Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Other subjects

Kids in Cambridge

11 replies

ggglimpopo · 20/06/2006 20:29

A lovely French family I know are holidaying in the Cambridge area this summer. They have two children of six and four. Does anyone have any ideas of where they should go/see/eat/do in the region?

OP posts:
cupcakes · 20/06/2006 20:45

punting

cupcakes · 20/06/2006 20:46

wimpole hall
linton zoo

ChasingRabbits · 20/06/2006 20:53

We went to Linton Zoo a couple of months ago, and were seriously underimpressed.

Went to shepreth wildlife park a few weeks ago - much better.

There is botanical gardens in cambridge, but never been.

Couple of soft play places if they like that sort of thing and the weather is bad - Cheeky Monkeys in Fulbourn and Funky Fun House in Cambridge, FFH is the better.

I think there is an open air paddling pool (large one) in Trumpington, but never been.

What sort of thing do they want to do? May be able to help more.

In Cambridge itself or nearby?
What sort of food?

ggglimpopo · 20/06/2006 21:00

They just want to visit the area and have never been to England before... the boy is six and the girl is four.

So. Anymore for anymore?

OP posts:
AllieBongo · 20/06/2006 21:05

linton zoo is crap, the only good thing is the shagging giant tortoises. there is an open air pool on Jesus Green, and Cherry Hinton Hall is nice. There is a huge vue cinema and bowling place, that also has outdoor trampolines. bit of a trek but High Lodge at Brandon is also lovely national foresty park place hth

Gizmo · 05/07/2006 11:49

Ummm

Bit late to this thread, but if French family still want some guidance, then I'd recommend the following for a fun afternoon:

Jesus Green pool (longest outdoor pool in Europe, dontcha know!)
Punting/canoeing on the river (almost more fun to take a picnic on the backs and watch the carnage from a dry bank)
Any one of the numerous and excellent playgrounds: best one for combined scenery, ice cream and kids entertainment is probably Lammas Land recreation ground near Newnham (nice paddling pool for littlies), although Jesus Green more central
Museums: Fitzwilliam for suits of armour and ancient roman/egyptian stuff (plus funky cafe and fun glass lift), Kettles Yard (a fantastic art gallery and house dedicated to the art of the late 20th century), University museum of Arch and Anth (dinosaurs) and/or Zoology museum (stuffed beasties).

Sorry, there's a bit more to type here, but I've got to go out...will be back soon...

oh and there are good days out to be had at Wimpole Hall (farm and house)

Fimbo · 05/07/2006 12:03

Can anyone tell me whereabouts Funky Fun House is in Cambridge? TIA

Gizmo · 05/07/2006 13:18

It's on Mercer's Row, Fimbo - if you drive out of Cambridge on the Newmarket Road, you'll find there are signs for Garlic Row industrial estate on the left (shortly after B&Q). Go down Garlic Row and Mercer's Row is the first right. I haven't been yet, be interested to know what you make of it.

Anyhoooo, further family friendly ideas for Cambridge include:

Picnic on top of Castle Hill (for a view - something you might be gagging for after a couple of days in town)
The classic punt thing is to punt up to Grantchester, have tea at the Old Orchard and back - beware, this is a long punt for those inexperienced and likely to lead to a family row after the first pleasant half hour!
Tourist bus (DS seemed to enjoy it, anyway)
Cambridge Model Railway Society - toy trains on 8" gauge (the type you can sit on, not in) going round a little woodland track. Only opens once a month, first sunday, and is in very obscure location, so if your friends are interested, CAT me and I'll let them know where.
Depending on kids English comprehension there are several cinemas(Arts is particularly good and does slightly more 'offbeat' kids films, maybe even french subtitles, who knows?)

Events during the summer that they might find entertaining: mid July there is a weekend festival on Parker's Piece, with free (rock) music, performance art, a 'tea dance' marquee and a pseudo french market. Also a children's theatre marquee at the beginning of August: more details on both here . End of July is town bumps: fine opportunity to take a walk up the river and watch large squads of boaties trying to knock lumps out of each other.

There's normally a circus sometime in August too, but I haven't seen any adverts for it.

For the grown ups I'd also recommend the Shakespeare in the Colleges season which goes on all summer in the college gardens. Normally a fun evening out.

Outside Cambridge Shepreth Zoo is apparently better than Linton, and I like Audley End house too (has a country fair at the end of July I think). If any of them are horsey the National Stud/horseracing museum in Newmarket are worth a trip.

Once you've done all these parochial pleasures you should also bear in mind that a trip into London is a 50 minute train journey (plus tube on arrival, obviously) so there's a lot more scope down there.

Enough. Until the Tourist office starts to pay me to bore you I'd better leave off now. Any questions, just CAT.

Fimbo · 06/07/2006 13:07

Thanks Gizmo - I live in Norwich but we do enjoy the odd day trip to Cambridge - it will be a fine rainy day option in the summer hols!

Fimbo · 06/07/2006 13:10

. My ds loves trains - the model ones would be right up his street. If you don't want to put the location details on here could you email me - Fimbolicious @ hotmail . co . uk (remove spaces). Thank you

Nome · 06/07/2006 15:13

This website is useful for finding out what's on in Cambridge for children.

HTH

New posts on this thread. Refresh page