Spend a day in the university city of Cambridge

If you are done with exploring the attractions of the British capital of London and need a change of

scenery, there are a lot of options to choose from for a day trip out of the city. Among the many

places that great to visit for a day out of London, the college city of Cambridge is an ideal getaway.

And it is very doable as it is just about a 90 minutes drive from the centre of London!

Cambridge is considered to be out of the most picturesque college cities in the country. The first thing

that comes to mind when most people think of Cambridge are the lush green spaces to be found in

the Cambridge Backs and the scenic River Cam that meanders through the town, while offering

amazing views of Kings Chapel in its backdrop. It is just the place to spend a relaxed day away from

the crowds and chaos of the capital, with easy accessibility that makes it all the more endearing to

visit. While most visitors who visit Cambridge from London come on a day trip, if you do have the time

it is worth spending the weekend to visit the other attractions apart from its famous colleges.

Try a spot of punting

The traditional sport of punting on the Cam River is a major attraction with locals as well as visitors.

And you can even go on a punting ride during the winter months. You could hire a punt with a punter

from the various tour operators in the area. If you are in a group you could hire your own punt and

take a trip along the river. However, it is more difficult than it appears as the only way to steer the

punt is with a long pole. So if you have no prior experience, it is best to leave it to a professional

punter!

Food and drink

For a fine selection of affordable eating joints that feature a diverse variety of cuisines from across the

world visit Mill Road. You could even hop along to any of the traditional pubs to get a feel of their

lively atmosphere. The most famous and oldest pub in the area is The Eagle located at 8 Benet Street.

It is also the biggest of its type with superb ales, fine wines and great dining options of traditional

English homemade food. It is also where Watson and Crick celebrated their incredible discovery o f

DNA. Another great pub worth a visit is The Castle Inn a comfy and cosy pub with a warm and friendly

atmosphere and great food and drink.

Travel to Cambridge

There are several ways to get to the college city from London. You could either opt to drive or catch a

train, any one of which is the most convenient way to travel. However, if you want to visit Cambridge

just for a daytrip, it is recommended to choose to travel by train. This is because it is rather difficult to

find parking space close to the city centre. There are train services from both Liverpool and King’s

Cross stations in London direct to Cambridge. The prices are reasonable and you will arrive in

Cambridge in little over an hour. Once you arrive at the station there are a number of buses that will

transport you to the centre of the city.

Alternately if you plan to spend the weekend, it is better to use a car as the outer areas of the city are

not as well connected by public transport. However, as mentioned earlier parking your vehicle could

be rather pricey in the centre. Travelling via the M11 you should be able to make the trip from the

capital to Cambridge in about 90 minutes.

In terms of accommodation there are a number of fine luxury as well as budget hotels to be found in

the city. And some of the best are to be found near the Station Road area. If you travel after the

exams are over near the end of June, you might even snag any of the terrific Cambridge hotel deals

available at that time of the year.

Tour its college buildings

A visit to the city will be incomplete without a tour of Cambridge’s college buildings, which can be

found all over the place. However, you need to be aware that a number of the most prominent

colleges charge an admission fee. So if you spend a day charging in and out of some of these college

buildings you could spend quite a bit!

If you are on a tight budget it is better to admire the exquisite architecture of the most famous

colleges from outside. If you do want to get a feel of the atmosphere within you could instead choose

to visit those colleges that do not charge any entrance fee. Of these the largest is Trinity College and it

does not charge visitors to explore its premises. While there a visit to its beautiful courtyard is not to

be missed and also will give you an idea as to how the students stay in privileged surroundings. And if

you are okay with spending a bit, a tour of King’s College would be ideal. While there do not miss an

opportunity to see its incredible college chapel. Another great place to explore is Clare College that is

adjacent and does not charge an admission fee. Take a stroll through its magnificent grounds and

head out to the famous Backs for a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Cam.

A word of caution is that visitors are not granted access to the University premises when the exams

are conducted from April end to the end of June. The only exception is King’s College Chapel that

permits visitors in this period. Once you are done with exploring the university buildings make a

beeline for the unique Round Church, browse through the central market and catch a fabulous view

from Magdalene Bridge.