Cambridge,
Cambridgeshire,
England
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Punting on the River Cam, outside Clare College, Cambridge [University], England.
Oxford
and Cambridge
universities maintain a long standing academic and sporting
rivalry, but both cities offer similar superb old buildings
and plenty of history in their respective centres once the visitor
has struggled through modern problems of traffic congestion
and depressingly dull suburbia to reach the hallowed halls and
manicured lawns of world-famous academia.
The main train station is about half an hour's walk from the
city centre.
John's College on the left and Round Church on the right.
The
greatest difference between Oxford and Cambridge environmentally is Cambridge's
'The Backs', a green and delightful area that is bisected by
the Cam river and is to be found at the back side of many of
the colleges, as pictured above.
Punting is the activity de rigeur - in the summertime
at least - and punts can be easily rented, though not so easily
propelled.
Bicycles are an excellent way to travel around the university and town centre
and easily rentable.
Christchurch College Chapel entrance, Cambridge. |
A typical Cambridge College dining hall. |
Both pictures © Socrates, Dreamstime.com
Some of the best
Cambridge sightseeing attractions:
- King's College and especially its stunning chapel with equally
well-known choir, performing Tuesday to Saturday at 5.30pm during
term time.
- Kin's Parade [a medieval street].
- Clare College bridge [image above] and the wooden Mathematical
Bridge.
- Fellow's Garden, a beautiful college garden open to the public.
- Trinity College's Great Gate and the Tudor buildings in the
Great Court [as seen in Chariots of Fire].
- The magnificent twin courtyards of Old Court and Cloister
Court's in Queen's College.
- The Wren Library [free entry].
- Finally, Cambridge's best museum is the Fitzwilliam [free
entry].
Darwin's House, where in 1928 he studied theology in Christ's College, though his passion was Natural Science, particularly beetles at that time. Darwin met many leading naturalists through the university. After Cambridge, he joined the good ship Beagle for the 5 year South America journey that triggered The Theory of Evolution.
© Socrates, Dreamstime.com
Most colleges charge a modest entry fee and open at various times but generally around 10am - 3.30pm/ 5pm, with more limited times on Sundays. Times vary slightly according to whether you visit during term or not, so check before planning your schedule.
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