Research by Gina Inman & Sophie McKibbin

Ancient mellow yellow stone home to centuries of learning; punting under beautiful bridges and past the famous college ‘backs’, Cambridge evokes romantic nostalgia. Even if you never passed its hallowed portals as a student, it is an accessible and fun place to visit with kids and compact enough to ‘do’ in a couple of days.

What to see

Much of the fun of Cambridge is simply wandering round the Colleges (www.cam.ac.uk/colleges). Remember they are active centres of working that tolerate rather than embrace visitors. Don’t miss King’s College (www.kings.cam.ac.uk) and its world- famous Chapel (open 9.30am–3.30pm, Mon– Sat, term time, very limited Sun opening).

Great St Mary’s is the university church. You can climb the tower for a small fee and there are great views from the top.

Botanic Gardens
Cory Lodge, Bateman Street,
Tel 01223 336265
www.botanic.cam.ac.uk
Situated about a mile from the city centre. Very beautiful and well worth a visit.

Fitzwilliam Museum
Trumpington St,
Tel 01223 470474
www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
Art and antiquities in a landmark building in the middle of town. Colour-coded activity kits and trails are organised for children/families. Browns opposite is great for lunch.

Kettle’s Yard
Castle Street,
Tel 01223 352124
www.kettlesyard.co.uk
Small, modern-art gallery in a domestic setting. They run a good range of art and multi-sensory kids’ workshops over half terms and holidays. Advance booking essential.

Theatres

The Corn Exchange
Wheeler St,
Tel 01223 357 851
www.cornex.co.uk
Full range of big names. Forthcoming shows include Paul Merton (13 Nov 2007). The big show at Christmas is Peter Pan on Ice (19 Dec–5 Jan 2008).

Cambridge Arts Theatre
6 St Edward's Passage
Tel 01223 503333
www.cambridgeartstheatre.com
Varied programme of West End and fringe shows. There will be a traditional family panto version of Cinderella at Christmas (7 Dec–20 Jan).

Just Nearby …

Hamerton Zoo Park
Hamerton, Nr Sawtry (about 30 minutes drive)
Tel 01832 293362
www.hamertonzoopark.com
Open daily 10.30am–6pm (4pm in winter). Tickets: £7.50 adults, £5 children.

Linton Zoo
Hadstock Road, Linton
Tel 01223 891308
www.lintonzoo.com
Great for under 10s. Lots of little picnic areas dotted around and there’s normally a bouncy castle.

Wimpole Hall and Home Farm
Arrington, Royston
Tel 01223 206000
www.wimpole.org
Open 10.30am–5pm. Closed Fridays. Tickets: from £6.60–£12 adults, £4.40–£6.50 children, depending on how much of the estate you are visiting. 2,500 acre estate owned by the National Trust, 8 miles to the SE of town. The farm is home to many rare breeds of sheep, cattle, pigs, poultry, horses and goats and kids can get involved in lots of hands-on activities.

Duxford Imperial War Museum
Tel 01223 835 000
duxford.iwm.org.uk
Just under 10 miles away – well worth a visit if you love planes. You can test your flying skills on a couple of their simulators and even fly in a real plane! There’s a playground for the children too. Great museum, especially for the boys. Tickets: £14.95 adults, under 16s are free.

Audley End House and Gardens
Tel 01799 522399
www.english-heritage.org.uk
Lovely gardens to picnic in and there’s a great little steam train that takes you through woods filled with hundreds of teddy bears. This is a huge hit for younger children. Tickets: £9.20 adults, £4.60 children, £23 family ticket.

Hedingham Castle
Tel 01787 460261
www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk
Complete with jousting tournaments in the summer. Open 1 Apr–28 Oct, Sun–Thurs, 10am–5pm. Tickets: £5 adults, £3.50 children, £17 family ticket.

Getting Around

Unless you are staying in the city centre it is best to use park and rides as Cambridge does get very busy, particularly at weekends.

The city is flat and compact so it is best to either walk or cycle. The tourist office organise Walking Tours daily. There is a 2-hour walk, or an hour’s walk and an hour’s concert. In the evening you can take a ghostly walk or ghost punt! www.visitcambridge.org

More energetic families could try walking to the picture-postcard village of Grantchester along the banks of the River Cam (about 5 miles round trip). Or hire a bicycle from £8 a day for an adult at Station Cycles, who also offer tandems, child seats and kids’ bikes. www.stationcycles.co.uk

Punting Do it yourself for around £12/hour at weekends or have a luxury punt up river for £10 per person (half price for under 12s, under 5s free) for a private tour, or £8 per person for a shared 12-man punt. Umbrellas and blankets supplied! Some punting companies offer food onboard or champagne. Great outing with kids.

Shopping

The focus for high street shopping will be the Grand Arcade Shopping Centre – currently under construction but fully open in Spring 2008. Its anchor tenant, a re-vamped John Lewis, opens in November.

Market Square has a lively market daily and an arts&crafts/local produce one on Sundays.

Borders Bookshop has a great upstairs for children’s books (and loads of audio books).

The Cambridge Toy Shop in Hobson Street, at the bottom of King Street sells traditional wooden toys.

Where to Eat

Fitzbillies Cake Shop 52 Trumpington is famous for its Chelsea buns and has a
restaurant next door.

Bella Pasta on the river at Newnham is very child friendly, with a children’s menu, interesting features (glass table tops to see the river, a water wheel), balloons and crayons. You can also hire a punt from outside.

Browns is very child friendly too, with their own children’s menus, not far from the centre of town. Or for a more sophisticated restaurant Midsummer House right on the River Cam is a must – delicious food!

Where to stay

A Hotel du Vin opened in the city centre in August.

Hotel Felix is a very stylish and cool hotel about a mile out of town. They happily welcome families and although they don’t have a children’s menu as such they will gladly cook on request. They can also provide contacts for evening babysitters.