Cambridge

St Catharine's College was founded in 1473 by Robert Wodelarke, Provost of King's College. The college was christened in honour of the patron saint of learning and used to be known as Katharine Hall. It was largely rebuilt in the 17th century with work on the Main Court beginning in 1673; the Chapel was completed in 1704. In spite of its modest size, the college's three-sided brick Main Court is almost unique among Cambridge colleges and deserves a short stop while strolling down Trumpington Street. The college is in the very centre of Cambridge next to King's College and facing Corpus Christi College.

Homerton College is one of the newer colleges, though it has existed for centuries as an academic institution and is architecturally very pretty, with extensive and tranquil grounds and a picturesque orchard. It is in a beautiful location on Hills Road, about 15 minutes walk from the town centre. The Victorian hall here is one of the most beautiful in Cambridge and definitely worth a visit. Free to enter, so worth the walk to see.

Uniquely, founded by Cambridge locals (from two town guilds). Its Old Court (to the left of the main entrance, behind St Bene't's church) dates from the 1350s and is the oldest courtyard in Cambridge. Old Court rooms have no plumbing, so you may occasionally be treated to a student walking across the court in their dressing gown to get to the toilet complex.

Founded in 1882, Selwyn is one of the newer Cambridge colleges. Its buildings and grounds are excellent examples of Gothic Revival architecture and it has been named one of the “most obviously impressive” of 68 listed buildings in the West Cambridge Conservation Area appraisal. Entering through the Porter's Lodge Gate on Grange Road puts you in the attractive Old Court with its manicured lawn surrounded by red brick, turreted buildings. The gate next to the college chapel leads into the Selwyn gardens. Selwyn College is located less than a ten-minute walk south of the Cambridge Library, and is about 250 m from the Museum of Classical Archaeology.

Newnham sits a little away from the central colleges and consequently, gets far fewer visitors. The grounds, however, are beautiful, peaceful and simply huge. Walking on the grass is permitted, unusual for Cambridge colleges.

The gardens by the river behind various colleges. Heading downstream from King's you can pass through the gardens of Clare, Trinity and St John's Colleges (which has the "Bridge of Sighs").

A relaxing way to spend a few hours, away from the hustle and bustle of the colleges and canals. Open to the public since 1846 this garden hosts some important botanic collections amongst its 10,000 or more species. In summer they have concerts on the lawn.

Jesus Green was proposed as the site for Cambridge's main railway station, but is now a broad piece of parkland immediately adjacent to Midsummer Common. Provides a quiet retreat away from the city centre, and has grass and hard tennis courts, and an outdoor swimming pool. Plans are underway for redevelopment of this much-loved park in Cambridge.

One of the best known open spaces in Cambridge. In the centre of the city, it is bordered by Park Terrace, Regent Terrace, Parkside and Gonville Place.

In the centre of the city, it is bordered by the bus station, Christ's College, Emmanuel Road and King Street. It is of typical Victorian park design with tree lined avenues. The formal seasonal bedding displays planted in the 'petal beds' near Emmanuel Road, provide all year round colour. There are also large ornamental shrub beds around the perimeter to add further year round colour and interest.

A beautiful, semi-wild green near the centre of the city, but far enough out to be quiet. Less manicured than some of the college gardens and parks around Cambridge, but nonetheless a great space to be in the summer with cows roaming and the Cam running through.

The Fitzwilliam Museum is the art and antiquities museum of the University of Cambridge and is on Trumpington Street. It receives around 300,000 visitors annually. The museum was founded in 1816 with the bequest of the library and art collection of the VIIth Viscount FitzWilliam. The bequest also included £100,000 "to cause to be erected a good substantial museum repository". The "Founder's Building" itself was designed by George Basevi, completed by C. R. Cockerell and opened in 1848; the entrance hall is by Edward Middleton Barry and was completed in 1875. The Egyptian Galleries at the Fitzwilliam Museum re-opened in 2006 after a two-year, £1.5-million programme of refurbishment, conservation and research. The museum has five departments: Antiquities; Applied Arts; Coins and Medals; Manuscripts and Printed Books; and Paintings, Drawings and Prints. Highlights include masterpieces by Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Hogarth, Gainsborough, Constable, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne and Picasso and a fine collection of 20th century art.

Kettle's Yard is the former home of Jim and Helen Ede and houses the fine collection of art, from the early part of the 20th century, which they gave to the University. Artists represented include Ben Nicholson, Christopher Wood, Alfred Wallis, David Jones, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. There is a separate gallery for exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, which are widely advertised and detailed on the website. Each exhibition is accompanied by a lively programme of talks, workshops and discussion groups for all ages. Music at Kettle's Yard: Kettle's Yard presents programmes of chamber music concerts and contemporary music concerts.

One of the university's many hidden treasures, and actually its oldest museum, the Sedgwick is packed full of fossils with more than 1 million in its collection. These range from the earliest forms of life from more than 3000 million years ago, to the wildlife that roamed the Fens less than 150,000 years ago. Displays include a gallery of minerals and gemstones, the world's largest spider, rocks collected by Charles Darwin on the 'Voyage of the Beagle', dinosaurs from the Jurassic and Triassic, and fossils from the local area including a hippopotamus from the nearby Barrington gravel pits. The museum organises many activities, so it's always a good idea to check its website..

The University Museum of Zoology displays a great range of recent and fossil animals, emphasising the structural diversity and evolutionary relationships among the animal kingdom. The collections were accumulated from 1814 onwards, and include many specimens collected by Charles Darwin. To find the museum, look for the spectacular whale skeleton, hung above the entrance and visible through the archway from Downing Street.

The Whipple Museum is a pre-eminent collection of scientific instruments and models, dating from the Middle Ages to the present. Included in this outstanding collection are microscopes and telescopes, sundials, early slide rules, pocket electronic calculators, laboratory equipment and teaching and demonstration apparatus.
Visitors are advised to check beforehand by contacting the museum if you have special access requirements.

The museum contains large and important collections of archaeological and anthropological material from all parts of the world. The archaeological collections from all periods include significant collections from Palaeolithic Europe, Asia and Africa; Precolumbian Central and South America; early civilizations of the Mediterranean; and British archaeology. The world-renowned anthropological collections include important collections from the South Seas, West Africa and the Northwest Coast of North America; historic collections from the 18th century; and extensive photographic collections from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Museum of Classical Archaeology is one of the few surviving collections of plaster casts of Greek & Roman sculpture in the world. The collection of about four hundred and fifty casts is open to the public and housed in a purpose-built Cast Gallery on the first floor of the Classics Faculty. Although nothing here is an original, nearly all the well-known (and not so well-known) works from the Classical world can be seen together under one roof. The reserve research collections consist of another two hundred plaster casts, Greek vases, pottery sherds, and epigraphic squeezes. These can be consulted by arrangement.

The only local social history museum in Cambridge and is the most comprehensive collection representing life in the South Cambridgeshire villages. Housed in an old Coaching House, the museum is home to some 20,000 objects representing the history of local life away from the University. Staffed by volunteers which may cause unscheduled closures, phone to confirm if required.

A short walk from the Fitzwilliam Museum is The Polar Museum. It was a finalist for The Museum of the Year Prize in 2011. Its extraordinary collection covers the Arctic and Antarctic, native peoples and the Golden Age of Exploration of heroes such as Scott and Shackleton. It also serves as the National Memorial to Scott and his men, as well as being the public front of The Scott Polar Research Institute which continues their scientific work. Special events, exhibitions, tours, children's activities and behind the scenes Open Days are held quite often.

Exhibition of treasures and highlights from the Library's world-class collections of manuscripts and printed books. Two major exhibitions are held each year (roughly January to June and September to December): check website for details.

An exhibition of items from Cambridge's industrial past based at the city's old sewage pumping station on Riverside. Exhibits include the working steam and gas powered pumps, printing technology and items from several decades of electronics manufacturing within the city. The museum holds several 'steaming' days a year, usually on bank holidays, when engines and pumps may be seen working.

A small museum dedicated to the field of computing including video game consoles and arcade machines that can be played. The museum is also a hire-able venue for "Gaming Parties".

An interactive science museum and educational charity which focuses on hands-on exhibits and outreach activities that engage children, families, and schools in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Dating back to 1130, this is one of only four medieval round churches in England, and one of the most visited buildings in Cambridge. Besides the remarkable architecture, the building contains historical exhibitions and hosts occasional concerts and lectures. Included is a 20-minute film that provides an excellent overview of Cambridge's history. Tour guides based there offer walking tours of Cambridge which are highly rated.

Open daily, free. This fine example of 15th-century English Perpendicular architecture is on the market square opposite King's College. As well as viewing the beautiful nave, visitors can climb the bell tower (admission £6 adults, £4 children (5-16 years), £16 family (2 adults, 2 children)) for spectacular views over the city.

Tucked away in the lanes is this tiny 11th-century church. Its main attraction is a Saxon arch in the nave. One of several churches in town with bells, this one is a good location to see English bellringing. The times are unpredictable and not published but Sunday afternoons are your best bet. Please be quiet, ringing takes a surprising amount of concentration and the ringers can do without distractions.

Open daily, free. This 19th-century church is no longer used for worship but has been preserved as a rare example of the Arts and Crafts movement, featuring a highly ornate interior by Bodley, and windows and wall decorations by William Morris.

A walk from town, but with an impressive (if somewhat faded) medieval Doom painting around the chancel arch, showing the Judgement and giving worshippers good reason to pay attention to the sermon.

The cemetery is on land donated by Cambridge University and is the final resting place for 3812 American military dead lost during the War in the Atlantic and Northern Europe. A monument is inscribed with the names of 5126 Americans whose remains were never found or identified. The chapel contains mosaic maps of World War II campaigns and a mosaic memorial to American Air Forces on the ceiling.

This World War II airfield south of Cambridge houses the Imperial War Museum's aircraft collection, and is the largest aviation museum in Europe. As well as military aircraft, it houses a large collection of non-military aircraft including a Concorde. There is also a land warfare museum on the site that has many examples of armoured vehicles from the First World War onwards. It really a full day for a proper visit. Flight shows are sometimes held; these days will be very busy.

Jacobean-style house with gardens and watermill

Wimpole Hall is the largest house in Cambridgeshire, set amongst rolling "Capability Brown" landscaped parklands, with a Home Farm hosting many rare breeds.

Denny Abbey the only religious site in England to have been occupied at various times by three different monastic orders. Museum tells the history of farming in the fens.

A medieval post-mill, probably the oldest mill in Britain. It's at risk of collapse and stabilisation is under way; it was open for a few days in 2023.

United were promoted in 2026 and now play soccer in League One, the third tier. Their home ground Abbey Stadium (capacity 8000) is two miles east of city centre.

This rink has public skating, ice hockey, curling, figure skating, and lessons.

Independent punting company offering private and shared punting tours in Cambridge. Tours last 45-50 minutes along the college backs.

The Traditional Punting Company offers the best punting in Cambridge, where you'll see the world-famous College Backs in the heart of the city. Expert chauffeurs will guide you along the River Cam, entertaining you with Cambridge’s inspiring history and secrets of the city over the last 800 years. Tours last 50 minutes and are a return journey.

The city's centre for arts and entertainment.

The University's playhouse. Hosts student and local amateur productions. Look out for performances by Footlights, this has been the training ground for many famous comedians.

Artistic centre offering club nights, gigs, and new theatre, comedy, and dance. Ticket prices vary depending on the show/gig.

Various foreign and art-house films (see the current listing ). A more conventional selection can be found at the Everyman in the Grand Arcade shopping centre, as well as the Light Cinema at Cambridge Leisure Park in Hills Road.

Hosts a varied mix of professional drama, dance and opera including touring productions and an annual pantomime.

Perhaps the most romantic way to appreciate the magnificent architecture of the many College Chapels is to hear a concert performed in their marvellous acoustics. Cambridge Summer Music offers world class performances in the well-known Chapel of King's College as well as many of the city's hidden gems.

(mid-June), Midsummer Common.

On Midsummer Common in early June.

(July)

(late July)

(July–August) Every summer, six Shakespeare plays staged outdoors in gardens of various colleges

(March) Two weeks of (mostly) free events for all ages.

(October–November) A festival of free events celebrating the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Twice yearly literary festival with talks, readings and events featuring local and national literary figures.

Annual community festival based around the city's Mill Road featuring music, parades, food and art organised by local residents. The whole road is closed off just for the day.

(May) Annual beer festival on Jesus Green, hosted by Cambridge & District CAMRA.

Watch the processions and traditions before and after a graduation ceremony from outside the Senate House lawn or the Great St Mary's tower.