Cambridge, named after the River Cam that flows through it, is one of England’s most famous university cities, just a two-hour drive from London.
Home to the world-renowned University of Cambridge, founded in 1209, the city itself is even older and brimming with history. With its beautiful architecture, cultural venues, and unique atmosphere, Cambridge makes for the perfect weekend getaway in England.
Last Easter, I visited with my family, and we instantly fell in love with the city’s charm.

Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON invites you to discover the highlights of Cambridge!

Cambridge: England’s iconic university city

Visiting Cambridge means immersing yourself in its colleges, the heart and soul of the University of Cambridge.

The University of Cambridge is made up of 31 colleges, traditionally grouped into ‘old’ colleges (founded between 1284 and 1596) and ‘new’ colleges (founded between 1800 and 1977).

Among these colleges, King’s College is world-famous for its stunning Chapel and renowned Choir. Many colleges boast incredible facilities for their students, from dormitories, chapels, dining halls, and classrooms to impressive architecture and beautifully kept gardens.

If you’d like to visit one of Cambridge’s colleges, it’s best to book a guided tour in advance, especially since July and August are the busiest months of the year.

Most visitors make sure to stop by King’s College, Trinity College, and St John’s College, three of the oldest, wealthiest, and most prestigious colleges of the University of Cambridge. That said, every college has its own charm and is well worth a visit.

If, like us, you haven’t planned ahead, don’t worry! You can still stroll through the charming streets of Cambridge and soak up its unique, studious atmosphere.

Cambridge punting experiences

After exploring Cambridge’s historic colleges, another must-do experience is booking a punting tour.

Gliding along the River Cam gives you a unique perspective on the city’s famous colleges, allowing you to admire their stunning architecture from the water while learning fascinating stories about Cambridge’s rich history. It’s a relaxing and memorable way to see the city from a completely different angle.

We were lucky to enjoy beautiful weather during our visit to Cambridge, and punting on the River Cam was an absolute delight. Not only did we take in breathtaking views of the colleges, but we also discovered some of the river’s most iconic sights:

The Bridge of Sighs (pictured above), a covered bridge at St John’s College. It was named after the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice, although architecturally the two have little in common aside from being covered.

The Mathematical Bridge (pictured below) is a famous wooden footbridge. Although it appears to form a perfect arch, it is actually made entirely of straight timbers, cleverly arranged with an ingenious engineering design.

Along the River Cam, you’ll find plenty of punting companies, both online and on-site, where booking a tour is easy. You can choose to punt on your own or opt for a private chauffeured tour for up to 12 people, with the bonus of bringing food and drinks on board.

We went for the private option and thoroughly enjoyed our 50-minute tour, discovering Cambridge’s fascinating history and stunning architecture from the water. A memorable experience!

Discovering Cambridge’ charming treasures

I absolutely loved wandering through this compact city, where every street seems to hide a delightful detail: a vintage storefront, a charming market, inviting restaurants, or even quirky and unexpected clocks.

Speaking of clocks, the Corpus Clock is definitely worth a visit. This large, sculptural timepiece sits at street level on the exterior of the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College. It was officially unveiled to the public on 19 September 2008 by the renowned Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking.

I also love spotting shops with charming and expressive signs that give each storefront its own personality.

I really enjoyed the architecture in Cambridge, which has some unique features, including the distinctive chimneys seen above. These chimneys, often tall and ornately designed, are a hallmark of many of the city’s historic colleges.

Originally functional, they were built to improve ventilation for large kitchens and fireplaces, but over the centuries they became an architectural signature, adding elegance and character to the skyline of Cambridge.

A visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum

The impressive Fitzwilliam Museum building houses a world-class collection of art, making it a must-visit for anyone in Cambridge.

We were amazed by the variety and quality of the collections, spanning from antiquity to the present day, and the building itself is fascinating. It’s definitely a must-visit spot if you’re spending a few days in Cambridge.

Another great reason to visit: entry to the Fitzwilliam Museum is completely free!

If you have some extra time in the city, consider visiting the Cambridge Botanic Garden or Kettle’s Yard, a renowned art gallery.

Savouring Cambridge: where to eat

We hadn’t planned our trip to Cambridge in detail, so we took a spontaneous approach when it came to finding a good spot for lunch.

We eventually found ourselves at the Brown Brasserie and absolutely loved our meal. The cosy atmosphere was perfect for relaxing and unwinding a bit before continuing to explore the rest of the city.

On the second day, as Cambridge was quite crowded, we decided to go to Jamie’s.

Contrary to our expectations, and despite a slight delay in being served, the restaurant turned out to be great, with fresh, tasty food. Its central location is a definite plus for anyone with a busy schedule in the city.

If you’re a fan of the famous Chelsea buns, make sure to visit Fitzbillies, the renowned Cambridge bakery known for its sticky buns. (Even if you’re not visiting Cambridge, they deliver across the UK… just saying! 🙂)

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to explore Cambridge soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

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To find out more:
The Fizwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Cambridge Botanic Garden
Kettle’s Yard, Art gallery, Cambridge
The Brown Brasserie, Cambridge
Jamie’s restaurant, Cambridge
Fitzbillies bakery, Cambridge

See my other recommendations for England getaways here.