Things To Do in Cambridge

Looking for an English city break with plenty of history, architecture and delicious foodie spots? Cambridge is the place to go!

The perfect spot for breakfast

Back in April, I went to Cambridge with my family to celebrate Mum’s 50th birthday. We’d booked to go punting so had some spare time before our slot, so we popped into Café Foy. Mum and Dad had streaky bacon brioche rolls, I had a gigantic warm croissant and my sister had the vegan chocolate & raspberry cake. The presentation was pretty, and the food was incredibly tasty and well-priced.

I can’t wait to visit Café Foy again, especially for their epic looking mac and cheese with pulled pork toastie!

Afternoon tea at the Varsity Hotel

I love a good afternoon tea – especially quirky ones with savoury cocktails and something a little different. I found Varsity Hotel after a quick Tripadvisor search for the best afternoon teas in Cambridge.

Varsity Hotel is situated on the bank of the River Cam, with beautiful 360° views over the Cambridge skyline. The afternoon tea takes place in the Six Panoramic bar and restaurant, with the extensive tea collection taking centre stage.

The afternoon tea at Varsity Hotel was delicious: we ate smoked salmon, coronation chick and egg mayonnaise finger sandwiches, warm scones with cream and jam and an array of sweet and sickly mini desserts.

The top floor restaurant also boats a stunning rooftop garden and bar which is open Monday 5pm to sunset and Tuesday – Sunday 12pm to sunset.

Go punting on the River Cam

Punting on the River Cam is a must when you visit Cambridge! A quick Google search will show you the dozens of companies who work on the River Cam, but we booked with Let’s Go Punting. Tours take place daily between 10am – 5pm, and all you need to do is buy a ticket then visit the desk to book a time slot.

We had a super friendly and intelligent guide, who pointed out Cambridge’s iconic and historical landmarks along the 45-minute tour, including King’s College Chapel, the Mathematical Bridge and the Wren Library. Punting is a great way to soak up the atmosphere in Cambridge, and the boats are actually much more comfortable to sit on than you would think!

Shopping in Cambridge

Grand Arcade is Cambridge’s newest shopping centre, with more than 60 premium and high street brands, a flagship John Lewis department store and restaurants all under one sky-lit roof. There’s also an abundance of boutiques, independent shops, high street brands and designer labels – Cambridge certainly has it all!

I enjoyed walking around the winding cobbled streets to see the shop fronts, as they’re all in uniform with exposed walls and cute hanging signs.

When I next go to Cambridge, I’d love to check out The Ivy Cambridge. The interior looks stunning and I’ve got my eye on trying The Ivy hamburger!

Walk the cobbled streets

Cambridge is a really beautiful city to just walk around in, walking the cobbled streets and admiring all the historical landmarks. We enjoyed walking around at our own pace, but there are a number of free walking tours that can provide you with an introduction to the city, including the Cambridge University, Fitzwilliam Museum and other majestic buildings.

 

Have you been to Cambrige before? What do you enjoy doing there?