Day out in Cambridge - what should we see ?

[Winetimeisfinetime]

We are going to spend a day in Cambridge, next week, with our ds (17) and were looking for ideas of things to do during the day. Dh and I know Cambridge reasonably well as we both used to work there but have never done any touristy things there, so could do with some pointers.

Even as someone who grew up in Cambridge I think the hop on and off bus tour is really great. Also make sure you see the Atmoic Clock on Kings Parade. Personally I don't think Kings College Chapel is worth the charge, but I always find the American Cemetry quite evocative.

Thanks for the reply Lizcat. They all sound like things ds would be interested in. Would you recommend the Fitzwilliam museum ?

There is an excellent museum with old carts etc - can't remember what it's called but we really liked it!

climb to the roof of great St. Marys - great view over cambridge

Self punt - done by your ds (whilst you and your dh drink champagne)

Scots Polar museum is fab - it has stuff from Scots arctic trip - amazing!

Kings has to do done

Fitzwilliam is good (and it is free) .. also the modern art musuem (Kettle's yard is good)

Just noticed this thread is from last week so you may already have been, but just in case...!

Ghoul - that is probably the folk musuem which is just next to Kettle's Yard, so a good part of town depending on which way your interests lie OP.

Definitely get DS to punt you if weather is good :)

The Fitzwilliam is good, a nice compact size too so if you get bored halfway you're not stuck there for hours.

There are plenty of museums though some a bit small - zoology is fun even if all you do is look at the big whale skeleton outside.

NB when looking at the new clock on the corner of Corpus, please ensure that you don't block the pavement thus forcing mums with buggies into the road (can you tell this is my big gripe with tourists?!)

Thanks for all of the suggestions. We'd gone before I saw the last couple but thanks anyway. We had a great time and did try not to block the pavement whilst looking at the new clock on the corner of Corpus. Very impressive it is too. Had almost forgotten just how beautiful Cambridge is.

Did most of the things suggested but an unexpected bonus was that our hotel turned out to be right next door to a large John Lewis store and as we miss not having one where we live now, spent a couple of hours in there happily browsing. I assume it must be fairly new as there was just Robert Sayle's in the days when I worked in Cambridge. Really didn't have John Lewis on our list of things to do, but enjoyed it anyway.