Some Things We Like About Cambridge

The Orchard Tea Garden, Grantchester

A haven of beauty and civility, the Orchards at Granchester have been delighting the residents of Cambridge since 1897 when a group of students first asked to ‘take tea’ under the apple trees there.  Now you can recline on a seaside-style deck chair whilst you are serenaded with birdsong and leisurely eat your fill of tea and cake.  We recommend the cream tea – a fruit or plain scone spread with butter, then jam, then clotted cream accompanied by your favourite hot beverage.  Delicious!

Punting along the ‘Backs’

Although none of us are terribly good at it, punting along the Cambridge Backs is one of the great pleasures of living in the City.  The River Cam runs through the grounds of several of the Cambridge Colleges here and the gardens and lawns are immaculately maintained.  For a more leisurely trip, you can hire a chauffeured punt from one of the many punt companies, or you can take the plunge (figuratively and perhaps literally) by choosing the self-hire option.  The truly adventurous can hire a punt from the Mill Pond and try punting all the way to Grantchester.  Disembark on the very banks of the Orchard for the full Cambridge experience (not for the novice punter, it will take you hours!).

King’s College Chapel

King’s College Chapel really does take your breath away – a hugely majestic, imposing and beautiful building which took more than a century to build and was finished finally in 1547.  It is even more beautiful when seen from the Cambridge Backs than from the College Quad.  The standard of the various choirs at King’s is really exceptional.  Evensong takes place at 5.30pm most weekdays and Saturdays and is free to attend, with a variety of services offered on Sundays.

Mill Road

The Mill Road area is a bustling area of Cambridge with a unique spirit and identity, often seen as the ‘alternative’ face of Cambridge.  There are hardly any chain stores here, but rather a plethora of independent shops, cafes and restaurants including many ethnic supermarkets and eating places.  The area has a strong sense of community and holds a Winter Fair every year in early December to showcase all of its quirky delights.

Fast Trains to London

With non-stop trains from Cambridge to London Kings Cross taking only 48 minutes, Cambridge can almost be treated as a suburb of London, with many people choosing to live in Cambridge and work in London.  It is also easy to go for an evening out to a theatre, or to visit for shopping, museums and sightseeing.  Non-stop trains run twice each hour and there are one or two slower trains every hour as well.

“I only know that you may lie
Day long and watch the Cambridge sky,
And, flower-lulled in sleepy grass,
Hear the cool lapse of hours pass.”

  – Rupert Brooke