Must See~£14
King’s College Chapel
King’s Parade
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture with fan vaulting and a famous choir.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- Booking recommended
- Suits: Culture lovers · Photographers
Daily; closed for services
Cambridge
A city of ancient colleges, riverside gardens and punting on the Cam.
Plan your Cambridge trip
- Flight + Hotel PackageRecommended Best option if you want the trip arranged together. View Packages Packages
- Hotels Prefer to book accommodation separately? View Hotels Hotels
- Flights Already have accommodation? View Flights Flights
- Things To Do Tours, attractions and experiences. View Activities Activities
Overview
Why go to Cambridge
Cambridge’s historic colleges, chapels and riverside meadows are a joy to wander. It’s an easy day trip or overnight stay, and punting along The Backs is a highlight.
- Where
- England, United Kingdom
- Recommended stay
- 1–3 nights
- Best time to go
- April–October; December for festive carols at King’s.
- Approx. daily budget
- £80–140 a dayPer person, excluding flights. Indicative.
What does Cambridge cost?
Full cost guide- Budget traveller£70–105a day
- Mid-range traveller£125–180a day
- Luxury traveller£250+a day
Approximate per person per day, including a share of a twin room, and excluding flights. Not live prices.
Things To Do
See all 13 Top picks in Cambridge
Must See~£5
Trinity College and Wren Library
Trinity Street
A great college with a giant court and Newton’s apple-tree descendant.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; closed during exams
Day Trips~£10
Ely Cathedral Day Trip
Ely (25 km)
A great medieval cathedral known as the Ship of the Fens, visible for miles.
- Suggested time: 4 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Couples~£25
Punting on the Cam
Mill Pond
The classic Cambridge experience: gliding along the river past college lawns.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Couples
Daily in season
Hidden Gems
See all 3 Beyond the checklist
Local FavouritesFree
The Backs
The Backs
The lawns and gardens behind the colleges, best seen from the river or the bridges.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; always accessible
Hidden Gems~£8
Cambridge Botanic Garden
Bateman Street
A peaceful garden of glasshouses, lakes and a rock garden.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Families · Couples
Daily, roughly 10:00–18:00
Hidden GemsFree
Grantchester Meadows Walk
Grantchester (4 km)
A country walk beside the river to a village tea garden, made famous by poets.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; always accessible
Hotels
All 3 hotels Best-value hotels in Cambridge
Well reviewed and fairly priced for what you get: not simply the cheapest.
Best ValueBest Mid-Range Hotel
Example listingCam Riverside Hotel
Riverside, Cambridge
Excellent valueValue score 93 out of 100
Rated 8.5/10, about 25% below typical 4★ prices in Cambridge, with a pool.
From £105 per night · check current availability
Best Location
Example listingKing’s Parade Hotel
King’s Parade, Cambridge
Excellent valueValue score 81 out of 100
Rated 8.9/10, priced in line with similar 4★ hotels in Cambridge, in a central location.
From £140 per night · check current availability
Best Budget Choice
Example listingThe Backs Guesthouse
The Backs, Cambridge
Very good valueValue score 72 out of 100
Rated 8.8/10, priced in line with similar 3★ hotels in Cambridge, in a central location.
From £95 per night · check current availability
Food & Restaurants
See all 4 Where to eat
The Eagle
A historic pub where Watson and Crick announced the discovery of DNA, with RAF graffiti on the ceiling.
Known for: Real ale and pub classics
About £18–35 per person
Local favourite Good for Groups · Couples
Fitzbillies
A Cambridge bakery known for its Chelsea buns, sticky and spiced, baked to a secret recipe.
Known for: Chelsea buns
Under about £18 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
Cambridge Market Square
A daily market in the town centre with food stalls, fruit and vegetables and crafts.
Known for: Street food and produce
Under about £18 per person
Local favourite Good for Families · Groups
The Orchard Tea Garden (Grantchester)
A famous tea garden in an orchard, where Rupert Brooke and Virginia Woolf once sat.
Known for: Tea, cake and deckchairs
Under about £18 per person
Local favourite Good for Couples · Families
A suggested Cambridge itinerary
3 nights Couple
Cambridge · Highlights
Cambridge in 3 nights
A balanced first-visit plan built from our Cambridge picks: the headline sights, a local favourite or two and time to breathe.
- Day 1 · Punting on the Cam, The Backs, Cambridge Botanic Garden, Punt Pub Crawl on Mill Lane
- Day 2 · Ely Cathedral Day Trip, King’s College Chapel
- Day 3 · Market Square, Trinity College and Wren Library, Grantchester Meadows Walk
Plan Cambridge your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.