There is much more to do in elegant and historic Cambridge than punting (“boating”) on the River Cam or taking a tour of England’s most beautiful and prestigious universities.
From rooftop bars to traditional tea rooms and local craft markets, here are some tips for making good use of your time in Cambridge.
1. Orchard Tea Garden
English tea and traditional sweet rolls from Fitzbillies are world famous, so to enjoy your cup of tea in a quieter and more peaceful place, head to the Grantchester area and grab a table at Orchard Tea Garden . Even better accompanied by a large slice of homemade cake of course!
2. Punting
While boarding one of those wooden boats can’t exactly be considered a hidden gem – it’s a very popular activity, in fact – one way to escape the masses is to punt in winter. You won’t have to wait for a boat to vacate, the prices are cheaper and the English countryside literally sparkles on the coldest mornings.
3. Hotel Rooftop Bar Varsity
It’s hard to beat the rooftop bar at the Varsity Hotel on sunny evenings. The terrace overlooks many of the city’s architectural treasures, including a variety of churches and many historic college buildings. During the summer it’s best to arrive early to secure a seat and then enjoy a couple of hours sipping a few drinks and admiring the Cambridge skyline!
4. The art of All Saints Garden and the Craft Market
Every Saturday, All Saints Garden on Trinity Street hosts one of Cambridge’s best craft markets. Here you will find everything from handmade pottery and jewelry to homemade goods, unique artistic masterpieces and sculptures. It’s the perfect place to buy a souvenir and support local Cambridge artisans.
5. Hidden Rooms
We certainly couldn’t leave Hidden Rooms off our list of hidden gems, right? This secret cocktail bar is kept tucked away in the basement of an old Victorian public bath, hidden from the street by an ordinary black door. The bar also hosts live music nights, cocktail-making events and is a great place for a drink if you’re looking to impress someone.
6. Cambridge Food Park
To hell with getting your sandwiches or going to a popular chain, for the best lunches around town check out Food Park’s open lunch markets . Open in different locations on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, you will be spoiled for choice from some of Cambridge’s best food trucks, serving everything from soft steamed bao to wood-fired pizzas, from Sri Lankan cuisine. Lanka a fat burritos.
7. Radegund
Pubs are a key part of English culture and Cambridge is one of the most historic cities in the country! Step back in time and enjoy a couple of drinks in the smallest pub in town; what it lacks in terms of space, it gains in charm. The Saint Radegund is an old world pub that oozes character, including walls with college sports memorabilia and a ‘raincheck’ tradition, allowing you to buy a drink for someone to pick up at a later time or buy one
Mathematical Bridge
Everyone knows the Cambridge Bridge of Sighs, but today we go in search of the Mathematical Bridge. This historic wooden path connects the two parts of Queen’s College, separated by the River Cam, and has been designed in a sophisticated way with the help of mathematics. Although it looks arched, it is actually built with straight beams.
9. The Corpus Clock & Chronophage
While we’re on the subject of amazing engineering, Corpus Clock & Chronophage is a mind-blowing mechanical clock housed at Corpus Christi College. It has no numbers, but blue led lights that light up through concentric moving metal circles and are used to show the passage of time. The clock is known for its irregularity – it only shows the exact time once every five minutes – but its maker says it reflects the imperfection of life itself. See it outside the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College.
. Stem and Glory
The quintessential representation of what makes your mouth water, this restaurant has won awards for its delicious vegan menu, featuring dishes prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Serving breakfast, bruch, lunch and dinner, head to Stem and Glory for your plant-based culinary needs. A selection of vegan cocktails, beers and wines are also on offer during dinner.
