The best things to do in Cambridge England
In this guide to the best things to do in Cambridge, England you’ll find the top places to eat, drink, visit and stay in this beautiful English city. If you’re looking for a really great day trip from London, Cambridge is a perfect choice.
Cambridge is famous for it’ university, and the city is dotted with historic colleges. It’s also home to the very pretty River Cam, lots of picturesque streets and a thriving cafe culture.
The best things to do in Cambridge
1. Go punting in Cambridge on the River Cam
If you’re planning a trip to Cambridge, definitely add Cambridge punting to your bucket list! Punting in Cambridge – on the River Cam – is one of the loveliest things to do if you’re visiting the city. You can book yourself a Cambridge punting tour here.
Cambridge punting prices
Punting in Cambridge prices start at around £10 for a shared Cambridge punting tour, or you can pay a bit more and treat yourself to a private Cambridge punting trip.
2. Visit Cambridge colleges
A visit to Cambridge wouldn’t be complete without admiring the stunning historic colleges of Cambridge university. Just by wandering around the city centre you’ll be able to view a lot of the city’s famous colleges. Or you can book a tour with a Cambridge graduate and tour inside the colleges too.
3. Mathematical Bridge
One of Cambridge’s prettiest photo spots – Mathematical Bridge is one of Cambridge’s most recognisable landmarks. To see Cambridge’s Mathematical Bridge up close you can visit Queen’s College, or view it by boat on a Cambridge punting tour.
4. Fitzbillies
Fitzbillies Cambridge has to be the city’s best known cafe. Fitzbillies are famous for their Chelsea buns, but you can also stop at their Cambridge cafes for a delicious brunch, lunch or afternoon tea.
6. Bould Brothers
For one of the best breakfasts in Cambridge head to Bould Brothers for a really great coffee and pistachio pain au chocolate. This very aesthetically pleasing coffee shop makes a perfect starting point for a day out in Cambridge.
7. Rose Crescent
One of the best free things to do in Cambridge is explore the city’s picturesque historic streets. Rose Crescent Cambridge is a beautiful little shopping street in the city centre and one of Cambridge’s prettiest photo spots.
8. Cambridge University Botanic Gardens
Visiting Cambridge Botanic Gardens is another one of the best thing things to do in Cambridge. The botanic gardens house over 8000 species of plants and are just a 15 minute walk from Cambridge city centre.
9. Climb to the top of St Mary’s Church
For an incredible view of Cambridge climb to the top of St Mary’s Church. Climb the 123 stairs to be rewarded with panoramic views of the city. Tickets for St Mary’s Church Cambridge are £7 and can be bought on the day from the gift shop.
10. Magdalene Street
Magdalene Street in Cambridge is a cute colourful street filled with interesting independent shops. It’s also a little less touristy than a lot of the city. If you want to discover all of Cambridge’s best hidden gems you can book this charming historical walking tour where you can stroll through the city’s best historic streets and learn all their secrets.
11. Afternoon Tea
One of the best things to do in Cambridge is go for afternoon tea at one of the city’s many lovely places to eat. You can find my full guide to the best afternoon tea’s in Cambridge here.
Is one day in Cambridge enough?
Cambridge is a fairly small city, with lots of the main attractions in comfortable walking distance. For anyone planning a Cambridge day trip you will be able to tick off all the best things to do in Cambridge in one day. If you’d like to have a bit longer and enjoy exploring the city at slower pace it’s also a great destination for a little city break.
The best places to stay in Cambridge
If you want to treat yourself to a night or weekend away in Cambridge, the city has lots of lovely hotels to choose from. The Gonville Hotel is a lovely boutique hotel just a 5 minute walk from Cambridge’s historic city centre. The Graduate Hotel is another great option, with it’s ultra cosy river-view rooms.
Or if you prefer the home away from home vibe Turing Lock Cambridge aparthotel studios make perfect bases, with super well equipped rooms, very cute styling and on-site gym.
The best things to do near Cambridge
Walk to Granchester – this walk takes you through the Cambridge Backs (a picturesque area where various colleges back on to the River Cam) and you can finish up at the cute Orchard Tea Rooms in the village of Granchester. Cambridge to Granchester walk takes just under 2 hours.
Visit Ely – for a less discovered, but still beautiful city, combine your trip to Cambridge with a visit to the nearby city of Ely. Ely is a compact medieval city with a stunning cathedral.
If you’re travelling from London you can also book this private trip that includes pick-up from London and private car ride to both Cambridge & Ely, where you’ll be shown all the best photo spots the cities have to offer. Want to stay overnight in Ely? The Old Hall Ely is a gorgeous luxury option, or the Riverside Inn has is a super centrally located cosy place to stay.
How to get to Cambridge from London
How far is Cambridge from London? The best way to get to Cambridge from London is by train – you can get a train from London to Cambridge that takes only 50 minutes. Trains to Cambridge go from London Kings Cross or London Liverpool Street stations, for the fastest journey take the train from Kings Cross to Cambridge. For the best prices you should try and book your London to Cambridge train tickets at least a little way in advance.
Prefer to take the bus? For the most budget friendly travel option you can get a London to Cambridge bus, it takes a little longer but it can also be a great way to see a bit more of the country.
Or if you’re driving, Cambridge is around a 2 hour drive from Central London.
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