Top places to visit, including free colleges

First up, where should you visit when you head to Cambridge? When heading to the city, most people ask “where is the university?” But the reality is that the famous university isn’t one building; it’s many, spread throughout the city in the form of colleges. Some charge for you to head into their hallowed grounds but loads are free, including the following.

• Christ’s College: stunning embossed crests over Narnia-style doorways
• Magdalene College: Pepys Library and views of the river
• Downing College: classical style architecture and modern art in The Heong Gallery
• Jesus College: a long Harry Potter style entrance, sculptures and gardens galore

Don’t forget that first and foremost, these are places of study so colleges can (and will!) close to visitors, particularly during exam season (April – June).

If you’re visiting Cambridge during wisteria season, make sure you check out my post on the best places for a spot of #WisteriaHysteria.

In addition to the colleges, the University of Cambridge Museums are (mostly) free to enter. Opening hours are quite varied, so make sure you check before you Fitzwilliam Museum is the one with best opening hours and lots of variety to see.

The other “Cambridge must do” is punting. A punt is a flat bottomed boat, which is propelled by a punter, who pushes the boat along with a long pole. I like to think of it as the Cambridge version of a gondola! There are two choices; you can either join a group tour (where a pro does the punting and gives a running commentary) or try it yourself (which is great fun but hard!) There are lots of different of companies who offer punting. Let’s Go Punting are a good budget option for a group tour, whereas Cambridge Chauffeur Punts are, despite the name, a great choice to try punting on your own. For a more luxurious option, try a Cambridge Gin tasting and punting experience with Rutherford’s. Whoever you choose, it’s most cost effective to book in advance or, if you buy tickets on the day, make sure you aren’t afraid to try and drive the price down!

If boats aren’t your thing, you can also wander down Garret Hostel Lane, over Garret Hostel Bridge, then head down the Backs to cross back over the river at Silver Street. This will offer great views of the river without needing to go on it!

Top places to eat (brunch, lunch and dinner!)

The next important thing? Where to eat of course! I’m always an advocate for independents and Cambridge has plenty to choose from. For brunch, Scott’s All Day is the place to go. You’ll need to book a table in advance, as its local produce, amazing range of dishes and bottomless brunch makes it understandably popular.

For lunch “on the go,” try Aromi for Italian food, Smokeworks for BBQ or Bread and Meat for… well, bread and meat. And don’t forget to leave room for ice cream from Jack’s Gelato and a famous Fitzbillies‘ Chelsea Bun.

So – have you got room for dinner? This is why one day in Cambridge just isn’t enough!

If you want a cheaper or more casual dinner, head to Steak and Honour. They do the best burgers and great beer, but check the opening hours as they aren’t open every day. I’ve also heard great things about the Lazy Boys pop-up at 2648 for the best chicken wings in town but I’ve not had chance to try it yet. Bear in mind they are only open on Fridays and Saturdays, and can sometimes close with short notice.

If you head slightly further out of the town centre, Mill Road is the place to go for independents. Choose from North African tagines (Bedouin), fresh pasta (Limoncello), fish (Fin Boys) or head a few streets over for incredible Jordanian food (Little Petra). And finally, if you’re a pizza fan, there are lots of great places to choose from but my top spot is Charlie’s Coffee Company for authentic Neopolitan pizza.

For something more special, Fancett’s is incredible. Think French influenced dishes with local, seasonal ingredients, with all of the luxury but none of the intimidation of fine dining. The lunch menu is particularly good value (just £29 for three courses) but you must book in advance. I’m convinced they will earn their first Michelin star next year. And if you want to blow the budget, book in at Restaurant 22 who have just earnt their first (and well overdue) Michelin star for a tasting menu of dreams.

Top places to drink coffee, beer and cocktails

You must be parched by now! So where should you grab a drink?

For coffee, Bould Brothers is, in my opinion, the best quality coffee in the centre of town. The best thing to do is grab a takeout to accompany your wandering around the city centre. Bean Theory is slightly further out, but it has great views of the river and meadows which offer a different perspective of the city.

If you like beer, Calverley’s is the local microbrewery. You can get it from their taproom near the train station or their bar on the river (called The Engineer’s House). For a wider range of breweries, alongside hipster vibes, Thirsty offers plenty of IPAs, sours, stouts and wine from across the world. If you want a proper “old man” pub, The Champion of the Thames is tiny but with a great atmosphere, or The Maypole attracts a mix of students, locals and tourists alike thanks to its broad selection of brews. And for any real ale drinkers, the Cambridge Beer Festival takes place every May and is one of the highlights of my calendar. It’s well worth considering when you plan a trip to Cambridge – especially with the added benefit of free entry for CAMRA members!

For cocktails, 196 is the best place by far but you need to plan it into your schedule, as it’s located over the bridge from the train station. For somewhere more central (and with more tables), Parker’s Tavern in the University Arms offers great cocktails in a very glamourous environment. My go-to is the Bloomsbury Boozer, which includes gin, raspberry, elderflower, lemon, topped with a gigantic raspberry foam. And finally, don’t forget to head to Cambridge Gin Laboratory on Green Street to taste some gins and inevitably purchase a bottle to take home with you. I recommend the Curator’s Gin, which features botanicals from the Cambridge Botanic Garden.

Still need more inspo?

You’re in luck. As promised, here’s my Ultimate Guide to Cambridge Google Map. It features nine categories, which are:

• Where to visit
• Free entry university colleges
• Brunch
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Snacks and treats
• Beer, wine and cocktails
• Coffee
• Remote work and study spots

Save for later, check back for new additions and let me know which places you try!