Overview:

Cambridge is quaint and rural with a University feel to the city. The city caters for young and old and has a good selection of restaurants and bars to satisfy a more laid back refined occasion. Even if you don't discover something Nobel Prize-worthy, you'll definitely discover something to love about Cambridge. The historic and picturesque town is genteel England at its best.

Getting Around:

Cambridge is not the city for driving; parking costs are high and automatic bollards lower to let public transport and emergency services through but could write off any unauthorised vehicle travelling too close behind.  The city is compact enough to walk around, so buses shouldn't be needed. However, the train station is not very central so a bus is probably needed on arrival into the city. Pedestrians should watch out for cyclists as they commonly ride on shared pavement space.  There are plenty of places to lock up bikes, though make sure they're locked well as bicycle theft is rife.

Must See/Must Do:

• Punt down the River Cam
• Stroll through the picturesque parks that make up The Backs, gardens behind the Colleges
• Take a guided tour of Cambridge University
• Watch outdoor Shakespeare in summer
• Catch the next John Cleese in Footlights comedy troup at the ADC
• Dance to top DJs at popular club Fez
• Drink on the terrace at water-side pub Granta

History and Culture:

Cambridge is well known for its depth of culture and history stemming from its world renowned University. The city was born when scholars fled Oxford after a dispute and established the new university in 1209. Since then, the university has been synonymous with the city itself and you can't really talk about one without the other.  Cambridge, steeped in the same depth of history and tradition as its rival, has churned out scientific greats from Sir Isaac Newton to Stephen Hawking and produced more Nobel prize winners than any other institution. The scientific legacy continues and today Cambridge is a centre for science and high-tech industry, known informally as Silicon Fen coming from the well known Silicon Valley slant from the USA.

Nightlife:

Typical of a student town there are loads of pubs in the city, the most famous being The Eagle – a favourite since it was established in the 1500s but on the downside its popularity means its often packed. The nightlife in the city is on the quieter side, with the bright lights and banging club tunes found in Peterborough or Milton Keynes. With this being said the Moroccan-themed Fez has been a popular joint for years and is a safe bet for a good night out. Alternative club Kambar is a popular hangout for indie and alternative music lovers.

Eating and Drinking:

Even meat-eating locals love the vegetarian and vegan fare at Rainbow Cafe while fair trade foodies should head for Michaelhouse – a cafe housed in a beautifully converted church. For a less pricey choice, Free Press is a hidden gem on Prospect Row and a standout for pub grub. The food reflect the surroundings with quality restaurants that cater for a laid back atmosphere supplying high quality food allowing for a great prelim to a boozy night in the many pubs on offer in Cambridge city centre.

Sport:

The main sporting events of the year are the Oxford vs. Cambridge matches. These occur over a number of sports and raise the normally reserved and educated locals to beer guzzling followers of the cause. A large contingent usually make the trip up to Twickenham to watch the rugby match that is a great excuse to try and get one over on the old foe Oxford something that if combined with a Stag do could work extremely well!