While in London for a few weeks, I decided to take day trips so I could see more of the country. They say London is only a small part of the country, but I hadn’t been many places in England besides London. I know there are tons of history cities in the UK, which made deciding where to go really hard!

So, I spent a day in Cambridge my first week in London! One day in Cambridge is all you need to see this old, wonderful piece of English history. Plus, it’s only a quick train ride from London. If you want to stay the night in Cambridge instead of doing a day trip, Hotel du Vin right in the city center has great reviews and is in the perfect location!

Parker’s Piece

As I arrived in Cambridge, I walked about half a mile to a beautiful park called Parker’s Piece. It is a very large green space with a Ferris wheel (observation wheel) in the center. It was a gorgeous day, so there were quite a few people out playing football, volleyball, and a few other things out on the green. The observation wheel is £6 per person, and takes you around 3 times, so I got a good view of the whole city.

There are quite a few pubs and places to eat if you wish to right around the park, but I decided to walk around before eating. The walk around the city was so nice. There were so many old buildings everywhere you turned. Oddly, I saw someone in an airplane sky-writing! I don’t know if that is something that happens all the time in Cambridge, but it was fun to watch!

Punting

As I walked the town, I came across the river where there are tons of canoe-type boats with students of Cambridge piloting them. The boats are actually called “punts” and punting is an age-long tradition. The punts are designed with a flat bottom so they can easily be maneuvered in shallow water. They were used for moving goods up and down river, as well as for fishing, in the past. Now they are mainly used as a way for tourists to see the city and gain knowledge from one of the students who you can hire to take you. You can book a tour here. There is also an option to “paddle” your own punt if you wish for the extra challenge!

I didn’t actually go on one because I was alone and it was really busy when I got there. I would recommend booking in advance so you can save time waiting in the queue. It did look like a lot of fun.

The Mathematical Bridge

This bridge is an iconic part of Cambridge. It is built entirely out of straight boards, but has still created a curved shape like a bridge should have. It is said to be a mathematical feat to create such a thing.

I did stop to grab a coffee after seeing the bridge. It was a fairly busy place called Fitzbillies. I had no idea this is apparently a 100 year old bakery and tearoom, which is probably why it was so busy. I ordered a dirty chai latte that was pretty good. Now that I know the history, I wish I would’ve ordered a cream tea or one of their famous Chelsea buns!

King’s and Queen’s Colleges

I will say that I unknowingly chose the worst day to go to Cambridge for tours. It was Good Friday, so the colleges were closed to the public. I wasn’t able to go inside any of them. From the outside, they are magnificent old structures, so I can only imagine how incredible they are inside. If you go to Cambridge, I would recommend checking on this in advance. It is my only regret about the day.

Despite not being allowed inside, I was able to walk all around the campus grounds. The paths lead me past both colleges and many others, and then back into the town center. Here, there are an abundance of shops mixed with the ancient churches, college buildings, and streets.

I did get dinner at a pub (fish and chips of course) but it wasn’t that great and I can’t remember the name of it to be honest. It was full of college students ready for the holiday weekend though!

Would you like to visit Cambridge? What else have you done in Cambridge that I missed? Let me know in the comments. I you want to read more about what I was up to in London- read the 3 posts on my time in London under the “Travel Abroad” tab above!