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Cambridge Tourism - Travel to Cambridge

        

Cambridge is a city in Cambridgeshire in England. It's a city of crocuses and daffodils on the Backs, of green open spaces and cattle grazing only 500 yards from the market square... The Cambridge of Brooke, Byron, Newton and Rutherford, of the summer idyll of punts, 'bumps', cool willows and May Balls.

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Understand Cambridge Tourism

Cambridge brings many images to mind; the breathtaking view of King's College Chapel from across the river, the rich intricacy of Gothic architecture, students cycling to lectures, lazy summer punting on the River Cam.

Cambridge manages to combine its role as an historic city with a world-renowned University and, in more recent years, an internationally acknowledged center of excellence for technology and science. The University of Cambridge was founded by monks who wished to escape the hurly-burly of Oxford and chose the quiet town of Cambridge as a suitable location for study. In the 17th century Cambridge University educated many of the founders of a minor American university called Harvard.

Cambridge University has been the home of many famous scientists, philosophers and mathematicians from Newton to Hawking and was the site of Rutherford's pioneering work in nuclear physics as well as Crick and Watson's DNA work (see the Eagle pub below). Cambridge academics have won more Nobel Prizes than those of any other university in the world. The rumor that just one college - Trinity - had more Nobel prize winners than France however is not true! (see [1]),

The City is surrounded on all sides by heritage villages, towns and ancient monuments (such as Ely, Peterborough and Granchester), all within easy travelling distance.

More than 3½ million visitors come to Cambridge every year to savour the delights of the historic city itself, as well as using it as an ideal base for exploring some of the gentlest and most unspoiled countryside in England.

Get into Cambridge

Only 50 miles (80 km) north of London, with good rail services and road communication links Cambridge is easily accessible, whether travelling by car, or by public transport.

Travel to Cambridge By Plane

Cambridge is within easy reach of London international airports. London Stansted is 30 miles away, from where there are regular bus and rail services.

Travel to Cambridge By Train

Regular trains run from London (King's Cross and Liverpool Street) to Cambridge. The fastest "Cambridge Cruiser" services to King's Cross take under 50 minutes, slower stopping trains may take up to 90 minutes. The train station is situated south of the center, there are regular buses into town and a taxi rank outside the station.

Travel to Cambridge By car

Parking can be difficult in central Cambridge and the one way street system is extremely confusing. The Council recommend the use of the "Park and Ride" scheme, see http://www.camcnty.gov.uk/sub/parkride/

Travel to Cambridge By Bus

The bus station is on Drummer Street, conveniently located for all the main sights. Jetlink airport buses serving Luton, Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick and Brighton leave hourly. National Express [2] provide bus links to major cities around the country.

Get around in Cambridge

Cambridge is mostly pedestrian-friendly - most sights can be easily reached on foot and much of the central area is traffic-free. Students and locals often use bikes to get around and hiring a bike [3] is an alternative. You can also opt for a hop-on, hop-off open-top sightseeing bus which provides commentary in several languages. There shouldn't be much need to use the local bus services unless you're staying in a far-flung area of the city, but they are clean and efficient if you need to.

See Cambridge

Focus on Architecture

Cambridge, especially the various colleges and university buildings, is fascinating for people with an interest in architecture. The colleges have been built sporadically over the centuries and the result is a mixture of styles both ancient and modern. Although the modern architecture is sometimes controversial, especially in how the newer buildings (fail to) harmonise with adjacent older buildings, it is in its way as interesting as the older. A tour of the backs (see above) gives the visitor a good feel for the various styles and a few small diversions add to the experience. One obvious landmark is the tower of the University Library. The library was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also built the Bankside Power Station in London that is now the Tate Modern. It does have a very industrial feel to it perhaps because of this. On the far side of the library the curious can see Robinson College, the newest college and built in about 1980 and one of the few pieces of modern architecture in Cambridge that has no notable old buildings nearby.

St John's College and Magdalene College also have a number of architectural treats. As well as the Bridge of Sighs, St John's has buildings in almost every style of architecture starting with the 16th century hall in First Court and ending up with the extremely modern Cripps building. Near the Cripps building there is also the dramatic New Court built in the early 19th century and the School of Pythagoras, one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge which dates from the early 13th century.

Next door Magdalene College - cognoscenti know that Magdalene is accessible from the back of the Cripps building - is quite a contrast. Unlike St John's, which consists mainly of buildings designed originally as college accommodation, Magdalene has converted a number of old half-timbered inns as some of its accommodation. Magdalene also possesses the Lutyens building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and the Pepys building. The latter, which houses the Pepys library, has an imposing and almost symmetrical facade and looks completely different from the rear. The ugliest Magdalene building, the 1970s Buckingham Court, is fortunately well hidden, while across the river the Magdalene Quayside development (1990) is an excellent example of how the late century architects appear to have learned subtlety and harmony. Quayside is an excellent place to rent a punt.

The Cambridge 2000 website has a list of 100 buildings that have notable architecture for one reason or another.

Do Cambridge

Learn

Cambridge is the home of Cambridge University. Most lectures are only open to members of the University however a variety of public talks and lectures are organised. See the weblinks for more details:

Work

Cambridge University students aren't allowed to work during term-time, so there are often possibilities for bar or waitering work for foreign nationals. Those from outside the EU require a work permit, see the Work section of United Kingdom for more details.

Buy

King's Parade has numerous souvenir shops and gift shops with Cambridge (and London) branded merchandise. The Fudge Kitchen on King's Parade offers a tempting array of sweet-toothed things (and free samples). Scour the charity shops down Regent Street and Mill Road for bargains. The Grafton Center has all the usual high-street shops in a mall and surrounding streets.

Eat - Travel to Cambridge

Drink

Cambridge has a colossal number of pubs, over 110 at the last count. There's a guide at http://www.cambridge-pubs.co.uk/

Sleep - Cambridge Tourism

There are a number of guesthouses on Tenison Road, about 10 minute walk from the train station towards town. Some options include:

Contact

The area telephone code is 01223. There are cybercafes at CB1, 32 Mill Road; La Pronto, 2 Emmanuel Street (central); Netbar, the Forum, Jesus Lane; and a cheap and cheerful place on Hills Road. The public library in Lion Yard provides access for free but you need to register as a library member (and be Cambridge resident???)

Stay safe - Cambridge Tourism

If you have a bike, keep it locked up with a strong D-lock, as cycle theft is big business. Cambridge is a generally safe city. The police station is on Parkside, (01223) 358966.

Cope

Laundry Gyms Places of worship - see http://www.colc.co.uk/shared/religion.html for a more complete list.

Get out

  45-47 Mill Way
Grantchester CB3 9ND United Kingdom Phone: +44 1223 845788 Fax: +44 1223 845862 Email: tom@callan.co.uk Hours: 10:30am-6:30pm Sun-Sat

External Links for Cambridge Tourism

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