Things to do in Cambridge...

[septembersunshine]

Hi all,
Just after any recommendation for stuff to do in Cambridge or the surrounding areas -any good soft plays or places to go? Even a nice pub that has a good garden for kids or maybe something indoors in case it rains again. Any suggestions really welcome!

We have dd6, ds4 and dd2 and they are climbing the walls after a very long half term break :/

Thanks,
September x

where are you staying?
this is a soft play in Cambridge itself
If it rains you could go bowling?

We are dropping off a birthday present in Great Shelford and then want to go somewhere in S. Cambs or the city.. any ideas??

Did bowling last weekend and after 20 mins they were all running off...

If you don't know Cambridge and the weather's half-decent (assuming you're going tomorrow I think it's supposed to be quite nice at least until early afternoon) you might enjoy just a walk along/near the river (assuming offspring not intent on chucking selves bodily into said river) -- it is one of the particularly nice things about Cambridge. Jesus Green and Midsummer Common for ducks, swans, narrowboats and barges, or Sheep's Green for a little bit of country in the city and neighbouring Lammas Land with nice play equipment. Lammas Land has a little car park and there's a big car park beside Jesus Green but I don't know how crowded/expensive either is as I don't drive... www.openstreetmap.org will tell you where all these places are (Google Maps doesn't know the names of all of them).
I've heard Shepreth Wildlife Park recommended - never been but intend to go soon!
Wimpole Hall is probably my favourite local "attraction" - plenty of space to let off steam and there's Home Farm with lots of animals close-up, ride-on tractors etc. National Trust place with National Trust prices, and Home Farm is extra on top, so check their website before you go so it's not a horrible shock. But if it's the kind of thing you like then it's good enough to be worth it if the budget permits.

Cheeky Monkeys indoor play at Fulbourn is a good bet, has outdoor stuff too and does light lunches/snacks plus free squash for the kids.
Red Lion pub at Grantchester, good food, good atmosphere, garden with slide and a couple of ride-ons and you can walk down to the riverbank afterwards if need to let off more steam.
Wandlebury Country Park for a walk round the 'ring' you'll need own picnic.

Thank you all! we are moving to Linton in 6 weeks (we live half and hour south of Linton now so not having to travel to far for this Sunday adventure) and thought we would start getting familar with the area! decided to go to Wimpole hall and farm and do the riverside walk another time - maybe in the week when it's less busy. Thanks for your suggestions I'm going to note them all down for stuff to do in the big summer hols after the move! x
Thank you!

There are tons of museums if your DCs are into that kind of thing. DD1 is dino crazy and loves going to the Sedgwick museum.

Audley End Railway www.audley-end-railway.co.uk/visitor-info/opening-times/ in Saffron Walden is fab for the little ones. They (and you) go on this little train through the woods. If you are about in december, they do a great santa ride. Best of all, it is not too expensive either :)

Do wrap up warm tho - somehow, it always seem so much colder on this train than anywhere else, probably because it is open carriage

Botanic Gardens has lots of safe space for running around plus cafe and glass houses if it's wet.
Anglesey Abbey are building more kids' stuff in their grounds
Linton zoo (never been)
The Queen's Head in Newton is right next to the rec

I am so pleased to hear the soft play in Linton has reopened. It was shut for a bit wasn't it??

Linton Zoo is lovely too. It may be small but it is really well set out and the animals have loads of space (which worried me...)

Whatever you do dont tap in whats on in Cambridge into your browser unless you want art galleries and exhibitions. I have not yet found a website for Cambridge that gives you things to do with the kids. . . . .unless you know different

try this site

www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~tpl/parents.html

great source of info, opening times, details of uni stuff (eg the model railway my 2 year old loves) and other stuff

Thanks all again... noting it all down! so excited to move :)

Hi. Word of warning. If you're going to simple hall then wrap up well.
For some bizarre reason it's always frigging freezing there.
It can be 20degrees outside the gates but the minute you step inside the farm it's arctic.

Wimpole not simple !

And take wellies.
Path to the farm can be v muddy.
The farm is great, but fairly expensive (even with nt cards).

Thetford forest is good. The junction has good children's plays on. Musuems in Cambridge good. Open top bus - never done that but its on my list for the summer.

Shameless plug for my blog (it doesn;t earn me anything but it may be useful): crazycambridgemum.blogspot.co.uk/