As the second of the UK’s top university cities, Cambridge has long been a prestigious and world-class hub of knowledge and learning. Yet despite being built around university college buildings and campuses, Cambridge has so much more to offer the avid traveller.
Located on the banks of the River Cam, the city centre is encircled by expansive peaceful parks and lush water meadows complete with grazing cows, through which you can enjoy a stroll into or out of town. It is worth starting your wander at the Lammas Land open space to the south of the centre and following the footpath north along the river which brings you past an old water mill to one of the main punting stations. From the bridge here you get a great view of the well-known Mathematical Bridge – uniquely built using only timber members to a sophisticated engineering design, and now a Grade II listed building. You can either take a punt up the river under a series of other iconic bridges, or continue the walk along the footpath through Queen’s Green and past The Backs to catch views of some of the famous college buildings and up to the northern entrance into the old town part of the city. Heading past St John’s College, you will discover a warren of quaint cobblestone streets filled with boutique shops and historic period architecture buildings interspersed with the gothic architecture of university college buildings. Stop off at Coffee Bug for a great caffeine fix, serving lattes and flat whites from a converted mobile tuk-tuk van in the grounds of the All Saints Garden Art & Crafts Market.
After wandering the buzzing streets and perhaps taking a walk around one of the college grounds (all charge an entry fee), head to The Anchor and grab a table on the outdoor terrace overlooking the River Cam and watch the punting boats float on by whilst refuelling yourself on some delicious pub grub.
For those still with energy to burn, it is worth heading slightly further out and taking a walk along the river through Stourbridge Common and Ditton Meadows to enjoy a peaceful stroll through these extensive scenic local nature reserves, where you will encounter herds of grazing cows and flocks of graceful swans (and maybe a nest of cygnets amongst the reeds if you’re lucky enough).
Ely Cathedral
Approximately half an hours drive north of Cambridge lies the small historic city of Ely, whose otherwise fairly indiscriminate skyline boasts one of the largest and most magnificent structures visible from miles around – Ely Cathedral.
Dating back over 1300 years, the cathedral’s exterior and interior are a sight to behold, highly regarded by historians and architects from all over the world for its beauty and size. It is the only building in the UK to be listed as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages”.
Inside you will marvel at many impressive features including the nave – the third longest in the UK and the same length as the entire of Ely High Street; the Octagon – a medieval wonder and masterpiece of engineering with its towering wooden beams; the Lady Chapel – a vast and magnificent architectural space and the largest of its kind in the UK; and the Choir – another vast space of beauty and home to a world famous boy’s choir whose tradition dates back to the mid 16th century.
tails of a wanderer 
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