Home to one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities, Cambridge is one of the most interesting cities to visit in England. Take a punt along the River Cam, and you’ll be amazed by the sight of Cambridge’s splendid university colleges. Medieval chapels stand next to grand Victorian courtyards while students and professors run from lectures to libraries. 

The best sights in Cambridge include some of England’s best museums, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, the University Museum of Zoology, and the quirky Centre for Computing History. Take a walking tour of the city, explore countryside manors, and drink in the same pub where Crick and Watson announced they’d discovered DNA. 

With so many things to see and do, you might not know where to begin. So we’ve compiled our list of the absolute best things to do in Cambridge, England, for you. Stick to these fun and unique Cambridge bucket list recommendations, and there’s no doubt you’ll have an amazing time exploring this gorgeous English city!

The 12 Best Things to do in Cambridge, England 

1. Take a Punt Along the River Cam

No matter the weather, an armada of flat-bottomed barges can be seen navigating the River Cam throughout the year. These are the famous “punts,” small wooden boats that have been used as pleasure craft since the Victorian era.

In summer, the River Cam is quite literally packed with punters as students, locals, and visitors alike take to the waters. If you’re looking for quintessential Cambridge activities, you can rent your own punt from one of the launches, but you’ll need to be ready to steer using the long pole that propels the punt along the river.

Alternatively, hire a chauffeur for an hour or two and be guided along Cambridge’s waterways by a local guide (they’re often students at the university). Tours take you to the “Backs” – behind the city’s famous colleges – where you’ll get the best view of iconic Cambridge attractions like King’s College, Trinity College, and the Bridge of Sighs. 

2. Join a Walking Tour of Cambridge 

If you’d rather stay on dry land, then a walking tour is one of the best things to do in Cambridge. This compact city is the perfect place for a stroll, so why not take a walk with a local guide showing you the way?

Several companies offer walking tours throughout the year, with several departures a day catering to the large number of tourists that visit the city. Visit Cambridge, the official tourism board of the city, offers walking tours, for example. 

Itineraries vary, but the best tours take you to famous Cambridge sightseeing attractions like Senate House, the Corpus Clock, the Bridge of Sighs, Cavendish Laboratory, and many more (the list goes on!).

3. Pretend You’re a Student at King’s College 

One of the most famous things to see in Cambridge is King’s College, where students have been educated since the 15th century. Founded by King Henry VI in 1441, King’s College is best known for its glorious Gothic chapel.

Over five centuries after its founding, King’s College is very much still a place of learning. Although it’s an integral part of the University of Cambridge, visitors can still tour through the grounds and chapel at certain times of the day. Make sure to book your ticket in advance. 

4. See Newton’s Apple Tree at Trinity College 

Established in 1546 by the infamous King Henry VIII, Trinity College is one of Cambridge’s most iconic collegiate institutions. Tourists can visit the Great Court and the college’s gorgeous chapel, although much of Trinity College is off-bounds unless you’re a student. 

No matter, though, because the most famous sight in the college is the “Flower of Kent” apple tree, which grows outside the entrance. It’s better known as Newton’s Apple Tree. Legend has it the tree was grown from a cutting of the same tree that dropped an apple and inspired the theory of gravity. 

5. Visit the Famous Clock at Corpus Christi College 

Dating back to 1352, one of the oldest university colleges in Cambridge is Corpus Christi College. The Old Court is home to some of the university’s oldest buildings, too, while the New Court is a masterwork of extravagant Victorian architecture.

One of the top Cambridge attractions, this college is famous for two notable things (excluding a long list of famous alumni, which includes the playwright Christopher Marlowe). Firstly, this remains the only University of Cambridge college to be founded by local townsfolk. Secondly, it’s home to the marvelous Corpus Clock, which is partly a timepiece and partly a work of public art. 

6. Have a Drink in The Eagle 

After all that Cambridge sightseeing, you’re going to want a drink, and there’s nowhere better for a pint of beer or a glass of wine (soft drinks are also available) than The Eagle. 

Located steps away from Corpus Christi College, this historic pub has long been the favored drinking haunt of scientists and scholars. Indeed, with a history dating back to the 17th century, The Eagle is the second-oldest pub in Cambridge, and it’s here where Crick and Watson announced in 1953 that they had just discovered DNA!

7. Delve into History at the Fitzwilliam Museum

For history lovers, a visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum is one of the top things to do in Cambridge. This excellent museum is named for Richard Fitzwilliam, a British viscount who died in 1816. In his will, Fitzwilliam left behind £100,000 and a vast collection of antiquities that allowed the museum to be founded.

Over the next two centuries, the collection has grown to hold some 500,000 objects from around the world, and it’s now one of the most popular sights in Cambridge. Step through the grand Palladian Entrance Hall, and you’ll be immersed in the ancient world, as you’re surrounded by Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts. 

There are five major galleries to explore, with exhibits largely divided between Antiquities, Arts, Coins, and Literature.

8. Get Nerdy at The Centre for Computing History 

If you love computers, gaming, and technology, then a visit to The Centre for Computing History is one of the most fun things to do in Cambridge. Rather appropriately located in one of the most scientifically minded cities in the world, this unique museum has amassed some 38,000 historic computing objects since it opened in 2013. 

The goal of the museum is to tell the story of the Information Age, starting with the earliest computing devices and continuing into the present. On display, you’ll find everything from old Macbooks and Nokia phones to ancient Gameboys and game consoles. 

Given how quickly technology is advancing, the museum’s exhibits and exhibitions change regularly, making this a nostalgic place to return to. 

9. Wander the Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Home to around 8,000 different species of flora collected from all over the world, the Cambridge University Botanic Garden has offered a serene escape from city life since its founding in 1762. 

The original botanic gardens were established to provide plants for botany students at the university, but the site has greatly expanded to include greenhouses, glasshouses, and 16 hectares of plants and flowers.

10. Explore Natural History at the University Museum of Zoology

For the budding naturalists out there, a visit to the University Museum of Zoology is one of the coolest things to do in Cambridge. With free entry, there’s no excuse not to visit this awesome Cambridge attraction, and with over a million objects in the collection, the displays are always being changed and updated.

You’ll see the now-extinct dodo, the enormous skeleton of a finback whale, and countless other species of flora and fauna, many of which were collected and sent here by famous Victorian naturalists like Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. 

11. Live the Life of an English Gent at Anglesey Abbey

Just outside Cambridge, you’ll find Anglesey Abbey, a beautiful countryside manor that’s a great day out from the city.

Anglesey Abbey dates back to at least the 12th century AD, although there may have been even older priories here long before this. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in the 16th century, the monks were kicked out and a wealthy family moved in, converting the buildings into a grand Jacobean-style house. 

The Grade-I listed building is now managed by the National Trust, which has converted the stately rooms into a wonderful time capsule. The extensive grounds are gorgeous, and you’ll love living the life of a country gent as you explore this historic Cambridge attraction. 

12. Explore the Cam Towpath Between Cambridge and Ely

The River Cam flows between Cambridge and Ely, and along its course, there’s an easy-to-navigate towpath that connects these two small Cambridge cities. The entire route is flat and offers wonderful views of the River Cam and the surrounding countryside, but at 18 miles, it’s quite a long walk. 

If you’re fit and adventurous, it’s possible to walk the whole route in a day and catch public transport back to Cambridge. Alternatively, you can just walk a few miles along the towpath from Cambridge, stop in a riverside pub for lunch, and enjoy a leisurely walk back. 

There you have it! The 12 best things to do in Cambridge, England. What’s your favorite thing to do in Cambridge?

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