Cambridge Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Cambridge showing boating, kayaking or canoeing and a lake or waterhole
This picturesque English town is famous for its historic university, medieval architecture, neighborly pubs and eclectic year-round festivals.

Walk in the footsteps of literary greats, inventors and Nobel Prize winners at the English city of Cambridge. Visit a historic university and spot centuries-old architecture. Explore art museums and enjoy a lively performing arts scene. Cruise down a lazy river on a traditional flat-bottomed punt or relax in pristine public parks.

Cambridge’s city center is a compact area of brick and cobblestone streets ideal for exploration on foot. Find galleries, boutiques, pubs and churches along narrow passageways. Visit the 12th-century Round Church, one of the city’s oldest buildings. Climb the medieval staircase to enjoy panoramic views from the tower of Great St. Mary’s Church. Experience the boisterous ambiance of Cambridge’s pubs, such as the 500-year-old Pickerel Inn.

Be inspired at the city’s varied museums. Study art and antiquities from 3000 B.C. to the present at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Admire work by 20th-century artists, such as Alfred Wallis and Joan Miró, at Kettle’s Yard. Discover ancient artifacts at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The Centre for Computing History has vintage computer displays and classic video games.

See what life would be like as a student at Cambridge University. Wander around the grounds of historic colleges, including Kings College and Trinity College. Pause to imagine a time when Isaac Newton and Oliver Cromwell studied here. Take a punting trip on the River Cam for an alternative view of the university. Relax in a flat-bottomed boat as you glide past The Backs, a collection of riverside parks and gardens.

Throughout the summer Cambridge buzzes with open-air cultural events. Be part of festivals dedicated to beer, comedy, literature, music and street performers. Summer in the City is a series of free events held in the glorious city parks.

Cambridge sits in the eastern region of England and is easily accessible via inter-city trains and buses. The city is just a 50-minute train ride from central London. Whether for touristic or academic purposes, a visit to Cambridge is fulfilling in any season.

Where to stay in Cambridge

Cambridge Corn Exchange showing heritage elements and street scenes

Cambridge City Centre

4/5(8 area reviews)

Unique features of Cambridge City Centre include the gardens and river views. Make a stop by Christ's College or Cambridge Market Square while you're exploring the area.

Cambridge City Centre

Chesterton

While Chesterton may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Christ's College and The River Cam.

Chesterton

Arbury

4.5/5(3 area reviews)

While Arbury isn't home to many top sights, The River Cam and Castle Hill are some notable places to visit nearby.

Arbury
Cambridge Belfry Hotel & Spa
Cambridge Belfry Hotel & Spa
4 out of 5
Back Lane, Cambourne, Cambridge, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$202 per night from 30 Jun to 1 Jul
NZ$202
per night
30 Jun - 1 Jul
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
I will be back
"It was very relaxing and I will definitely return and have also recommended to a lot of people. Lydia on reception was fantastic!"

Reviewed on 31 May 2024

Cambridge Belfry Hotel & Spa
ibis Cambridge Central Station
ibis Cambridge Central Station
3 out of 5
2 Station Square, Cambridge, England
The price is NZ$204 per night from 14 Jun to 15 Jun
NZ$204
per night
14 Jun - 15 Jun
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,011 reviews)
"Everything wad within walking distance"

Reviewed on 2 Jun. 2024

ibis Cambridge Central Station
Novotel Cambridge North
Novotel Cambridge North
3.5 out of 5
2, Cambridge Square, Cambridge, England
The price is NZ$209 per night from 16 Jun to 17 Jun
NZ$209
per night
16 Jun - 17 Jun
Stay at this 3.5-star eco-certified hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (517 reviews)
"Really nice, the aircon in our room, had a really noisy fan, so did not sleep very weel. but apart from that is was really nice."

Reviewed on 2 Jun. 2024

Novotel Cambridge North
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Cambridge City Studios by Paymán Club
Cambridge City Studios by Paymán Club
4 out of 5
26 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, England
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, laundry facilities, and premium bedding. Popular attractions Midsummer Common and Parker's Piece ...
4.8/10 (64 reviews)
"Their photographer needs a raise with that quality of misleading photos"

Reviewed on 14 Nov. 2023

Cambridge City Studios by Paymán Club
Turing Locke Cambridge
Turing Locke Cambridge
4 out of 5
47 Eddington Ave, Cambridge, England
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (269 reviews)
Hotel amazing although Hotels.com another let down
"Hotel is lovely, clean and comfortable enjoyed my stay . Only grumble is as a gold member at hotels.com none of the upgrades or benefits seem to happen. Beginning to feel its a con . But that is not the hotel at all , really enjoyed it."

Reviewed on 3 Jun. 2024

Turing Locke Cambridge
 The Regent
The Regent
3 out of 5
41 Regent St, Cambridge, England
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (158 reviews)
"Enjoyed our stay, no problems."

Reviewed on 26 May 2024

The Regent
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Cambridge

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
13
" "5 - Excellent 44.827586206896555%
4 - Good
14
" "4 - Good 48.275862068965516%
3 - Okay
2
" "3 - Okay 6.896551724137931%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
22 Oct 2019

Beautiful historic town, a lot of the schools not open to the public and if the were open wanted £12 to visit, punting hawkers can be a bit annoying

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
9 Oct 2019

Cambridge is being over run by tourists and the big colleges have reacted by closing their doors to visitors except by tickets. Quite understandable but it means you can no longer wander through their beautiful grounds and along the backs of the Cam.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
27 Sep 2019

Cambridge is beautiful with alot of history

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
26 Sep 2019

Beautiful compact city with beautiful buildings Easy to get around plenty of places to eat

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
24 Sep 2019

We used the City

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
6 Sep 2019

Cambridge is a beautiful and compact city, with an unexpected and pleasant amount of open public spaces and parkland, as well as the famous private colleges. It's best seen on foot (or from a punt), as parking is difficult and the streets narrow.

Cities near Cambridge