Main tips for a trip to Cambridge:
- you must take a punt down the river
- you haveee to eat a Fitzbillies Chelsea bun
- and if you're going to pay to enter any colleges, make it Kings
Exactly one week ago, we were checking into a gorgeous hotel and starting out our amazing 2 night stay in the city of Cambridge. And right now, we're absolutely gutted that we can't do it all over again this weekend...
Cambridge is well known for punting, and there's good reason for it. This was definitely one of our very favourite parts of the weekend. The ride down the River Cam is lovely and calming besides a few bumps with other boats, and is 100% the best way to hear the facts and see the sights of Cambridge - especially the many beautiful bridges. We learned about so many cool facts and stories about Cambridge this way, so we definitely recommend getting the guided punt instead of doing it yourself. And it definitely cuts out the danger of falling in, which is utterly hilarious and we hope you get to see someone fall in on your trip. Cruel but worth it!
One of the most famed and prettiest bridges is the Bridge of Sighs pictured above. It was named this after a bridge of the same name in Venice, on which prisoners would sigh as they were escorted to their cells. But here this happens to lead students into their final exam room, which let's face it, is a big enough reason for a heavy sigh!!
Hint: Picnics and drinks are allowed on the boats, so we booked our trip and then picked up a bottle of wine with a few cups for the ride.
And, talk to the ticket men that hound you around the river, they can actually give you a deal - we only paid student price!
Another one of the most famous sights, and the largest and most spectacular College of Cambridge, is Kings College. Tickets can be bought just across the road at the visitor centre which includes entry to the college grounds and this increeeeeedible chapel.
It gave us serious vibes of the Sagrada Familia with its beautiful stained-glass windows, and you can't help but wanting to take constant pictures. The whole architecture of the Chapel is just amazing, but the ceiling is just another level.
Hint: Somehow putting gift-aid on our tickets at no extra cost gave us annual tickets, which is fab if you end up wanting to go in a few times, or another time of year - so it's definitely worth a shot
The college grounds are also lovely, with a perfect photo opportunity at the bench under the flowers for all you Instagram lovers out there! You can exit the college at the back and then take a walk alongside the river, leading you to more pretty bridges and gorgeous architecture. We think the best way to explore Cambridge is just to wander and not worry about planning - you're likely to see everything anyway!
But, if you happen to come across a Fitzbillies Bakery then get yourself inside and ordering a Chelsea Bun asap. These famously sticky buns have been made here since 1921 and are absolutely delicious. No trip to Cambridge can be complete without one!
While on the subject of food, oh my goddd, you need to go to the Cambridge Fudge Kitchen!! They're pretty generous with the free samples, so you can try all the unbelievably tasty flavours aaaand you can even watch it be made, there's nothing not to love.
Hint: If you stand alongside the banks of the river inside Kings College you can listen to the guides punting down the river and actually learn some quite interesting facts!
Cambridge is perfectly full of beautiful bridges and the one pictured above is another of the most famous. This is the Mathematical bridge - hence, why there had to be a picture of me (at the top of the post), a maths graduate, with the bridge on the punt. The bridge is designed with only straight timbers in such a way that it should be self-supporting without any bolts, hence the name. But it's been re-built a few times now, so that explains how well that went...
Also pictured above is a 'descendant' of Newtons famous apple tree where he began the research into gravity. Newton did actually stay at Trinity College though so we think it's close enough for us to the real thing - it's a pretty picture but it's not the 'gravity tree'!
Thanks so much for reading this post!
Have you got any tips for a visit to Cambridge? We'd love to hear about them if you do!
We're definitely hoping to go back soon, we're thinking maybe Christmas! Got those annual Kings college passes to use!
We're definitely hoping to go back soon, we're thinking maybe Christmas! Got those annual Kings college passes to use!
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Lots of love,
Antonia and Imogen x
