Things to do in Cambridge
When it comes to staying in Cambridge, be assured you will never run out of things to do. Our rich city is packed with adventures, historic sites, immersive culture and iconic Cambridge activities, including cycling and punting. Fill your days with sightseeing, not forgetting to visit our most renowned landmark, Kings College Chaple.
But if you are looking to keep your step count down, opt for a more relaxing day with an out-of-town visit to the picturesque nearby village of Grantchester. However you spend your days, come evening, you’ll find peace and rejuvenation in your beautiful Gonville Hotel room.
Christmas in Cambridge
Experience ‘Christmas in Cambridge’ from November 14th to January 5th taking place at Parker’s Piece adjacent to Gonville Hotel.
Enjoy the Christmas Market with local vendors, an outdoor ice rink, heated domes, The Alpine Lodge for drinks and music, Santa’s Grotto, a Christmas Tree Maze, the Après Terrace with games, and the Big Wheel offering stunning city views.
Don’t miss this unforgettable holiday event in the heart of Cambridge.
Festive Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea at Gonville Hotel is always a good idea, but at Christmas, our festive afternoon tea is particularly special. Picture a beautifully seasonal menu that includes cranberry scones and orange and cinnamon macarons. With our cosy and relaxing hotel atmosphere, there's no better place to hunker down from the outside chill and indulge in a British tradition, with a tasty festive twist.
Heading out for a spot of Christmas shopping? You might want to book one of the hotel’s Bentleys to take you to the best shops around as you’ll be far too full from your festive afternoon tea to walk or cycle
Our Cambridge festive afternoon tea is served from Tuesday to Sunday beginning 15th November
Festive afternoon tea £32 | with Prosecco £40 | with Champagne £44
Punting
Punting is one of the quintessentially Cambridge experiences. We recommend a tour with Traditional Punting Co that takes you past seven colleges and eight bridges.
Sights include the Wren library at Trinity College, Clare Bridge, The Silent Bridge, Kings College Chapel and The Wooden Bridge at Queens College, which people incorrectly refer to as The Mathematical Bridge.
Find out more and book tickets on the Traditional Punting Co website or speak to reception.
Kings College Chapel
Steeped in royal history, Kings College and its chapel is one of Cambridge’s most renowned landmarks although due to troubled regal times it may have never been built. Walking through the chapel it is easy to lose yourself in amazement at its beauty and spectacular architecture.
It is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world’s largest fan vault.
Tours and tickets for entry must be booked in advance and can be purchased online or from the ticket office on King Parade.
Find out more on the Kings College Website
Fitzwilliam Museum
Housed in one of the grandest buildings in Cambridge, the Fitzwilliam Museum was described in 1968 as “one of the greatest art collections of the nation and a monument of the first importance.”
Once the Private collection of Richard VII, it was Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion who in 1816 bequeathed the collection and funds to create the museum to the University of Cambridge to further the learning of others.
There are few museums in the world which contain a collection as varied and as large as this and with special events and loaned works there is always something new to discover.
Admission is free of charge
Find out more at the Fitzwilliam Museum website.
Eagle Pub
No trip to Cambridge is complete without a drink at the Eagle pub. Opened in the 16th century, the pub is filled with historical features and history. It was in this pub that Francis Crick and James Watson announced their discovery of DNA to the rest of their colleagues.
But this is not the only link to history the pub has. During WW2 the pub was a favourite for local airmen based in the surrounding RAF airfields and many burned their names in the ceiling before taking part in raids. These names can still be seen in the RAF bar at the back of the pub.
Tours
The hop on hop off bus is a good way to leisurely tour the city.
Ticket prices are;
Adult – £16.50
Concession / Student – £13.50
Child – £11
Family – £40 (2 adults and 3 children 5-15 years)
Under 5 free
Guided walking tours are also available to book online or in person from Cambridge Gift Shop, Rose Crescent, CB2 3LL.
Tours include;
Historic Cambridge £20 per person. 1.5 hours. Every day at 13:00-14:30
The Cambridge Ghost Tour: £20 per person. One hour. Fridays and Saturdays at 6pm.
Round Church
The Round Church- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, generally known as The Round Church, is an Anglican church in the city of Cambridge, England. It is located on the corner of Round Church Street and Bridge Street. Since 1950 the church has been designated a Grade I listed building, and is currently managed by Christian Heritage.
Address: Round Church Vestry, Bridge St, Cambridge CB2 1UB
Hours: Monday-Closed, Tuesday-10am–5pm, Wednesday-10am–5pm, Thursday-10am–5pm, Friday-10am–5pm, Saturday-10am–5pm,Sunday-Closed.
Image by Noles1984, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grantchester
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and visit the picturesque village of Grantchester located just a few miles out of the city centre. Home to the Orchard Tea Rooms, it is a great place to experience a true English afternoon tea, especially in the summer months when deck chairs fill the Orchard gardens.
It is part of the summer tradition for many University students including the likes of Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf, Alan Turning and Stephen Hawking who have all walked, ridden or punted from the city to the village to enjoy tea and cake under the trees.
The Imperial War Museum, Duxford
Found just a short car journey from Cambridge, The Imperial War Museum Duxford offers an opportunity to discover the history of aviation and uncover hidden stories from both World Wars as well as one of the best collections of classic aircraft and military land-based vehicles.
Throughout the year the Museum also hosts a number of air shows where displays of Modern and Vintage planes take to the skies.
Photo courtesy of Adam Jones, Ph.D
Ely
30 minutes outside of Cambridge, Ely is a quaint city home to one of England’s most beautiful cathedrals. With its unique octagon tower, it was once known as the Ship of the Fens as it can be seen for miles in the flat land surrounding landscape.
For those brave enough to climb to the top of the West Tower, the reward is an unspoilt view across the Cambridgeshire countryside.
The city is also home to the Oliver Cromwell house, the once Lord Protector of England and now museum, it shows what life was like for the man who lead England’s civil war in the 17th Century.
Photo courtesy of David Seale
Newmarket Races
Known as the sport of Kings, Newmarket has been the home of horse racing for over 350 years. With a varied calendar of races and music events throughout the year, the thrill of horse racing is never far away.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Brown
American Cemetery
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II American military war grave cemetery, located between the villages of Coton and Madingley, seven km north-west of Cambridge, England. The cemetery, dedicated in 1956, contains 3,811 American war dead and covers 30.5 acres.
Open daily- 9am-5pm