6 ways to explore Cambridge
As a historic city with one of the most popular universities in the world, Cambridge sees a huge number of tourists daily. I found that these 6 ways to explore Cambridge were the most used and decided to write about them. Sometimes I wonder if the tourism annoys the students? Like “just go away, I want to read in peace” LOL. Or perhaps, it’s all just part of the charm Cambridge offers.
I visited Cambridge when the weather was wonderful. In fact we were having one of those hyped up heat wave weeks. You know the one where the British media and all of social media are ablaze with news of the impending heat wave? Yes we were having one of those. Mr E, Bobo and myself checked into Gonville hotel for a few days and we set out to see all that Cambridge had to offer.
By Car
I start with car because tbh, of the 6 ways to explore Cambridge, this was my least favourite. Why you might ask? The traffic! Cambridge can get very busy during peak seasons and even when it is off peak, you are driving through the center, which is bound to be busy.
We got to explore Cambridge in a cool 1958 Bentley, complete with VIP experience, thanks to Gonville hotel. Our chauffeur was so knowledgeable and gave us a wonderful tour of the city. If one is going to see Cambridge by car, then I suppose this is the dreamiest way to do it. The only other restriction is that you have to be staying in Gonville hotel to enjoy this experience lol. Otherwise, you could just drive your own private car around the city. Be warned though, parking can be next to impossible.
By Bicycle
We rented bikes from our hotel and this was such a fun way to explore Cambridge. I noticed there were other hotel bikes cycling around so my guess is that it is a service offered by some hotels. Of course, you can ride your own bicycles around the city if you own one. I also noticed there were bicycles for hire; I mean it is a major city so this is not surprising. However, this will cost you a little if renting these bicycles.
By Sightseeing Hop on/Hop off Bus
Every major UK city has one of these and they are quite popular with first time tourists. Cambridge is no different. The buses are frequent and depart everyday. They pass by most of the must visit locations from heritage sites to colleges and there are audio guides available. Of the 6 ways to explore Cambridge, this might be the most fun especially for large groups and families with young kids. The other fun thing about this mode of exploring Cambridge is the possible add-ons. You could purchase tickets for the open top bus tour in addition to punting or a walking tour or punting and a walking tour.
By Scooter
You don’t have a bicycle and you are not staying in a hotel that provides bicycles? You cannot be bothered to walk? Hire a scooter! The Voi e-scooters are available all over Cambridge city center and can be unlocked for £1 and costs £0.20p per minute. Yes you read that right. 20p per minute! I thought that was quite pricey but I guess it helps with its maintenance.
Another thing to note is that to ride one of the scooters, one has to be at least 18 years old and have a provisional driving license. This makes it quite restrictive even though it is a great way to explore Cambridge. When we were in Cambridge, we were unable to explore this way since we were with 14-year-old Bobo.
It is important to note that privately owned electric scooters are illegal to use.
By Punt
Cambridge sits on River Cam and it is impossible to visit the city without Punting. It might well be the no 1 activity when visiting this historic city. Punting is a great experience for the vibes but more importantly, it is the best way to see all what you’d be unable to see on foot.
Of the 6 ways to explore Cambridge, this was by far my favourite way to experience the city. We got to see the inside of some of the colleges and our knowledgeable punter, Max from Rutherford’s Punting who gave us so much historical information to last a lifetime. Punting is so much fun. There are self-punting hires – where you hire the boat and punt around the river Cam by yourself. However, we opted for one with a chauffeur, as we did not feel confident to punt by ourselves.
Punting can be pricey but there are shared tours if you are not willing to pay the premium fare. Look out for discounts, as there is always one offer or the other. I bought our experience directly from the company’s website and got a 20% discount off the full price.
By Foot
One thing that Mr E and I enjoy on our trips is to wander. Cambridge was no different. We spent most of it weaving through its beautiful streets and discovered gems on the way. Walking is the only method of exploration that is free so it is going to be my top recommendation. Granted, you might be unable to see the inside of the colleges; what you see on foot is fantastic enough. Also, walking means that you can always seek out off the beaten paths and even discover less popular stops.
If I had to recommend one out of the 6 ways to explore Cambridge, I would pick Punting. No contest whatsoever. Aside from the fact you get to see more of the colleges, it is such a Cambridge thing to do. So if you are ever in the UK, head to Cambridge and explore this gorgeous city. Hopefully, you enjoy it as much as I did.
Bisous, Bugo x
