Cambridge Attractions and Things to Do

The River Cam flows through the heart of Cambridge and after the University is the city's main attraction. Punting on the River is a must do for visitors and the quantity of touts plying for trade in the summer can prove overwhelming. The River can be split into three - north (downstream), the Backs and south (upstream).

The University of Cambridge is not a campus university and the independently founded colleges are located throughout the city of Cambridge, rather than on one central site. Each constituent college has its own administration and rules for the admittance of both students and visitors.

Officially re-opened in 2018 by Sir David Attenborough, the museum houses an extensive collection of scientifically important zoological material designated as being of outstanding national and international significance by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

King's College was founded in 1441 by Henry VI (1421-71) and is one of the 31 colleges in the University of Cambridge. King's has an outstanding academic record and is also world-famous for its Chapel and choir. The grounds and Chapel only are open to visitors.

The Fitzwilliam Museum has been described as 'one of the greatest art collections of the nation and a monument of the first importance'. Collections include the Ancient World, Applied Arts (including pottery, porcelain, glass, textiles, furniture, clocks and watches), Paintings, Manuscripts, Books and Coins.

Trinity Hall was founded by Bishop Bateman of Norwich in 1350, making it the fifth oldest surviving College of the University of Cambridge. Bishop Bateman originally founded the College to promote the study of canon and civil law. To this day, the College maintains a very strong tradition in the study of Law.

Trinity College was founded by Henry VIII in 1546 as part of the University of Cambridge. Since then Trinity has flourished and grown, and is now a home to around 600 undergraduates, 300 graduates, and over 160 Fellows.

Christ's College was first established as God's House in 1437 by William Byngham, a London parish priest, for training grammar school masters. Shortly after receiving its Royal Licence from Henry VI in 1446, God's House was forced to move from its original site as this was needed for the King's new project, King's College.

The Polar Museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute holds a unique collection of artefacts, journals, paintings, photographs, clothing equipment, maps and other materials illustrating polar exploration, history and science.

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge has one of the most important collections of its kind in the UK. Originally founded in 1884, it has been in its present location on Downing Street since 1913.

The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is the oldest of the University of Cambridge museums, having been established in 1728 as the Woodwardian Museum. Since then the collection has grown from about 10,000 fossils, minerals and rocks, to at least 2 million.

Situated to the north of the city centre, Jesus Green is bordered by the River Cam, Victoria Avenue and Jesus College. Divided by avenues of London Plane and horse chestnut trees, it is primarily an area of open parkland grass, offering informal and formal outdoor sports and riverbank walks.

Queens' College, with its idyllic setting on the River Cam and its famous Mathematical Bridge, is one of Cambridge's oldest, largest and most recognisable colleges. The College is open to the public and visitors are welcome.

Corpus Christi College is one of the ancient colleges in the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It bears the distinction of being the only Oxbridge College founded by the townspeople.

The Whipple Museum holds an internationally important collection of scientific instruments and models, dating from the Middle Ages to the present. The museum's collection includes scientific instruments, apparatus, models, pictures, prints, photographs, books and other material related to the history of science.

St John's College is one of the oldest and largest colleges in Cambridge. It was founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII.

Caius is the fourth oldest surviving College in the University of Cambridge. The College was first founded as Gonville Hall by Edmund Gonville, Rector of Terrington St Clement in Norfolk, in 1348, and refounded in 1557 by John Caius as Gonville and Caius College.

Parker's Piece is one of the best known open spaces in Cambridge. Located in the centre of the city it is bordered by Park Terrace, Regent Terrace, Parkside and Gonville Place. Its origin is derived from an Edward Parker, a cook, who held the original lease to the land, which at the time was used as grazing land.

The Cambridge Backs is a stretch of reclaimed land that runs along the back of the riverside colleges alongside the river Cam. The name 'the Backs' refers to the backs of the colleges. Several famous bridges cross the river including the Mathematical Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs.

The countryside sneaks right into the centre of Cambridge south of Silver Street at Coe Fen. This piece of land is also called Laundress Green, as it was here that laundry would be stretched out to dry and bleach in the sun. Although it is only minutes from the city centre, cattle graze here in the summer.

One of Britain's finest galleries - a beautiful and unique house with a distinctive collection of 20th century art, and a gallery exhibiting contemporary and modern art.

The Museum of Classical Archaeology is dedicated to the study and teaching of the classical past through the material and visual cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. As well as objects from 2,000 years ago, they also hold objects produced in the 19th century to replicate ancient artefacts housed elsewhere in the world.

Midsummer Common borders the River Cam and houseboats are typically moored on the common's bank with many colleges' boathouses located on the opposite bank. Home to the annual Midsummer Fair, one of the longest-established fairs in England, bonfire night and the Strawberry Fair.

Previously known as the Folk Museum, this is a vibrant museum providing an insight into the history of Cambridgeshire people. The museum holds 20,000 objects that are related to the history of Cambridge and its area.

The University Library itself is not open to the public but the Milstein Exhibition Centre is open for various literature exhibitions during the year.

Although there are no ruins to be seen on Castle Hill, this grassy mound is of great importance in the history of Cambridge. This was the site of the Roman town of Duroliponte, originally an Iron Age hill fort.