To ask about nice places near Cambridge

[BananaMonkey3]

to meet a friend?

I'm in Stafford and he is in norwich. Cambridge is half way ish...

Can anyone recommend anywhere nice we could meet and spend the day that doesn't require driving in to Cambridge town centre?

I have a 2 month old so needs to be appropriate... :)

Doesn't have to be Cambridge but does need to be between the two above places!

I really, really wouldn't go anywhere near Cambridge atm because of the horrific traffic due to the A14 works

I don't think it's that bad. I'm sure the pp had a bad experience, but I'm in and out all the time, and I haven't found the A14 horrific.

Peterborough might be the best option, on train route and a47 which connects with m1

I really wouldn't spend the day in Peterborough if I could help it - there are much nicer places nearby!

If he's getting public transport and you don't fancy Cambridge, Ely is very pretty and you can go from Norwich to Bury St Edmunds by train and then onwards towards Ely if you want. In terms of your drive I'm not sure what it adds but there are loads of pretty villages around the Suffolk area too!

Cambridge North train station is handy for Milton Country Park, and keeps you out of the centre of Cambridge. If you want somewhere near Cambridge Central Station then the Botanical Gardens are very close by.

Hi! I live between London and Cambridge just off the M11 and has family in Norwich so know this area well. . . I’d say a drive into Cambridge really isn’t that difficult mid week after / before rush hour and especially if you park and ride. I’d come up the M11 and exit onto A11 and then come off for Cambridge (heading towards Addenbrookes) and park at the Babraham Park & Ride ... the bus heads into the City and you can meet your friend near the station. You could then pay to enter the Botantic Gardens as these have an entrance at the bottom of the road to the station (even meet there) or if you don’t want to pay then there is so much to see in Cambridge just wandering around the streets. Put Grand Arcade in google maps and you’ll be in the middle of the main shopping and from there explore, head down to the river, walk around the parks and then jump on your bus just opposite John Lewis and you’ll be back in the car and heading home. It’d be really difficult for your friend to get to Wimpole or Anglesey Abbey on public transport.... enjoy! I love Cambridge and go all the time with my children!

The nicest place near Cambridge is.... Cambridge. As PPs have said, if he's getting the train it will be easier to meet in central Cambridge anyway.

Anglesey Abbey and Wimpole Hall are nice enough but not accessible via public transport and not worth the extra hassle in January.

Go to central Cambridge, have lunch at one of the many great restaurants, wander around, have coffee and cake in one of the many great cafés.

If you're going all that way you might as well see the main attraction

The A14 roadworks shouldn't be putting people off! Zero impact on the friend travelling by train and it's fine outside peak times for the OP driving.

... then everything that Mrsmum said above :-)

... and there are epic free museums! Sedgwick, Zoology, and Arch&Anth are all v close to Grand Arcade. Fitz is a short stroll.

Ely is lovely and low key. Free parking, nice walk down by the river, visit Peacocks for a cream tea and possibly go for a wander around the antiques centre (next door) and cathedral.

Ely is lovely and has a train station.

Peterborough also has direct trains from Norwich.

Cambridge is a lovely city though, and the park and ride is decent. I love the Botanic gardens (but they are best in summer). There are also some super cafes if you do decide to go into town.

Don't forget that the houses at Anglesey Abbey and Wimpole will be shut for the winter.

Anglesey has a lovely winter garden and is famous for its snowdrops but too early for them. Grantchester in winter is pretty grim - have been in autumn with friends who puzzled why we were taking them there.

I'd honestly go into Cambridge, it's v easy after rush hour.

I second either Cambridge or Ely of your friend’s getting the train. All local NT places aren’t accessible by public transport really.

Lunch in the city then walk across The Backs? You could park at the station (probably the best parking rates in Cambridge, everywhere else is hideously expensive and you’ll part with £20+ for over 5 hours!) and then walk in with your friend. It’s a 10 minute walk to pubs/restaurants.

Agreed, A14 works aren’t causing many problems right now yet

But actually having Dad @Overoptimistix’s post, I’d definitely take advantage of the free parking in Ely and go to Peacocks (check out the awesome antiques centre next door!) and a pint at The Cutter along the river. The station is very central too.

Having Dad?! Having read obvs

Cambridge station is a good shout for parking, especially if meeting at the weekend, it's only £5 for the whole day.

Cambridge NORTH station is easy parking for just £3 at weekends. £5 on week days. Cambridge main station is £7.50 off peak week days, £5 weekends.

Cambridge station is a good shout for parking, especially if meeting at the weekend, it's only £5 for the whole day

Hmmm ... I really wouldn't rely on that. I've had the experience of not being able to find a space at the station at all.

... and Cambridge North is bloody miles away from anything

It's handy for the science park...

Cambridge north might be handy for the science park but the science park is hardly a nice place to hang out with a friend

If you're reliant on public transport then that's a different kettle of fish!

I would spend the day in Cambridge or Ely. There's far more to do in Cambridge in January so that would be my starting point. There are a number of good museums in Cambridge, plus lovely places to eat. If you get the park and ride bus in then that isnt too expensive.

Wouldn't bother with Cambridge north station, it has hardly any actual trains - the place is like a ghost town. Difficult to find a space at main station car park so use Queen Anne car park as its the cheapest (but def not cheap) central one.