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Things to do in and around Cambridge (or UK for that matter)?
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Posted by: bobjohnson

Hi all from across the pond!

Looks like I might be spending a decent amount of time in Cambridge come late June, and was wondering if there was any place or activity that anyone would suggest in Cambridge or the surrounding areas? I'll possibly be spending some time in London also, so any suggestions for thereabouts would be really appreciated also.

So, any must do's or must eats, or great pubs specifically, or what not?

Thanks all for your time!

Posted by: Knative

If you're into WW II aircraft I'd recommend the Imperial War Museum Duxford . There's a free shuttle busy that leaves from the train station in Cambridge. Looks like it's on a limited Winter schedule until March.

Posted by: cwaring

Only been to Cambridge once and loved it. It's very flat, so either bring a bike with you or buy one when you get here. Very healthy :)

Posted by: AMc

Cambridge is a beautiful city - as you will be here in the summer you can spend a good few hours walking around all the colleges and maybe take a punt out on the river Camb.
When you're in London I would recommend the London Eye for a great way to see the city. The Tate Modern gallery on the south bank of the Thames - the cafe on the top floor is a brilliant place to eat, not too expensive and will take a reservation saving you a queue (Tate Britain is also good)
St. Pauls across the river over the Millenium Bridge is also a great attraction.
The open top double decker buses are a great way to get around (as a tourist) covering most of the major sites for around Ł15 a day - some cover a river trip which is good for an extended sit down!
A much cheaper but harder way around is a one day bus pass (Ł2 any/all journeys on red buses) no commentry though or one of the London Travel cards which cover tubes, buses and most overland trains too.
If you're in Cambridge and coming to London you would be better using the train as parking is expensive and inconvenient.

Have a great trip!

Posted by: the_hut

I lived in Cambridge for four years when I studied. It's a very nice place. Depending on when you are going in June, though, be prepared for lots of students running around celebrating the end of exams! The architecture at the colleges is beautiful, but be aware that many of them now charge tourists to come in. I seem to remember is was Ł2-3 per time. If you are watching the pennies, just ask a student to get you through the door as a "guest." Someone will oblige! If you need to pay then the best colleges to look at are Kings (check out the "chapel") and St Johns (Bridge of Sighs).

Also, make sure you take a good long walk along "the backs" - literally a road that runs along the back of the main colleges. The road is called Queens road and runs from the back of Trinity to the back of Queen's. Along the way, be sure to cross Clare Bridge, which gives nice views either side and is an all round nice bridge.

When you eventually get to Queens take a walk up Silver Street, past the Anchor Pub (which is a sweet little road) and then head left to see the front of the colleges. Make sure you pick up a nice cake from Fitzbillies along the way!

A cheesy site (but it gives you some idea of what it's like) showing The Backs is here:

http://www.eppingforest.co.uk/Cambridge.html

My favourite college has always been Jesus College and it's well worth a look, along Jesus Lane.

Punting along the River Cam is a nice way to spend an hour or so. You can hire a punt (and bloke to punt) near Magdalene Bridge, near Magdalene College. If it is the end of exams, then at about 11pm you will also be able to observe lots of students jumping naked off the bridge into the river. (Bring your camera.) If you can hire your own punt from anywhere, then punting to nearby Grantchester is possible (and enjoyable) where you can eat a reasonable lunch at The Green Man. Don't overpay for that experience, though - it's only for the determined.

Browsing the web for a few minutes, I came across this, which seems like a nice introduction on things to do:

http://www.cambridge-en.com/City%20...20city%201.html

Not sure it is fully accurate though - it talks about the "Erasmus Building" in St Johns, when I think it means the "School of Pythagoras." Anyway, it is a starting point.

In terms of nice places to eat:

Try Browns for an expensive-ish dinner in pleasant surroundings
Try the Eraina Tavern for a fantastic value (but basic) Greek meal
Try Castle Hill/Huntingdon Road (north of Magdalene College) for a selection of four or five reasonable curry houses (avoid the Cambridge Curry Centre) and The Castle pub for a decent beer outside the main town. (Also, if you go there, walk up Castle Hill - ignored on the tourist tracks it actually gives you a very good view of the City.)

However, the real "must eat" is Pizza Express at the old Pitt Club building. The Pitt Club is an establishment for Cambridge toffs with too much money and upper class connections. It is now a lot smaller than it used to be (went bust) and had to sell most of its building to Pizza Express. Consequently, you have a good pizza restaurant in a remarkable building right in the centre of Cambridge (on Jesus Lane) and you would never know what it housed. Here's a link

http://www.localsecrets.com/review.cfm?id=4

The smallest pub in Cambridge (I can't recall the name) is at the end of King's Street. You can get about ten people in there! Worth a quick look.

Anyway, hope that helps. I enjoyed thinking about my old haunts.:)

Posted by: bobjohnson

Hey all, thanks for all the advice so far. Everything in this thread is being saved to a little Cambridge doc file on my desktop. Thanks again :up: :up: