Cambridge at a glance:
- Travel time: 50mins to 1hr 20mins direct train or 1hr 30 min drive from London.
- Vibe: Elegant, storybook, traditional.
- Top must-see: Cambridge University. It makes up a lot of the stunning buildings in the city and is regularly ranked top 3 in the world.
- Best for: History fans, architecture lovers, weekend trippers.
Whether strolling through the quaint cobblestone streets or punting along the River Cam, there are so many things to do in Cambridge on a sunny day. The city offers a beautiful backdrop for both relaxation or adventure, depending on what you fancy. The vibrant atmosphere mixed with classic charm ensures there’s always something new to discover around every corner – and here’s some of the things not to miss!
Go punting on Cambridge’s River Cam
One of the loveliest things to do in Cambridge is to go punting on the serene waters of the River Cam. The traditional flat-bottomed punt allows a unique perspective of Cambridge’s famous colleges and bridges. Punting tours often last around 45 minutes to an hour. You can take these as a group, but for a more intimate experience, private punts can be hired.
Climb the tower at Ely Cathedral
Climbing to the top of the West Tower at Ely Cathedral provides the most beautiful views over the city that are the perfect backdrop for a photo. On the way up, you’ll find out about Ely Cathedral’s history, heritage, and the story of its oldest and tallest tower from your tour guide. It is recommended to book your tickets in advance for this. Hopefully you’ll be blessed with a sunny day like I was as it makes all the difference!
Visit Cambridge University
You can’t possibly visit Cambridge without exploring the beautiful and historic colleges, such as Kings College, Trinity College, and St. John’s College, that make up the world-famous Cambridge University. Stroll at your own pace as you bask in the English sunshine and take in all the incredible architecture.
Enjoy the independent shops in Cambridge
I love exploring independent shops, and there’s over 250 here! Just a handful of the shops worth checking out include:
- Cambridge Distillery – a must if you enjoy gin
- Catherine Jones of Cambridge – family owned jeweller for three generations
- Freckleface – handmade, luxury fragrances inspired by nature
- Lost in Vinyl – a paradise for record lovers
- Podarok – award-winning gift boutique
- Soap and Clay – handmade, natural bath and soap products
Cambridge also has three shopping centres, The Grafton, Lion Yard and Grand Arcade, and plenty of the usual high street staples too including Marks & Spencer, Zara, Primark, and John Lewis.
Check out Cambridge Market
Cambridge boasts a rich tradition as a market city, with its historic market square bustling since the Middle Ages. The General Market fills the main square from Monday to Saturday. It’s a vibrant hub of activity, featuring approximately 100 stalls offering an array of goods including fruits, vegetables, vinyl records, clothing, gifts, flowers, confectionery, books, and a variety of hot and cold foods. Additionally, the Sunday Arts, Craft, and Local Produce Market takes place every Sunday with a curated selection of products from local talented artists, craftsmen, photographers, and farmers.
Look for the Corpus Clock
Made from a 24 carat gold plated disc, this clock is unique in that it has no hands or numbers on it. Instead, it displays the time by opening individual slits in the clock face backlit with blue LEDs. Made as a piece of art rather than to tell the time, the clock is entirely accurate only once every five minutes! According to its creator, former Cambridge University student John C Taylor, this erratic motion reflects life’s “irregularity” and the “inevitable passing of time”.
Browse the many museums
Unsurprisingly, Cambridge is a cultural hub and there’s lots of museums and galleries to explore. Contemporary art lovers will enjoy Kettle’s Yard, whilst The Fitzwilliam Museum stands as a testament to human creativity, with its extensive collections of art and antiquities. Cambridge Museum of Technology is the home of the city’s industrial heritage, and includes a Victorian Pumping Station with its original 19th century machinery. History enthusiasts will revel in the two million years of human history featured at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Enjoy Cambridge’s outdoor spaces
There’s plenty of outdoors spaces to enjoy in Cambridge, to get your steps up and take in some fresh air. Midsummer Common borders the River Cam and houseboats are often moored on the common’s bank. Christ’s Pieces is a Victorian park with flowers, ornamental trees and a memorial garden to Diana, Princess of Wales. Meanwhile, one of the best things to do in Cambridge is to explore the Botanic Gardens – they offer over 40 acres of beautiful landscapes to explore, with exotic plants and a tranquil lake.
Take a cycling tour
If you prefer cycling over walking, you might want to check out companies like CamCycle Tours that offer a range of options from a quick hour’s ride to a full day of exploration on bike. Each tour comes complete with commentary on the rich history of the area. Cycling is one of the main ways of getting around in Cambridge, which you’ll notice from all the cycling shops dotted around the city.
Cross the Mathematical Bridge
The Mathematical Bridge, although a relatively small bridge in the grand scheme of things, is a very well known structure in Cambridge. It as originally built in 1749, although has been rebuilt in 1866 and 1905 due to aging. It has an unusually sophisticated engineering design, as it appears to be an arch, but is composed entirely of straight timbers.
See the Round Church
The Round Church, situated at the intersection of Round Church Street and Bridge Street, dates back to around 1130. This means it’s older than even the university! Holding Grade I listed status since 1950, it is one of only four medieval round churches that remain active in England today.
Places to eat in Cambridge
If you get peckish during your day in Cambridge, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out.
- Midsummer House – Boasting two Michelin stars, it offers a refined tasting menu of 18 courses made from local and seasonal ingredients. The intimate seating and views over Midsummer Common make it a top choice for if you’re looking to indulge in a luxurious dining experience.
- The Cambridge Chop House – This place specialises in interesting cuts and chops, as well as Sunday roasts, quality fish, and veggie options. Just 50 yards from King’s College Chapel, it’s spread over two floors with a large glass fronted corner location, offering incredible vies of Cambridge.
- The Oak Bistro – An old historic coaching inn that was once a welcome stop for weary travellers on the road to London, now a Grade II listed building, offering an elegant dining experience in the heart of Cambridge. Food offering includes classic British and European dishes, home-made using traditional recipes and quality ingredients.
- Limoncello – A family-run Italian deli, with a lovely little outdoor courtyard. Think ciabattas, pizzas, pasta, bruschetta, and salads. Perfect if you want a slightly lighter meal but still somewhere with charm.
- The Millworks – Overlooking the old Millpond on the Granta River, this vibrant place definitely has the romantic location box ticked. Food is fresh and local, with an emphasis on fish and meat cooked in their charcoal grill.
Visiting Cambridge FAQs (2026)
No, the University is made up of 31 independent colleges. Think of it like a city made up of tiny gated villages. There is no “main entrance” to the university; the city is the university!
Each college has its own opening hours and entry fees (usually between £5 and £15). While some allow visitors to roam the courts and chapels, others are closed during “Quiet Period” (exam season from April to June). King’s, St. John’s, and Trinity are the most popular to visit, but many smaller colleges are free to enter.
Cambridge is deemed the cycling capital of the UK. The city is flat and the streets are narrow, making cars a nightmare, so many choose to use bikes. Watch out when crossing the road; cyclists in Cambridge are fast!
The city centre can be pricey for food and college entries. However, there are still many affordable or free things to do, and just walking around the city is magnificent on its own.
This is a common mistake: the station is about a 15–20 minute walk from the historic centre. There are frequent “Universal” buses (the U-bus) that run from the station to the colleges if you don’t want to walk.
Let me know what your favourite thing to do in Cambridge would be in the comments!
Sophie is a freelance writer and editor, and the founder of Britain and Beyond.
