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Above Gothic cloisters at St John’s College,
Cambridge UniversityBelow Grantchester church, mentioned in one of Rupert Brooke’s most famous poemsA three-hour walking tour
From the Grand Arcade car park turn
right into Corn Exchange St and left
into Wheeler St to pick up a map at
the Tourist Information Centre 1.
Turn right, then left onto King’s
Parade. After St Catharine’s College
turn right onto Silver St. As you cross
the bridge look right for the
Mathematical Bridge 2 ,
designed by William
Etheridge and first built by
James Essex the Younger in- Constructed without
nails, this wooden bridge
was the first in the world to
be designed according to
mathematical analysis. To
the left, next to the Anchor
pub, there is punt hire on
the River Cam. On the far
side of the bridge, the walk
leads via a footpath to the
right along The Backs 3 , with
unmissable rear views of the colleges
of Queens’, King’s, Clare and Trinity
Hall. At Trinity, where the path ends,
continue along Queens Rd, then bear
right on Northampton St. On the left,
at the junction with Honey Hill, is
Kettle’s Yard 4 (open Tue–Sun pm;
http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk),,) for 16 years
home to Harold Stanley Ede, the Tate
Gallery’s first modern art curator. Ring
the bell to explore the little museum,
filled with paintings, sculptures and
found objects from Ede’s collection.
Behind is Cambridge St Peter, the
city’s second-oldest church, and next
door is the Cambridge and County
Folk Museum 5 (closed Sun am, Mon),
where 20,000 objects and documents
recall rural life in Cambridgeshire. Cross
Northampton St, turn right
onto Magdalene St and
cross the bridge (punts for
hire here too). In the Second
Court of Magdalene College
on the left is Pepys Library
6 (closed Sun am, Mon),
housing the diaries of
Samuel Pepys, bequeathed
to the college in 1703. Back
on Magdalene St by Bridge
St, on the right, are some
fine half-timbered Tudor
houses – erotic carvings hint
that one may have been a brothel. At
the corner of St John’s St stands the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre 7 , one
of four Norman round churches in
England, dating from the 12th century.
Head down St Johns St for St John’s
College 8 , founded in 1511 by Lady
Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry
VII, and enter First Court, the oldest
part of the college. Signs lead to St
John’s Chapel, designed by Sir GeorgeWHERE TO STAYCAMBRIDGE
Hotel du Vin & Bistro expensive
Choose from 41 rooms in a marvellous
old building at the heart of the city.
Emphasis on creature comforts, and
on bistro classics in the restaurant.
15–19 Trumpington Street, CB2 1QA;
01223 227 330; http://www.hotelduvin.com
Hotel Felix expensive
This highly regarded hotel offers
Victorian elegance overlaid with modern
chic. Lovely bedrooms and bathrooms,
large grounds, and local produce on the
menu in the Graffiti Restaurant.
Whitehouse Lane, CB3 0LX; 01223 277
977; http://www.hotelfelix.co.ukWrought-iron gate,
Cambridge1 Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
This vibrant city – famed the world over for its medieval university –
offers enrapturing architecture, a rich historic fabric, green spaces and
many activities for the visitor. Cambridge stands on the River Cam,
amid beautiful green countryside. Dominated by its 31 colleges, the
city enjoys the buzz generated by a large student population.BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN
Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150VISITING CAMBRIDGEParking
Cambridge is not car-friendly and much
of the centre is pedestrianized. Park in
one of the five park-and-ride car parks
ringing the city or, for the most central
car park, follow signs to Grand Arcade.
Tourist Information
The Old Library, Wheeler Street, CB2 3QB;
08712 268 006; http://www.visitcambridge.org
College Opening
Visiting times vary from college to
college. Some charge for entrance at
certain times. Colleges may be closed to
visitors in the exam period (Easter–Jul).
Punting
A plethora of firms offer chauffeur tours
and self-punting. Well-established outfits
include Scudamore’s (01223 359 750;
http://www.scudamores.com) and Cambridge
Chauffeur Punts (01223 354 164;
http://www.punting-in-cambridge.co.uk)