Cambridge walking tour & city guide

King's College and the Backs

King's College Chapel, begun in 1446, is one of the finest examples of late Gothic architecture in the world, with the largest fan-vaulted ceiling ever built and stunning stained glass. Its choir is world famous, especially for the Christmas Eve service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

The 'Backs' are the lawns and gardens behind several colleges that slope down to the River Cam. The best way to see them is by punt, a flat-bottomed boat pushed with a long pole, either by yourself or with a guide, passing under the Mathematical Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs.

The city centre

Market Square has hosted a market for centuries, and King's Parade, lined with shops and cafés, faces the colleges. The Corpus Clock, with a mechanical grasshopper that 'eats' the minutes, is one of the city's quirkiest sights. Trinity College, founded by Henry VIII, has a library designed by Christopher Wren.

The Fitzwilliam Museum, with art and antiquities from around the world, is free, and the University Botanic Garden is a peaceful retreat.

Visiting tips

Cambridge is under an hour from London by train. Many colleges charge an entry fee and close during exams in May and June. Hire a bike as locals do, or walk across the meadows to Grantchester for tea in an orchard, a tradition for over a century.