A weekend in Cambridge reveals columns and spires, manicured lawns and bizarre traditions. A short break here will give you a brush with history, architecture and an extraordinary number of cyclists.
Cambridge celebrated its 800th birthday as a university town in 2009, so not surprisingly Cambridge has enough to keep history lovers occupied for weeks.
However, with only a weekend to get the flavour of the place, here’s what I’d suggest:
A Weekend in Cambridge
King’s College
This massive white complex illustrates the grandeur that the Tudor Kings were aiming for when Henry VI founded King’s in 1441. Both the scale and design impress, with carved white stone, huge stained glass windows and an overall palatial feel. King’s still broadcasts its Christmas Carol concert each year.
The Bridge of Sighs
This bridge in St John’s College took its inspiration from the “Bridge of Sighs” in Venice, where legend says prisoners saw their city for the last time before walking into prison. The facts behind the story are hazy, but the arches and shadows within St John’s are beautiful.
The Backs
A flat path runs behind the main strip of colleges, lined with willows and oaks. The Backs give a calm, leafy and tranquil perspective, instead of the cycle and traffic jam mayhem that characterizes Cambridge’s city centre.
The Mathematical Bridge
Another legend is out in force here. This charming wooden bridge neatly connects two different courtyards in Queens’ College* and was originally built by Sir Isaac Newton. His mathematical genius ensured that all the components stayed together without requiring a single rivet or nail. When students dismantled it to try to work out how he did it, they couldn’t repeat his success.
The historical facts don’t add up, but – hey – it’s a good story.
Punting
A punt is a long, wooden and virtually unwieldy boat. The River Cam is gentle and narrow and punting has come to symbolize both laid-back decadence and intellectual inspiration. It’s hard to avoid the touts in straw hats and striped blazers, but if you can, hire a punt yourself. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to navigate a punt beneath all those famous bridges, but then, that’s half the fun…
Emmanuel College
Finishing off with one more vast and imposing college, Emmanuel (“Emma”) has two claims to fame: the chapel was designed by Sir Christopher Wren (architect of St Paul’s in London) and one Emmanuel graduate set sail to America in 1636 before leaving all his wealth to a college in Massachusetts. His name was John Harvard.
* Queens’ college was founded by two Queens. Hence the position of the apostrophe…Knowing this does not make me a loser. It makes me very cool indeed…
Getting to Cambridge
By Rail: a fast train runs from King’s Cross in London to the station in Cambridge. The station is on the edge of town so you will need to take a bus or taxi from there.
By Road: Cambridge is easy to drive to but parking is incredibly difficult in the city centre. You’d probably do better to use a Park and Ride service.
Visiting Cambridge
Be warned that many of the colleges close during exams and certain other periods. Most have websites now so quickly check before you make any commitments. Entry to the Cambridge colleges is usually cheap or free, even at the weekends.