Best time to go: probably the summer is the best time to go as the most famous activity to do in Cambridge is punting and it is obviously a much more pleasant experience when the sun is out! Spring and autumn can also be super nice seasons to visit as long as it is not raining.
General advice: the city centre is quite small so you might only need to stay for one night if you don’t mind doing quite a lot of steps! If you prefer a more relaxing weekend, Cambridge is perfect for a weekend escape and to stay 2 nights as well.
The recommended hotel is "Gonville Hotel", excellent location including a sophisticated and charming decoration that gives you a very cosy vibe.
Day 1: Colleges and Punting
On your first day in Cambridge I would recommend to spend the morning familiarising yourself with the city centre and main colleges. Have a quick look at the Corpus Clock, the Round Church and the surrounding pretty streets.
In order to explore the inside of the beautiful colleges you will have to book the visit in advance and pay the admission fee. There are many colleges that can be visited but maybe the 2 most significant are the King’s College and the Trinity College.
King’s College: probably the most recognisable building in Cambridge that was founded by King Henry VI in 1441. Make sure that you visit the Kings College Chapel, an impressive architectural piece of art that you shouldn’t miss.
Trinity College: college of Sir Isaac Newton and home to the world-renowned Wren Library. It holds over 70,000 volumes including Newton’s own copy of his Principia Mathematica and A. A. Milne’s manuscripts of Winnie-the-Pooh.
The recommended place to have lunch is "The Senate Bar & Bistro", a fantastic Mediterranean bistro for a quick bite or maybe a long lunch.
After a long morning walk I would suggest to spend the afternoon punting. There are few options for punting: shared tour, private tour and the self-hire option. In my personal opinion the best option is the private tour. You can properly enjoy the experience and see the colleges in a relaxed manner whilst an expert does the driving.
If you have never punted before or are not very experienced, the result of getting a self-hire option is that you will probably not see as much as with the private tour, and it is very likely that the person punting will end up in the river Cam. While punting, worth paying special attention to the magnificent Bridge of Sighs.
If you are visiting during the winter or on a bad weather day, instead of punting you can visit "The backs". The Backs is a picturesque area to the east of Queen's Road where several colleges of the back on to the River Cam. The views are similar to what you will see punting and of course beautiful.
For dinner, "Trinity Restaurant" is a great option, serving oysters and champagne for an elegant dinner and more conventional dishes for a less exquisite palate.
Day 2: Fitzwilliam Museum and Botanic Garden
On your second day you can start the day by visiting "The Fitzwilliam Museum", founded in 1816 under the will of Richard Fitzwilliam, it is one of the best collections of antiques and modern art in western Europe. With over half a million objects and artworks, the displays explore world history and art from antique to the present. The treasures of the museum include artworks by Monet, Picasso, Rubens, Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, Cézanne, Van Dyck, and Canaletto. The admission is for free so no excuse to miss it.
If your second day at Cambridge happens to be on a Sunday, I will recommend you to go for lunch to "The Oak Bistro" for a beef Wellington or maybe a Sunday roast…
You can spend the afternoon walking around the University Botanic Garden, a beautiful place to relax while enjoying the nature and one of the best botanical gardens in England. The standard adult ticket is just £6.
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