CAMBRIDGE

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

The University of Cambridge was founded in the 13th century by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute with townsfolk. Cambridge University has many famous alumni, including: the mathematician Isaac Newton, the writer Lord Byron, the scientist Charles Darwin, the actors Hugh Laurie (Dr. House), Ian McKellen (Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit), the physicist Stephen Hawking and Charles, Prince of Wales. Cambridge academics have won more Nobel Prizes than those of any other university in the world.

Cambridge University consists of a number of semi-independent colleges which are a good selection for sightseeing. Most of the colleges within the central area are worth a look. Some, but not all, charge for entrance. Remember to be respectful when visiting the colleges because they are students’ homes for much of the year and the colleges’ role is first and foremost that of academic institutions.

Grandiose 16th-century King’s College Chapel is one of England’s most extraordinary examples of Gothic architecture and it is the most visited attraction in Cambridge. It is also famous for its choir. You can hear it sing during the free and magnificent evensong during term time (5.30pm Monday to Saturday, 10.30am and 3.30pm Sunday).

Founded by two Queens – Margaret of Anjou in 1448 and Elizabeth Woodville in 1465, the Queens’ College stretches across both sides of the Cam, linked by the famous Mathematical Bridge. The myth goes that it was designed by Isaac Newton without the use of pins, screws, nuts or bolts, but when disassembled, the fellows and students couldn’t figure out how to put it back together again. This is sadly false, the bridge dates from 1749, 22 years after Newton’s death. The stunning medieval Old Hall is also worth a visit.

The largest of Cambridge’s colleges, Trinity College offers an extraordinary Tudor gateway, an air of supreme elegance and a sweeping Great Court – the largest of its kind in the world. It also boasts the renowned Wren Library, containing 55,000 books dated before 1820 and more than 2500 manuscripts. Works include AA Milne’s original Winnie the Pooh. 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.

Formally the St Johns Hospital (13th century) before being refounded as a college in 1511, St Johns College houses the oldest academic building in Cambridge (the “School of Pythagoras”). It has a number of large courtyards, and has the Cambridge “Bridge of Sighs”.

Jesus College is set in uniquely spacious and peaceful grounds. Its buildings include some of the oldest and most attractive in Cambridge.

Pembroke College, the 3rd oldest college in Cambridge, founded in 1347, is well known for its beautiful gardens. It was the first to have its own Chapel.

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

St Catharine’s College was founded in 1473. The College was christened in honour of the patron saint of learning and was originally known as Katharine Hall. It was largely rebuilt in the 17th century with work on the Main Court beginning in 1673; the Chapel was completed in 1704. In spite of its modest size, the college’s three-sided brick Main Court is almost unique among Cambridge Colleges and deserves a short stop while strolling down Trumpington Street. The College is in the very centre of Cambridge next to King’s College and facing Corpus Christi College.

Corpus Christi College: Uniquely, founded by Cambridge locals. Its Old Court (to the left of the main entrance, behind St Bene’t’s church) dates from the 1350s and is the oldest courtyard in Cambridge. Old Court rooms have no plumbing, so you may occasionally be treated to a student walking across the court in their dressing gown to get to the toilet complex.

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 fifteen minutes’ walk from the town centre. The Victorian hall here is one of the most beautiful in Cambridge and definitely worth a visit. It’s free to enter.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Su 12PM-5PM. This art and antiquities museum was founded in 1816 and has five departments: Antiquities, Applied Arts, Coins and Medals, Manuscripts and Printed Books and Paintings, Drawings and Prints. Highlights include masterpieces by Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne and Picasso and a fine collection of 20th century art. Admission free.

The Polar Museum, Lensfield Road. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. 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. Admission free.

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Free School Lane, just off Pembroke Street. Mo-Fr 12.30PM-4.30PM. The Whipple Museum is a collection of scientific instruments and models, dating from the Middle Ages to the present. Included in this outstanding collection are microscopes and telescopes, sundials, early slide rules, pocket electronic calculators, laboratory equipment and teaching and demonstration apparatus. Admission free.

The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Downing Street. Mo-Fr, 10AM-1PM and 2PM-5PM; Sa 10AM-4PM. One of the University’s many hidden treasures, and actually its oldest museum, the Sedgwick has more than 1 million fossils in its collection. These range from the earliest forms of life from more than 3000 million years ago, to the wildlife that roamed the Fens less than 150,000 years ago. Displays include a gallery of minerals and gemstones, the world’s largest spider, rocks collected by Charles Darwin, dinosaurs from the Jurassic and Triassic, and fossils from the local area including a hippopotamus from the nearby Barrington gravel pits. Admission free.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street. Tu-Sa 2PM-4.30PM. The Museum contains large and important collections of archaeological and anthropological material from all parts of the world. The archaeological collections include significant collections from Palaeolithic Europe, Asia and Africa; Precolumbian Central and South America; early civilizations of the Mediterranean; and British archaeology. The world-renowned anthropological collections include important collections from the South Seas, Africa and North America; historic collections from the 18th century; and extensive photographic collections from the 19th and 20th centuries. Admission free.

Museum of Classical Archaeology, Sidgwick Avenue, Mo-Fr 10AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-1PM. This museum houses one of the largest plaster cast collections in the world. Although nothing here is an original, nearly all the well-known (and not so well-known) works from the Classical world can be seen together under one roof. Admission free.

CHURCHES

The colleges all have chapels which can be visited, but town churches also offer a rich insight into the history of the town, and are usually free. Even if you aren’t interested in places of worship, they are well worth a few minutes attention and are peaceful places to enjoy.

Great St Mary’s – this fine example of 15th-Century English Perpendicular architecture is on the market square opposite King’s College. As well as viewing the beautiful nave, visitors can climb the bell tower for spectacular views over the town.

St. Benet’s – the oldest church in Cambridgeshire as well as the oldest building in Cambridge. Parts of the church, most notably the tower, are Anglo-Saxon. This tiny 11^th-century church is one of several churches in town with bells, this one is a good location to see English bell ringing.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, universally known as The Round Church, is located on the corner of Round Church Street and Bridge Street. It is one of the four medieval round churches still in use in England. The oldest part of the church – the round bit – was constructed in 1130.

All Saints is a Victorian church standing directly opposite the entrance to Jesus College. This 19th century church is no longer used for worship. The most easily recognized feature of All Saints is the striking spire, which can be seen from all over Cambridge. The interiors are fabulous, with rich decoration, wall and ceiling paintings, and vivid stained glass.

SHOPPING

Cambridge is quite good for shopping because it has a lot of great stuff in a small area.

The historical street of King’s Parade has numerous souvenir and gift shops with Cambridge (and London) branded merchandise. Book collectors will find many shops especially in Trinity Street. The market square in the centre of town has a general market Monday to Saturday with fruit and vegetables, bread and cakes, books and clothes, and a more arts- and crafts-oriented market on Sunday with pottery, ceramics, prints, clothing, etc. The surrounding streets and the nearby Lion Yard shopping centre have most of the common retail names and some individual shops to cater for most needs. The Grafton Centre, a five-minute walk from the city centre across Christ’s Pieces and New Square, and also accessible from Burliegh Street, East Road and Newmarket Road, has all the usual high-street shops in a mall and surrounding streets. In St Andrew’s Street there is also the Grand Arcade shopping centre.

The main supermarket in the city centre is Sainsbury’s on Sydney St. which stocks a full range of groceries and everyday products.

For sweet lovers, there are Hardy’s Original Sweet Shop on St Johns Street, Fudge Kitchen on King’s Parade, Fitzbillies on Trumpington Street with their famous, traditional Chelsea buns and many more.

PARKS AND GARDENS

The Backs. The gardens by the river behind various colleges. Heading downstream from Kings you can pass through the gardens of Clare, Trinity and St John’s Colleges (which has the “Bridge of Sighs”).

Botanic Garden of Cambridge University. Bateman St. Open 10AM-4PM Nov-Jan, 10AM-5PM Feb and Oct, 10AM-6PM Mar-Oct, closed 25 Dec to 3 Jan. 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. Adult admission £2.50, free Mon-Fri in winter (November through February).

Jesus Green. Originally proposed as the site for Cambridge’s main railway station, Jesus Green is a broad piece of parkland immediately adjacent to Midsummer Common. Provides a quiet retreat away from the city centre and also has grass and hard tennis courts as well as an outdoor swimming pool.

Parker’s Piece. Parkers Piece is one of the best known open spaces in Cambridge. Located in the centre of the City it is bordered by Park Terrace, Regent Terrace, Parkside and Gonville Place.

Christ’s Pieces. Christ’s Pieces is situated in the centre of the City, 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.