What to do in Cambridge for a day by myself?

[PoosyCat]

I’ve got about 8 hours to spend by myself in Cambridge on Monday. I’ve never been before and I’m quite excited at the thought of a day pottering all by myself! I’d like to be pretty central, within walking distance of the train station. Any suggestions?

In case I didn’t mention it, OP, Cambridge is just breathtakingly pretty. You’ll have a glorious time whatever you end up doing.

Would also recommend this second had bookshop.

www.gdavidbookseller.com

I travel to Cambridge a lot for work and to see friends. The station is about a 30-40min walk from the main touristy area around King’s College etc. I would be tempted to get an Uber as it’s not a very interesting walk, just along main roads really.

As others have said, a walk along the backs is always lovely. I love the shopping in Cambridge as I come from a bit of a rural backwater! I can spend hours in Heffers bookshop alone.

If you are interested in music and are free around 5.30/6.00 you can hear one of the world-famous college choirs and visit a beautiful chapel by going to choral evensong at one of the colleges - check their websites for times. It’s free and you can just go in through the porter’s lodge saying that you are there for the service. I would recommend St John’s, King’s or Trinity - all very central and near each other. The service lasts about 40mins.

If you want to treat yourself to lunch with a view, I'd recommend Six Brasserie at the Varsity. The views, food and drink and service are all fantastic.

Oh yes good idea!

You've just taken me straight back to childhood. Cambridge used to have multiple outdoor pools and we sat our swimming badge exams outdoors in freezing weather.

On the subject of outdoor pools, there's a really old one at Christ's. You won't be able to use it OP (not would you want to in March!), but the Fellow's garden is lovely anyway. I'd really recommend taking a wander into some of the college gardens. The backs are busy all year round, but some of the college gardens are oases of peace and you can get a sense of the real Cambridge rather than the tourist Cambridge.

Great idea to cut through the Botanic Gardens on the way from the station to town. The Monday-opening museums are all small but lovely in their own way. The Sedgwick has a section about "Darwin as a geologist" which is one of the most interesting museum displays I've stumbled upon, if that's your thing!

Are you there for dinner, OP? HUGE recommendation for "Little Petra" on the way back to the station. (I think it does lunch too.)

Kings College chapel even if there are no services.

This is lovely to hear. I love places where you don’t even need to have a real itinerary, where you can just wander and see loads of lovely stuff!

My dd is spending the day at Christ’s college so I’d be interested to see it. Definitely won’t be using the outdoor pool though!! Is Christ’s central? My dd is staying at the youth hostel near the station and has been advised it’s a twenty minute walk to the college.

Unfortunately not, our train home is at 5 (and I may be too stuffed from all the cake and coffee breaks to think about dinner!)

Love a museum…I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the Sedgwick.

I’ll keep an eye out for it, thanks.

This all sounds super. I love a wander round shops so definitely will visit the Grand Arcade.

Yes, Christ's is really central, it's the train station that isn't in the centre.

We're northerners and consider the station to be central enough. We're going in a few weeks time for DDs 'fake MA' graduation (having missed out on her real MEng in 2021, her college didn't have anything for parents) and are staying near Cambridge North so we can get the train in.

If that's an offer holders event, @PoosyCat , you've hopefully got a few years when you can visit all the museums that aren't open on Mondays and maybe some of the aquatic options (though the lido on a daytrip by train might be a bit eccentric!). Cambridge is such a good place to walk around, lots of variety, we usually clock up at least 15km a day there!

It's about 20 minutes to walk from the station to Christ's I'd say. They've been trying to find a way to have a station in the centre since about the 70s and it hasnt happened yet

I was going to say, for books I’d suggest the second hand booksellers over Heffers, which is not hugely different to Waterstones - although both are very good bookshops. There are quite a few secondhand options that are more fun. My favourite is the Haunted Bookshop, also known as Sarah Key, which is especially strong on children’s literature (although not cheap!).

http://www.sarahkeybooks.co.uk/

Not an offer holder’s day @ErrolTheDragon , she’s only in lower sixth but is attending an English lit event there. My son is currently at Oxford so he’s unimpressed at the the thought of her going to Cambridge 😂!

And yes, a twenty-thirty min walk really doesn’t faze me, especially if it’s not raining 🤞🤞.

Hope you have a great time at your dd’s graduation.

Ooh I love the look of the Haunted Bookshop. I’ll definitely keep an eye out!

Yep, 20 mins is what she’s been told by the uni people arranging the event. That’s not a problem at all.

There's a lovely florist on Magdalene Street which does flowers, plants and dried flowers.

https://www.whatthefleur.co.uk/

DD is lower sixth as well and spends a lot of time at Caius doing English stuff. I tend to go on the train with her and then mooch. I adore Cambridge and it's best without an itinerary ime. I've never needed a bus or taxi from the station. It's only 20 mins if you're a quick walker. There are some brilliant suggestions of routes on here but I'd aim for bookshops, wandering the backs and several food stops. There are some great charity and vintage shops as well.

If your DD returns or you do, really do try to see the Fitzwilliam and Kettle's Yard. Both wonderful.

Have a lovely time.

Take a look at the mathematical bridge near the Anchor Pub and the Mill Pond. You can pick up a punt from there for a guided tour of the colleges from the river and see the spring bulbs on "the backs". A good way to see lots of the colleges and the punt chauffeur will fill you in on some history at the same time.

If you are good at climbing stairs go up the tower at Great St Mary's church on the market square for a fantastic view of the city. The Haunted Bookshop is close by.

The Grand Arcade is just like any other mall so I'd recommend shopping in proper streets instead. Don't bother with the Grafton Centre area, it's quite down at heel unless you are looking for a charity shop browse or a free game of ping pong.