1.
Spend a day in the university city of
Cambridge
If you are done with exploring the attractions of the British capital of London and need a change of
scenery, there are a lot of options to choose from for a day trip out of the city. Among the many
places that great to visit for a day out of London, the college city of Cambridge is an ideal getaway.
And it is very doable as it is just abouta 90 minutesdrive from the centre of London!
Cambridgeis consideredto be out of the mostpicturesque college cities in the country. The first thing
that comes to mind when most people think of Cambridge are the lush green spaces to be found in
the Cambridge Backs and the scenic River Cam that meanders through the town, while offering
amazing views of Kings Chapel in its backdrop. It is just the place to spend a relaxed day away from
the crowds and chaos of the capital, with easy accessibility that makes it all the more endearing to
visit. While mostvisitorswho visit Cambridgefrom Londoncome ona day trip, if youdohave the time
it is worthspendingthe weekend to visit the other attractionsapartfrom its famouscolleges.
Try a spot of punting
The traditional sport of punting on the Cam River is a major attraction with locals as well as visitors.
And youcan even go ona puntingride duringthe winter months. Youcouldhire a puntwith a punter
from the various tour operators in the area. If you are in a group you could hire your own punt and
take a trip along the river. However, it is more difficult than it appears as the only way to steer the
punt is with a long pole. So if you have no prior experience, it is best to leave it to a professional
punter!

2.
Food and drink
For a fine selection of affordable eating joints that feature a diverse variety of cuisines from across the
world visit Mill Road. You could even hop along to any of the traditional pubs to get a feel of their
lively atmosphere. The most famous and oldest pub in the area is The Eagle located at 8 Benet Street.
It is also the biggest of its type with superb ales, fine wines and great dining options of traditional
English homemade food. It is also where Watson and Crick celebrated their incredible discovery of
DNA. Another great pubworth a visit is The Castle Inn a comfy andcosy pubwith a warm and friendly
atmosphereandgreat food and drink.

3.
Travel to Cambridge
There are several ways to get to the college city from London. You could either opt to drive or catch a
train, any one of which is the most convenient way to travel. However, if you want to visit Cambridge
just for a daytrip, it is recommended to choose to travel by train. This is because it is rather difficult to
find parking space close to the city centre. There are train services from both Liverpool and King’s
Cross stations in London direct to Cambridge. The prices are reasonable and you will arrive in
Cambridge in little over an hour. Once you arrive at the station there are a number of buses that will
transportyoutothe centre of the city.

4.
Alternately if you plan to spend the weekend, it is better to use a car as the outer areas of the city are
not as well connected by public transport. However, as mentioned earlier parking your vehicle could
be rather pricey in the centre. Travelling via the M11 you should be able to make the trip from the
capital to Cambridgein about90 minutes.
In terms of accommodation there are a number of fine luxury as well as budget hotels to be found in
the city. And some of the best are to be found near the Station Road area. If you travel after the
exams are over near the end of June, youmighteven snagany of the terrific Cambridge hotel deals
available at that time of the year.
Tour its college buildings
A visit to the city will be incomplete without a tour of Cambridge’s college buildings, which can be
found all over the place. However, you need to be aware that a number of the most prominent
colleges charge an admission fee. So if you spend a day charging in and out of some of these college
buildingsyoucould spendquite a bit!

5.
If you are on a tight budget it is better to admire the exquisite architecture of the most famous
colleges from outside. If you do want to get a feel of the atmosphere within you could instead choose
to visit thosecolleges thatdo notcharge any entrance fee. Of these the largest is Trinity College andit
does not charge visitors to explore its premises. While there a visit to its beautiful courtyard is not to
be missed and also will give you an idea as to how the students stay in privileged surroundings. And if
you are okay with spending a bit, a tour of King’s College would be ideal. While there do not miss an
opportunity to see its incredible college chapel. Another great place to explore is Clare College that is
adjacent and does not charge an admission fee. Take a stroll through its magnificent grounds and
head outto the famousBacks for a leisurely stroll alongthe banksof the Cam.
A word of caution is that visitors are not granted access to the University premises when the exams
are conducted from April end to the end of June. The only exception is King’s College Chapel that
permits visitors in this period. Once you are done with exploring the university buildings make a
beeline for the unique Round Church, browse through the central market and catch a fabulous view
from MagdaleneBridge.