What to do in Cambridge?

[Uberella]

Staying in a hotel a 40 minute walk from central Cambridge over the bank holiday weekend.

we’ll be arriving late morning on the Saturday and can stay until late afternoon Sunday.

Looking to see lots of historical buildings;adults weekend away so no kids to entertain.

We enjoy tours.

Any advice on what to do/make the most of our short amount of time please.

Any suggestions welcome for cafes/bakeries etc for coffee/lunch.

Thanks

There are many beautiful historical buildings in Cambridge, but many of them are in colleges, most (?) of which will be closed because it's exam term.

There are walking tours to take you to around other interesting places, and you can always look at the colleges from the outside. 😉

Punting is fun and you get to see the colleges from a different direction.

The Fitzwilliam museum is nice. I like the botanical gardens.

I get a what's on in Cambridge email so I'll have a look and come back.
There's a great newish Spanish restaurant so I'll come back with thd name of that too.

The Fitzwilliam museum is a nice little gem of a place, has good artwork too.
There's a hop on/off bus tour of the city which i think takes in the major colleges. But i don't know how good it is or how much it costs.
If the weather's good you could go punting on the river. Touristy but really nice.
The market (Market Square) and adjoining church are worth a visit if that appeals to you.
Food -- you're spoilt for choice really and it depends on your individual tastes. The Ivy does a good afternoon tea and there is also a tea shoppe by the market. Browns likewise. And the other posh hotels too of course.
Lots of decent ethnic restaurants on Mill Road, which is a lively and buzzy area.
Closer to the centre we like the Yippee Noodle Bar on King St for casual lunches or an early evening meal. Pan-Asian.
More restaurants on Regent St inculding a good Korean one.

https://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/whatson/index.shtml?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_source=1984508_Whats%20On%20-%20May%202025&dm_i=6DCF,16J98,1NWWVM,5ITFK,1

This is the what'son calendar.

The Spanish restaurant is called Mercardo

Since the colleges are going to be mostly closed, make up for it by going to all the tiny museums-- Scott polar museum, the anthropology museum, natural history museum, museum of classical archeology, etc. If the weather is nice, walk to Granchester past the cows to see the hatched cottages and have a tea in the orchard where Virginia Wolf and her famous friends hung out. One trick for going into colleges during exam season is to go to an Evensong at one of the college churches, an event in and of itself.

Climb Castle Mound on Huntingdon Road and get a great view over the City.

The Scott Polar museum is my favourite! And all my childhood birthday parties were at The Orchard. Is the tiny Rupert Brooke museum still there? That was fascinating. You could visit Byron's pool if you do go to Grantchester.

You'll get a great view from the top of Great St Mary's, and that's right in the centre. The Eagle pub is a tourist hotspot, but still worth visiting. And you could nip to Fitzbillies for a Chelsea bun.

Punt tour along the backs. Or punt yourselves along the backs and ear wigs on the tour ones. Needs sober people with adequate balance to punt.

Evensong at an old college - choral if you can find one.

Kings chapel is probably open for tourist visits even if the college is closer to visitors.

The niche museums in the various departments get a good insight into the traditional university buildings world.

Walking tour - they can often get into colleges that aren’t otherwise open.

Walk along the backs. Afternoon tea on the roof terrace at the Varsity. Punt (rude not to).

Hello.
I would recommend going to Fitzbillies for breakfast brunch or lunch, bread and meat, or is it called meat and bread for a good sandwich and the ice cream parlour next to it is amazing. This is on Kings Parade so you can't really miss it. Also want to go to the Antarctic Polar exploration museum but I've not been. And of course the art gallery is just stunning

We booked a walk-in tour from GetYourGuide but didn't pay extra to go into Kings.
my son is just about to leave after four years and definitely recommend the meat and bread place

Oh. The dishoom there is a bit average

Kettles Yard is a must! I love it there!

Evensong on Sunday at Ely Cathedral.
Kettles Yard and Fitzwilliam Museum for art.
Punting, if you like that sort of thing.
Kings College Chapel because most other college chapels won't be open.
American Cemetery on the tour bus.
Walk to Orchard at Granchester, although you might find it packed out on a Bank Hol.
Huang Gallery.
One of the numerous Fitzbilllies - the original does great brunch (Trumpington Street)
Exhibition at the University Library - not open Sunday, but we will all be there on Monday working as it's a working uni day

I'm intrigued, where is a hotel that's 40 mins walk? Newmarket Rd?

Bread and meat meant to be a nice restaurant

@Uberella

have a wee look here & here

Jack's gelato. That's the one. Amazing

Came to say this!

Another vote for Kettles Yard.
You can get good deals for punting on Group On - don't leave it until you get there, it costs a fortune!