Cambridge is a historic city that’s well worth a visit. With a wealth of important and beautiful buildings, both inside and outside the University campus, it’s a fantastic place for a day out – especially if you make the trip during the summertime. Best of all, the city is just a short train ride away for Londoners.

Tour the city on wheels

There’s a healthy cycling culture in the city, and residents are perfectly comfortable getting out of the way when they hear the soft jingle of a cyclist’s bell. You can hire a bike fairly easily, and enjoy the cycle lanes around the centre. In this way, it’s possible to see large chunks of the city in just a short space of time. Just make sure that you stick to the roads, even if others don’t bother!

Enjoy a punt down the river

The River Cam is famous for providing short boat trips, on Venetian-style vehicles. You can do the actual punting yourself (which means pushing against the riverbed with a long stick). Alternatively, you can hire a gondolier to do the job for you. There are few things more relaxing than a punt down the river – especially if it’s someone else doing the actual punting.

If you’d like to travel a little further down the river, then you might do so in a canoe. The navigable portion of the river extends to Pope’s Corner, where it conjoins with the Great Ouse.

Check out the botanic gardens

If you’ve got an eye for greenery, then you’ll want to head into these amazing gardens, which stretch over forty acres of garden. The grounds are owned by the University, and they’re very popular with students looking to unwind in the company of a good book – or, to actually study botany.

During summer, this part of the city plays host to the Festival of Plants, which offers an opportunity to meet with University students running their plant science displays, and take the kids to enjoy a range of crafty activities.

The Cambridge Literary Festival 

The city is host to a bevvy of exciting festivals, most of them as high-minded as you’d expect. This year, the Literary Festival in Cambridge played host to around thirty events from famous names in the publishing business. You can still access them online – but a better idea might be to attend next year’s event in person.