Cambridge, England

CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND

This is one of my favorite cities in England. It has the edge when it comes to beauty, history, and culture. My younger sister went to University there, Clare College, and was lucky to end her academic career teaching at what must be one of the most prestigious schools in the world with its 31 colleges. Over the years, I have got to know Cambridge well, and I am going to share with you, some priceless information.

It is only a 45 minute train ride from Kings Cross Station in London. I would recommend staying there, and my three top properties are the Doubletree by Hilton, which is central and on the riverbank, the Hotel du Vin, central, a lovely boutique hotel with character, and the Crowne Plaza, central near all the shops.

There are more museums in Cambridge than anywhere else, outside of London. Eleven of them, all free. The Botanical Gardens are worth visiting, rated No.2 behind Kew Gardens. My favorite tea & coffee shops are the Botanic Garden Café, Courtyard Café at the Fitzwilliam Museum, (our favorite museum ) Fitzbillies, and the Orchard Tea Gardens. A famous bar is the Eagle. Go look at the World World 11 fighter pilots signatures on the ceiling. Good restaurants are the Bloomsbury, in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the Graffiti in the Hotel Felix, and the Riverside Brasserie at the Cambridge Garden House Hotel. Two good ones in the centre of town are Jamie Oliver’s (famous young British chef with his own television show) and Browns.

If you rent a car, there are some wonderful county pubs and restaurants in small villages around Cambridge. You can enjoy lovely gardens, and thatched cottages. Here are my favorites. The Three Horseshoes, at Madingley, the Tickell Arms in Whittlesford, the Plough in Coton, the Red Lion at Hinxton, the Crown and Punchbowl in Horningsea, and the Cricketers at Clavering.

There are three theatres and three concert halls in Cambridge. During the summer, there are many free lunch time concerts at various colleges. Visit two stately homes, Anglesey Abbey and Wimpole Hall, and also Ely Cathedral. Nearby drives to villages with stunning architecture are Long Melford, medieval, Laverham, Elizabethan, and Stanford, Georgian. The Imperial War Museum at Duxford draws a lot of visitors.

Cambridge is a wonderful place to walk around. A must is the 2 hour tour of King’s College and Queens College, only given at 11.am. and 1.00 p.m. There is also a Ghost Tour every Friday at 6.p.m. Find out why Corpus Christi is the most haunted college in Cambridge. I have never done this, I don’t fancy seeing a medieval lady in a long white nightie with ruffled lace sleeves floating by.

Take a punt on the river Cam. A punt is a flat bottomed boat which is usually propelled with a long pole. They were developed in medieval times as work boats for use in areas of water too shallow for conventional keeled craft. A one mile section of the River Cam known as the College Backs is one of the most beautiful lengths of river in England. Highlights are King’s College Chapel, the Wren Library, and the Bridge of Sighs. You can also take the hop on and hop off double decker bus which stops at 21 places, including the American Military Cemetery.

www.visitcambridge.org

Cambridge is a truly diverse city with something for everyone. I love shopping in the unique cobblestone streets with Tudor architecture. Most of the town is closed to traffic, and you will see lots of bicycles with students going between colleges. There is everything from exclusive small boutiques to John Lewis Department Store. St. John’s street and All Saints Passage is home to the stunning entrance to St.John’s College where tourists and locals alike are drawn to the outdoor and well established All Saints Arts and Craft Market held there every Saturday. Tucked away next to the market you will find All Saints Passage, well worth a visit for the cheese shop, delicatessen and luxury lingerie boutique.

You could spend a week in Cambridge and really enjoy yourself since there is so much to do and see especially if you drive out to some of the surrounding villages. Having dinner at a village pub is a must.

Take a tour of Kings College Chapel and feast your eyes on Rubens’ masterpiece, the Adoration of the Magi.

This is a very “social” town because of the University. My sister goes to more black tie affairs than I have hot dinners.

A good place to visit all year. The Christmas services in Kings College are famous. An important tip, always carry a brolly.

Maureen Jones

All Horizons Travel/Frosch

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