Visits to Ely and Cambridge

[cocopo]

Hi everyone. Could you please give me some ideas of activities to entertain 8 adults of various ages between 30-70 and a small granddaughter of just 3 years of age when we come to visit in February for four days? I'm finding it really difficult to research online without resulting in visits to museums and colleges. While we will do this we would also like other recommendations and ideas for places to eat. Thank you so much to anyone who answers this please!

Will you have your own transport?
There's quite a bit for families to do at Wimpole Hall. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/wimpole-estate/visiting-wimpole-with-family
Camboats does covered boat cruises. Not sure if they run in February but worth checking out as it's too cold for punting!

https://www.lamargheritacambridge.com/ Very nice family run and family friendly Italian restaurant.

University Botanic Gardens will give some room to run around.
Zoology Museum is quite child friendly.
Chronophage clock

Ely:

The cathedral obviously
Thomas Cromwell's house

Peacock's tea house by the river is lovely for lunch. Next to an antiques shop and there's usually ducks and swan on the river to feed.

Thank you all so much!!!!

Another vote for Ely Cathedral ans Peacock's!

How about the winter gardens at Anglesey abbey? Has a cafe and National trust shop and some lovely paths and sculptures to keep a mixed age group interested.

plantsinparticular.co.uk/gardens/winter-garden-at-anglesey-abbey/

There are lots of walking tours around Cambridge. They can be a good way to see the main sights and get some local knowledge.

Peacock's tea house by the river is lovely for lunch. Next to an antiques shop

Yes, another vote for Peacocks. And the "antiques shop" is actually a rather large antiques centre, with lots of different traders.

There's a nice play area at Lammas Land (near Newnham).
Anglesey Abbey has a tree house and an adventure play area. It's also well known for its snowdrop collection.
Wimpole Hall has a farm and playground attached.

Does your visit coincide with the Cambridge Arts Festival (12th - 18th Feb)? Lots of events on

https://www.love-cambridge.com/arts-festival/

It does! Fantastic! Thank you so much

Another vote for Anglesey Abbey, absolutely beautiful drifts of snowdrops in their thousands, a fabulous winter walk border with tea and cakes afterwards! Perfect afternoon.

It's a little way out of Cambridge but Duxford is a great day out if you have transport.

In Cambridge you can go punting along the backs which is really interesting and informative if you get a punt with a guide. I am from Cambridge but do this regularly with guests and they always love it.

The museum of Zoology is fantastic and super interesting for adults and children. And it’s free. Here’s a link en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Museum_of_Zoology

You said you're visiting for 4 days; is it 2 in each place or 3/1?
It's a good length of time for a short visit but not loads and loads of time, so if it was me I'd just do a day trip to Ely, and spend the rest of the time in Cambridge. (Ely is lovely but there's obviously more to do in Cambridge.)
If the weather is dry, I'd be tempted to wrap up warm and do a punt tour of the backs - it's a classic.
Another option is a bus tour, if it's too cold and wet for punting and you can't face it - we did one years ago when DH's grandmother visited us, and she couldn't walk much. 3yos love buses, too!
The Botanic Gardens is pretty central and a good place to visit with different ages - take duck food so the 3yo can feed the ducks. There's a nice cafe and there are indoor greenhouses.
I agree with PPs that Anglesey Abbey is great (winter garden for adults and play area for 3yo) but it is slightly outside Cambridge so it depends if you want to stick to town.
One thing I've never done (in all the years of living here) is to go up St Mary's Church tower, if everyone is ok with stairs that could be a fun thing to do on a clear day.
I also suggest a stop at Fitzbillies for tea and cake at some point!

Fitzwilliam museum, Zoology museum and archaeology and anthropology are all great museums and the Fitz has a nice cafe

Lammas land is a great park and playground and Jesus Green at the other end of town

Walking over the mathematical bridge and along the backs of the colleges by the river is beautiful in spring when there will be lots of bulbs and spring flowers and maybe duckling and cygnets.

I would eat at Browns if I'm visiting the Fitz. I love the atmosphere there and think it's nice for all generations. Hot numbers cafe up there is great for coffee and cake and very popular with the students. I love the Botanic gardens too.