Visiting Cambridge - can you recommend book shops & cafes, please?

[Sunshineandswimming]

I've not been to Cambridge for years but I've booked train tickets to go on my own for the day. Please can I ask if anyone can help with:

1. how far is the train station from the university/college buildings?
2. are there any nice bookshops in Cambridge that you recommend?
3. any nice cafes for coffee & lunch?
4. anything you recommend whilst in Cambridge?

Thanks.

Train station is quite a way from the centre. I was told the university made a request when the station was built that it was far out to stop the students being tempted by London nightlife! No idea if that’s true though.

Heffers is a nice bookshop.

Another vote for Heffers; it's the best bookshop IMO.

Do you want to walk around the colleges? Visit any museums or galleries? The Heong Gallery at Downing (on Regent Street) is small and a good place to pop into if it's open. There's obviously the Fitz if you want to see more. Actually my favourite place to visit is Kettle's Yard; the house is lovely and they have good exhibitions in the gallery.

If it's good weather and you fancy an ice-cream while you're there, I think the best is Dulcis on Rose Crescent (so creamy and delicious) although my DH prefers Jack's Gelato (interesting flavours).

As for cafes, there are a lot of upmarket chains in Cambridge and fewer independents... of course Fitzbillies is famous for their Chelsea buns and they do lunch too.

It gets busy and crowded in town but it's still lovely, you have to stroll along King's Parade, Trinity Street and Bridge Street.

Enjoy!

I forgot to mention the Botanic Garden. Lovely place to go, especially if the weather's good. They have a great cafe too.

Was totally underwhelmed by Fitzbillies when I was there a few months ago. Didn't live up to its reputation. Cambridge is great for just a wander around and see what looks best! The walk from the train station to town only takes about 15 min, depends on if that's not a big deal for you or not.

Agree Heffers is great.

Agree with Heffers, especially the secondhand bit downstairs for some bargains! G. David is also a great bookshop, just off Market Square (not open on Sundays just fyi).

Aromi do lovely pizza by the slice, great coffee, and Italian pastries. There’s often a big queue though!

Very easy bus or taxi from the train station to the centre and colleges

coffee shop in the church opposite St John’s college is lovely

Check visitor opening times and ticket prices of the colleges before you go.

Do you mean Michaelhouse Cafe? I was going to suggest it actually. Bit different.

Yes!! Thank you. Lovely cakes.

1 bloody miles get the bus

2 heffers. David’s is a good second hand book shop, Cambridge uni press have a shop but mostly academic books.

3 aromi do great coffee. Queue can be long!

4 so many, kings college chapel, etc etc. Fitzwilliam museum is good if further out also good fake

1. It's not bloody miles from the station to town, it's about 15 mins to the Grand Arcade as a PP said! But you can catch a bus from the road to the left of the station as you come out - buses going to town are on the far side of the road (outside Gail's) and a 1, 3 or 7 will get you into town for £2.

1. There's a newish crime bookshop called Bodies in the Bookshop on Botolph Lane, if that's something you're into. They sell both new books and secondhand ones. It's also worth browsing the secondhand bookstall on the market, if it's on that day.

1. Agree that Michaelhouse is nice if you don't want a chain restaurant for lunch!

Ooh yes Bodies in the bookshop is great!

Out of the way but Granchester tea shop is lovely to relax, even if Rupert Brooke's poetry is quite, quite awful.

Michael House is where we always take visitors, especially if they're not British. It's so nice.

Thanks so much everyone. This info is a great help. I love visiting towns/cities on my own but sometimes struggle to orientate myself and end up missing the good bits!
Thank you for the bus info @mackerella I might need that, depending on how I'm feeling! It's great that the same places are being recommended & I have some options if the queues are long.
Thanks everyone, I'm really looking forward to going now.

The best coffee is in Savino's, near the main bus station. It's not the prettiest cafe in town but I am never disappointed with their coffee.

Thanks so much everyone. I had a wonderful day in Cambridge. It was sunny & bright & I worked my way around the colleges. Your recommendations were spot on! I did get a taxi from the train station & this was really useful as I would then walk my way back through the town. I loved Heffers book shop - I spent quite a lot of time in there. I ate in the Micheal House cafe and it was lovely. Even my train journeys to & from Cambridge were nice as the sun was shining on the harvested fields.
Thank you for all of your help/suggestions, they made the day so much nicer & easier.

Heffers is a Cambridge institution so you need to go there. I’m remember going there as a child.

So glad you enjoyed it! I went back to Cambridge after 20 years away - could not believe the station area but lovely to see the centre again. And what a brilliant idea for a thread

Ah I'm glad you had a lovely day! It was good weather today, dry and sunny but not too hot

That's wonderful @Sunshineandswimming