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The Cambridgeshire Travel Guide takes a tour of Cambridgeshire in East Anglia. This county is of course renowned as the home for the world famous university in its most famous city Cambridge. The university has certainly given the city a worldwide appeal and visitors come here from around the world. Cambridgeshire essentially has two main landscapes these are the rolling chalk hills to the south and the Fens to the north that are known for being flat. Prior to being drained, the Fens were marshlands that were under water for most of the time.



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Cambridgeshire Guide

Overview and Attractions
Cambridgeshire Hotels
Cambridgeshire Map
Cambridgeshire Weather
Cheap Plane Tickets



Overview and Attractions

The county itself has more to offer than just Cambridge, many visitors see Cambridge but miss out on other attractions around the county. The charming cathedral city of Ely is well worth a look, it is a small, quiet city a short distance outside of Cambridge, and it has some beautiful historical buildings, some of which date back to medieval times. Ely is famous for its wonderful cathedral as its centre peace. There is also a waterside area where visitors can take a boat trip or go for a relaxing riverside walk or visit the lovely cafes on the front.

Ely Cathedral dates back to 1081, it is located a short drive from Cambridge city, and began life as a monastery in AD 673. The cathedral is brimming with history and delightful architecture. There are three services held here daily and are open to all. Those wanting to know more can go on one of the guided tours available around the year. The cathedral also has meeting and seminar rooms and a banqueting area that can be hired out. For more information please see:

Ely Cathedral

St. Ives was formally known as Huntington and has been inhabited since the Stone Age. There area is the midst of conservations areas that are rich in flora, making it a lovely place to visit. There are picturesque scenes here of thatched buildings to Georgian ones and many listed buildings. The history is well preserved for all to see.

Oliver Cromwell’s House is located in the in the Cambridgeshire heartland, it has witnessed many changes over the years, formerly it has been an inn called The Cromwell Arms and has also served as the vicarage for St. Mary’s church. Visitors to this house will be able to recreate the life and times of Oliver Cromwell, the English military and political leader. The haunted bedroom tells the story of Oliver Cromwell’s death.

Oliver Cromwell’s House

The Town of St. Neot’s once known among ‘the sister towns of Huntingdonshire’. St. Neot’s and St Ives (formerly Huntingdon) are linked by the Great Ouse, St. Neot’s has a market place that is several hundred years old and has some impressive buildings. There are still weekly markets held here and visitors wanting to experience the laid back atmosphere may wish to attend the markets. The town has a church St. Mary the Virgin, The town can be enjoyed on the banks of the river, where visitors are treated to some wonderful views.

Visiting Cambridgeshire

Peterborough Cathedral is another attraction worth seeing, the 13th century western front is deemed as being among the most impressive feats of medieval architecture in Britain. The three story nave benefits from a timber ceiling, it still retains much of the original painted decoration. This historic cathedral is certainly an impressive sight and is steeped in history, it is arguably one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the UK. For more information please see:

Peterborough Cathedral

The famous city of Cambridge is high on visitors must see lists when visiting Cambridgeshire. Visitors have the chance to wonder on the cobblestone streets when exploring Cambridge. Most of the city can be best explored by foot, the compact nature of the city making this possible. With its long and distinguished history visitors are treated to many sights and attractions in Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum once described as “one of the greatest art collections of the nation and a monument of the first importance”. This illustrates the esteem in which the impressive works are held, there are collections of Egyptian, Greek & Roman antiquities, and wonderful works of art by Rembrandt, Titian, and Turner, to name but a few. For further information please see:

Fitzwilliam Museum

Art enthusiasts can visit the art gallery, Primavera, situated opposite King’s College there are great views of the College from here in the heart of the Cambridge. The gallery and shop, bring together a refined exploration into some of the finest art and crafts in the UK. Primavera has acclaimed selections of antiques, ceramics, glass, furniture, metals and textiles among others. The gallery provides a great showcase for British artistic talent to a wide audience. For more information please see:

Primavera

The church of Great St Mary’s is set in the centre of Cambridge with the colleges and university offices close by. Widely known as Great St Mary’s or GSM, St Mary the Great with St Michael is a parish church in the North Cambridge Area Deanery of the Diocese of Ely in the Church of England and also the University church of the University of Cambridge. The church has a long history of preaching there is a long and distinguished tradition of preaching at Great St Mary’s. For further information please see:

Church of St Mary

The Cambridge University Botanic Gardens were first opened in 1846 and have a wide variety of plant species. There are a number of different habitat zones, these include a Rock Garden that has alpine plants from each continent, Tropical rainforest, Water Garden and glasshouses with have seasonal displays. The Systematic Beds have in excess of 80 varieties of flowering plants. There are many important collections here including the lavender, geraniums as well as the collection of Native British Plants. The gardens have collections of winter plants, Herbaceous and Wildflower Borders, Autumn Colour Garden and a scented garden. There is a program of ongoing educational and special events throughout the year. For further information please see:

Cambridge University Botanic Gardens

Wimpole Hall is a National Trust property that was once upon a time the home of Rudyard Kipling’s daughter. Located a few miles outside Cambridge, the house is certainly impressive, a 17th century mansion that is set in extensive parks and gardens. There have been some illustrious names in English architecture that have contributed toward Wimpole house including James Gibbs and Sir John Soane. In the gardens visitors will find a mix of formal Victorian parterres, arboretum and Dutch Gardens. Wimpole Home Farm, located beside the house was a model farm that became established in 1794. It currently operates as a centre for breeds centre and as a home to heavy horses. The farm also features a Victorian Dairy, a thatched Great Barn and a children’s play area. For visitors who are energetic or wish to do something active, they can walk the 13 mile long Wimpole Way, which leads from Cambridge to Wimpole Hall. The walk takes you through rolling countryside, historic villages and areas of ancient woodland. For further information please see:

Wimpole

Like scholarly rival Oxford, no trip to Cambridge is complete with a trip to one of the colleges that make up Cambridge University, the world renowned university that the city is most famous for. There are over 30 colleges that fall under the umbrella of Cambridge University each is an independent entity in its own right with its own distinct style and history. The King’s College is popular among visitors, it was founded in 1441 by Henry VI, King’s has a distinguished history being one of the first colleges to admit women and has helped the drive to seek admissions for students from non-traditional backgrounds. King’s has some distinguished alumni these include Sydney Brenner, John Maynard Keynes and Alan Turing among others. The spectacular Perpendicular chapel that took 100 years to build attracts many visitors and is a wonderful sight. For further information please see:

Kings College Cambridge

When looking for a place to eat, visitors may wish to consider Bruno’s Brassiere where the focus is very much on the excellence of food. They pride themselves on home made, carefully and freshly prepared dishes. This excellence has resulted in the restaurant winning awards and critical acclaim. As you enjoy your meal you can see the paintings by local artists. If visiting in the summer, you can dine in the garden behind the restaurant well away from any noise. For further information please see:

Bruno’s Brasserie

If its bars you are into then Nusha is a cocktail and dance bar that is worth considering. It provides ambience and some flair with the bartenders cocktail trained you can watch as they flip, toss and throw bottles around with some skill. The bar prides itself on its service, the menu is extensive and you can enjoy a number of cocktails. There are DJ’s every night playing a wide range of music. For further information please see:

Nusha Bar

The Fez Club in Cambridge is a place clubbers can go to dance the night away. Located in Sydney Street in Cambridge, this is a popular club where there are themed nights on different days and you can experience different music and atmospheres that go with it. For further information please see:

Fez Cambridge

Accommodation in Cambridgeshire is available to suit a range budgets from the most basic to the most ostentatious. One thing to remember is to ensure your hotel is not too far away from where you need to get to, the travelling time each day to and from your hotel can take up a substantial chunk of your time. Especially for those on a tight schedule whilst they visit London, it is wise to do your research and ensure your hotel is actually located at a convenient location for your needs. There are many fine budget, mid range and exclusive hotels available in London, for further information please see:

Selection of Cambridgeshire Hotels

For a full list of Cambridgeshire Hotels please see:

Cambridgeshire Hotels


Our tour of Cambridgeshire with the Cambridgeshire travel guide has taken in both the historic and contemporary. The famous city of Cambridge is likely to dominate visitor’s plans but it should be noted that apart from the city of Cambridge and its many attractions, the county of Cambridgeshire has much to offer visitors. It is well worth exploring Cambridgeshire outside of Cambridge if time permits, it is a charming county full of character.

Cambridgeshire Travel Guide

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