Cambridge
Town Guide


University Botanic Gardens


Cambridge Town Guide, University Botanic Gardens, 16K

Cambridge's Botanic Gardens can be found just off Bateman Street, to the south of the city centre.

First founded in 1846, the gardens are home to numerous rare plant species. Highlights include an unusual limestone rock garden and a series of glasshouses.

The Botanic Gardens are open daily from 10am to 6pm, but the glasshouses shut at 3.45pm. Sometimes the gardens are free, but during the summer months you should expect to pay an admission fee of around £1.50 for adults.

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University of Cambridge


Cambridge Town Guide, University of Cambridge, 9K
Like its great rival, Oxford, Cambridge is most famous for its University, a centre of academic excellence since the 13th century.

The University was first founded as the result of some unrest between the University and the townspeople in Oxford. The unrest led some Oxford University students to look for somewhere else to study - and Cambridge, with its religious academics seemed an obvious choice.

Also like Oxford, Cambridge's academic roots lie in monastic traditions, whereby students study under their individual master. As a result the University of Cambridge is made up of separate colleges, each with their own unique histories and traditions.

Over the years more than 30 such colleges have been founded, and Cambridge University has gained an enviable reputation as a centre for academic excellence.

Today many of the colleges are open to the public, although opening hours vary greatly so do check in advance. In addition, there are some restrictions to public access, particularly during exam time, so you may be disappointed.

More information about the best known and most interesting of the University Colleges can be found by using the links below.

 | Christ's College | Corpus Christi College | Emmanuel College |
| Gonville and Caius College | Jesus College | St John's College | Kings College |
| Magdalene College | Pembroke College | Queens College | Trinity College |

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University Church


The lovely Great St Mary's Church is located on Trinity Street, in the city centre. It is the city's main church, and is also the adopted church of the University so you may also hear it referred to as University Church.

A church was first built on the site in the 11th century, but the building you see today dates from the 15th century. It was built in the Perpendicular style and the interior is noted for its spacious atmosphere.

Today the church is a popular tourist attraction for you can climb up to the top of the church tower for some excellent views across the city.

Great St Mary's Church is open to the public daily, but opening hours vary according to day and time of year so do check in advance. Admission is free, but there is a charge of around £1 to climb the tower.

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University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology


The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is located just off Downing Street, behind the smaller Sedgwick Museum.

This is where to go to find out more about the history of Cambridge, for exhibitions trace the development of the town from pre-history right up until the present day.

But it is the Museum's excellent ethnographic collection, one of the oldest such collections in the world, that it is most famous for.

Covering all areas of the globe, many of the exhibits were collected by 18th and 19th century explorers - some by Captain James Cook himself.

The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is open from 10.30am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays and from 10am to 12.30pm on Saturdays. Admission is free.

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