Parks and the outdoors in Cambridge

Parks and the outdoors in Cambridge

1. Do

   Arts Picture House

   Various foreign and art-house films (see the current listing ). A more conventional selection can be found at the Everyman in the Grand Arcade shopping centre, as well as the Light Cinema at Cambridge Leisure Park in Hills Road.

2. Buy

   Beehive Center

   A series of shops including Asda, DW Sports Fitness, TK Maxx, Next Home & Dreams. Further up Newmarket Road at the Cambridge Retail Park, there are several additional large stores like Tesco, Sports Direct and Curry's PC World.

3. See

   Botanic Garden of Cambridge University

   A relaxing way to spend a few hours, away from the hustle and bustle of the colleges and canals. Open to the public since 1846 this garden hosts some important botanic collections amongst its 10,000 or more species. In summer they have concerts on the lawn.

   Nov-Jan: 10AM-4PM, Feb-Mar and Oct: 10AM-5PM, Apr-Sep: 10AM-6PM, closed 24 Dec to 1 Jan·Adult admission £7.70, children, carers and Cambridge University students free

4. See

   Christ's Pieces

   In the centre of the city, it is bordered by the bus station, Christ's College, Emmanuel Road and King Street. It is of typical Victorian park design with tree lined avenues. The formal seasonal bedding displays planted in the 'petal beds' near Emmanuel Road, provide all year round colour. There are also large ornamental shrub beds around the perimeter to add further year round colour and interest.

5. See

   Clare College

   The 2nd oldest college with pretty gardens, courtyard and the oldest river bridge in Cambridge.

6. See

   Coe Fen

   A beautiful, semi-wild green near the centre of the city, but far enough out to be quiet. Less manicured than some of the college gardens and parks around Cambridge, but nonetheless a great space to be in the summer with cows roaming and the Cam running through.

7. See

   Homerton College

   Homerton College is one of the newer colleges, though it has existed for centuries as an academic institution and is architecturally very pretty, with extensive and tranquil grounds and a picturesque orchard. It is in a beautiful location on Hills Road, about 15 minutes walk from the town centre. The Victorian hall here is one of the most beautiful in Cambridge and definitely worth a visit. Free to enter, so worth the walk to see.

8. See

   Jesus Green

   Jesus Green was proposed as the site for Cambridge's main railway station, but is now a broad piece of parkland immediately adjacent to Midsummer Common. Provides a quiet retreat away from the city centre, and has grass and hard tennis courts, and an outdoor swimming pool. Plans are underway for redevelopment of this much-loved park in Cambridge.

9. See

   Parker's Piece

   One of the best known open spaces in Cambridge. In the centre of the city, it is bordered by Park Terrace, Regent Terrace, Parkside and Gonville Place.

10. See

    Pembroke College

    The 3rd oldest college in Cambridge, founded in 1347 by the Countess of Pembroke, Marie de St Paul, is well known for its beautiful gardens.

11. See

    Peterhouse

    The oldest Cambridge college was founded in 1284 and has two large gardens, the Scholars' Garden and the Deer Park, both of which students and visitors can walk all over (unusual for Cambridge colleges!)

12. Eat

    Restaurant 22

    Set in a converted Victorian house near the river. Serves up quality seasonal food from a monthly changing menu in an intermate dining room. Booking essential. Larger private room up stairs for parties of approx 12. One Michelin Star since 2023.

    £100+

13. See

    Selwyn College

    Founded in 1882, Selwyn is one of the newer Cambridge colleges. Its buildings and grounds are excellent examples of Gothic Revival architecture and it has been named one of the “most obviously impressive” of 68 listed buildings in the West Cambridge Conservation Area appraisal. Entering through the Porter's Lodge Gate on Grange Road puts you in the attractive Old Court with its manicured lawn surrounded by red brick, turreted buildings. The gate next to the college chapel leads into the Selwyn gardens. Selwyn College is located less than a ten-minute walk south of the Cambridge Library, and is about 250 m from the Museum of Classical Archaeology.

    Free

14. See

    St. Andrew's, Chesterton

    A walk from town, but with an impressive (if somewhat faded) medieval Doom painting around the chancel arch, showing the Judgement and giving worshippers good reason to pay attention to the sermon.

15. See

    The Backs

    The gardens by the river behind various colleges. Heading downstream from King's you can pass through the gardens of Clare, Trinity and St John's Colleges (which has the "Bridge of Sighs").

16. Drink

    The Cambridge Blue

    A friendly pub with a large garden and good range of real ale.

17. Drink

    The Granta

    A large terrace looks out on the river and surrounding nature. Popular during the summer, this pub serves excellent food, and rents out punts and canoes.

18. See

    The Polar Museum

    A short walk from the Fitzwilliam Museum is The Polar Museum. It was a finalist for The Museum of the Year Prize in 2011. Its extraordinary collection covers the Arctic and Antarctic, native peoples and the Golden Age of Exploration of heroes such as Scott and Shackleton. It also serves as the National Memorial to Scott and his men, as well as being the public front of The Scott Polar Research Institute which continues their scientific work. Special events, exhibitions, tours, children's activities and behind the scenes Open Days are held quite often.

    Tue-Sat (and Sun on Bank Holiday Weekends) 10AM-4PM

19. Drink

    The Six Bells

    Typical British country pub. Grade II-listed building with thatched roof and large beer garden. Beer festival and musical events in the summer months. Bar food and restaurant.

    11:30AM-11PM

20. Drink

    The Wrestlers

    A bit of a walk from the City Centre, but great real ales and some of the best Thai food in town.

21. Do

    Traditional Punting Company

    Punting Cambridge

    The Traditional Punting Company offers the best punting in Cambridge, where you'll see the world-famous College Backs in the heart of the city. Expert chauffeurs will guide you along the River Cam, entertaining you with Cambridge’s inspiring history and secrets of the city over the last 800 years. Tours last 50 minutes and are a return journey.

    9AM - dusk·Shared Tours from £20, Private Tours from £79

22. See

    Trinity College

    Large attractive courtyard and library designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The interior of the Wren Library (M-F noon-2PM, Sa 10:30AM-12:30PM in Full Term) is particularly beautiful and features medieval bibles, items from the possession of Isaac Newton, original manuscripts by Wittgenstein, a Winnie-the-Pooh manuscript by A.A. Milne, and notes by Bertrand Russell, among other things. Even when the college is closed to visitors, the library may still be accessible from Queens Road on the other side of the River Cam. As of July 2022 the college is closed to the public.

    £2

23. Drink

    the Red Lion

    and the Green Man are closest to the river bank, and the Rupert Brooke and Blue Ball are to the right (Cambridge direction) along the main street of the village.

24. Do Not mapped

    Cambridge Shakespeare Festival

    (July–August) Every summer, six Shakespeare plays staged outdoors in gardens of various colleges

25. See

    Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill

    Jacobean-style house with gardens and watermill

    check website

26. Eat

    The Garden Kitchen

    82 Mill Rd

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Cambridge (CC BY-SA 4.0).