Cambridge is home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, giving it a rich intellectual history, and a bunch of extremely pretty buildings. Cambridge University was founded in 1209 by some scholars who decided they would rather be here than in Oxford<\/a> (thereby settling the \u2018which is better\u2019 question over 800 years ago).<\/p>\n From Isaac Newton to Crick, Watson, and Franklin, Cambridge has been the home to some of the most significant developments in science. Visit Trinity College to see the tree reputedly grown from a cutting of the apple tree that sparked the theory of gravity. The Eagle Pub on Bene\u2019t Street has not one, not two, but three blue plaques that mark it as the place where Francis Crick announced the discovery of the structure of DNA \u2014 while you\u2019re visiting, try a pint of the commemorative \u201cEagle\u2019s DNA\u201d ale. Other great Cambridge scientific and mathematical minds include Charles Darwin (studied at Christ\u2019s College), and Alan Turing<\/a> (student at and subsequent Fellow of King\u2019s College).<\/p>\n For a smallish city, Cambridge has a truly ridiculous amount of museums \u2014 and most of them are free! Visit the Whipple Museum for some fascinating artifacts from scientific history. The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences and the Museum of Zoology provide a dive into natural science \u2014 and the Museum of Zoology boasts a beloved Cambridge classic in the form of a 21-meter long whale skeleton displayed prominently near the entrance. A whale of a time, indeed. Cambridge is filled with tons of amazing museums that make for the perfect rainy day activity. <\/a><\/p>\n Cambridge is as rich in literary history as it is in science. Trinity College was home to the escapades and exploits of Lord Byron \u2014 and also, reputedly, to his pet bear, which he kept to make a point defying the rules which banned students from having dogs. E.M. Forster was a student and later Fellow at King\u2019s College, and his novel Maurice is partially set in Cambridge (go punting to spot locations from the 1987 movie adaptation)! Other Cambridge literary names include Tennyson, Housman (commemorated by a brass plaque in Trinity College), Rupert Brooke, and Sylvia Plath.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re shopping for books, Heffers bookstore<\/a> has got you covered, with all the words you could possibly want (they\u2019ve also got a brilliant board games section). For some rare and second-hand finds, G. David Bookseller is tucked away just off the market square. It\u2019s an absolute necessity for all book lovers, both to browse and to stare lovingly at the incredible selection of rare and early editions that you definitely can\u2019t afford.<\/p>\n Complete your literary tour with a trip to the Orchard Tea Garden! Out in the beautiful scenery of Grantchester, the Tea Garden has had a truly impressive host of famous visitors<\/a> since its establishment in 1897.<\/p>\n Punting! Steering these flat-bottomed boats along using only a pole and a lot of determination is an absolutely essential local activity. It\u2019s gondolas, but for Cambridge. Replace the Italian singing with the joyful hollering of picnicking students, and voila. The river Cam winds its way through town and past some breathtaking views, from the meadows of Grantchester to the sweeping lawns and majestic colleges of the Backs \u2014 and there\u2019s no better way to take in those views than from the water! Relax, soak up the ambience, and learn some Cambridge history in a guided punt tour. Or, if you\u2019re feeling ambitious, you can hire a punt and steer yourself along. Keep an eye out for the Mathematical Bridge, originally built in 1749 to what Wikipedia flatteringly calls an \u2018unusually sophisticated engineering design\u2019.\u00a0 According to legend, it was originally built without using any nails or fastenings, but students dismantled it and were unable to put it back together without the help of a few nails. This isn\u2019t actually true, tragically, but it\u2019s fun to lie to your friends about.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d rather walk, Cambridge is the perfect city for pedestrian sight-seeing. The city centre is a car-free zone, so you can wander through the cobbled streets and stunning architecture at your leisure (just watch out for the ubiquitous cyclists zooming around)! Or join a sightseeing tour<\/a> of the city to make sure you hit all the best spots. There are loads of amazing free activities you can do in Cambridge based around it\u2019s fantastic scenery. <\/a><\/p>\n Cambridge isn\u2019t just a stupendously beautiful and historic city \u2014 it\u2019s also a living place, with a community of uniquely Cambridge businesses. From shopping to food to entertainment, the city\u2019s streets hold everything you need to make your trip to Cambridge memorable. The market is open every day, packed with a vibrant and eclectic range of stalls selling everything from books to vinyl to street food and local produce. Cambridge is also home to a plethora of wonderful cafes and places to eat \u2014 the most unmissable is probably Fitzbillies<\/a>, whose iconic Chelsea buns have been made and sold in Cambridge since 1920. And the people who love Cambridge are committed to making it the best possible place to experience, with Cambridge BID\u2019s City Ambassadors<\/a> providing welcoming information and advice to visitors.<\/p>\n Still not sold on how unique Cambridge truly is?\u00a0 We have another article detailing all the wonderful and truly unusual things you can do in Cambridge over at lockhouse.co.uk. <\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>If you\u2019ve got a spare hour while you\u2019re drinking in the delights of central Cambridge, come play an escape room! <\/em>LockHouse Escape Games<\/em><\/a> is centrally located on Regent Street, and we love being part of the unique landscape of Cambridge. <\/em>Our escape rooms<\/em><\/a> take an hour to play, and add an unforgettable dose of puzzle-solving fun to any Cambridge travel itinerary! <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cambridge is home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, giving it a rich intellectual history, and a bunch of extremely pretty buildings…","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":1030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nFor the scientists<\/h2>\n
For the bookworms<\/h2>\n
The river and scenery<\/h2>\n
Uniquely local<\/h2>\n