A Guide to Cambridge
Hi everyone! Just thought I'd write a short blog to give you some tips and tricks when visiting Cambridge as an international student. Cambridge is a lovely city, with rich history and lots of beautiful sights - but it can also cost a lot of money! International students are often the targets of predatory agencies that want to charge you way more than the fair price for activities.
I grew up just outside Cambridge, and I even worked as a punter on the river Cam, pushing tourists back ad forth all day long during the summer! Here's some tips, recommendations and hacks from a local that wants you to get the most out of the city.
1. Punting
Punting is a quintissentially Cambridge experience, and is a practice that has gone on for hundreds of years. For a long time, much of the surrounding area around Cambridge was marshland and bog - you couldn't ride a horse through it and you certainly couldn't steer a boat through it! Punts were shallow and could be controlled by pushing a long stick, perfect for the watery and muddy Fenland. As much of Cambridge is owned by the university, especially the banks of the river Cam, navigating the river was one of the most effective ways to transport goods throughout the city for a long time. Punting is now a great tourist attraction and a great way to see the Colleges without paying exorbitant entry fees.
- Punt yourself: It is much cheaper to rent a punt and give it a go yourself! It is lots of fun, even if it takes a bit of getting used to. If punting yourself, I recommend Trinity Punts, who offer punt hire by the hour for a flat fee. This is unusual on the river as many will gouge ticket prices at peak visitor time.
- Go off season: If you want to go, nows the time! Punt companies will over really good deals in early spring and late winter, and the experience is more or less the same. They will often provide umbrellas, blankets and sometimes hot water bottles!
- Don't buy the drinks!! There is a floating punt just outside of Kings College that sells drinks to tourists on the boats. Often your tour guide will steer you over to see if you would like to buy a drink, usually a glass of Pimms. The punter wil usually get a free drink if you buy something so theres an incentive for them to steer you over!! But be warned, these drinks are EXPENSIVE. I've seen them sell for prices you would not believe. If you want to have the full experience, theres nothing stopping you buying srinks in the nearby Sainsburys and bringing them onboard.
- Touters will overcharge you. DO NOT ACCEPT THE FIRST OFFER THEY GIVE YOU. Go to multiple companies first.
- Scudamores is usually the most expensive on the river, but they are allegedly the only company to verify the facts that they tell you, and they have the fancier docks too.
- Cambridge Punting Company will often do a better deal, but make sure you ask around.
- Book online in the summer or you will get price gouged.
- Avoid buying tickets outside the train station - make sure to shop around!!
2. Cheap Fun Activities
You dont need to spend tonnes of money in Cambridge, and most of the best attractions for free! Here's some recommendations:
- Laundress Green - A lovely open green space, picnic space, fantastic view of the River and right next to the punts and Darwin College - whats not to like? Theres more - Laundress Green is home to some lovely friendly cows!
- Parker's Piece - another fantastic green space that is open to the public. Parker's Piece is in the heart of the city and about ten minutes away from the train station. It is also the location of where the first ever regulation football game took place! You will often see a ferris wheel here, alongside other fun activities like the Christmas Market. A great place to sit and have lunch.
- The Grand Arcade is the shopping center in the middle of the city. It is grand and boast lots of shops, and is worth a walk around even if you don't fancy buying anything!
- Botanical Gardens - these are great to walk around, even if it costs a few pounds. A great place to walk around for an hour or two.
- Kings Parade - this is the main tourist street in Cambridge, as it has a fantastic view of Kings College and the Corpus Clock. There is also a Fudge Kitchen that does demonstrations that you can see for free too!
- Garret Hostel bridge - this is the only bridge on the main stretch of the river open to the public. It boasts some of the best views on the river! It has a funny nickname that I'll let you find out on your own...
- Fitzwilliam Museum - free entry to most of the museum, even if it is a bit boring (in my opinion)
- Scott Polar Research Exhibit. Very cool museum (pardon the pun) and is free entry! The museum is open to the public on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM.
I hope these tips have been useful! Cambridge is a great city that is well worth a visit, make sure that you go whilse you're here!!
