On my most recent trip to the U.K., I wanted to venture somewhere I had yet to visit. The main criteria for this location included somewhere that could be explored on foot within a day. We ended up choosing Cambridge, and it turned out to be a well paced day trip!
While I would have loved to stay for a weekend, a day was enough time to see the highlights. When researching things to do and sites to see, I really wanted to see the backs of the colleges, the Bridge of Sighs, and the Mathematical Bridge. To save time and money, we combined all of these things by punting down the River Cam. £20 will get you a 45 minute punting tour. You can also opt to rent a boat to punt on your own if you’re brave.
Here are some of my favorite sites from the tour:
The Bridge of Sighs
I was very excited to see and capture a photo of this bridge. When researching Cambridge, I was instantly attracted to this view. It’s hard to think of a better way to experience the Bridge of Sighs than by going under it.
Viewing the colleges
The University of Cambridge is made up of 31 autonomous colleges. Depending on which of the colleges you visit, there is an entry fee to view the grounds. Some of the most photographed are located along the River Cam. We were satisfied with the glimpses we got of them from the river, and our tour guide provided us with a bit of history. All in all, it was a great way to see and learn a lot in a short period of time.
Mathematical Bridge
Yet another famous bridge, the Mathematical Bridge, stretches across the river. Like the Bridge of Sighs, I was excited to get an up-close look at this feature. There are some amusing tales surrounding the bridge’s origins, but for the real story read here.
Walking the grounds
After our punting adventure, we began to wrap up our day. Just as we were wandering back to the bus stop, we came across a few colleges without entry fees. The two we explored were Peterhouse and Pembroke College. If you’re looking for the most affordable approach to experiencing Cambridge, I would recommend spending the money to go punting for an overview of the famous colleges and exploring colleges like Peterhouse and Pembroke on foot.
The following photos were taken at Pembroke College:
Cambridge is a wonderful place to spend the weekend or even just a day. There’s a lot to see, but if you plan well you can experience the architecture and feel all in one day.
