sits at the very heart of the East of England. With a rich variety of natural landscape and many rare wildlife species, the area is renowned for its excellent quality of life, market towns, picture-book villages and many tourist attractions. In its villages, West Suffolk’s distinct historical character comes to the fore, offering a slice of authentic county life.

St Ives is a gem of a town just half an hour from Cambridge. With a beautiful historic riverside setting, a market and riverport tradition and a lively and bustling nature, this a memorable place to visit. The heart of the town is the old riverport area with wide market streets, a quayside and the iconic mediaeval town bridge with a Chapel in the middle. A wander round the alleyways will reveal interesting shops and buildings, and an electric riverboat trip will show you wonderful unspoilt water meadow river scenery. You are assured of a warm welcome in St Ives.

St Neots is a charming riverside town with a friendly and vibrant character. Although the largest and fastest growing town in Cambridgeshire (located 18 miles west of Cambridge), St Neots still retains its rich heritage and charm, with plenty to offer the visitor.

Saffron Walden

Saffron Walden is a picturesque, medieval town, in north-west Essex. It has a rich heritage of old buildings reflecting its wealth as a rural market town. There are many interesting historic buildings in the town. At the heart lies St Mary’s Church, the largest parish church in Essex. Fine examples of elaborate moulded plasterwork (pargetting), can be seen on the Old Sun Inn and the houses in Castle Street & Bridge Street.

Huntingdon grew up around a river crossing on the Great Ouse. Today, the Riverside Park is a perfect area to watch boats pass by. In Norman times, the town had sixteen churches but fell into decline at around the time of the Black Death. In the 18th century, Huntingdon prospered again as an important staging post for travellers on the Great North Road. The historic core is still intact, with many fine Georgian buildings to be seen.

Wisbech and the Fens

Wisbech, the Capital of the Fens is the perfect place for a day out or a break to get away from it all. There is plenty of accommodation choice, from historic town centre hotels to attractive B&B’s in rural settings and charming self catering cottages. Wisbech is renowned for its elegant Georgian architecture, a legacy from an era when the town was a booming trade centre.

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With over 800 years of history, tread in the footsteps of many famous faces, including Charles Darwin, James Watson and France Crick, Rosalind Franklin, Sylvia Plath and Professor Stephen Hawking.

Get to know the real Cambridge with these can't miss spots

Oct 2, 2021 • 9 min read

Medieval magnificence flows through the streets of Cambridge and many activities are free © Cristian Bortes / EyeEm

Medieval magnificence flows through the streets of Cambridge like the lilting waters of the River Cam, which meanders past the ‘backs’ of such legendary seats of learning such as King’s College, Trinity College and Peterhouse.   

Viewed from a gently gliding punt, or on foot from the tangled lanes that sneak between the colleges, Cambridge is exceptionally beautiful, and arguably more accessible than Oxford, thanks to its manageable scale and lower tourist profile. It’s also great fun, with historic pubs, student-oriented places to eat, picnic-friendly college greens and the ever-nostalgic charm of punting on the river. 

There’s loads to see and many things are free, but it pays to make a plan before you arrive. Here are some tips for the top things to see and do in Cambridge. 

Note: due to Covid, many colleges have restricted entry to pre-booked visitors, or closed to non-students, but you can still view these lavish establishments from outside. Things can change quickly, so check the latest advice before you visit. 

King’s College Chapel 

Flamboyantly finished in carved Gothic flourishes, King’s College dominates the centre of Cambridge. With advance booking, you can experience the full grandeur of the 16th-century college chapel , whose extravagant wood-carving and stained glass is only exceeded by the world’s largest fan-vaulted ceiling towering overhead. 

The chapel was founded by Henry VI, but it took a further five English monarchs to complete this extraordinary monument (look for Henry VIII’s carved initials inside, added during the final stages).The stained glass is original–Oliver Cromwell reputedly ordered it spared during the English Civil War out of nostalgia for his own college days.     

Trinity College 

The largest Cambridge college, Trinity is wrapped around an enormous quadrangle that emerges dramatically as you step through the college’s monumental Tudor gateway (with its stern statue of Henry VIII, holding a table leg rather than sceptre after a student prank). Grand gothic architecture rises on all sides, and the college’s famous Wren Library has original copies of works by Shakespeare, Newton and Swift. 

Check the latest on their opening policy; if the interiors are closed to non-students, you can still view the dramatic frontage and the rear of the college from a punt on the Cam. 

The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitz is a museum to rival anything in London, Edinburgh or Oxford. This was one of the first public art museums in Britain, displaying treasures accumulated by Viscount FitzWilliam in the 18th-century, alongside a treasure trove of more recent acquisitions. Egypt, Roman Britain and ancient Cyprus are particularly well represented, as are ancient and modern ceramics and glassware. Upstairs are paintings by da Vinci, Rubens, Picasso and other big brush-wielders.  

Take a punt along the Cam

Okay, so it’s unashamedly touristy, and fairly costly, but hiring a punt for a gentle glide on the Cam is one of the best ways to admire the medieval city. From the punt stations at Mill Lane and Quayside, you can swoosh past the backs of the colleges and view the genteel reality of student life behind the college’s lavish facades. 

En route, you’ll pass under a string of elegant college bridges, from Christopher Wren’s graceful stone construction at St John’s College to the flimsy-looking Mathematical Bridge at Queen’s College. Take your pick from self-poled punts or chauffeur-driven boats with a waterborne tour; Scudamore’s is the biggest operator. For a change of pace, head upstream to the picture-postcard suburb of Grantchester, a favorite student escape.  

Browse the latest from the University Press 

The University Press bookshop on Trinity St is a monument to knowledge, and a great place to get a feel for the latest high-brow thinking to come out of the Cambridge colleges. University publications cover everything from climate change and genetics to gender identity and social reform; even reading the dust covers of the latest tomes will leave you measurably better informed.

Gonville & Caius College

With the unusual distinction of having been founded twice (hence the double name), Gonville & Caius is one of the best colleges to view from outside. Three magnificent gates–known as Virtue, Humility and Honour–invite students into the college, and usher them onward to graduation at the adjacent Senate House, via the occult-looking Porta Honoris. If you’re totting up famous alumni, this was the alma mater of Crick and Watson and Stephen Hawking. 

Have a pub debate 

Some of the mysteries of the ages were solved over pints in Cambridge’s public houses, and you can still listen in on some serious intellectual discussion today. Favored watering holes include the Eagle , where Crick and Watson talked over the structure of DNA till the wee hours, and the hipster-friendly Cambridge Brew House , with brews on tap from the on-site microbrewery. 

Watch sunset from the Varsity roof terrace 

The boutique Varsity Hotel emerges unexpectedly from the backstreets north of the centre, and its open-air Roof Terrace bar is undisputedly the best spot in the city to watch the sunset. With a cocktail in hand, you can look out over a sea of church spires and college turrets, but book ahead; space is in demand on any warm weekend evening. 

Go to the Footlights

Cambridge’s ADC Theatre is the home stage of Footlights , the university’s student legendary comedy club. The troupe has been putting witty students on stage since 1883, turning out such heavyweights of comedy as Richard Ayoade, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Miriam Margolyes, Emma Thompson and the Monty Pythons. Check the websites for upcoming events.  

Great St Mary’s Church 

Facing off against the opulent chapel of King’s College, Great St Mary’s Church may not win the battle of the chapels, but it does offer dizzying views over the college quarter from the top of its 113ft (38m) tower. A leg-straining climb up a narrow spiral staircase will deliver you to the rooftop, with vertiginous views directly over King’s College, the Senate House and Gonville & Caius College.

Have a Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies 

You haven’t been to Cambridge until you’ve stepped in for a Chelsea bun at Fitzbillies . Generations of students have gathered here for a carb hit between lectures, and their buns are drowned in sticky syrup and jam-packed with spices and currants. Eat in, or grab some neatly boxed to go and retreat to one of the college greens.  

Pedal the backstreets 

Generations of Cambridge students have navigated the streets by pedal power, and it’s easy to join them by hiring a bike in town or at the train station. To recharge after a scoot around the city, drop into Espresso Library , just east of Parker’s Piece green, which lures in bikers with the aroma of strong coffee and wholesome world food offerings.  

Kettle’s Yard 

Some museums keep the art at arm’s length, but not Kettle’s Yard . Previously the home of a curator from London’s Tate Gallery, this fascinating museum is full of lived-with artworks, from paintings and sculptures to found objects, scattered around lived-in spaces. Big names like Henry Moore and Miro are represented, but it’s the work by less well known artists that sticks in the memory.  

Take a pub and food crawl along Mill Road 

No matter where you are, student life means pub crawls followed by a kebab or curry and Mill Road is where these sessions usually stagger to a halt. Start off in a town pub and drift slowly eastwards as the evening wears on, then browse the inexpensive Asian and Middle Eastern eateries on Mill Road.

Have a packed afternoon tea

It says something about the demographic of the university intake that packed afternoon teas are a thing. For an elegantly boxed selection of buns and sandwiches to munch daintily on a picnic blanket at Jesus Green, head to Harriet’s Cafe Tearooms on Green Street and pretend you’re pausing for a sugar hit before rushing off to a debate.  

Go church hopping

As well as the college chapels, Cambridge is studded with interesting medieval churches, many with famous pedigrees. Little St Mary’s is a popular stop for its familial links to US president George Washington, but the wonderfully arcane-looking Round Church is more atmospheric. One of only four round medieval churches in Britain, it was built by a mysterious order of monks after the First Crusade and it hides one of the clues to the location of the Holy Grail...okay, we can’t back that up, but if it turned out to be true, we wouldn’t be surprised. 

Have a splash at the Jesus Green Lido 

There are far too many punts about for the Cam to be suitable for swimming, but the Jesus Green Lido comes a close second best. This unheated, open-air pool offers a similar jolt-you-awake experience to river swimming, and it’s been welcoming locals and visitors since the 1920s. On sunny days, the sun-bathing spots around the pool are in heavy demand. 

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Like Kew Gardens in miniature, Cambridge’s botanic garden is a chlorophyll-filled wonder. Most make a beeline for the tropical greenhouses with their steamy collection of palms and ferns, but it’s the back paths, hidden clearings and secret spaces in between the planted beds that make the gardens so special. With kids in tow, it’s a great spot for a game of hide and seek. 

St John’s College  

Every Cambridge college has a list of famous alumni as long as a punting pole, but the honors list at St John’s is particularly cosmopolitan. William Wordsworth, William Wilberforce, former Indian PM Manmohan Singh and writer Douglas Adams all studied here. As well as a full hand of stately college buildings, the college is famous for its medieval Bridge of Sighs, a masterpiece of stone tracery that often forms the focus for college pranks.  

Cruise the college museums 

Assuming they’re open to non-students (check first), the university’s museums are a fabulous resource for anyone craving an instant education. College museums cover everything from archaeology and anthropology to zoology and the history of science itself, but perhaps the stand out is the Polar Museum , devoted to the likes of Scott of the Antarctic, Roald Amundsen and Ernest Shackleton, with original items from polar expeditions.     

Detour out of town to the Imperial War Museum  

You’ll have to day trip out of Cambridge to reach the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, but it’s worth it for an epic spread of military history, much of it of the aeronautical variety. Britain’s largest aircraft collection covers everything from famous WWI and WWII fighters and bombers (Hurricanes, Spitfires, Lancasters and the like) to a retired Concorde. Check the website for upcoming events; many aircraft here still take to the skies for annual airshows. 

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Home » Travel Guides » United States » Massachusetts (MA) » 15 Best Things to Do in Cambridge (MA)

15 Best Things to Do in Cambridge (MA)

For those who make the trip to Cambridge in Massachusetts , expect to be dazzled by this university town which is most famous for being the location of world renowned Harvard University. The city has a student feel to it which means that you will find vibrant nightlife, eclectic restaurants, as well as a wealth of other events such as standup comedy night and live music performances.

In addition to this youthful atmosphere, Cambridge is well known for its wealth of museums, many of which are affiliated and located within Harvard University, and are known for paving the way in restoration and research projects. If you get out and about in Cambridge, you will also find leafy spots such as parks and reservoirs, and you can even take to the water here and go on a boat tour that will let you see the city in a whole new light.

Lets explore the best things to do in Cambridge :

1. Harvard Art Museums

Part of Harvard University, the Harvard Art Museums are made up of three distinct museums, the first of which opened in 1896. As such, the Fogg Museum is not only the oldest of the three museums, but is also famous for its eclectic exhibits that includes Western artwork such as paintings, print work, photographs, and even sculptures that date from as early as the Middle Ages to the present day. The second museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum, first opened its doors in 1903 and is a great place to come if you are interested in German artwork. Finally, rounding off the trio is the Arthur M. Sackler Museum that dates from 1985 and has Asian art such as Korean, Japanese, and Chinese pieces.

2. The American Repertory Theater

The American Repertory Theater, also known as A.R.T for short, is a theater company from the Cambridge area who are located at Harvard University. The group was first established back in 1980 and this is the place to come if you want to see new American dramas as well as other genres like musicals. The theater is said to be one of the most important in the United States and has won a number of accolades over the years including illustrious Tony Awards and even a Pulitzer Prize.

3. Harvard Museum of Natural History

First opened in 1998, the Harvard Museum of Natural History has over 12,000 different natural specimens and is known for being one of the most visited museums in Cambridge. Here you will find dinosaurs, meteorites, gems, and even fossils. There is also a Kronosaurus which is a marine animal that would have dated from the time of the dinosaurs and measures 42 feet. You can also find the Blaschka ‘Glass Flowers’ here, a world famous collection of glass plants. For younger visitors, many of the exhibits are interactive and encourage hands-on learning.

4. Fresh Pond Reservation

A park and local reservoir in Cambridge, the Fresh Pond Reservation is home to a 155 acre lake as well as 162 acres of land. There are trails around the lake that span over 2 miles and you can run, hike, or cycle in the area. If you fancy a game, then there is also a golf course located here, where you can enjoy the 9 hole green as well as taking in some of the flora and fauna of Cambridge at the same time.

5. Longfellow House

The former home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a famous American poet, the Longfellow House is also known as Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site. Built in 1759, the house acted as the headquarters of George Washington during the Revolutionary War in 1775 until 1776. The house and adjacent gardens can be visited daily and there are also guided tours for those who want to know more about this historically significant home. Depending on when you visit, there are also special events hosted at the house that include reenactments of historical scenes, musical concerts, and poetry readings.

6. Charles Riverboat Company

Started in 1990, the Charles Riverboat Company is the best place to take to the waters of the Charles River and check out the Cambridge area from a different vantage point. On a tour here you can expect to be taken around the Charles River Basin as well as Boston Harbor and you can also learn all about the history of the Cambridge area at the same time. Tours are all presented by friendly and knowledgeable locals who have lived in the area for years and can give you a range of insider tips and tricks to get the most out of your stay.

7. Harvard Square

Known as the historic center of Cambridge, Harvard Square is a plaza located next to Harvard Yard, also the center of Harvard University. The square is a popular hangout for university students and as such you will find laid back coffee shops, bookstores, and shops here, as well as some of the best restaurants in Cambridge. Much of the area is pedestrian so that you can stroll around at your leisure, and there are street performers and musicians here daily. In the evening this makes the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors in Cambridge and you will find live music and other events spilling out into the square.

8. City Wine Tours

For those who want to learn about wine in the Cambridge region, look no further than City Wine Tours. The tours here will take you to different areas of the city where you can discover delicious wines as well as eat some local food. Tours last for approximately two hours and will visit a range of restaurants and wine shops and as this is a walking tour you can also take in the local sights on foot as you go.

9. MIT Museum

If you want to learn all about MIT, or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then head to the MIT Museum. The museum first opened in 1971 and has a large collection of technology related items such as robotics and recent research and technology developments made by the institute. The museum will also take you back through the history of MIT and you can see exhibits related to holography and maritime history, as well as period photographs and other antique memorabilia.

10. Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology

Situated right on the campus of Harvard University, the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology is famous for being one of the largest museums dedicated to anthropology in the world. It is also one of the oldest, having been established in 1866, and to that end it has an amazing 1.5 million objects on display. The items are mostly dedicated to the study of archeology and ethnography in the Americas and you can expect to see maps, photographs, and other important artifacts that will take you back over 10,000 years.

11. Central Square

Central Square is known for being part of the Central Square Historic District of Cambridge and is also listed as part of the U.S National Register of Historic Places. Here you will find not only period architecture but also vibrant nightlife in the form of live music venues, theaters, and bars. During the day time there are pretty churches to visit as well as a wealth of ethnic restaurants that represent the diversity of Cambridge.

12. Cafe ArtScience

Next to Le Laboratoire Cambridge, an innovation center in Cambridge, you will find Cafe ArtScience, a restaurant that specializes in bringing food and science concepts together. With that in mind, items on the menu include inhalable coffee and ham emulsion and there is a machine here that turns liquid into vapor. Certainly if you are looking for a very different dining experience then this is one place not to miss when you are in town.

13. Sanders Theatre

The Sanders Theater is famous in Cambridge for being a historical location that is part of the High Victorian Gothic Memorial Hall. The theater was completed in 1875 and has a capacity of over 1,000 spectators at one time. Events held here include concerts, live music performances, and lectures, so make sure you check what’s on when you are in town. If you do come for a visit, make sure to look out for some of the signature architectural features here that include busts of famous past speakers as well as statues and pretty stained glass windows.

14. Flour Bakery and Cafe

Located on Massachusetts Avenue, the Flour Bakery and Cafe is a famous fixture in Cambridge. This bakery and coffee shop is known for its delicious homemade bakes and you can expect to find iconic items here such as Flour sticky buns, brioches, and baguettes. As well as baked goods there are also signature chocolate truffles and if you want to come here for lunch you will also find sandwiches and soups. The bakery and coffee shop is so popular that you will probably find that you have to queue no matter what time of day you arrive, although many residents will tell you that it is well with the wait.

15. The Comedy Studio

If you are in the mood for a little comedy in Cambridge then head on over to The Comedy Studio. Here you will find some of the best standup in the region which includes a mix of performers from regular fixtures on the comedy scene to newcomers who are just polishing their act. As well as watching a show you can also have dinner and drinks here and if you are feeling brave you can try out the signature cocktail of the club known as the ‘Scorpion Bowl’.

15 Best Things to Do in Cambridge (MA):

• Harvard Art Museums
• The American Repertory Theater
• Harvard Museum of Natural History
• Fresh Pond Reservation
• Longfellow House
• Charles Riverboat Company
• Harvard Square
• City Wine Tours
• Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology
• Central Square
• Cafe ArtScience
• Sanders Theatre
• Flour Bakery and Cafe
• The Comedy Studio

Best Things To Do and See In Cambridge Massachusetts In One Day

Planning a trip to the beautiful Boston area? If so, you should carve out some time for a visit to its next door neighbor Cambridge. Here’s my guide to all the best things to do and see in Cambridge in one perfect day.

Founded in 1630, Cambridge has long been a lively intellectual center in the US. But Cambridge isn’t just all cloistered academia and beautiful university campus.

You’ll find world class museums, stunning architecture, indie bookshops, and dozens of al fresco patios for eating and drinking.

Of course, Cambridge is home to the renowned Harvard University (where you’ll be wrapped in red brick) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) (where you can admire eclectic modern architecture).

And it’s not just the universities that dazzle. In Cambridge, visitors can enjoy a outstanding museums, a vibrant performing arts scene, and fabulous restaurants.

I recently spent a day in Cambridge, and have been many times before.

Best Things To Do in Cambridge In One Day

You can start your one day in Cambridge at either Harvard or MIT. As I was coming from Beacon Hill, I walked over Longfellow Bridge and headed to MIT first.

But it’s very convenient to take the subway (Red Line) to Harvard Square. That’s what I’d recommend doing first to start your day in Cambridge. You can get around Cambridge on a guided walking tour or a guided bike tour .

Here are all the best things to do and see with one day in Cambridge:

1. Harvard Square

Start your 1 day in Cambridge with breakfast at Tatte Bakery, Cafe Luna, Curio Coffee, or Clover. I can say from ample experience that the almond croissants at Tatte are divine.

Harvard Square is the iconic center of Cambridge. It’s a triangular plaza located at the intersection of Battle Street, John F. Kennedy Street, and Massachusetts Avenue.

You’ll find all manner of humanity — students, tourists, political activists, buskers, chess players, and other street creatures.

Wander around and experience the mix of life and small businesses. Stroll into used book stores, coffee shops, and chocolate shops. Watch artists, vagabonds, locals, and college students mingle. There are some cool little shops in the mini-mall called the The Garage.

There are plenty of eclectic boutiques in Harvard Square too. If you want to grab some Ivy league merchandise, head into the Harvard Coop. If you’re interested in unique clothing, try Boutique Fabulous, Susanna, or Mint Julep.

Harvard Square becomes very lively at night. Students gather to watch street performers. You can catch an independent movie at Brattle Theatre, take in a show at the American Repertory Theater, or enjoy a stand up show at Comedy Studio.

Address : Brattle Street Cambridge

2. Harvard Yard

No one day in Cambridge is complete without a stroll through Harvard’s campus. It’s one of the best things to do in Cambridge.

As Harvard Square is the center of Cambridge, Harvard Yard is the center of Harvard College. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest university in America.

Click here for a virtual tour of Harvard. Click here to book a guided tour of Harvard.

You first step into the revered and shady Harvard Yard, the nucleus of the campus. It’s hard not to be awed. I’ve read the some people are underwhelmed. But I had the opposite reaction and just loved it.

Start at the Johnston Gate on Massachusetts Avenue. You’ll be greeted by a statue of John Harvard, Harvard’s founder, carved by Daniel Chester French (of Lincoln Memorial fame) in 1884.

The statue doesn’t resemble the great man himself, as all likenesses of him were destroyed in a fire. The left foot is shiny, having been rubbed for good luck many a time.

In 1638, after Harvard’s death, he bequeathed half his estate and all of his library to Harvard. In return, the institution was renamed after him. That started a long-lasting trend of buildings being renamed after donors.

Ranged around the John Harvard statue are tree lined footpaths, trim lawns, scholarly libraries, and elegant Georgian and Federal architecture. Ahhhh …

Massachusetts Hall is a Georgian gem, and the oldest surviving building at Harvard. But the building pales in comparison to the massive Gothic style Matthews Hall.

Built in 1872, Matthews Hall is situated in the heart of Harvard Yard. It serves as a freshman dorm.

Behind the John Harvard statue is the graceful University Hall, dating from 1815. This granite building was designed by Charles Bulfinch, Boston’s first professional architect. It was the first building to veer away from Harvard’s trademark red bricks.

The New Yard is dominated by the colonnaded facade of Harvard’s flagship Widener Library. The library is an imposing building, whose entrance is graced with 12 Roman pillars and stands atop a 27 step granite staircase.

One of 73 campus libraries, it’s named after Harvard graduate and Titanic victim Harry Elkins Widener.

It houses 3.5 million books along 60 miles of shelves. There’s a replica of Widener’s home study in the center of the library, which contains a rare Gutenberg Bible .

Address : 2 Kirkland Street

3. Memorial Hall | Sanders Theater

Immediately north of Harvard Yard is another gorgeous brick building in the High Victorian Gothic style — Memorial Hall. Completed in 1878, it’s a National Historic Landmark.

The hall honors sacrifices made by Harvard men during the American Civil War. It stands as a symbol of Boston’s commitment to the abolitionist movement.

Inside, you’ll find the Sanders Theater . Completed in 1875, the theater was inspired by Christopher Wren’s Sheldonian Theater in Oxford England.

It seats well over 1,000 spectators. The venue was originally used for Harvard commencements. Now, it’s used for concerts, music shows, and serves as Harvard’s largest live lecture hall. You’ll find busts of famous past speakers, statues, and gorgeous stained glass, including a statue of colonial patriot James Otis.

Memorial Hall also houses Annenberg Hall, the first-year dining hall that can seat more than 1,000 students at a time. Tourists can’t go inside. But it’s said to bear a striking resemblance to the Great Hall in Hogwarts Castle.

Address : 45 Quincy Street

4. Harvard Art Museums

The Harvard Art Museums are a must visit attraction in Cambridge, even if you have only one day. They are a magnificent conglomerate of three separate museums — the Fogg Museum, the Biusch-Reisinger Museum, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum.

After renovations by Renzo Piano from 2008-14, the museums were recently combined under a single glorious glass roof and renamed the Harvard Art Museums.

The Harvard Museums contain a range of collections from antiquity to the present day. The 250,000 exhibits are spread out over 7 levels. There’s also a theater and cafe.

The Fogg Museum houses a very good collection of Western art and Italian Renaissance paintings, including works by Botticelli and Ghirlandaio.

My favorite pieces are tucked away in Room 2520 — 15 bozetto ( terracotta models) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini , the greatest sculptor of the Baroque period. Bernini made thousands of the preparatory bozetto for his works.

But it was the practice of artists to throw them out when they finished a project. Hence, bozetto are quite rare.

You’ll also find paintings by a roster of French Impressionist luminaries in the Maurice Wertheim Collection — Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Manet.

Founded in 1901, the Busch-Reisinger Museum is dedicated to the art of the German speaking countries of Central and Northern Europe. The works cover the periods of the Austrian Secession, German Expressionism, and the Bauhaus design school.

The Bauhaus works resulted from a partnership with Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, a former chair of Harvard’s Department of Architecture. On level 1, check out the vintage Club Chair.

The Arthur M. Sackler Museum is the newest of the trio, opening in 1985. It’s dedicated to Asian, Indian, Islamic, and Byzantine art. Highlights include beautiful Greek vases, carved jade from India, and a limestone Buddha.

READ : Guide To the Best Museums in New England

Address : 32 Quincy Street

5. Harvard Museum of Natural History

The Harvard Museum of Natural History is every bit as thrilling as its counterparts in London and New York City. It’s a popular attraction in Cambridge too, welcoming over a quarter million visitors annually. Though it’s surrounded by historic buildings, the museum only opened in 1998.

The museum highlights three far older Harvard research collections: the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Herbaria and Botanical Museum, and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum. You can find dinosaur skeletons, a massive whale skeleton, and the world’s largest turtle shell.

But the most fascinating part of the natural history museum are drawn from the Botanical Museum. The world famous Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants is simply beautiful.

It consists of highly realistic glass flowers, created between 1887-1936. The Blaschkas also created some glass sea creatures.

Just behind the Museum of Natural History is a bit of a hidden gem in Cambridge, the Harvard Divinity School. HDS has an absolutely pristine campus that rivals Harvard Yard. Have a wander around the beautiful historic buildings and pop into the Andover Chapel.

Address : 26 Oxford Street

6. Longfellow House

Longfellow House is located on Brattle Street, the historic road connecting old Cambridge and Watertown. It’s famous as the one time home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was the poet wrote stirring tales that thrilled 19th century America, including the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere .

In the Revolutionary War period, Brattle Street was nicknamed “Tory Row.” It was here that wealthy Loyalists built their residential mansions. The famous Longfellow House is open to the public in the summer months and its lovely garden is open year round.

Built in 1759, the Longfellow mansion was originally commsioned by John Vassall. He abandoned the mansion and fled to England when anti-Tory sentiment rose after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

The mansion was then requisitioned by General George Washington. He used it as his headquarters during the Siege of Boston in 1775-76.

After the war, the mansion was bought by Andrew Craigie. It was later purchased for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as a wedding gift.

Longfellow lived there for 35 years, hosting literary salon for the “Fireside Poets.” The mansion is preserved for posterity in the style of the Fireside Poets and is now a National Historic Landmark.

Address : 105 Brattle Street

7. Cambridge Common

Cambridge Common is an inviting triangle of greenery just west of Harvard Yard. Originally known as “Cow Commons,” it’s been a local refuge since 1630. Harvard University commencement ceremonies were once held there.

Today, people come to relax and inspect some of the monuments. There’s a steeple-like memorial built in 1870 to commemorate Cambridge troops lost in the civil war. A statue of Abraham Lincoln was added in 1870.

There’s a sculpture of three emaciated figures recalling the Irish Potato Famine and a statue of John Bridge. He was a puritan who settled in Cambridge 1632 and founded the first church school.

Don’t forget to inspect the Washington Elm. It’s a beloved tree surrounded by railings. According to legend, it was under this tree that General George Washington first took command of the American Army on July 3, 1775.

This tale is apocryphal, though, because the tree is too young to have been growing then. Historians also now claim that Washington was commissioned in Harvard Yard.

Across Garden Street is a gate leading into Radcliffe Yard. It’s a lovely garden area that was at the heart of Radcliffe College when it was founded in 1879. Now, of course, it’s been merged with Harvard.

Address : Waterhouse Street & Massachusetts Avenue

8. Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

The Peabody Museum has one of the world’s most outstanding anthropological collections. Its a subset of Harvard’s Museum of Natural History.

Spread out over four floors, the museum’s collection includes artifacts from Native American, Central American, and South American culture. The highlight is the Hall of the North American Indian. On display are textiles, art, and models of dwellings.

Address : 11 Divinity Avenue

9. Central Square

Central Square is “downtown” Cambridge. It’s the historic seat of government and the midway point between Harvard and MIT.

Central Square is an artsy ethnic melting pot of people and restaurants. This is a good place to stop for a late lunch or a break while walking between Harvard and MIT.

If you fancy an ice cream, Toscanini’s is a hotspot that the New York Times once called “the best ice cream in the world.” There are hundreds of flavors that rotate throughout the year, but their signature flavors are always available. My favorite is salty carmel.

Address : Massachusetts Avenue

10. MIT Campus & Modern Architecture

10 minutes down the road from Central Square, you arrive at MIT. Though Harvard grabs all the attention and accolades, I enjoyed touring the MIT campus in East Cambridge. Click here to book a guided tour.

MIT was founded in 1861 in response to increasing industrialization in the United States. It’s a groundbreaking center for theoretical and practical research in physical sciences and engineering. Once dissed as “the factory,” MIT is one of the finest universities in the world.

In contrast to the comparatively straight laced red brick architecture of Harvard, MIT is a fantasyland of quirky modern architecture and public sculpture. Start at the Neo-Classical Rogers Building at 77 Massachusetts Avenue. This is the entrance to the “Infinite Corridor.”

The corridor is the “spine” of MIT, a seemingly endless pedestrian hallway traversing the entire campus from east to west. It connects to each of the major buildings of MIT.

Then, cross to the other side of Massachusetts Avenue for a peak at the circular MIT Chapel.

Designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, it consists of a moated red brick cylinder, topped with a sculptured belfry. The interior is windowless, illuminated by a roof oculus and floor level slits reflecting light upwards.

Don’t forget to check out the high rise Green Center on McDermott Court. This is one of several MIT buildings designed by I.M. Pei of Louvre fame.

Breaking from MIT’s mainly horizontal aesthetic, Pei designed a 21 story tower. The sculpture Big Sail guards the front.

Inside, you’ll find one of Boston’s best works of art, hidden deep in MIT. It’s a 5500 square foot mosaic floor mural, Bars of Color Within Squares (shown above).

Designed by Sol LeWitt in 2006, the work provides an electrifying pop of interior color. The squares line up to cover the floor of a corridor that runs around three sides of the ground level.

The architect Frank Gehry also left a definitive foot print at MIT. Gehry was a pioneer of the controversial post-modern style known as Deconstructivism, which first appeared in the 1980s.

The style is characterized by an intentional lack of symmetry or harmony, wherein a building seems in the process of fragmentation. Gehry buildings are loved and loathed in equal measure.

The Stata Center on Vassar Street is classic Gehry. The legendary building consists of orange brick blocks set between silver elements. The silver elements explode outward, colliding with each other.

Even the windows appear to bulge. Fittingly, the Stata Center is home to daring research conducted by MIT’s Computer, Information, and Intelligence Sciences departments.

Address : 77 Massachusetts Avenue

11. MIT Museum

If you have a love of science and technology, you should visit the MIT Museum . It’s just a few blocks from the center of campus on Massachusetts Avenue.

Founded in 1971, the MIT Museum exhibits collections relating to the history of MIT, maritime history, holography, photography, robotics, and much more.

The 5,000-square foot Mark Epstein Innovation Gallery is located on the ground floor of the museum. It showcases the most recent research and developments in technology at MIT. It even has exhibits relating to MIT’s infamous student pranks.

In addition to its permanent collection, the museum often presents temporary exhibits of art and technology displays. The museum has many outreach programs for children and for adults, and it sponsors the annual Cambridge Science Festival. The MIT Museums is moving to Kendall Square in 2022.

Address : 265 Massachusetts Avenue

12. Restaurants & Cocktails

Now that you’ve done all these amazing cultural things in Cambridge, where should you end your day with a spectacular dinner?

In Cambridge, you’re spoiled for choice, from fresh and arty to elegant. The best options include Puritan , Harvest , Alden & Harlow , Oleana , and Giulia . If you want something more casual try, Michaelhouse or The Rainbow Cafe.

If you want a pre or post dinner drink, head to Noir. It’s attached to the Charles Hotel , which is also the best place to stay in Cambridge.

Tips For Spending One Day In Cambridge

Here are some tips for spending a day in Cambridge.

1. How To Get Around Cambridge

Cambridge is fast and compact and thus very walkable. The best things to do in Cambridge are all clustered in the town center.

You can always hop in a taxi or use Uber. I don’t recommend using a car to get around Cambridge. The traffic is usually quite heavy and the roads can seem confusing.

You can also take public transportation. The red line of the “T” (Boston’s metro) has 5 stops in Cambridge.

2. Where To Stay In Cambridge

The classic place to stay in Cambridge is Charles Hotel . It’s set in the heart of Harvard Square, but has a bit of a a sticker shock price tag. In return for handing over the cash, You’ll have luxurious rooms and views of the Charles River.

I’m a fan of the Kimpton chain and the Kimpton Marlow Hotel doesn’t disappoint. It’s a good hotel for families and the rooms are playfully decorated.

Le Meridien is good for business travelers and tourists alike. The rooms are modern and fully updated.

3. When To Visit Cambridge

Not in winter! Egads. It’s brutally cold and windy in Boston in winter. At the opposite extreme, it’s hot and humid in the winter.

So, I recommend visiting in shoulder season, spring or fall. Either season, there will be blooms aplenty and some sunshine. If you love cherry blossoms, plan April.

But the weather is still a tad unpredictable. If it happens to rain, you can duck inside a museum or indoor attraction.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my to the top attractions to see in Cambridge in one day. If you love New England or are planning an East Coast road trip, you may enjoy these other articles:

• 3 Days in Boston Itinerary
• 7-10 Day Itinerary for Vermont
• 10 Day Itinerary for New Hampshire
• 25 Most Beautiful Towns in New England
• 10 Day Itinerary for Coastal Maine
• Fall Foliage Road Trip in New England
• 3 Day Itinerary for Boston
• Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston
• What To Do In the Berkshires
• Places To Visit In Massachusetts

If you’d like to spend one day in Cambridge Massachusetts, pin it for later.

1 thought on “Best Things To Do and See In Cambridge Massachusetts In One Day”

Thanks for this fantastic article. I have been planning to go on a trip to Cambridge but was totally perplexed about where to stay, where to eat, and even where to visit. But your post helped me a lot to overcome my doubt. Thanks for mentioning the hotel names, it will save a lot of my time and effort.

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Last Updated on March 11, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

12 fun places to visit within two hours of Cambridge

Add a bit of variety to your half term activities by visiting any one of these amazing places just a short drive for Cambridge

• 05:00, 20 OCT 2018
• Updated 11:30, 6 JUN 2022

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It feels like the kids have only been back at school for two minutes and suddenly half term has arrived .

Undoubtedly, you're probably going to want to fill the next week with spooky activities in the lead to Hallowe'en but if you're getting sick and tired of the same Cambridge sights , we've found you a few places a bit further afield.

From trips to the Norfolk coast for fish and chips to famous castles and even our old friend, Harry Potter , there are loads of wonderful places for you to visit with the kids (or by yourself, if it all gets too much) just a short drive or train journey from Cambridge .

Here are some of our favourite places to visit if you're running out of ideas of things to do this half term .

Caveat: While we may be able to control many things, traffic conditions are not one of them, some of these journeys may not be EXACTLY two hours.

The Norfolk coast

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside, oh I do like to be beside the sea.

Bundle the family into the car and head towards the Norfolk Coast, it might be cold outside but that doesn't matter.

Wrap up warm and go exploring one of the many areas of natural beauty the Norfolk coast has to offer.

Top spots include: Cromer, Wells-next-the-Sea, Brancaster, Holkham and Hunstanton.

Who can say no to fish and chips on the sea front?

Royston cave, Royston

Discover the mystery that lies beneath the streets of Royston.

No records of its age or purpose exist, making this man-made cave a true enigma.

The extensive wall carvings indicate a connection to the crucifixion but what really went on in this huge underground hole?

The Royston cave is open to the public from March 31 but private parties can be arranged in the meantime.

For more information head to roystoncave.co.uk

Framlingham Castle, Suffolk

You know that famous Ed Sheeran song Castle on the Hill? This is THE castle on the hill. Yep, and it's only about an hour and a half drive away from Cambridge.

English Heritage says: "Once a fearsome fortress, muster your courage and explore Framlingham Castle's towering walls. It was behind these walls that Mary Tudor was proclaimed Queen of England.

"Discover more of Framlingham's stories in our exhibition, walk the ramparts of the castle to enjoy its breath-taking views or taste some Tudor-inspired delights in our new café."

Check out english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/framlingham-castle/ for more information.

Hop on the train in Cambridge and within an hour you'll be stomping the ground of the big smoke.

Explore all that our charming capital has to offer, from the dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum to royalty at Buckingham Palace.

From Cambridge station you can take a train directly to King's Cross or London Liverpool Street, and from there you can navigate around the city by foot, or by tube.

Stansted Airport

We're just saying, Stansted airport is only a half an hour drive from Cambridge, meaning you can get just about anywhere within Europe pretty swiftly.

Some flights within the UK such as to Edinburgh, take less than an hour by plane compared to around six hours by car.

With this in mind, you'll never be bored again.

For a full list of flight locations head to stanstedairport.com

Harry Potter Studios, Watford

Are you a lover of all things Potter?

Then you can't get a much better day out than a trip to the Warner Bros studio in Watford.

See the props and sets from the fictional world of Harry Potter and even meet the magical creatures who live in the Forbidden Forest.

You'll feel just like a Hogwarts student after a day at the studios.

Let it be known you will have to book in advance.

Visit wbstudiotour.co.uk for more information and to book tickets.

Fossils Galore, March

If your little one is fascinated with the way the world used to be, surprise them with a trip to Fossils Galore in March.

Referred to on TripAdvisor as "Dinosaur heaven", this is the perfect activity for anyone who is interested in the land before time.

Hunt for fossils, dig for gold and learn all about the prehistoric era.

It doesn't cost a lot and you get to keep some of the items you find...

High Lodge, Thetford Forest

If you go down to the woods today you'll be sure of a big surprise.

The Highway Rat is the latest Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book to be brought to life by the Thetford forest trails.

Follow the panels and complete the activities as you head on a journey with The Highway Rat and all the characters from the story.

If you're not into searching for fictional characters, and would rather get a bit more stuck in, you can also channel your inner monkey at Go Ape.

Swing through the trees, soar through the sky and have a laugh at Thetford.

For more information forestry.gov.uk/highlodge

In and around Cambridge

Centre Parcs, Woburn/Elveden

Fancy a quick getaway? Want to escape the outside world for a bit of family friendly fun? Then head to Centre Parcs.

Granted you can't just do this for a day, but it does make for a perfect short mini break with the kids.

If you don't want to travel too far, and you want a whole range of activities at the end of your finger tips, Centre Parcs is the holiday local for you.

It's worth noting that the Aqua Sana spa at both resorts is INCREDIBLE. You'll leave feeling fresh, hydrated, relaxed and pampered.

Visit centerparcs.co.uk

Woburn Safari Park

If the wild won't come to you, why not go to the wild?

Woburn safari park has every animal you could possibly want to see roaming freely around the park, including lions, tigers, bears, wolves, elephants and tarantulas.

With more than 1000 animals, you can explore the park by land and by foot.

Just remember to keep your windows closed and put on the child lock!

Visit woburnsafari.co.uk

Just a short train journey or drive from Cambridge is Norwich.

A bustling town with loads going on from shops to pubs, bars and clubs, this nearby city could make for a brilliant day trip or night out.

If shopping and indulgence aren't your bag you could always pay the castle a visit. There are often talks, tours and reenactments at the castle and dungeon.

For more information head to visitnorwich.co.uk

IKEA, Milton Keynes

Does anyone else get very excited by the prospect of a trip to IKEA?

The warehouse has easy peasy flat pack furniture, stylish soft furnishings, delicious meatballs, and more Daim bars than you can shake a stick at.

If you've just moved house or want a new look on a budget, bundle your other half into the car for a bit of IKEA team bonding.

Things to do in Cambridgeshire

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24 Fabulous Things to Do in Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Why visit Cambridge when you’re spending time in Boston? Cambridge feels different — innovative, cultured, intellectually curious. It may be a separate city from Boston, but Cambridge is absolutely worth visiting in its own right.

Some of the best things to do in Cambridge are visiting Harvard and MIT, the two rock star universities — but for me, Cambridge is about simply hanging out, poking my head into interesting shops, sitting at the Harvard Book Store with a cup of coffee, and enjoying the day.

I grew up in the Boston area, spent several years living in Cambridge-adjacent Boston and Somerville, and I continue to visit Cambridge today. Strangely, as time has passed, Cambridge is a place that feels even more like home to me than Boston does.

I love Boston, but it can be brash, basic, and singularly sports-focused. One reason why I left was because I’m not much of a sports fan, and I hated how sports dominated every conversation at work, how you couldn’t talk to anyone in a bar until “the game” was over.

But you don’t get that in Cambridge. I feel like Cambridge is a place where you can be yourself more, let your intellectual flag fly (or freak flag fly!), and spend your time listening to interesting music and trying cool foods rather than just watching the millionth Red Sox game of the year.

I feel like most travel guides miss this. Cambridge isn’t just the city of Harvard and MIT. Cambridge is a vibe. A cozy vibe, with riverside views, brick buildings, and soul dance parties on the weekend. The People’s Republic of Cambridge.

So I’d like to introduce you to the Cambridge I know. Who knows — you might like Cambridge even more than Boston!

Just one thing. PLEASE don’t ask anyone if they park their car in Harvard Yard . It won’t go over well.

Table of Contents

Traveling to Cambridge, Massachusetts

Is Cambridge part of Boston? Technically, no. Cambridge is its own city, with its own government and school system and public services, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a Boston neighborhood.

A lot of people are surprised when they find out that Boston has a population of only 684,000. Surely this big city with lots of skyscrapers is bigger than that!

But unlike New York, or Houston, or Los Angeles, Boston isn’t a giant sprawling city. It’s one of many cities pushed together in a relatively small area. Cambridge is one of those cities, the largest of those cities, and it’s known as the “other” side of the Charles River.

Cambridge has a population of 118,000; Somerville has 81,000, Brookline has 59,000, Quincy has 94,000. And that doesn’t even include the many suburbs. Boston’s metro area has a population closer to five million.

Take a tour of Harvard University , enjoy the wonderful restaurants, and check out some live music.

Most people visit Cambridge for a day or a half day, but I recommend spending a few days .

Harvard Square is the best neighborhood to stay in Cambridge. See the best hotels here.

The absolute best thing to do in Cambridge with kids is go to the Museum of Science ! They will LOVE IT.

Things to Do in Cambridge

For a lot of travelers, “Cambridge” is synonymous with “Harvard.” Many a Boston visitor comes to Cambridge for an afternoon, just long enough to wander Harvard Yard and buy a sweatshirt.

But Cambridge is so much more than that. More than anything, this is a city that lends itself to wandering.

Visit the different neighborhoods. Hop on the red line or 1 bus and jump from square to square, exploring the little shops and bars and restaurants. Catch some live music or wile away the day in the Harvard Bookstore.

Here are my top recommendations of things to do in Cambridge.

Hang out in Harvard Square

If there’s any iconic neighborhood of Cambridge, it’s Harvard Square. This neighborhood is full of historic buildings, coffee shops, restaurants, and fun boutiques, as well as theaters and performance spaces. All this and more brings millions of people to the square each year.

Harvard Square has gentrified over the years, and has a lot more chain establishments than it used to, but the square still has a bohemian feel. It’s a great place to enjoy buskers and street performers, or just grab a cup of coffee and people-watch.

Whether you use the square as a complement to your tour of Harvard or stay in a hotel here and use it as the base for your Cambridge trip (which I highly recommend!), spending time in Harvard Square should be a priority!

Visit Harvard University

Hmm, Harvard…are they any good? Yeah, they might be. America’s oldest university, established in 1636, and perhaps the most famous institution of higher education on the planet, Harvard is very much worth visiting.

Harvard’s campus is well-integrated throughout the city of Cambridge — so well, in fact, that you may step on campus without realizing it.

You can tour Harvard University on your own if you’d like, but I recommend taking a guided tour . These affordable tours are led by Harvard students, with a lot of humor and creativity, and you’ll learn a ton of history and get a glimpse of what life at Harvard is like today.

One big tip: do not rub the foot of the John Harvard statue. Some Harvard students like to pee on it as a prank, then tell tourists to rub it for good luck.

And don’t forget to check out Pooh’s House while at Harvard! It’s a tiny painted door at the stump of a tree outside of the Science Center. The door gets stolen on and off over the years, but it’s a cute little place on campus.

Museum of Science

Located on the Craigie Drawbridge between Cambridge and Boston, the Museum of Science is one of the city’s gems. Here you’ll find more than 700 interactive exhibits, live presentations, shows at the Omni IMAX theater, 4D films, and planetarium shows, all fun and science-y!

This is the best thing to do in Cambridge with kids — hands down. When I was a kid, I thought the Museum of Science was the coolest place I’d ever seen. It has fun stuff for kids of all ages. But adults, especially kids at heart, will have a ton of fun here, too!

The Museum of Science costs $29 for adults, $24 for children ages 3 to 11, and free for children under age 3. Tickets for the films and shows at the planetarium cost an additional $6. Be sure to allocate more time than you think you need, because this is one Cambridge attraction people enjoy much more than planned!

Mount Auburn Cemetery

If you’re lucky enough to visit Cambridge during fall foliage, you must visit Mount Auburn Cemetery! I think it’s one of the best fall foliage spots in the Boston area, filled with glorious reds, oranges and yellows among the peaceful gravestones. There are fabulous Boston skyline views, too.

Mount Auburn Cemetery was established in 1831, becoming the first garden cemetery in the United States. People buried here include Oliver Wendell Holmes, Isabella Stuart Gardner, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Dorothea Dix, and quite a few more .

No matter what time of year it is, though, this is a nice place to visit to get some quiet time in the middle of the city. Keep in mind that this is a place for mourning, and be respectful of other visitors. It’s free to visit.

Head of the Charles Regatta

If there’s any one event that you should prioritize in Cambridge, it’s the Head of the Charles Regatta — the largest regatta in the world. Cambridge has lots of events throughout the year, but the Head of the Charles may be the most Cantabrigian celebration of all!

Taking place in late October, amid beautiful fall foliage, athletes from around the world compete in rowing. The route is upstream and has a lot of twists and turns, making it a dynamic and highly entertaining race to watch.

While the Charles River divides Boston and Cambridge, there are plenty of places to watch the rowers. Bridges are a great choice if you don’t mind standing, though you can pay for VIP areas. See the spectator’s guide here.

Central Square, Inman Square, Porter Square, and Kendall Square

Indeed, Cambridge is a city of squares — and while Harvard Square gets most of the attention, the other squares are worth your time as well.

Central Square is a great place to go out at night. There are tons of restaurants (including a huge variety of global cuisine), diverse nightlife, live music, even dance clubs.

Inman Square is where I’d live in Cambridge if I had a choice! It’s a bit of a walk from the red line, which keeps it feeling very local, and there are a ton of good restaurants and coffee shops.

Porter Square is one of the more sedate squares and feels more suburban, but there is an awesome Japanese mall with several cool shops and restaurants.

Kendall Square is home to MIT, tech companies, and startups. It’s a more business-y environment catering to workers, but they have a nice movie theater, The Garment District thrift store, and some nice restaurants.

Want to continue your square exploration? Head to Davis Square (my former neighborhood!) and Union Square in Somerville. Somerville is Cambridge’s sister city and they have a similar feel.

Longfellow House

A National Historic Site in Cambridge, Longfellow House is named after its former inhabitant, 19th century poet Henry Longfellow. Previously, the house served as headquarters for General George Washington during the Siege of Boston from 1775 to 1776.

Today, the beautifully preserved house has 19th-century literature and arts on display. There are gardens to explore as well as artwork, furniture, and decorative objects to see throughout the house. Most noteworthy is a library with books in over 30 languages!

One nice surprise? Visiting the Longfellow House is free for all to visit! This also includes all tours and events. Guides are available to take you on both outdoor and indoor tours during your visit.

Toscanini’s Ice Cream

No trip to Cambridge is complete without a stop at Toscanini’s ! This is one of the best ice cream shops in the Boston area, if not all of New England, and even received the “World’s Best Ice Cream” award by the New York Times .

Established in 1981, all of the ice cream is handmade in-store. You can also order coffee, tea, and various baked goods that come from other businesses in the area. The shop has had various homes in Cambridge and is now located in Kendall Square.

The ice cream flavors available change often so I feel like they will have changed by the time you read this! Keep an eye out for new unique flavors like Vienna Finger Cookie, Blueberry Fluff, Green Tea Cookies & Cream, and more. They have conventional flavors, too — Burnt Caramel is always popular.

The ice cream is a bit on the pricier end for Boston, but for good reason — it’s special.

Visit MIT and the MIT Museum

You’ve already seen Harvard — why not see MIT, too? Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the world’s most prestigious universities specializing in science and technology. Many of our most innovative creators spent time learning here.

MIT offers hourlong student-guided tours where you can learn about the university and the latest technology they’re working on. You can book a tour here. Alternatively, MIT has put together a map for visitors here .

MIT is known for their hacks, or pranks. One eternal prank you can see on the Harvard Bridge — in 1958 they measured the bridge in “Smoots,” or 5’7″ intervals, based on a student named Oliver Smoot! (Smoot is an MIT legend.)

The MIT Museum is closed until 2022 as it moves to a new Kendall Square location, but when it returns, you’ll get to enjoy scientific research and innovation through various galleries, exhibits, workshops, performances, conversations, and more. Admission is $10 for adults or $5 for children, students, and seniors. 

Stroll Along Memorial Drive

Memorial Drive is a street running along the Charles River in Cambridge with outstanding views of the Boston skyline. On any Cambridge day with decent weather, you’ll see people walking, pushing strollers, running, riding bikes, skateboarding, you name it.

It’s a nice spot that gives you the true sense of the two cities and the differences between Cambridge and Boston. And if you’re visiting Cambridge on the Fourth of July, Memorial Drive is one of the best spots to watch the fireworks!

Enjoy Live Music

Cambridge is one of the best destinations for live music in the Boston area. While many music venues have faced hardship over the years, eventually closing, several of the best venues are still holding strong and featuring cutting-edge acts.

Club Passim in Harvard Square is a true Cambridge treasure. A folk music venue dating back to the 1950s, today it features all kinds of folk and folk-adjacent musical acts with food (most often vegetarian) served at communal tables, making it a great place to meet people while enjoying some culture.

The Middle East in Central Square is more than just a club — it’s a complex of venues and restaurants. The Middle East is one of the best places in Boston for indie and underground rock acts.

Lizard Lounge , just north of Harvard Square, features an insane variety of music genres seven nights a week. Not only that, they also do poetry slams on Sunday nights and open mics on Monday nights. While it’s closed at the moment for COVID reasons, we hope it returns soon.

Regattabar in the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square is Cambridge’s best venue for live jazz. While it’s closed at the moment for COVID reasons, we hope it returns soon.

And while it’s not live music, I must recommend Soulelujah , a Saturday night dance party at The Sinclair in Harvard Square. It’s funk, soul, R&B, all vinyl. Best dance music in the world. And there’s NOTHING like the crowd reaction when the first notes of “I Want You Back” ring out!

Explore Cambridge by Bike

Want to explore Cambridge on two wheels? Great choice. While Cambridge is definitely a city, it has a more suburban feel than downtown Boston, making it a beautiful place to ride. Plus, there’s nothing like enjoying the view as you pedal down Memorial Drive!

Taking a bike tour is a great way to explore Cambridge while not having to worry about where to go or how to get your equipment. This guided tour includes some of the city’s best areas, like the Charles River, Harvard Square, MIT, and more.

The bike tour lasts 2.5-3 hours and covers 11-13 miles. Bike and helmet are included. You can book the tour here.

Fresh Pond Reservation

If you want to get a bit more offbeat in the Cambridge area, I recommend heading to North Cambridge, which doesn’t see as many tourists. One nice place to visit in North Cambridge is Fresh Pond Reservation.

Fresh Pond Reservation is a park you can visit, but more importantly, the pond is the water supply for Cambridge. In the 1800s, when the pond froze in the winter, the ice was sold around the world by Boston’s “Ice King,” Frederic Tudor.

It’s a nice 2.25-mile walk around the pond — enough for a substantial bit of exercise. There are over 100 acres of land to explore and a nine-hole golf course.

Fresh Pond Reservation is free to visit. Parking is for Cambridge residents only; take the red line to Alewife or use street parking.

See a Play at the A.R.T.

The American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, also known as A.R.T. , puts on a unique collection of performances. Their aim is to expand the boundaries of theater through research, development, and hard work. Many of the performances have received national recognition. 

There are two venues that are part of A.R.T. and include the Loeb Drama Center and Oberon, both are in Cambridge. The Loeb Drama Center is the main box office for shows and the headquarters of A.R.T. Oberon is the A.R.T.’s second stage with theater and nightlife in Harvard Square. 

Seeing a play at one of the A.R.T. venues is a great way to do something a bit out of the ordinary and experience a great show. Years ago I saw a modern interpretation of Chekhov’s The Seagull at the A.R.T. that blew my mind.

Visit Harvard’s Museums

Yes, on top of everything else, Harvard has museums! Very good ones, too.

The Fogg Museum is the oldest and largest art museum at Harvard University. It includes work from artists like Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh. You’ll also find a lot of Italian Renaissance art. Admission is $20 for adults and is free for all students with an ID, residents of Cambridge, youth under 18, and free for everyone on Sundays.

The Harvard Museum of Natural History includes three research museums at Harvard: the Museum of Comparative Zoology, the Harvard University Herbaria, and the Mineralogical & Geological Museum. The museum aims to increase the appreciation and understanding of nature for the public. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for youth ages 3 to 18, and children under 3 are free.

The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Etymology is one of the oldest anthropology museums in the world. It’s still in the original 19th-century building it first occupied and aims to engage and promote the study and appreciation of ancient people from all over the world. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for youth ages 3 to 18, and children under 3 are free.

Join a Dumpling-Making Party

If you enjoy doing out-of-the-ordinary activities, consider a cooking class on Airbnb experience where you can learn how to make Taiwanese cuisine. It’s time to make one of the happiest foods in the world — dumplings!

In the 2.5-hour long cooking class, Chef Patty will teach you how to make 5-6 shapes with three different stuffings and tell you stories about growing up in a Chinese and Taiwanese family. Once they’re done, you can also enjoy them and take any leftovers with you.

You can book the class here. And sometimes cooking classes are the greatest investment of all — because you can come home and show off your new skills for your loved ones.

Take a Chocolate Tour

Why take a university or biking tour when you could take a chocolate tour instead? I kid, I kid. Do both. For dessert lovers out there, consider this sweetly themed tour. You’ll go on a chocolate tour of Cambridge, eat sweets along the way, and learn about Harvard Square. 

The tour is 1.5 hours and starts with a history of Harvard Square and Harvard University. Along the way, you’ll enjoy locally made ice cream, chocolate tea, and you’ll get to explore a traditional candy shop. 

The tour includes a visit to a specialty chocolate shop, a local ice cream sample, chocolate tea, a visit to a candy shop, a chocolate baked good, and more. You’ll walk about 1 mile total with stops along the way. You can book the tour here.

Visit the Harvard Book Store

If you’re a bookstore fan in the least, you should visit the Harvard Book Store . This is one of my favorite independent bookstores on the planet! Yes, independent. It’s not actually part of the university, though they do sell a good amount of Harvard merchandise here.

It’s a very cozy place, with gentle lighting and hidden nooks. There’s a cafe on site. The nonfiction sections are more extensive than you might expect, and it’s easy to get lost in the stacks for hours. It’s also a nice spot to pick up gifts.

Settle into one of the comfy chairs. Or do what I did in 2001 and read Of Mice and Men in its entirety so you are one book closer to finishing your summer reading.

Best Cambridge Restaurants

Boston has an excellent dining scene — but the other side of the river has quite a bit to offer, too. Here are a few of my favorites:

Oleana features Eastern Mediterranean cuisine and is an especially good choice for vegetarians and vegans. Most of the dishes are served mezze-style, lots of small dishes making a meal, from hummus and kebobs to saganaki and bean plaka. The wonderful garden patio outside is an idyllic setting on a nice day!

Harvest is a legend: one of Cambridge’s best fine dining restaurants turning out consistently excellent food since 1975. The menu is seasonal and also changes for brunch, lunch, and dinner each day, but they always have nice selections at the raw bar and for the cheese course. If you’re looking to splurge, this is the place.

Orinoco is a Venezuelan restaurant where you can have a fun, delicious meal and get a lot for your money. It’s inspired by “taguaritas” — family-run eateries in Venezuela. Be sure to try the Venezuelan-style arepas (far superior to Colombian arepas, in my opinion); their empanadas and hearts of palm salads are also good.

Dali is technically in Somerville but it’s right on the Cambridge line, so I count it! The restaurant serves traditional Spanish tapas served in new and inventive ways, plus sangria and sherry. This lively restaurant feels celebratory and exciting, so it’s a nice place to dress up and have a special meal.

Pour one out for Cuchi Cuchi and the Border Cafe, two Cambridge legends that didn’t survive 2020. I miss you guys.

Where to Stay in Cambridge

Cambridge has so many neighborhoods — it can be a bit overwhelming! To make it easier, I’m concentrating on one neighborhood: Harvard Square. You might have noticed that quite a lot of this post is centered around Harvard Square.

Harvard Square is my favorite neighborhood for where to stay in Cambridge because it’s central, it’s fun, it’s got a lot of interesting stuff within walking distance, and it’s well-located for public transportation.

Even if Harvard itself isn’t one of your priorities, Harvard Square makes a great base for travelers in Cambridge.

Best luxury accommodation in Harvard Square: The Charles Hotel is where presidents and international leaders stay. This is the NICE place.

Best mid-range accommodation in Harvard Square: Hotel Veritas is central with extremely stylish rooms — the petite queens are cheaper but quite nice.

Best budget accommodation in Harvard Square: Porter Square Hotel is one red line stop away in Porter, but great value for money.

See all Cambridge accommodation here.

READ MORE: Where to Stay in Boston

How Much Time to Spend in Cambridge

While most travelers come to Cambridge for a day trip from Boston, or even a half day trip, I think Cambridge is much better served if you spend a few days here.

Three days gives you enough time to get the lay of the land, see the most popular sites and museums, and do a little venturing outside the city.

And if you want to spend your entire trip to Boston based in Cambridge, even if you’re going to be there a week or longer, that’s totally fine! Boston is a pretty compact city. You can get from end to end much easier than you think.

How to Get to Cambridge

It’s very easy getting around Cambridge . The MBTA, Boston’s transportation system (called the T for short), has plenty of subway and stops throughout Cambridge. The red line in particular runs clear down the center of Cambridge all the way to Boston. There are a few green line stops, too.

But don’t overlook the buses, too! The buses often take more logical routes, and they go where the T doesn’t go. I’m a fan of the 1 bus, which runs up Massachusetts Ave. and is the best way to get to Cambridge from Back Bay or the South End in Boston.

To get to Cambridge from Logan Airport in Boston, it should take you about 15-20 minutes in a taxi or Uber.

Keep in mind that getting from Logan Airport to Cambridge on the T can be a bit of a pain — the airport is on the blue line, much of Cambridge is on the red line, and the red and blue lines do not converge. You’d have to take an extra stop on the green or orange lines to get from the blue line to the red line.

Best Time to Visit Cambridge

The best time to visit Cambridge might as well be the best time to visit Boston! If you’re looking for beautiful scenery and comfortable temperatures, the fall months are the absolute best time to visit Cambridge. Peak color is around the first week of October, but you can enjoy fall foliage from late September through late October.

Summer is lovely but can get very hot. The Boston area has notoriously high humidity. Keep that in mind as you schedule your trip. As for winter, I don’t recommend traveling to Cambridge in the winter unless you’re used to severe winters. It can be a shock to the system for people from Florida and Texas!

Beyond that, if you’re looking for a genuine student-centric atmosphere, aim for between September and May. While plenty of students stay in Cambridge over the summer, it’s nowhere on the level of the school year.

There are some Cambridge-centric exceptions, though. If you’re planning a trip to Cambridge, you may want to avoid move-in weekend and graduation weekend for both Harvard and MIT. These are when accommodation will be at its most expensive, the best hotels will be booked solid, and you’ll struggle to get a dining reservation.

Read More: Best Time to Visit Boston

Travel Insurance for Cambridge

A lot of people think travel insurance is an unnecessary expense — I couldn’t disagree more.  Travel insurance is vital. It’s saved me hundreds of dollars and for a few of my friends who seriously injured themselves abroad, they’ve saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.

This is especially important in the United States, where healthcare is expensive and even just going to an out-of-network hospital can cost you thousands of dollars. If you’re traveling from outside the US, don’t even think of showing up without travel insurance.

Travel insurance can also compensate you if you get robbed, if you get trapped due to weather (very common in Boston in the winter!), or if a family member dies and you need to get home immediately.

I use and recommend  World Nomads Travel Insurance . Take a look at their policies before you buy to make sure they’re right for you.

Is Cambridge Worth It?

Of course Cambridge is worth it! I love this city! Cambridge shows you a very different side to Boston, a cultural and intellectual side, and I bet you will enjoy what you find here.

Go enjoy every minute of your trip to Cambridge. Then come back and tell me all about it!

Best of Boston:

• What NOT to Do in Boston
• Where to Stay in Boston: Best Neighborhoods & Hotels
• 40+ Fun Things to Do in Boston at Night
• Best Time to Visit Boston
• 12+ Best Day Trips From Boston
• 21 Best Museums in Boston

Cape Cod & the Islands:

• Which of the Towns of Cape Cod is Best for You?
• 24 Fab Things to Do in Cape Cod
• 22 Fabulous Things to Do in Provincetown, MA
• Which Of The 6 Martha’s Vineyard Towns Is Best For You?
• A Guide to Oak Bluffs, MA — Home of the Gingerbread Houses
• A Guide to Edgartown, MA — Prettiest Martha’s Vineyard Town
• A Guide to Vineyard Haven, MA — Authentic Town on Martha’s Vineyard

Western Massachusetts:

• 33 Best Things to Do in the Berkshires
• Best Towns in the Berkshires, Massachusetts
• 24 Cool Things to Do in Lenox, MA
• 12 Fun Things to Do in Stockbridge, MA

North Shore:

• 27 Fun Things to Do in Rockport, Mass.
• 25 Spooky, Haunted Things to Do in Salem, Mass.

Have you been to Cambridge? What tips do you have? Share away!

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Home » Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cambridge

15 BEST Places to Visit in Cambridge (2024)

Cambridge is a great travel destination for anyone who’s interested in history, architecture, and wants to enjoy them in a modern, vibrant city.

When you travel to Cambridge, you’ll marvel at its medieval, atmospheric streets that still manage to embrace contemporary culture and progress. And you’ll find so many amazing places to visit in Cambridge that you might struggle to choose between them.

Cambridge isn’t on many people’s bucket lists. This means that you might struggle to find interesting places to visit in Cambridge. To help you find the attractions and landmarks that you’re interested in, we’ve created this comprehensive list.

Need a place quick? Here’s the best neighbourhood in Cambridge:

These are the best places to visit in cambridge, faq on the best places to visit in cambridge, final thoughts on the coolest places to visit in cambridge.

Round Church Street

Round Church Street is located just outside the City Centre and is one of the first residential neighbourhoods in Cambridge to be found next to the universities. While staying there, you will be within walking distance from all the main central sights, which makes it an area of choice if you are visiting Cambridge for the first time.

• Visit Saint John College, its chapel and the Bridge of Sighs
• Go for a picnic in Jesus Green Park

There are just too many cute narrow, cottage lined streets in this magical borough. Before scrolling any further down the page, check out where to stay in Cambridge and be sure to grab the best accommodation on one of these lovely lanes before someone else beats you to it.

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#1 – King’s College and King’s College Chapel – A great place to see in Cambridge if you love architecture

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• The views from the lawn of this Cambridge must-see are simply stunning.
• If you’re visiting Cambridge during the school term, make sure you take the chance to see the King’s College Choir at Evensong.

Why it’s so awesome: These buildings were founded in 1441 by Henry VI and the grounds are simply stunning. They were once home to famous alumni including Rupert Brooke, Lord Keynes, and Horace Walpole and have become one of the most popular attractions in Cambridge for tourists.

What to do there: This is a still working college, so you might have to share the grounds with students depending on when you visit. The views are simply stunning, with lawns that reach all the way down to the river and provide a scenic and relaxing area to study. Also worth checking out is King’s College Chapel, with spectacular stained glass windows, a 16th-century organ screen, and an altarpiece by Ruben, known as the Adoration of the Magi.

#2 – Fitzwilliam Museum – A great place to visit in Cambridge if you are alone/traveling solo

• Cambridge has been a center of learning and culture for hundreds of years, and this long history is reflected in the Fitzwilliam Museum.
• The building itself is a masterpiece, and what’s inside measures up.

Why it’s so awesome: This museum contains some of the most stunning antiquities, pottery collections, and manuscripts you’ll ever see. It’s a varied mix that includes exhibits from Greek, Roman, and Egyptian times. The art gallery is also amazing, with works by masters like Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Turner, and Rubens.

What to do there: Take a couple of hours out of your schedule when you travel to Cambridge to experience some of its art culture. Check out your favorite artists and perhaps find some new ones as you wander the beautiful halls of this historic and architecturally significant building.

#3 – Cambridge University Botanic Gardens – A beautiful and scenic place to check out in Cambridge

• This garden stretches across 40 acres and includes more than 8,000 species of plants.
• The gardens were first established in 1831, and the variety of plants they contain have made them a Cambridge must-see.

Why it’s so awesome: Established in 1831, this garden contains plants from across the world. It’s a lovely and peaceful place in the middle of the city, great for plant enthusiasts as well as anyone who needs a break from the city. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find a victorian style Airbnb close by so you can visit this lush green haven more than once.

What to do there: If you visit on a Sunday, there’s a free guided tour you can take through the gardens. Otherwise, you can wander along the many trails or explore the glasshouses. And when you’re done with the gardens, make sure you visit the Garden Café for a snack and browse the Botanic Garden Shop.

#4 – Anglesey Abbey

• A National Trust property that’s become one of the most important landmarks in Cambridge.
• The home contains spectacular tapestries and an amazing art collection.
• 114 acres of parkland surround the house, so make sure you head out to explore them afterwards.

Why it’s so awesome: Anglesey Abbey was refurbished in 1926 and is now one of the best places to visit in Cambridge to see fine art and furnishings. The tapestries in this collection include pieces by Soho, Gobelin, and Anglesey and the art collection includes Constable’s The Opening of Waterloo Bridge. The building’s grounds are also incredible and include lots of attractions to entertain the kids.

What to do there: Check out the artwork and the tapestries before heading out to explore the grounds. If you have the family with you, take them to the Wildlife Discovery Center, where they can watch birds and bugs in their natural habitats. And afterwards, visit the historic water mill, the Lode Mill.

#5 – Queen’s College – One of Cambridge’s coolest historical sites!

• A historical building that contains other important landmarks in Cambridge.
• The building was founded in 1448 and is an incredibly complete example of a medieval building.

Why it’s so awesome: Queen’s College was originally built under the patronage of Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI. However, it was refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Henry IV. The building is remarkably complete, more than any other medieval building found in Cambridge’s colleges. It also contains several other buildings and features that are worth seeing for yourself and make this one of the best points of interest in Cambridge. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find a medieval-style Airbnb close by too.

What to do there: From the moment you walk beneath the magnificent gateway leading to the First Court, you’ll feel as if you’re back in medieval times. Make sure you explore the building before heading down to the Mathematical Bridge, which extends over the Cam to the College Gardens. The bridge was reconstructed in 1902 and is made without using a single nail. You should also spend some time exploring the Cloister Court, The Pump Court which includes the Erasmus Tower, and the Victorian Chapel.

#6 – Cambridge Junction

• An independent arts venue where you’ll see the best music, theater, movies and more.
• This is one of the best UK music venues outside of London, so make sure that you check out what’s on while you’re in the city.

Why it’s so awesome: If you love the arts, then you need to check out this venue when you travel to Cambridge. The Cambridge Junction hosts the best independent art exhibits and shows in the city, including movies, music, comedy, theater, and spoken word.

What to do there: Check out what’s on at this venue while you’re in the city and show up to anything that sounds interesting. Pay particular attention to the music shows, because they will probably be among the best that the UK has to offer.

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#7 – Scott Polar Research Institute Museum – One of the most incredible free places to go to in Cambridge

• Learn more about famous explorers at this niche museum.
• If you’re fascinated by the idea of seeing foreign lands, then learn about the men who did it first.

Why it’s so awesome: There’s something intriguing about the first explorers and that’s exactly what this museum explores. The Polar Museum traces the history of Cambridge University’s world-class polar research teams. So, you’ll be able to picture what it was like to explore uncharted, icy territory from the comfort of a warm room.

What to do there: This museum is free, so it’s a great way to fill a slow afternoon and learn something at the same time. Explore the exhibits and learn about history’s most amazing explorations. You’re sure to walk away from this Cambridge must do with a deeper appreciation for the bravery of those early explorers.

#8 – Heffers book shop – One of the most underrated places to see in Cambridge

• A palace of a bookstore for book geeks and anyone looking for that rare tome.
• You can also buy other items at this shop like maps and unusual souvenirs.

Why it’s so awesome: It might sound strange to say that you need to visit a bookshop when you’re visiting Cambridge, but this isn’t like other bookshops. Plus, you’re in Cambridge, which means that you should indulge your inner book nerd and browse the shelves.

What to do there: This is a bookstore that seemingly has no end, so you’ll need a while to explore. Look for forgotten stories by your favorite author or that hard to find tome that you’ve been looking for forever. Or, if you’re like most bookworms, just enjoy being in an environment that includes so many possibilities for something great to read!

#9 – Lammas Land – Awesome place to visit in Cambridge with kids!

• A popular park and play area for kids in the southwest of the city.
• There are lots of activities for kids of every age in this park.
• Parents will enjoy the green space and the chance to get away from the city as well.

Why it’s so awesome: When you’re visiting Cambridge, you might want to take the chance to enjoy some green space and let the kids run around. And this is the perfect place to do it. Lammas land contains a paddling pool, tennis courts, and a play area. It’s also close to the river so you can go punting once the kids are done with their playtime.

What to do there: Grab a packed lunch and take the kids to the park for the afternoon. There are a range of amenities for kids of all ages including springies for the younger children and climbers and a space net for the older crowd. There’s also a shallow paddling pool for hot days. And when you’re done with your picnic, head over to the river to go punting, which is a Cambridge must do.

#10 – Great St. Mary’s Church

• The tower at this church is one of the most famous places to visit in Cambridge for romantic proposals!
• The views from the tower are spectacular as well, a good way to see an overview of Cambridge.

Why it’s so awesome: St. Mary’s is both a parish and a university church and was built in the 15th century. The exterior is beautiful and imposing, but it’s the interior that really shines, with stunning galleries that were added in 1739. There’s also a smaller church attached known as Little St. Mary’s, with incredible stained-glass windows.

What to do there: Explore the interior of the church before heading up the 123 stairs to the tower. You’ll want to bring your camera with you to take advantage of the amazing views from up there. Afterwards, head down to Little St. Mary’s to check out the stained-glass windows.

#11 – Midsummer House – One of the most romantic places to visit in Cambridge!

• A Michelin starred restaurant surrounded by the banks of the River Cam.
• You’ll need to make a booking to get into this restaurant, as it’s one of the best places to eat in Cambridge.

Why it’s so awesome: Acclaimed chef and owner Daniel Clifford first opened this restaurant in 1998 and it’s considered to be one of the best in Cambridge. It’s also incredibly romantic, with its views over the River Cam on Midsummer Common. The menu is based on seasonal produce and dishes that bring out the natural flavor of the food, which is why it must be a part of your Cambridge itinerary.

What to do there: Make a booking to ensure that you get a table and have a romantic night out with a loved one. Dress up and prepare yourself for a gourmet menu in lovely surroundings.

#12 – The Orchard Tea Garden – Cool place to see in Cambridge with friends!

• This is an atmospheric and historically significant tea garden located in the small village of Grantchester.
• You can walk from Cambridge to Grantchester along the River Cam.

Why it’s so awesome: The walk from Cambridge to Grantchester is a Cambridge must do on its own. When the weather is good, the path along the River Cam is a great way to get some exercise and work off what you’re about to eat. The Orchard Tea room is incredibly famous in the city and has for a long time. Over the years, famous celebrities such as Alan Turing, Rupert Brooke, Stephen Fry, Virginia Woolfe, George Bernard Shaw, Stephen Hawking, and Sir David Attenborough have all eaten there.

What to do there: Take the walk along the river to Grantchester as long as the weather is good. The tea garden is a particularly good place to eat in spring when you can sit amongst the blossoms of the fruit trees. You can even take a punt there and cross off another item on your Cambridge itinerary at the same time. Once you’re in Grantchester, spend the day exploring the tiny, historic town before you head back to Cambridge.

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#13 – Cambridge General Market

• Located in the heart of the city in Market Square, this is the heart of activity during the day.
• The market is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

What to do there: If you’re looking to buy some souvenirs or fresh produce, this is the best place to do it. The quality of the goods at this Market are amazing and includes meat and fish, books, clothing, sweets, crafts, and refreshments.

What to do there: Show up during the day to enjoy the atmosphere and grab some bargains! This historical market includes great food as well as clothing, a tailor, and flowers, so just show up and see what catches your eye.

#14 – Grafton – A great place in Cambridge if you love to shop!

• A large selection of stores in the middle price category.
• This is one of the hotspots in Cambridge if you’re looking for souvenirs that won’t break the bank.

Why it’s so awesome: Grafton is one of the oldest shopping centers in town and it was recently renovated. You can get everything at this complex, from souvenirs to electrical goods and clothes. There are also some shops with clothing and toys for children as well as a large food court where you can get a snack after you’ve had enough browsing.

What to do there: If you’re looking for something specific when you travel to Cambridge, chances are that you’ll find it at this shopping complex. The prices are good and won’t break the bank and you can head to the food court when you get hungry.

#15 – FoodPark – A must-see for foodies!

• Home to Cambridge’s popular food truck scene and one of the best places to eat in Cambridge.
• No matter what type of food you like, you’ll find something to tantalize your tastebuds at this park.
• This isn’t technically a place, as the food trucks move around constantly.

Why it’s so awesome: Food trucks are a great way to eat because they provide easy, cheap food and access to a range of cuisines. FoodPark prides itself on gathering the best trucks in the business and getting them to night markets or to regular parks where you can enjoy the dishes they offer.

What to do there: Whether you like burgers, ice cream, vegetarian food, pizza, or anything else, you’ll find a food truck that sells it. The trucks move around the city, but they can be found at night markets and train stations. So, find out where they’re located on the day you’re in the city and show up for a cheap, delicious meal.

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Find out what people want to know about the best places to visit in Cambridge

What places are free to visit in Cambridge?

There are free guided tours of Cambridge University Botanic Gardens every Sunday, or you could visit the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum.

What can you do on a day out in Cambridge?

Cambridge is a old historical town. If you only have a day here, you should check out King’s College and King’s College Chapel, Great St. Mary’s Church and Queen’s College.

What different activities can tourists do in Cambridge?

Lammas land and Heffers book shop are just two different activities you can do in Cambridge.

Is Cambridge worth visiting?

Cambridge is one of the most historical and important cities in the UK. If you have the time to visit, it is definitely worth it.

England is a modern, forward looking country, which is why people often forget that it has a long and sometimes tangled history. But this history is one of the most interesting things to explore when you’re traveling in Cambridge. With this list as your guide, you’ll be able to visit all the top attractions while you’re in the city, and perhaps find a few hidden attractions on your own!

Sophie Steinebach

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17 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Cambridge, England

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 28, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Famous the world over for its university, Cambridge lays claim to having one of the highest concentrations of preserved historic buildings anywhere in England.

Most of this architectural splendor is centered around Cambridge University's 31 colleges , each rich in tradition. The first of these "schools" was established in the 12th century by immigrant scholars from Paris, and the first college, Peterhouse, was founded in 1284.

Long before the university was founded, Cambridge was already an important Norman fortification. Although its castle was short-lived, Castle Mound can still be seen near Shire Hall and affords great views over the city. The city remains to this day an important market town. Market Hill, originally the center of Cambridge's ancient wool trade, still serves as the location of the city's busy marketplace.

Despite its medieval character, Cambridge is a thoroughly modern town that hosts a variety of top-notch cultural events throughout the year. These include the Midsummer Fair , over 800 years old and held in the same location on Midsummer Common; the famous Cambridge Folk Festival , one of the largest and longest running in Europe; and the world-class Cambridge Film Festival .

It's also popular for its numerous green spaces. These include the 25-acre Parker's Piece , famous as the birthplace of modern football, and the Victorian-era Christ's Pieces , known for its lovely ornamental trees and flowerbeds.

For more sightseeing ideas in one of the most popular places to visit in England, be sure to read our full list of the top tourist attractions in Cambridge.

See also: Where to Stay in Cambridge

1. The Fitzwilliam Museum

2. explore the river cam, 3. king's college and king's college chapel, 4. queens' college and the mathematical bridge, 5. cambridge university botanic garden, 6. great st. mary's church, 7. the round church, 8. trinity college, 9. anglesey abbey, gardens, and lode mill, 10. museum of archaeology and anthropology, 11. peterhouse college, 12. pembroke college, 13. corpus christi college, 14. st. john's college, 15. museums of cambridge, technology, and science, 1`6. the polar museum at the scott polar research institute, 17. the national horse racing museum, where to stay in cambridge for sightseeing, map of tourist attractions in cambridge, england.

The most famous museum in Cambridge, The Fitzwilliam should be included on everyone's must-see list of tourist attractions. This masterpiece of architecture contains a magnificent collection of English pottery and china, as well as Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquities. It's also known for its rare illuminated manuscripts.

The exceptionally fine art gallery has works by Hogarth, Gainsborough, and Turner, as well as Impressionists and Dutch Masters of the Baroque including Rembrandt, Van Dyck, and Rubens. There's also a great café on-site, along with a gift shop.

Address: Trumpington Street, Cambridge

Official site: www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

One of the most popular things to do in Cambridge is to spend time exploring the River Cam , which runs through the heart of the city. You can cross the Cam in a number of places that offer great views of the river.

One of the most picturesque spots is the Silver Street Bridge . From here, you'll get some excellent photos of the famous Mathematical Bridge one side and over the docked punting boats, or "punts," toward Landress Green and Sheep's Green .

Follow the riverside path, and you'll also find the Punt Lift Rollers , an interesting spot where you can watch crews and eager tourists portaging their vessels from one body of water to another.

Some of the best views, though, can be had from the water itself, as the Cam passes extremely close to some of the most attractive college buildings. In addition to fun chauffeured tours where a crew member, usually a student, does the punting for you, rentals are also available by the hour for those wanting to go it alone.

Founded in 1441 by Henry VI and the earliest of the royal foundations, King's College is worth visiting for the huge expanse of lawn extending down to the river and King's Bridge . Here, you'll enjoy lovely views of the Backs , the various college grounds along the riverside. Distinguished alumni includes writer Horace Walpole, poet Rupert Brooke, and economist Lord Keynes.

A must-see here is King's College Chapel. Renowned for its 12-bay perpendicular-style interior, as well as its breathtaking fan vaulting by John Wastell (1515), it's a must-see in Cambridge.

Also worth checking out: the lovely tracery on the windows and walls; the spectacular 16th-century stained-glass windows; the lavishly carved 16th-century wooden organ screen and choir stalls; and the altarpiece, Rubens' Adoration of the Magi (1634).

Hot Tip: If visiting during term time, be sure to attend Evensong to hear the world famous King's College Choir in action.

Address: King's Parade, Cambridge

Official site: www.kings.cam.ac.uk

Founded in 1448 by Andrew Dockett under the patronage of Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, Queens' College was refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV. It has the most complete medieval buildings of all Cambridge's colleges, including the magnificent gateway leading to the red brick First Court, dating from the period of foundation.

Other Queens' College sites to visit include the wooden Mathematical Bridge. This 1902 reconstruction leads over the Cam to the lovely college gardens, and is so called because it was built without nails, relying for its strength on meticulous calculation.

Also worth seeing are Cloister Court (1460) with the President's Lodge, a handsome half-timbered building, and Pump Court. Here, you'll find the Erasmus Tower above the rooms, occupied by Erasmus when he taught Greek here (1511-1514).

Walnut Tree Court (1618), Friars Court with the Erasmus Building (1961), and the Victorian chapel (1891) are also worth seeing.

Address: Silver Street, Cambridge

Official site: www.queens.cam.ac.uk

Covering an area of some 40 acres, a visit to Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a must-do for gardening enthusiasts. Established in 1831, the garden showcases an impressive collection of more than 8,000 species of plants from across the globe.

Be sure to spend time wandering through the garden's many glasshouses and trails, something that can be done as part of a guided tour, which are free on Sundays. Afterwards, visit the Garden Café and Botanic Garden Shop.

Be sure to check out their website for news of upcoming events and festivals.

Address: 1 Brookside, Cambridge

Official site: www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Home.aspx

Great St. Mary's Church is both a parish and university church. Built in the 15th century, it has a fine interior, its galleries being added in 1739 at a time when university sermons, given by great scholars, attracted huge congregations. The tower, erected in 1608, is famous for its views over Cambridge.

Also worth a visit is Little St. Mary's. Known as St. Mary the Less , this Anglican parish church is famous for its many fine stained-glass windows.

Another important church, the Gothic Revival Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs, one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in Britain, was built in 1885 and houses a rare statue of the Virgin Mary.

Location: Senate House Hill, Cambridge

Better known as the Round Church, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of only four Norman round churches left in England. Built in 1131, its rectangular chancel was added in the 15th century.

This is one of the prettiest small churches in England. Visitors can get the most from their visit by joining an informative guided walk that includes the church and its surroundings. While best booked in advance, you can also purchase tickets in the Round Church Visitor Centre subject to availability.

Address: Round Church Vestry, Bridge Street, Cambridge

Official site: https://roundchurchcambridge.org

Established in 1546 by Henry VIII, Trinity College was created by the merger of several older colleges, including Michaelhouse and King's Hall. Beyond King Edward's Gate (1418), parts of the old King's Hall buildings are still identifiable.

Trinity Great Court is the largest court in Cambridge and was laid out around 1600. A passage leads into Nevile's Court (1614), with its chapel and statues of distinguished scholars. Wren's Library , designed by famed architect Sir Christopher Wren and added later, is notable for its old oak bookcases and fine lime woodcarvings.

Trinity has more distinguished former members than any other college. These include statesmen Austen Chamberlain, Stanley Baldwin, and Nehru; poets and writers such as George Herbert and Edward Fitzgerald; philosopher Bertrand Russell; and scientist Isaac Newton. Edward VII and George VI also attended Trinity.

From New Court, or King's Court, take the bridge over the Cam for its beautiful view of the Backs. A magnificent avenue of limes leads to the College Grounds .

Location: Trinity College, Cambridge

Official site: www.trin.cam.ac.uk

Although built in the 12th century, Anglesey Abbey was refurbished in 1926 and came to be known as a house of fine art and furnishings. Now a National Trust property, this spectacular home contains numerous tapestries by the likes of Gobelin, Soho, and Anglesey. There's also an art collection featuring Constable's The Opening of Waterloo Bridge .

Be sure to spend time enjoying the surrounding gardens and 114 acres of parkland. These impressive grounds include the Wildlife Discovery Area , where younger visitors can watch birds and bugs in their natural habitats, and the Lime Tree Lookout .

Afterwards, visit the historic water mill, known as the Lode Mill. Here, you can watch the grindstones do their job. Be sure to check the attraction's website for news of special events.

Address: Quy Road, Lode, Cambridge

Official site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey-gardens-and-lode-mill

Developed by Cambridge University in 1884, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology holds an important collection of prehistoric material and artifacts dealing with social anthropology. Collections have been gathered from around the world and include pieces from Africa and the Orient, with a focus on the visual and classical arts.

Of particular note is the Pacific collection, taken mainly from Cook's explorations, and other research projects made by notable British anthropologists. Regular educational programs for kids and adults are held throughout the year (check their website for details).

You'll also want to visit the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences , too. This fascinating museum houses the university's geology collection, including some two million minerals, rocks, and fossils. Highlights include numerous meteorite specimens, as well as the Beagle Collection consisting of fossils and rocks gathered by Charles Darwin between 1831 and 1836. The museum also offers a wide variety of family activities and kids' programs.

Also of interest is the newly refurbished University Museum of Zoology . Highlights of this recently renovated Cambridge attraction include a large collection of scientifically important zoological material.

Address: Downing Street, Cambridge

Official site: https://maa.cam.ac.uk

The oldest, and also one of the smallest, of Cambridge's colleges, Peterhouse was founded in 1284. Its historic hall and storeroom on the south side of Old Court are the earliest of the original 13th-century buildings. Among those who studied here were Cardinal Beaufort, chemist Henry Cavendish, and poet Thomas Gray.

Check out the Peterhouse Chapel, a focal point of the college for more than 700 years. Worth seeing are the stained-glass windows (imported from Munich in the 1850s) and the 17th-century altar window. For a truly memorable experience, enquire about Peterhouse's summer accommodation rentals.

Official site: www.pet.cam.ac.uk/

Pembroke College was founded in 1347 by the Countess of Pembroke but has been greatly altered since. The chapel (1665) is famous as architect Christopher Wren's first work and was later extended in 1881.

Pembroke has produced many bishops and poets, the most celebrated being Edmund Spenser (1552-99). Reformist bishop Nicholas Ridley, burned at the stake in Oxford, and statesman William Pitt also took their degrees here. A visit usually includes seeing the grounds and the chapel.

Official site: www.pem.cam.ac.uk

Corpus Christi College was founded in 1352 "by the townspeople for the townspeople." Its oldest section, Old Court , dates back to 1377, although it has since been restored.Notable features include the library, which contains many valuable manuscripts collected by Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury (1550).

Also worth noting is the adjoining St. Benet's Church , which was the original college chapel and is notable for its late Saxon tower.

Dramatists Christopher Marlowe (1564-93) and John Fletcher (1579-1625)are among the best-known alumni of the college. The college is available for summer accommodations, and has become popular for events such as weddings.

Official site: www.corpus.cam.ac.uk

St. John's College was founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. A richly ornamented gateway opens into First Court, a fine example of Tudor architecture. The dining hall of 1519, known simply as " The Hall ," was enlarged with later buildings in 1826 and has an excellent hammer beam roof, beautiful paneling, and some fine portraits.

The Combination Room has a splendid plaster ceiling with festoons of vines. Second Court, built in 1602, is exceptionally attractive with its mellow brickwork, while Third Court includes the Library (1624).

Among the many notable members of St. John's were dramatist Ben Jonson and poet William Wordsworth, who described his college rooms in his famous Prelude . Also visit the college's exquisite chapel, as well as the famous Bridge of Sighs . Built in 1831, this enclosed bridge leads over the Cam into New Court and the College Grounds.

Location: St. John's Street, Cambridge

Official site: www.joh.cam.ac.uk

One of the most popular museums in Cambridge, the Museum of Cambridge has displays and exhibits focusing on the everyday lives of the local people from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Located in the old White Horse Inn , the museum features an extensive collection of artifacts, including coinage, costumes, medals, toys, and medicine. It also contains numerous interesting artworks.

Also worth visiting, the Cambridge Museum of Technology focuses on the county's industrial past. Housed in a Victorian pump house, the museum displays a working steam winch once used to haul ashes along a narrow gauge railway, plus a variety of other engines and a collection of antique printing equipment.

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is also worthy of a visit for its fascinating collections of old scientific artifacts, including instruments and prints dating back as far as the 17th century.

Official site: www.museumofcambridge.org.uk

Located in the historic Scott Polar Research Institute ( SPRI ) building on Lensfield Road, the Polar Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the exploration of the Earth's polar regions. In addition to its collections of photos, documents, and artifacts relating to epic polar expeditions by the likes of Captain Robert Scott, you'll also find maps and other display materials that provide interesting facts about the North and South Poles.

One of the top free things to do in Cambridge , the Polar Museum is also home to an impressive collection of art relating to the exploration of the polar regions.

Address: Lensfield Road, Cambridge

Official site: www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/

Just 13 miles east of Cambridge, the market town of Newmarket has been a center of English horse racing since 1174. Horse fans will enjoy visiting the National Horse Racing Museum on the picturesque High Street. Exhibits relate to the history of the "sport of kings," still one of the most popular sports in Britain.

The collection includes paintings of famous horses and jockeys, old saddles, tack, and trophies. There are several stables actually in the town, not to mention the famous racecourse and training "gallops" close by.

Address: 99 High Street, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

Official site: www.palacehousenewmarket.co.uk

With the university's 31 colleges filling the entire center of Cambridge, there isn't much space left for hotels. But you'll find a few amid its historic buildings, with more just outside the ring of streets that encircles the center. Here are some highly-rated hotels in Cambridge:

Luxury Hotels :

• Overlooking a broad park near the River Cam and the colleges, with plenty of restaurants within easy walking distance, the large rooms at The Gonville Hotel are well located for exploring Cambridge.
• Walk along the Cam and to the historic sites from The Varsity Hotel & Spa , a boutique lodging with a rooftop terrace, near Trinity and Magdalene colleges.
• The name Hilton Cambridge City Centre says it all, right in the center surrounded by historic colleges, restaurants, and shops. The modern hotel offers free Wi-Fi.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• Regent Hotel rooms overlook a park near the colleges and River Cam or busy Regent Street's shops and restaurants.
• The neighboring boutique-style Lensfield is also about halfway between the train station and the city center.

Budget Hotels:

• You can walk through the park to city center colleges from Travelodge Cambridge Newmarket Road , or there's a bus stop right in front; underground parking is free.
• There's also a bus stop at Ashley Hotel , or you can walk across the river and over Midsummer Common to the center in about 20 minutes. Rooms here have safes, coffee and tea-making, and free Wi-Fi.
• For lodgings with history, choose a student room with a full English breakfast and Wi-Fi included in Christ's College Cambridge , founded by the mother of Henry VII in 1505 and the college of Charles Darwin.

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19 Best Things to Do in Cambridge, England

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Cambridge is one of my favourite cities in England (alongside London and Oxford ). And it just so helps that it’s right on my doorstep, which makes seeing all the best things to do in Cambridge so much easier. Nestled along the tranquil River Cam, this captivating English city is renowned for its prestigious university, ancient architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. This beautiful and historic city is the perfect mixture of architecture, nature, and history. 

With fascinating museums, gorgeous green spaces and, of course, the colleges that the city is famous for, Cambridge is the perfect day trip from London or even a weekend away in the UK. So, whether you want to see ancient sarcophagi at the Fitzwilliam Museum, attend the annual beer festival on Jesus Green, or simply admire King’s College from one of Cambridge’s best viewpoints, here are the best things to do in Cambridge, England.

Where is Cambridge?

I suppose the first thing to talk about here is where exactly the city is located. Cambridge is located in Cambridgeshire , England. It’s about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of London .

To get there from London, you can either drive, which will take around 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the route and how much traffic you run into. Alternatively, you can take the train which is the fastest way to get to Cambridge from London. The journey from London’s King’s Cross Station to Cambridge Station will typically take around 50 minutes to 1 hour, making it a convenient option for a day trip.

I recommend using Omio to book trains as it’s super easy and affordable.

Top Tip: If you’re driving into Cambridge, do NOT park at the Grande Arcade or Grafton Centre unless you’re happy to pay over £30 for the day to park. Instead, I recommend Parking at Queen Anne’s Terrace car park. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the city centre, but it’s pretty much half the price.

What is Cambridge famous for?

When you think of Cambridge, you typically think of either the colleges or universities. Home to one of the most prestigious and oldest universities in the world (the University of Cambridge, which was founded in 1209), Cambridge has a rich history of academic achievement. The city has created many Nobel laureates, scientists, writers, and creative thinkers. This, in turn, has turned its colleges into something of an attraction.

But, Cambridge is known for more than just academia. It also has its rich history, architecture, innovation, technology, and punting on the beautiful River Cam.

How much does punting cost in Cambridge?

The cost of punting in Cambridge varies depending on the company you use. There are several punting companies in Cambridge such as The Traditional Punting Company or Scudamores.

They both offer private or shared tours for up to 12 people and offer bespoke packages as well such as picnic punting. Tours typically last between 45 minutes to an hour and cost between £20 for a shared tour to over £200 for a private tour for a large group.

The 19 Best Things to Do in Cambridge

So, now that you’re a little bit more familiar with Cambridge and what this fantastic city has to offer, here are some of the best things to do in Cambridge, England. As usual, I’ve also included prices, so you’ll know exactly what a trip to this historic city will cost.

1. Visit the Fitzwilliam Museum – one of the best things to do in Cambridge for history lovers

One of the city’s top attractions, the Fitzwilliam Museum is easily one of the best things to do in Cambridge. And the cherry on the cake? It’s free!

Located along Trumpington Street close to the centre of the city, the museum is historical in itself. Founded in 1816, it’s one of Cambridge’s oldest museums . Inside, you’ll find an impressive collection of artefacts, art, and exhibits that span the ages; from the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome to the exquisite craftsmanship of European decorative arts.

It’s also housed in a fantastic building that almost resembles an ancient Greek temple .

Top Tip: Despite being free to enter, I recommend booking during peak times as spots can fill up. You can easily book on their website .

2. Eat international cuisine at Cambridge Market Square

Cost : However much you want to spend!

For cheap and delicious eats, Cambridge Market Square is one of the top things to do in Cambridge. You’ll find rows of stalls selling cuisine from all over the world. 

There’s a Thai stall selling delicious Pad Thai and noodles, a Greek stall serving up delicious souvlaki and halloumi wraps, a Brazilian stall selling a range of South American specialities, and a Jamaican stall serving jerk chicken and scrumptious curries. 

This is pretty much my go-to lunch stop whenever I visit Cambridge and it never disappoints. In fact, I know that some people drive quite a distance specifically to visit some of the stalls. 

3. Visit the impressive King’s College

Cost : £13.50 at the door and £12.50 online per adult

Arguably Cambridge’s most famous College, King’s College is one of the city’s most beautiful spots. An iconic jewel of the city, nestled along the banks of the River Cam, this gorgeous building was founded in 1441 by King Henry VI.

Not only is it one of the most important academic spots in the city, but it’s also one of Cambridge’s most impressive pieces of architecture.

Boasting intricate detail, stained glass windows, and a general auror of grandeur, it’s a masterpiece and easily one of the best things to do in Cambridge.

4. Climb Great St Mary’s Church – one of the best things to do in Cambridge for views

Cost : £6 per adult

Okay, so once you’ve seen the inside of King’s College, you’re probably going to want to see the best views of it, right? Well for this, head to Great St Mary’s Church. By far the best (publically accessible) viewpoint in Cambridge, you’ll climb a twirling staircase and be rewarded with sweeping views over Cambridge’s most prestigious college. 

From the top of the church, you can also see in all directions, so it’s not just King’s that you’ll get a view of. From the other side, you’ll get a panoramic view of the Market Square, and basically every other angle of Cambridge from on high. It’s a glorious way to view the city and one of my favourite things to do in Cambridge.

5. Go punting on the River Cam – one of the best things to do in Cambridge for scenery

Cost : Between £20 and £200 depending on which tour you book

I’ve had such a fun experience punting in Cambridge over the years. My first ever punting experience was on a hired boat where we had a go at punting ourselves. And, let me tell you, it’s a LOT harder than it looks!

The experts make it look so easy, effortlessly gliding down the river. On the other hand, there’s us, spinning in a circle for half an hour trying to work out how to steer the boat forwards. We were trying to get to the Mathematical Bridge, but after way longer than I’d like to admit, we admitted defeat and headed back to the docks. 

My second time punting (and every time after that) was much more successful. Mainly because I decided to opt for a guided tour instead of trying to punt the boat ourselves, but I had a wonderful time. 

We took a tour with Traditional Punting Company , and, not only did we get to see plenty of the river this time, but we also learned a lot. Our guides were super helpful and knowledgeable too, telling us stories of Cambridge’s history while pointing out the landmarks along the way. If you ever decide to go punting in Cambridge, I cannot recommend them enough.

If you book via their website, you can use discount code “adventure10punt” for 10% off your booking.

6. Admire the Corpus Clock

Cost : Free

One of the more curious things to do in Cambridge is to admire the Corpus Clock. Located in the centre of the city, just a 2-minute walk from King’s College, this mesmerising work of art attracts crowds of tourists year-round. 

Unveiled in 2008, this captivating installation was designed by Dr. John C. Taylor, a renowned horologist and inventor. The clock is large and gold with an intricate metal grasshopper on top, The grasshopper is constantly hopping to demonstrate the constant march of time. It’s all very symbolic.

7. Visit the oldest pub in Cambridge

Cost : Free, but beer is not!

After you’ve spent some time admiring the Corpus Clock, head straight down Bene’t St (immediately to your left) and you’ll find The Eagle Pub. This building might look pretty unassuming from the outside, but its story is one of the most interesting in the city. 

This Grade II public house originally opened in 1667 as a coaching inn. It slowly became a popular drinking spot for scholars and locals. It then gained more popularity during World War II as a favourite haunt of RAF airmen, who left their marks, including signatures and graffiti, etched into the ceiling with candle smoke.

To add to this, it was later the site of one of the most famous scientific discoveries in history. Francis Crick and James Watson announced they’d discovered the ‘secret of life’ in 1953 when they came up with the theory of the double helix structure of DNA. Even today, you can still see the plaque dedicated to them on the wall.

All in all, this is a pretty famous pub! Today, you’ll find dark wood beams, cosy nooks, and a delightful outdoor courtyard, plus a chance to sit in a site where history was made and drink some of Britain’s best beers.

Top Tip: If you’re feeling peckish after your drink, head a little further down the road to Smokeworks. This is one of the best BBQ places in Cambridge and serves some absolutely stunning ribs and brisket.

8. See the Mathematical Bridge

There are two ways to see this bridge: from the water, and from a different bridge! Connecting two sides of Queen’s College, the Mathematical Bridge was originally constructed in 1749.

While its name might suggest a complex mathematical design, the bridge is actually an elegant example of geometric architecture. Built by the master carpenter William Etheridge, the bridge comprises a series of straight timbers that form an arched structure, creating an optical illusion of curved lines.

If you’re on a punting tour, you’ll probably pass by this bridge on your way around the city. But, if you’d rather visit it on foot, head to Silver Street, where you can see the bridge stretching across the Cam.

Top Tip: There’s also a hot dog stand near here that’s good for a quick snack!

9. Eat Chelsea Buns at Fitzbillies

Cost : £8 (approx.) for a bun and a coffee

If I only had one word to describe Fitzbillies, it would be NOM! This cafe is famous across Cambridge for its Chelsea buns. If you only eat one thing in Cambridge, I highly recommend this (even though many of my tips seem to revolve around food, so you’ll almost definitely be full by the time you get to this point!).

Due to their high demand, there are actually two Fitzbilies cafes in Cambridge now: the original on Trumpington Street which opened in 1920, and their smaller and newer branch on Bridge Street. If you’re exploring the centre of Cambridge, the easiest one to visit would probably be on Trumpington Street.

You can actually go for brunch here too, but if you’re just after a mid-morning snack, a Chelsea bun and a coffee is the perfect combo.

Fun Fact: Their buns are so popular, you can actually order a monthly subscription of them! 😀

10. Visit the historic St John’s College

Cost : £10 per adult

Another of the top colleges to visit in Cambridge is St. Johns College. Founded in 1511, this historic institution is one of the University of Cambridge’s most distinguished colleges.

The actual building as well as the surrounding grounds are gorgeous, with detailed architecture, manicured flower beds, and views across the river. 

This is another spot that you’ll pass on your punting tour and is also home to the iconic Bridge of Sighs. It’s also pretty popular for photography with its grand archways and decorated courtyards.

11. View the Bridge of Sighs

Cost : Included in either your punting cost or St John’s College entrance fee

Not to be confused with the infamous Bridge of Sighs in Venice , this spectacular bridge connects the Third Court to the New Court in St John’s College. The spectacular covered bridge is one of the prettiest bridges in the city and easily one of the best things to do in Cambridge.

You can actually view this bridge in three different ways: from the water on a punting tour, from the grounds of St John’s College, and by walking over it inside St John’s.

Personally, my favourite view is from the water, because you just can’t beat seeing the bridge’s elegant Neo-Gothic design and intricate stone carvings up close. 

12. Explore Corpus Christi College

Cost : £5 per adult

One of the most detailed colleges in Cambridge, Corpus Christi is another must-see in the city. Founded in 1352, the college is designed in a rich blend of medieval and modern styles. 

While you’re at the college, be sure to visit the Parker Library, which houses a remarkable collection of manuscripts. The peaceful courtyards, picturesque gardens, and the striking clock tower are also all worth a visit and contribute to its distinctive character.

13. See the Wren Library

Cost : Included in the punting tour. The library is currently closed to the public.

We viewed this library on our punting tour and it’s pretty impressive. Nestled within the exquisite surroundings of Trinity College, the library was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1695. Its history is cool but what it contains is nothing short of amazing. 

Its shelves house an awe-inspiring collection of manuscripts, rare books, and treasures that span centuries, including the world-famous Codex Bezae, a fifth-century Greek-Latin New Testament. But, perhaps its most prized possession is a manuscript of Isaac Newton’s “Principia Mathematica,” a groundbreaking work in the history of science.

14. Visit the Cambridge Beer Festival – one of the best things to do in Cambridge for fun

Cost : Free between 12pm – 3pm weekdays. Between £4-£5 during evenings and weekends.

If you enjoy beer, blue skies (hopefully, if the English weather behaves), and Cambridge’s best food trucks, you’ll love the Beer Festival . Held once a year, typically in May, this event is one of the most fun things to do in Cambridge.

Food and drink vendors from up and down the country congregate on Jesus Green to put their best ales, beers, and lagers forward. You’ll find a couple of giant tents filled with rows upon rows of beer barrels and cider kegs. Some of the drinks are the most interesting flavours and you can have so much fun getting little samples of everything to see what you like best. 

You do usually have to pay to enter, but you also get a free glass with this. Or, you pay for the glass and get free entry…whichever way you want to look at it! Either way, the glasses are usually limited edition and contain artwork from sponsors which are normally local Cambridge businesses. If you go a few times, you can end up building up quite the collection, plus, you’ll have an amazing time at the festival.

15. Take a peek at the Round Church

Located in the heart of the city, the Round Church is another curious bit of architecture in Cambridge. Officially named the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, this church was built in the 12th century. Its unique design, combining Romanesque and Norman architectural elements, makes it one of only four round churches in England – so it’s pretty special and well worth a visit.

Top Tip: This is also next to one of the best sweet shops in Cambridge, Hardys, which sells a range of fantastic sweets and candies from around the world. Definitely pop in if you have time.

16. Taste some of the BEST food

Cost : Depends on the restaurant!

Cambridge has so many fantastic restaurants. It’ll honestly take me all day to name them all. But, on top of that, it also has amazing cafes (like Fitzbilies and Hot Numbers), a market square teeming with delicious eats, and some great pop-up food trucks too.

A few of my favourite places to eat in Cambridge include Pho, a fantastic Vietnamese restaurant serving delicious noodle bowls and soups, Pint Shop for an elegant twist on traditional pub food, and Tawa Kitchen, a gorgeous little Indian restaurant. However, take a look at this article for more of the best food spots in Cambridge.

Top Tip: For some of these restaurants (especially Pho and Tawa Kitchen), you might need to book in advance as they can be super popular.

17. See Modern art at Kettle’s Yard

Cost : £10.50 per adult

For artwork like no other, Kettle’s Yard is one of the best things to do in Cambridge. This haven of artistic inspiration and creative contemplation is a unique gem nestled within the city. What makes it super interesting, and completely different to the Fitzwilliam Museum, is that this collection is housed in a house as opposed to a large, elegant building. 

Originally the home of Jim and Helen Ede, Kettle’s Yard was transformed into a place of artistic inspiration and contemplation in 2018. Now, it contains an intricate collection of artworks, from modernist masterpieces to contemporary art. The house itself is a work of art too, with carefully curated rooms filled with sculptures, paintings, and found objects that create a harmonious blend of art and everyday life.

18. Go for a walk in some of the city’s parks

Considering it’s relatively small for a UK city , Cambridge actually has quite a few city parks. In fact, there are about 80 in total! These beautiful green spaces offer a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city life and are the perfect spot for a midday picnic or an evening stroll. 

A few of my favourite parks in Cambridge include Parker’s Piece (there are often some good events here), Midsummer Common, and the small but beautiful Paradise Local Nature Reserve.

19. Explore the surrounding villages

As well as the parks, exploring the charming villages that surround Cambridge also offers a delightful escape from the inner-city madness. From the idyllic thatched cottages of Grantchester to the historic ambience of Saint Ives, each village has its own unique character and stories to tell. 

Meandering along country lanes, you can discover centuries-old churches, traditional pubs, and local shops that offer a glimpse into the authentic English charm. You can see orchards, fields, and riverbanks, and truly lose yourself in the stunning views of the Cambridgeshire countryside . Having a wander around the villages and exploring the history of these smaller towns is one of the best things to do in Cambridge.

Top Tip: The walk from Cambridge to Grantchester Meadows is a great way to explore the Cambridge countryside.

My favourite tools for finding cheap travel

• SKYSCANNER – For amazing flight deals.
• BOOKING.COM – For affordable hotels and accommodation.
• SAFETY WING – For affordable, reliable travel insurance.
• DISCOVER CARS – For cheap car hire around the world.
• OMIO – For trains, coaches, and transfers.
• GET YOUR GUIDE – For attractions and tours.
• AIRALO – For a global eSim that keeps you connected.

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. But, I only recommend products and companies that I use and love.

Alice Smith is a full-time travel blogger and content creator and the founder of Adventures of Alice. Following an unexpected redundancy from her career as a Content Marketing Specialist, she embraced her passion for exploration and turned her hobby of travel blogging into a full-time career.

From her roots near Cambridge, UK, she's ventured to over 30 countries since 2016. With a passion for the outdoors and a knack for finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, Alice is on a mission to show that budget travel can still be luxurious and that every destination, no matter how touristy, holds hidden gems.

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

27 Things to do in Cambridge England: A Detailed Guide + Tips & Map!

Last updated: December 16, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

In today’s post, we’re going to share with you all our favourite things to do in Cambridge. As you’ll find out, there’s something for everyone in this compact city!

Located a 1-hour journey north of London, Cambridge is one of the UK’s most well-known university cities.

With a history dating back to the 1st century AD, there’s a great deal to see here to fill up at least a day of your time, and Cambridge is a popular place to visit as a day trip from London. From traditional pubs to punting trips to awesome museums and gorgeous old churches and colleges, Cambridge has something for everyone.

We’re also going to share our tips for how to get around Cambridge, where to stay in Cambridge, tips for getting here and away, and the best time of year to visit Cambridge. Let’s get started.

27 Things to do in Cambridge UK

As you’ll see from this list, there’s no shortage of things to do in Cambridge, from ancient English pubs to fantastic museums and gorgeous colleges.

We’ve included what we think are some of the best attractions in Cambridge, and hopefully you’ll find plenty of ideas for your trip to the city.

Visit the Cambridge University Colleges

Founded in 1209, Cambridge University is the second oldest university in the English speaking world (Oxford university is the oldest, see our guide to visiting Oxford here) . The University itself consists of 31 colleges, each of which provides accommodation and manages the entry and tuition of their students.

The 31 colleges are divided into the “old” colleges, which were founded between 1284 and 1596, and the “new” colleges, founded between 1800 and 1977.

No visit to Cambridge is complete without visiting at least some of the Cambridge Colleges. We’ve already mentioned the King’s College Chapel and the Wren Library of Trinity College, but we wanted to include a few more of our favourite colleges that you can visit.

You can explore many of these on your own, or you can take a walking tour of the Cambridge Colleges , where you will learn from a Cambridge graduate all about life at the colleges, as well as lots of history and information.

Please do note that all of the colleges in Cambridge are places of work and study, so always abide by the rules and behave with respect and courtesy to those who live and work here. If in doubt as to whether a college is open, we recommend stopping at the porters office, which will be at the entrance to the college, where you can ask for information.

Trinity College Cambridge

Trinity College in Cambridge is one of the largest colleges in the city. It was founded by King Henry VIII in 1546, and attendees included Isaac Newton, Lord Byron, and Betrand Russell, to name but a few. Trinity College has in fact produced 33 Nobel prize winners to date, more than any other Cambridge or Oxford college.

Speaking of Newton, it is oft speculated that the tree in the Great Court is the famous tree that inspired his theory of gravity. This is in fact incorrect – the actual tree is an apple tree, which can be seen at Woolsthorpe Manor , some distance north of Cambridge.

Highlights of a visit to Trinity College include seeing the Great Gate, the Great Court, and the Clock Tower, as well as the Wren Library.

You can visit the aforementioned Wren Library free of charge. For access to the Great Court and Chapel, there’s a small entrance fee of £3 at time of writing, payable at the visitors booth in the Great Gate. Opening  days and hours vary depending on the time of year. See more on the official website here .

Christ’s College Cambridge

Originally founded as God’s House in 1437, Christ’s College was refounded under its present name in 1505.

Christ’s College was where Charles Darwin and John Milton studied, and it is consistently amongst the top performing colleges in Cambridge in terms of academic standards.

The college is open to visitors, with highlights including the original 15th century buildings and round lawn of the First Court, the Great Gate entrance on St. Andrews Street, and the Fellow’s Garden.

The Old Library though is our favourite reason for visiting Christ’s College. This library is home to over 50,000 rare printed books, largely acquired through generous donations. Book include first editions of the works of alumni John Milton and Charles Darwin, as well as many other treasures.

The Old Library is open from 2pm – 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursday, with visits outside of these hours possible by appointment. The college itself can be visited throughout the year 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm, and access is free. You can see more about visiting in general here , and visiting the old library here .

Pembroke College

Pembroke College was founded in 1347, making it the third oldest college of Cambridge University. It has stunning buildings, but it is perhaps best known for its gardens, which are beautiful.

Other highlights include the chapel, and visitors are welcome to wander the grounds, although other than the chapel you cannot enter the other buildings.

Pembroke College is free to visit, and is open year-round from 10am – 5pm, with the exception of examination times. It’s also included on various walking tours of Cambridge, such as this one which also includes punting. See more about visiting here .

St. John’s College Cambridge

Founded in 1511, St. John’s College has produced ten Nobel Prize winners, seven UK prime minsters, twelve archbishops, two princes and three Saints. Attendees include Douglas Adams, author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (my favourite book!), William Wordsworth, and Paul Dirac.

It’s a beautiful college to visit, with a stunning chapel, the famous 1831 Bridge of Sighs, and extensive gardens.

St. John’s is well setup for visitors. There’s a signed self-guided walking tour that runs around the main sights of the college, including the iconic Bridge of Signs across the River Cam. You can download an accompanying leaflet for the walk from the official website here .

There’s a fee to visit St. John’s College, which is £10 per adult. The grounds are open to visitors year round (except from 25th Dec – 2nd Jan), from 10am – 5pm March – October, and 10am – 3.30pm the rest of the year. See more on the official site here .

This was just a slice of some of the many colleges that you can visit in Cambridge. You could easily spend a day or more in Cambridge just visiting these stunning properties! You can also stay in some of the colleges outside of term time – see our guide to where to stay in Cambridge towards the end of the post for more information.

Finally, if you are visiting Cambridge with educational or research purposes in mind, you can also get access to some of the college’s rich archives. Some of these have public visiting hours but for many you need to book an appointment.

For example, if you are researching Winston Churchill , you might want to visit the large collection of documents from the Churchill era (1874-1965) available at Churchill College.

Take a Walking Tour

If you want to get a good overview of the history of Cambridge and see some of the many highlights of the city, then a great way to do this is to take a walking tour. There are a number of different tours available, and we’ve highlighted some of our favourite options here.

• A Cambridge University Walking tour with a Graduate . This tour takes you to a number of the Cambridge Colleges, and as you are led by a graduate of the university, you’ll get to learn all about what life is like when you are a student here. A similar tour is also available as a private tour .
• A Cambridge University and City Highlights guide . Led by a qualified Cambridge green badge tour guide, this private tour covers the highlights of the city as well as a number of the colleges, giving you a great overview of the city. A similar tour is available as a group tour here .
• A combined Cambridge Punting and Walking tour . This tour combines two popular activities into one tour, and includes a guided punting experience as well as a tour of Cambridge. Both of these activities are with Cambridge Alumni, and the walking tour covers the highlights of the city as well as a number of the colleges.

If you’d rather see the city by bus, you might consider buying a ticket for the sightseeing bus. You can buy tickets for the Cambridge hop on hop off bus here .

Scott Polar Research Institute

The Scott Polar Research Institute , also known as the Polar Museum, is a museum dedicated to the north and south poles of our planet.

As with many of the other museums in our guide to Cambridge, it is a part of the University of Cambridge museums consortium – of which there are eight in total in Cambridge. Each museum has a different focus and content, and they are all worth visiting!

The Scott Polar Research Institute is named for and in memorial to Captain Robert Scott, often referred to as Scott of the Antarctic. Scott was a British naval officer and explorer who died on an expedition to the South Pole in 1912.

The expedition successfully reached the pole, becoming the second team ever to do so, but all the members of the team passed away on the return leg.

Today, the Scott Polar Research Institute, which was established in 1920, performs two main functions – it’s a research base for a wide variety of Arctic and Antarctic research programmes, and it is the home of the Polar Museum.

The museum houses numerous artifacts and displays relating to both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. They cover the history of polar expeditions as well as the history, geology, and wildlife of the two regions themselves.

It’s a fascinating museum, with objects including the last letters written by Scott, and is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in our planet’s Poles, and exploration in general. The museum is open daily from 10am – 4pm, Tuesday – Saturday, and is free to visit (donations greatly appreciated).

They also host special events including talks, and special exhibitions. See the official website for more.

The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitzwilliam Museum is dedicated to art and antiquities, and was established in 1816 using the art collection  bequeathed to the University by Richard Fitzwilliam. In 1848, the museum relocated to its present building, the beautiful Founders Building.

A highlight of this building is the entrance hall, which was designed by Edward Middleton Barry.

The Fitzwilliam Museum has a wide range of items on display, ranging from 16th century musical manuscripts to paintings by J.M.W Turner, as well as Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, and art from China, Japan and Korea.

There’s also an extensive collection of coins.

The museum is fairly large with a lot to see, although you can also just visit and take in the highlights if you prefer. Entry is free (donations are appreciated), and the museum is open 10am – 5pm Tuesday – Saturday, and midday – 5pm on Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays. For more on what’s on and up to date opening times, see the official website here .

Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences

The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is where you’re going to come if you want to learn all about geology. Established in 1728, this is the oldest of the University of Cambridge museums, which is appropriate given that the subject matter will take you on a 4.5 billion year journey through the history of the earth!

The museum has in its collection over 2 million specimens, which include fossils, minerals, and rocks, and which cover the majority of the lifespan of planet earth. As you would imagine, not all of this can be displayed at once, but there is a great deal to see and learn here.

The museum is open every day except Sunday. From Monday to Friday, it’s open from 10am – 1pm, and 2pm to 5pm. On Saturdays it’s open from 10am – 4pm. It’s free to visit, and you can see more about what’s on display here .

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

The fourth museum on our list, and dating from 1884, is the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology . This museum is all about the history of people and the objects made for and used by people throughout the ages.

The ages in this case span a couple of million years and about a million artefacts, so there’s plenty to see and learn about here if you’re curious about where we came from and how we got to where we are today. It covers archaeology which is local to Cambridge as well as world archaeology, and there’s also a whole floor on anthropology.

Highlights of the collection include the Haida Totem pole, as well as Roman and Anglo Saxon artefacts from Cambridge and surrounds.

The museum has free admission, and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10.30am – 4.30pm, and Sunday from noon – 4.30pm. See the official website for more.

Museum of Zoology

If you are interested in the natural world, then you’ll want to make a stop at the Museum of Zoology . This is a part of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Zoology, which owns around two million specimens – thousands of which are on display at any one time.

From the 22 metre long fin whale in the entrance area, through to elephants, insects, and molluscs, the museum has specimens on display which span the entire animal kingdom. There are also historically important items, including specimens discovered by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, originators of the Theory of Evolution.

We think this would make a great museum visit for families in particular. There are Zoologists Clubs for different age groups, which run events throughout the year and have free membership. The museum also runs talks on various topics throughout the year, and there are rotating exhibitions.

Entry is free, with the museum open from 10am to 4.30pm Monday – Saturday, and noon to 4.30pm on Sunday. See more on the official website .

The Centre for Computing History

The father of computers, Charles Babbage , studied Mathematics at Cambridge in the early 19th century. Babbage would go on to design the “Difference Engine”, which is generally regarded as being the first computer ever to be designed.

As such, it is appropriate that Cambridge is home to the Centre for Computing History , a museum which is home to a collection consisting of over 24,000 items relating to computers and computing history. These include books, vintage computers, memorabilia, game consoles and even mobile phones.

This is definitely an excellent museum for those of you with an interest in computing, and there are loads of interactive and hands on exhibits to keep you entertained. It reminded us a bit of the Computer History Museum in California . The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am – 5pm, and there’s a small fee to visit.

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

As should be apparent by now, Cambridge has a museum for pretty much every interest! The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is another of the University of Cambridge’s eight museums, and this one focuses, as the name makes clear, on the history of science.

The museum houses a great many objects such as scientific instruments, models, pictures, and prints, which are used to relate the history of science. These cover a wide variety of scientific disciplines.

The collection is based upon the artefacts donated to the University of Cambridge by Robert Stewart Whipple, a 19th century scientist who grew up with a father as a scientist, and who spent his life creating (and collecting) scientific instruments.

Highlights of the objects on display include a copy of Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica , Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine No 1, and some of Charles Darwin’s microscopes. These scientists were giant’s in their fields, responsible for some of mankind’s greatest scientific achievements, and being able to see first hand the tools and books they used and wrote is a wonderful experience.

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is currently closed as it is undergoing refurbishment, and is scheduled to reopen in April 2019. See the official website for more information.

Kettle’s Yard

For 20th century and contemporary art, you’ll want to head to Kettle’s Yard . This is found in the former home of Jim and Helen Ede, which consisted of four cottages that were merged into one unique property.

The property has been largely left laid out in the informal style of the Ede’s, and much of the art on display is from their art collection. When they lived in the house, they would regularly hold open house tours to students of the university, and when they left Cambridge for Edinburgh, they gave the house and art collection to the University, which has been running it as an art museum ever since.

Entry is free, and the house is open from 11am – 5pm Tuesday – Sunday. Note that whilst it is free to visit, the house operates a timed ticketing system to manage visitor numbers. These are available from the house itself, or you can book them online up to a month in advance here , which we would recommend doing if you want to be sure to visit.

Cambridge Science Centre

If you’re visiting Cambridge as a family or with kids, you may want to head to the Cambridge Science Centre . Whilst technically a museum, this is really a hands-on interactive learning centre where children and young people can find out all about what makes the world work.

As well as the permanent exhibition, which includes content on everything from how cells work to how we survive in the present day, there are interactive shows and activities available throughout the day. Levers can be pulled, buttons can be pressed, and anyone with a love of science will have a great time here.

The Cambridge Science Centre is open Tuesday – Sundays from 10.30am – 5pm in school holidays, and has varied opening hours during term time. See more on opening hours and admission fees on the official website here .

Museum of Cambridge

By this point you might be wondering if there’s anything apart from museums to see in Cambridge. Or, you’re thrilled at the wealth of knowledge awaiting you, and struggling to decide which to visit.

Whichever side of that divide you fall on, this is the last museum in our list!

The Museum of Cambridge  is found at the northern end of the city, and focuses on the history of Cambridgeshire, specifically over the last 300 years. This is the place to come if you want to learn everything about what has helped shape Cambridge into the city it is today.

It’s set in a former 17th century coaching inn, giving it a very authentic setting, and has objects covering everything from social history to toys, art and clothing.

There’s a small fee to visit the Museum of Cambridge, and it’s open all week, although on Mondays, visits are by guided tour only. You can see the opening times and further information on their website .

Corpus Clock

The Corpus Clock is an incredible gold plated, 1.5 metre wide time piece and art installation. You’ll find it at the junction of Bene’t Street and Trumpington Street on the side of the Taylor library.

The clock involved over 200 people and the project to create it cost over a million pounds. It takes the form of a large golden disc, atop which sits a huge grasshopper, which is known as the Chronophage. This is Greek for “time eater”, which is appropriate, as the grasshopper appears to eat the seconds as they tick by.

The clock is accurate, but as it moves erratically, it’s only truly accurate once every five minutes. Still, you’re not here to tell the time (which is challenging as there are no hands or dial to read, and so you need to understand the LED layout), you’re here to appreciate a marvel of clockmaking, which was named as one of Time magazines best inventions of 2008.

The clock is free to visit and runs year-round. It’s also often included on walking tours such as this one .

Great St. Mary’s Church Tower

If you want to get a great view of Cambridge, we recommend heading to Great St. Mary’s Church , where for a small fee you can climb to the top for panoramic views of the city.

The church is in the heart of the old part of the city, surrounded by cobbled streets and colleges, and is directly across from Kings College Chapel. As you would imagine therefore, the views from the roof are among the best you’ll get in Cambridge.

Of course, the church itself, which dates from the 15th century and is a listed building, is also worth spending time visiting. It’s the university church of the University of Cambridge, and is home to the University Organ and University Clock.

The church also plays another role in Cambridge university life. All university undergraduates must live within three miles of the church, and university officers must live within 20 miles of it.

The Church is open Monday – Saturday from 10-5.30pm (4.30pm in winter), and 12.15 – 5pm on Sundays (4pm in winter). Tickets for the tower can be purchased at the gift shop, after which it’s a 123 step climb to the top up a narrow winding medieval staircase! See more on the official website .

Castle Mound

It’s time for some of the other highlights of Cambridge, of which there are many. We’ll start off with Castle Mound, which is just across from the Museum of Cambridge.

This mound is all that is left of what was once a fairly formidable castle which dated back to the 11th century, and which was built following the Norman invasion in 1066 to control the route from London to the north of England.

Over the years the castle saw various uses, including being used as the city gaol. However, much of the stone was incorporated into the construction of other buildings in Cambridge, including the colleges, and all that is left is the grassy motte.

This is still worth visiting though, as from the top of the motte you can get nice views across the city, and this is a popular spot to come to watch the sunset.

King’s College Chapel

If there is one building which symbolises Cambridge, it would be King’s College Chapel . This is the chapel of King’s College.

A chapel, in case you were wondering how a chapel differs from a church, is usually a place of worship that is a part of a large nonreligious institution. This is why most colleges have chapels.

Whilst chapels are often relatively small, this is absolutely not the case with King’s College Chapel, which is a large and seriously impressive structure.

Built in the Perpendicular Gothic style of English architecture in the 15th century, King’s College Chapel is a fantastic building that needs to near the top of your to-do list in Cambridge.

It has the largest fan vault in the world, spectacular stained-glass windows, and a rood screen that was funded by Henry VIII as part of his wedding celebrations for Anne Boleyn.

The chapel is still in active use, and it is the home of the King’s College Chapel choir. It’s possible to visit here and watch both mass and concerts, and the acoustics are excellent.

If you’ve ever watched the BBC’s Christmas programming, there is always a broadcast of a solo performer singing Once in Royal David’s City live from the chapel.

King’s College Chapel has an entrance fee, with tickets available from the King’s College visitor centre, which is opposite the chapel and college grounds. Tickets can also be purchased online here , to save you from queuing on the day. You can also take a tour which includes King’s College like this .

The ticket gives you access to the chapel and the grounds of the College. The chapel is open every day of the week, but opening times vary depending on the time of year. You can see prices and full opening hours here .

Wren Library

The Wren library is arguably the most impressive of all the college libraries at Cambridge. It was designed and built for Trinity College by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The two storey library consists of a single long room. The bookshelves go up to the height of the first floor, above which the huge windows allow light to pour in. This was the first library to be designed with windows large enough to allow for sufficient light in for reading.

At the end of each bookshelf you’ll find the bust of a noted author, as well a a limewood carving by Grinling Gibbons, whose work can also be found at Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace, and who was generally regarded as the finest wood carver in England.

Inside the library there is a section of display cases containing some of the libraries most notable books and manuscripts. These include Isaac Newton’s first edition of Principia Mathematica , which has Newton’s handwritten notes for the second edition, A.A. Milne’s manuscripts for Winnie the Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner , and an 8th century copy of the Epistles of St. Paul , to name but a few.

The library is still very much a working university library, and as such access is carefully managed to as not to disturb those using it for academic purposes. Visiting hours are limited to 12-2pm, and visitors are restricted to 15 at a time. Photography is not permitted inside.

It’s free to visit though, and there’s a small souvenir shop where you can pick up postcards, although this is cash only.

Note – as of April 2023 the Wren Library is closed to the public. Check the official website here for more information and to see if it has reopened.

One of the most popular activities to do in Cambridge is to go punting. If you’re not sure what that means, a punt is a type of flat bottomed boat, and punting involves pushing yourself along the river using a long pole to propel yourself.

Punting is a lot harder than it sounds as we know from experience. So whilst you can hire a punt yourself and give it a go, we’d generally recommend that if you actually want to see some sights, you might prefer to take a tour with someone who knows what they are doing.

There are a variety of punt tour operators in Cambridge, with the majority offering tours of between 45 minutes and an hour – like this one with the Traditional Punting Company . Your punter will normally give you commentary about what you are seeing whilst also doing all the hard work, meaning you get to sit back and enjoy the unique views of Cambridge from the river.

Mathematical Bridge

Built in 1749, this famous Grade II listed wooden footbridge is a popular sight in Cambridge. Its unique construction give it the impression of being an arched bridge, but the reality is that it is built entirely from straight timbers.

This clever engineering design is why the nickname “ Mathematical Bridge ” has stuck.

The Mathematical Bridge is in Queen’s College, so to visit the Bridge you need to visit the college during its public visiting hours and  pay the visitors fee, which is £3.50 at time of writing. You can see the opening hours of the college and visitor information here .

In our opinion though, the best view of the Mathematical Bridge is to be had from a punting tour, which will take you directly under the bridge. You can also get a more distant view from the Silver Street road bridge, just a little to the south on the river.

Have a Pub Lunch

One of the fascinating things about visiting Cambridge is the sense of history that seems to permeate the air here – particularly a history of scientific achievement. You can literally visit the places where some of science’s biggest discoveries were made and unveiled.

In the case of the Eagle pub in Cambridge, you can both sit in the same place where Watson and Crick announced their findings on DNA, and enjoy a tasty pub lunch.

Of course, there are lots of places to have a great pub lunch. The Eagle is pretty special though, other than it’s connection with Watson and Crick. First, it’s arguably the oldest operating pub in the city, having opened in 1667. It also has a room known as the RAF room, where the graffiti of World War II airmen covers the walls.

Classic pub lunch fare in Britain includes dishes like steak and ale pie, fish and chips, gammon steak and eggs, or sausage and mashed potato.

We had an excellent pub lunch and pint of ale here, and you might want to come here or find another great pub in the city to do the same.

Cambridge Botanical Garden

Covering an area of 40 acres just to the south of the city centre, the Cambridge University Botanical Garden is a lovely place for a stroll.

Opened to the public in 1846, today the garden is home to a wide variety of plants and trees, which cover both British and international variants. There are large glasshouses which contain over 3,000 species, as well a a pretty fountain.

The garden is open year round, and there are self-guided trails you can take to explore the various collections on display. Opening times vary depending on the month, with the garden normally opening at 10am. At time of writing there’s a £6 fee to visit, with concessions available. See more on the official site here .

Cambridge Market

Found right in the heart of Cambridge at the Market Square, next to Great St. Mary’s Church is Cambridge Market . An outdoor market has been held in this location in the city since the Middle Ages!

Today, there’s a wide variety of products on sale, from books and clothes to food, plants and mobile phone accessories.

The market operates Monday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm. On Sundays, there’s an arts and craft market, which also includes organic produce sales.

The Round Church

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre , more commonly known as the Round Church, is a 12th century stone built Parish church found in the centre of Cambridge on Round Church street.

The Church is managed by and is the home of Christian Heritage, and is one of only four medieval round churches still in use in England.

The church has an exhibition about the history and influence of Christianity on education and science, as well as a film about the history of Cambridge, and a display on the history of the church itself.

The church is open to visitors, and there’s an admission fee, which at time of writing is £3.50. It’s open every day except Sunday from 11am – 4.30pm.

The Christian Heritage charity also runs guided walking tours of Cambridge, which focus on Christian history, and which depart from and can be booked at the Round Church visitor center, or on their website here .

Map of Things to do in Cambridge

To help you visualize our recommendations for things to do in Cambridge, we’ve put them all in map. You can see this map on Google maps here .

Tours to Cambridge

Cambridge is a popular city to visit as part of a tour – either as a day trip from London, or on a multi-day tour of the UK. Here are a few options to consider, including tours of the city.

• A full day tour to Cambridge with departure from London, which includes transport and a guided tour of the city followed by free time to explore. This is another version of this tour .
• This full day tour to Oxford and Cambridge from London, which includes round trip transport and a guided tour of both Oxford and Cambridge. This will let you get a taste of both university cities. Another version here . Tours are also available from Oxford
• A five day tour through the heart of England and Wales , which includes time in Cambridge, as well as other highlights such as York, Stratford upon Avon, the Peak District, and Snowdonia

As you can see, there are a number of tour options, and we’re sure you’ll find one to suit your specific requirements.

When to Visit Cambridge

Cambridge is a good city to visit year round, with lots of both indoor and outdoor attractions. It is likely to be most busy during the summer months of July and August, and quieter in the off-season months like November and January.

One of the big attractions in Cambridge is of course the colleges, and these are active places of study. As such, they may close or have limited access for examinations.

The majority of exams take place in between April and June, however exams can occur at other times, and if there is a particular college you want to see, you will definitely want to check their website to see if they have any visitor restrictions due to exams.

Also be aware that some colleges are rarely or almost never open to the public so be sure to check if there is one you particularly want to visit.

If you’re visiting Cambridge for the day, we’d advise checking opening days for any attractions you are keen to visit. In particular, many of the museums in Cambridge are closed on Mondays for example, so you might want to avoid visiting Cambridge on a Monday if you want to visit these museums.

How to Get Around Cambridge

Cambridge is an easy city to get around on foot. From the train station to the city centre is around a 15 – 20 minute walk, although there are also buses, taxis, and Uber available.

If you think you’ll be taking the bus a few times in Cambridge, you might consider buying a day ticket . For £4.50 (at time of writing), you’ll get unlimited rides for one day across the centre of the city and immediate surrounding area on Stagecoach buses, including everywhere on our things to do list.

Tickets can be purchased on the bus, with both cash and contactless payments accepted.

Another option of course is to take the Hop on Hop off bus . Tickets for these open top double decker buses will give you 24 hour riding privileges, which includes an audioguide, and the route stops at the majority of the highlights in the city. Buy your ticket here in advance .

How to Get to Cambridge

Cambridge is a well connected city which is easy to get to from other parts of the UK. From London, the best way to reach Cambridge is to take the train. Trains depart multiple times an hour from Kings Cross station, with journey times varying between 50 and 80 minutes.

We advise buying your ticket in advance here to get the best prices.

It’s also possible to take the bus to Cambridge, however from London this will usually take a couple of hours, so we’d advise taking the train where possible. You can check bus times and prices here .

The nearest airport to Cambridge is London Stansted, from where you can take the train or bus to Cambridge.

How Long to Visit Cambridge For?

We’d suggest spending at least a full day in Cambridge if you can.

However, as you can see from our list of things to do in Cambridge, there’s is a great deal to see and do. So whilst visiting Cambridge on a day trip is both a popular and viable option, if you stay for two or three days you will easily be able to fill your time.

Where to Stay in Cambridge

If you choose to visit Cambridge for longer than a day, you’ll want somewhere to stay. Cambridge has a wide variety of accommodation options, from hostels to hotels.

We’ve gone through and picked out some of the best options in Cambridge across a range of budgets to help you find the right place for you.

• YHA Cambridge . If you’re looking for a hostel in Cambridge, this YHA is found between the train station and the town center. Accommodation ranges from dorm beds to private en-suite rooms.
• Cambridge City Mill – a great value aparthotel found between the city centre and the train station. Offers free wi-fi, and a variety of en-suite rooms, perfect for a family
• A & B Guesthouse – a well reviewed good value guesthouse for those of you looking for more of a B&B type experience. Rooms have tea/coffee making facilities, it’s found between the city center and the train station, and breakfast is available
• The Waterman – this traditional Cambridge pub is found just north of the city centre, and offers well-rated en-suite accommodation. There’s on-site dining, and breakfast is also available.
• Christs College  – if you want to stay at a College, this is a good option, although note that you can only book for certain times of the year outside of term time
• The Gonville Hotel  – this is a well reviewed 4* hotel just south of the city centre. It offers free bike hire, on-site dining, en-suite rooms with tea/coffee making facilities, and breakfast is available
• University Arms Hotels – part of the Autograph Collection, this 4* hotel in the city centre has lovely rooms, an excellent location, and all the facilities you would expect, from ensuite rooms to a fitness centre, bar, on-site restaurant and complimentary WiFi.

As well as the above, during summer and school breaks it is possible to sleep in the dormitories of some of the university colleges, such as  Christs College .

Hopefully this gives you some ideas for where to stay in Cambridge. Take a look at all the options, from apartments to hotels, here .

Further Reading

That’s almost it for our detailed guide to visiting Cambridge in the UK. Before you go though, we wanted to share some more of our UK content to help you plan your trip here.

• If you’re staying in London, you should check out our 1 day London itinerary , 2 day London itinerary , 3 day London itinerary and 6 day London itinerary , which will give you plenty of ideas for how to fill your time in the UK’s capital city
• We have a guide to visiting Oxford from London , as well as a guide to taking a day trip to Stonehenge from London
• Cost is often a key factor when planning a trip. See our guide to how much it costs to travel in the UK to help out
• If you’re planning on renting a car in the UK, we have some tips for driving in the UK to help out. We also have detailed one week and two week UK road trip itineraries
• We also have guides to many other cities in the UK, including things to do in Bristol , things to do in Edinburgh , things to do in Portsmouth , and things to do in Glasgow , to name but a few.
• If you’re interested in a guide book for your trip to Cambridge, we can recommend the Rick Steves England book  or the Cambridge Greater than a Tourist guide

And that’s it for our guide to things to do in Cambridge! As always, we’re happy to hear your feedback and answer your questions – just pop them in the comments below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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There are 4 comments on this post

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Kwok Fung Au Yeung says

6th March 2023 at 2:12 am

Wren Library is close to public

Laurence Norah says

8th April 2023 at 8:27 pm

Thanks for letting me know! We always recommend checking opening hours and times before visiting any attraction as they can close for various reasons. I hope you still enjoyed your time in Cambridge 🙂

Linda Watt says

5th April 2021 at 6:14 am

The beautiful Cambridge American Cemetery, with its visitor center that tells the story of the air war that was critical to the Allied victory in WWII, is so worth a visit!

Very helpful article on Cambridge, by the way!

5th April 2021 at 11:48 am

Thank you very much, and thank you also for that tip Linda! We haven’t made it to the Cambridge American Cemetery but it sounds very interesting – we’ll definitely check it out on our next visit to Cambridge 🙂

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The best walks and hikes around Cambridge

An exceptionally beautiful university city in Cambridgeshire’s low-lying landscape, there are endless, dreamlike walks in Cambridge. From its historic university buildings and cobbled streets to the serene River Cam and its water meadows, this famous city has plenty to offer you as a hiker. Thanks to the flat terrain, you can hike around Cambridge for miles, finding short walks and day-long adventures everywhere you look. 

This stunning city lies on land with Bronze Age remains but its real history starts with the Romans, who built a fort and farmsteads in the area. Delightfully flat, Cambridge lies on the edge of the Fens and its peaceful landscape is dotted with old villages, connected by footpaths and quiet lanes. Follow river trails, seek out historic churches, pass ruined abbeys and try to spot the area’s windmills: there’s so much to discover while walking around Cambridge. 

Ready? Choose a hike and off you go.

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Cambridge loop of the colleges & the River Cam

Skater's meadow – mathematical bridge loop from cambridge.

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Bates bite lock – cambridge museum of technology loop from the willows, trinity college chapel – the backs loop from cambridge, skater's meadow – grantchester meadows footpath loop from trumpington, lock at jesus green – midsummer common loop from cambridge, bates bite lock – midsummer common loop from cambridge, ely view from wandlebury park loop from cherry hinton, the backs – trinity college chapel loop from cambridge, trinity college chapel – king's college chapel loop from cambridge, more information.

Marvel at this cathedral city’s history

It’s easy to enjoy walks in Cambridge’s historic heart, where its 13th-century university was founded and home to the 15th-century King’s College Chapel, one of the most exquisite examples of Gothic English architecture. There are numerous churches to admire from the winding cobbled streets, each hailing from a different century and bearing their own grandeur. The university’s college buildings are wondrous too, with their phenomenal architecture, grand wooden doors and postcard courtyards. 

Some of the best hiking trails in Cambridge begin in this medieval heart and take you through the parks and meadows alongside the river. Wander south to the pretty village of Grantchester where you can find a bite to eat amongst the thatched cottages and enjoy tranquil views. Or head north through commons to villages like Fen Ditton and Horningsea. 

Exploring rivers and fens

There’s no shortage of verdant, green hikes from Cambridge’s historic heart into its glorious landscape. Following the River Cam is one of the easiest ways to ensure a stunning walk where nature bursts out of the landscape with every footstep. In the city, the Cam is spanned by ornate bridges with parks often lining its banks. You can follow it out along riverside paths and before you know it, you’ll be strolling through the vibrant countryside with the river as your companion. Keep an eye out for kingfishers as you can often see these tiny, brightly coloured birds fishing.

Cambridge lies in the south of the Fens, a vast, low-lying plain which, in some places, lies below sea level. A network of footpaths and byways criss-cross this region, allowing you to hike for as long as you like. There are numerous idiosyncrasies of the Fens that you can seek out too, like its old windmills: Madingley, Fulbourn, Impington and Swaffham Prior. As you walk, you’ll find drainage channels, historic halls and former Roman roads. 

Planning your trip

Cambridge is well-connected by rail and road allowing easy access to the city centre. For day trips, the park + ride is a great option if you’re driving, as the traffic in the city can be slow. For longer trips, there’s a huge choice of accommodation here as well as in the pretty villages in the countryside surrounding the city.

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8 Amazing Places to Visit in Indianapolis in June 2024

8 amazing places to visit in knoxville in june 2024, 8 amazing places to visit in houston in june 2024.

8 Amazing Places to Visit in Cambridge in June 2024

Cambridge is a beautiful city with a rich history and culture. It makes for a perfect destination for travelers of all ages and interests. There are plenty of things to see and do in Cambridge, and it can be difficult to decide where to start. But with summer fast approaching, there’s no better time to visit this historic city. The weather is perfect for exploring the city’s many parks and gardens, and there are plenty of events and activities taking place throughout the month of June.

If you’re planning a trip to Cambridge in June 2024, then you’re in for a treat. Here are eight amazing places that you should definitely add to your itinerary:

King’s College Chapel

King’s College Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings in Cambridge. It is known for its stunning architecture and its beautiful stained glass windows. The chapel is open to the public for tours, and it is definitely worth a visit if you’re interested in history or architecture. Take the time to stroll through the chapel’s serene grounds, admiring its Gothic architecture and intricate details.

The Backs is a beautiful area of Cambridge that is located along the River Cam. It is home to some of the city’s most famous colleges, including King’s College, Trinity College, and St John’s College. The Backs is a great place to go for a walk or a punting tour. You can also relax on the banks of the river and enjoy the scenery. Punting along the River Cam is a quintessential Cambridge experience. Hire a punt and glide along the river, passing by the picturesque college backs and lush greenery.

Trinity College

Trinity College is one of the most prestigious colleges in Cambridge. It is known for its beautiful architecture, its large library, and its famous alumni. Trinity College is open to the public for tours, and it is definitely worth a visit if you’re interested in history or architecture. Guided tours are available, providing insights into the college’s rich history and notable figures associated with it.

Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitzwilliam Museum is one of the best museums in Cambridge. It has a large collection of art, including paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. The museum is free to enter, and it is a great place to spend a few hours if you’re interested in art or history. The museum houses an impressive collection spanning various periods and cultures. From ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary art, there’s something for everyone to appreciate.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden

The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a beautiful garden that is located on the outskirts of the city. It is home to a wide variety of plants, including trees, flowers, and shrubs. The garden is open to the public, and it is a great place to go for a walk or a picnic. Check out the glasshouses, which showcase diverse plant species from around the world, and wander through the serene gardens, admiring the vibrant blooms and lush greenery.

Punting on the River Cam

Punting on the River Cam is a must-do experience in Cambridge. It is a great way to see the city from a different perspective and to relax on a warm summer’s day. Several punting companies offer tours, and you can choose from a variety of different routes. Take a leisurely punting tour down the River Cam. Glide past the iconic bridges, admire the architectural wonders lining the riverbanks, and soak in the tranquil ambiance.

St John’s College

St John’s College is one of the largest and most beautiful colleges in Cambridge. It is known for its stunning architecture, its large gardens, and its famous alumni. St John’s College is open to the public for tours, and it is definitely worth a visit if you’re interested in history or architecture. Admire the Bridge of Sighs, a picturesque covered bridge inspired by the original in Venice, and explore the college’s historic courts and chapels.

Mathematical Bridge

The Mathematical Bridge is a unique bridge that is located in the grounds of Queens’ College. It is said to have been designed by Sir Isaac Newton, and it is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. The Mathematical Bridge is a must-see for anyone interested in mathematics or architecture. Marvel at the elegance and ingenuity of the Mathematical Bridge, which was reportedly built without using any nails or bolts.

Culture, Best Months to Visit, Nearby Transportation, Local Food, and Best Hotels

Cambridge is a city with a rich culture and history. There are many museums, theaters, and art galleries in the city. Cambridge is also home to a number of festivals and events throughout the year. The best months to visit Cambridge are April to September, when the weather is mild and pleasant. Cambridge is well-connected by public transportation, and there are several airports within easy reach of the city.

Cambridge is a great place to try traditional British food, such as fish and chips, bangers and mash, and afternoon tea. There are also a number of international restaurants in the city, so you’re sure to find something to your taste. Cambridge offers a range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxurious hotels. There are several highly-rated hotels located near the city center, providing convenient access to the main attractions.

In conclusion, Cambridge is a beautiful and historic city with something to offer everyone. Whether you’re interested in history, architecture, art, or nature, you’re sure to find plenty to keep you entertained in Cambridge. The city is easily accessible, with excellent public transportation and nearby airports.

Meet Benjamin Henry, a travel aficionado with an insatiable curiosity for the world's wonders. With a backpack slung over his shoulder and a pen in hand, Benjamin embarks on adventures that take him to the far corners of the globe.

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