With the solar shining on its historic faculties, there are few UK cities as pretty as Cambridge (though Oxford all the time has a particular place in my coronary heart) โ and with some unbelievable issues to do in Cambridge with children, itโs splendid for households.
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In the event youโre searching for a household metropolis break that receivedโt break the bank, Cambridge is especially good, with some nice free museums, household pleasant points of interest and a centre thatโs straightforward to stroll round.
After an surprising last-minute journey for work (reviewing The Fellows Home lodge with my daughter), I used to be reminded that with quick trains to Kings Cross, itโs a very easy day journey from London as nicely.
Discover the Dinky Doorways
The most effective issues to do in Cambridge with children is to walk โ ambling down little facet streets, previous a number of the attractive outdated buildings, alongside the river, by {the marketplace}.
My daughter is all the time happier if she has a aim moderately than meandering randomly although, so the quirky mini path of Dinky Doorways went straight to the highest of our record.
These miniature sculptures are hidden in plain sight โ hidden nicely sufficient that itโs nicely price getting the path map โ and all designed with a way of enjoyable.
The Teleport-o-matic was one in all my favourites (solely 3p to teleport 3 yards), in addition to the on a regular basis treasures of Surprise Emporium and the very surprising inhabitant of 10 1/4 Downing Avenue, a mini duplicate of the well-known black Downing Avenue door.
There are doorways being added on a regular basis, so hold checking again to see the tiny portals to new worlds which pop up.
Observe a Treasure Path
One other nice method to see Cambridge on foot is to observe a treasure hunt path across the metropolis, and there are a number of totally different choices to choose from.
The Treasure Map Trails assortment contains two totally different routes for Cambridge โ select from a space-themed map across the Cambridge faculties, or one other of the centre of Cambridge, with 10% off utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS.
Children have to hold their eyes open for a number of the quirky indicators, statues and different sights as you go, plus there are a string of info to study alongside the best way.
Or try the vary of Treasure Trails, with 5 choices to choose from. We adopted the Cambridge Central path, which included a number of High Trumps stats on a number of of the universities we handed, so that you get a mini potted historical past alongside the best way.
It additionally led us to the stunning fashions of Cambridge close to St Mary the Nice, in addition to to stare upon a number of the ornament on Trinity Faculty (wrongly, because it turned out, however Iโm nonetheless glad we did!) and launched us to some of the townโs well-known names.
Go to a school
There are 31 totally different faculties in Cambridge and whilst you canโt pop in and take a peek at all of them, there are numerous methods to get a glimpse inside their partitions.
Thereโs a free strolling tour of Cambridge from Footprints Excursions, so you may be part of the group to study extra concerning the metropolis and a few of its historical past and traditions.
Additionally they run non-public household excursions, in addition to a string of different firms providing group excursions of Cambridge which is able to take you inside a number of the faculties.
In the event you choose to go at your individual tempo, do this self-guided audio tour, narrated by a former Cambridge pupil.
And a number of the faculties open to the general public too in case your coronary heart is about on seeing a specific one โ occasions fluctuate, some cost an entrance price, and numbers are sometimes restricted. But it surelyโs price checking their particular person web sites to see whether or not youโll be allowed to look inside.
Kings Faculty does have a price however you may guide on-line upfront and it contains an opportunity to see the gorgeous chapel, whereas Pembroke is open most days (some restrictions in examination time) as is Trinity Faculty.
Go punting
I’ve very fond recollections of punting alongside the river with pals โ however in the event youโd choose to sit down again and take in the views, itโs straightforward to seek out an choice the place another person does the exhausting work of punting Cambridgeโs waterways.
Helpful too in the event youโre travelling solo with children: my daughter is comfortable to help paddling a kayak, however thereโs no method she may handle the puntโs pole, and itโs much less enjoyable in the event you donโt get a relaxation at any level!
This 45-minute punting tour is nice for shorter consideration spans, however lengthy sufficient to see a number of the faculties from the water and leaves from close to Jesus Inexperienced, whereas this 50-minute chauffeured punting choice is nice for greater teams.
Or Scudamoreโs Punting boasts of being the primary to convey pleasure punting to the town, and has each boat rent and tour choices.
Take a hop-on hop-off bus tour
With its pedestrianised slim streets, thereโs no query that loads of Cambridge is healthier seen on foot, however for a simple method to see a number of the highlights, the hop-on hop-off bus tour is nice for drained legs.
Taking you to a number of the sights outdoors the town centre, in addition to previous the universities and river, the complete route lasts round 80 minutes.
There are additionally household tickets obtainable for as much as three youngsters aged five-15 (children aged 4 and underneath are freeโฆ however might have to sit down in your knee if the bus is busy).
Climb Nice St Maryโs Tower
Expertise a number of the most wonderful panoramic views over Cambridge by climbing to the highest of Nice St Maryโs Tower, the excessive level of the historic College Church.
From the particular statement platform on the tower, youโll get unbeatable views out over the rooftops to Kings Faculty Chapel and lots of the different historic faculty buildings.
The 123 steps that make up the round staircase to the highest of the tower are pretty steep however nonetheless manageable even with children. Simply take it sluggish and regular, particularly when descending.
Tickets are on sale within the church present store, and donโt must be prebooked: final entry is half an hour earlier than closing time.
Do have a look contained in the medieval church whilst youโre there too, which has been the college church since 1209, or cease to refuel within the Michaelhouse cafe, named for one of many outdated Cambridge faculties based in 1323.
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
If thereโs one factor all children love, itโs dinosaurs, proper? And the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is the go-to place for prehistoric creatures in Cambridge.
One of many string of free museums in Cambridge, this fascinating metropolis centre assortment has a number of full dinosaur skeletons and the cranium of a T-Rex named Stan, in addition to hundreds of different fossil, rock and mineral specimens.ย
For households, the child-friendly Cambridge museum additionally has a number of free gallery trails to observe, puzzle and colouring stations and exercise packs with numerous extra at-home actions.
You not have to prebook tickets โ the museum is closed on Sundays, in the event youโre visiting Cambridge with children at a weekend.
Museum of Zoology
A part of the College of Cambridgeโs Division of Zoology, the Museum of Zoology showcases the variety of animal life internationally.
One other of the free issues to do in Cambridge with children, you may uncover hundreds of specimens inside, from tiny bugs to a 21-metre Fin whale, that are used for tutorial research by researchers and college students.
The world-class assortment contains specimens found by Charles Darwin himself and the skeleton of an extinct Dodo chook.
For mini zoologists, there are some nice trails (additionally free!) to observe across the galleries, together with rainbow of colors, aimed on the youngest guests, and the highlights path.
There are sometimes talks and different family-friendly occasions, though the explorer baggage aren’t presently obtainable to borrow. Closed on Mondays (besides financial institution holidays).
Cambridge Science Centre
Sitting on the outskirts of the historic metropolis centre close to the prepare station, the Cambridge Science Centre is good for getting fingers on.
Designed with the needs of encouraging youngsters and younger individuals to get extra concerned with science, know-how, engineering and maths (STEM), the interactive shows on the small science centre make it among the best museums in Cambridge for youths.
Together with a variety of interactive exhibitions, there are some enjoyable issues to do together with hands-on actions and attention-grabbing child-friendly exhibits, plus talks to take a look at at weekends and through college holidays too (no have to prebook).
From constructing DNA sequences to discovering fossils and strolling in house, thereโs masses to maintain children engaged with enthusiastic workers readily available to encourage you to experiment.
Entry will get you an annual go (no single go to choice) priced ยฃ20 for adults, ยฃ7.50-ยฃ15 for youths and should be booked on-line upfront. You possibly can try whatโs on right here too.
Museum of Archeology and Anthropologyย
Subsequent door to the Sedgwick Museum, youโll additionally discover the Collegeโs Museum of Archeology and Anthropology which seems to be again over two million years of human historical past.
One other free Cambridge museum, itโs full of cool and weird artefacts, together with large totem poles from Canada, a full skeleton of a Roman lady, early African stone instruments and spears thrown by Captain Prepare dinner on his voyages to the Pacific.ย
There are even some freeze-dried potatoes from Peru that are not less than 500 years outdated.
If thatโs not sufficient to seize your childrenโ creativeness, there are particular trails to observe, together with Missed Treasures which is appropriate for households with younger youngsters, together with trails based mostly round masks.
With its emphasis on totally different cultures and folks internationally, the Museum of Anthropology and Archeology is an enchanting place to go to with older youngsters and teenagers too. Closed on Mondays.
Fitzwilliam Museum
In the event you solely go to one museum in Cambridge with children, the Fitzwilliam Museum is the College of Cambridgeโs foremost museum web site, containing artwork and antiquities from totally different cultures around the globe.
One other free Cambridge museum, the exhibitions have some nice child-friendly crowd-pleasers like historical Egyptian coffins and a wrapped mummy, to a big armoury with medieval knights displayed on horseback and tons of of historic weapons, together with the artwork galleries.
Plus there are common non permanent exhibitions, so that youโll all the time discover one thing new while you go to, together with free museum trails to choose up as you discover โ youโre inspired to convey your individual pencils to sketch what you see as nicely.
The museum has additionally been shortlisted as Greatest Accessible Museum within the Children in Museums Household Pleasant Museum Awards for its work to incorporate youngsters with particular instructional wants and disabilities.
Admission is free and you’ll simply stroll in, though prebooking is suggested at busy occasions to keep away from queueing. Closed on Mondays (besides financial institution holidays).
Scott Polar Analysis Institute
One of many extra uncommon locations to go to in Cambridge with children, the Polar Museum on the Scott Polar Analysis Institute is fascinating in the event youโre within the expeditions to a number of the most inhospitable components of our planet โ in addition to for younger environmentalists.
In addition to seeing a number of the unique maps, diaries and garments worn by polar explorers to each the Arctic and Antarctic, children can get fingers on by making an attempt on a number of outfits, whereas thereโs additionally data on how the poles are being affected by local weather change, with new analysis from the Instituteโs scientists.
There’s an audio information aimed toward children as nicely (plus one for adults) to provide extra details about a number of the most vital objects within the assortment. Free to enter, closed Sundays and Mondays (together with Financial institution Holidays).
Cambridge Botanic Gardens
Whereas the museums in Cambridge are nice regardless of the climate, when the solar shines there are some nice locations to get open air with children in Cambridge โ and among the best is a go to to the gorgeous Cambridge College Botanic Gardens.
Unfold over a powerful 40 acres not removed from the station (and strolling distance from the town centre), Cambridgeโs Botanical Backyard is house to a set of over 8,000 plant species from all around the world.
There are many actions to maintain the children occupied within the gardens too, together with self-led household trails and particular seasonal occasions similar to treasure hunts, arts and craft stations, and drop-in instructional periods for youths.
Donโt neglect your digicam for some nice household picture ops too. Children go free, grownup tickets value from ยฃ8.50.
Calm down on Jesus Inexperienced
One of many few drawbacks to visiting Cambridge with children is that it does get busy with vacationers in peak season โ so if you wish to escape the crowds within the streets, head north to sprawling Jesus Inexperienced.ย
The massive inexperienced house runs alongside the River Cam, making it a stunning place to sit down and watch the punts and geese float by for some time.
The park additionally has a playground for smaller youngsters, a picnic space and a kiosk promoting drinks and ice cream.ย
And if itโs a very scorching day, thereโs even an open-air swimming pool so that you can get pleasure from โ open year-round, wetsuits really helpful when the temperature drops under 14C.
Be part of a Cambridge Ghost Tour
Older children and teenagers with an curiosity in all issues spooky will love listening to tales of the townโs frightful previous and modern-day hauntings on a Cambridge Ghost Tour.
Whereas Cambridge is greatest identified for its historic college, the town additionally has a popularity for being one of the vital haunted locations within the UK with a historical past of apparitions spanning all the best way again to the thirteenth century.
Lots of the Cambridge Faculties have their very own ghosts, most of that are mentioned to be previous college students or professors who died on the school grounds, to not point out wandering Civil Struggle Troopers and the well-known demon canine often known as Black Shuck.
Cambridge Ghost Excursions are appropriate for kids however with its spinechilling tales, this one is greatest suited to older youngsters and teenagers.
Ice cream at Jackโs Gelato
On a sunny day (or a cloudy one, if my daughter will get the possibility), you mayโt beat an ice cream. And whereas Jackโs Gelato isnโt the most cost effective in Cambridge, itโs simply among the best.
With two totally different areas โ Beneโt Avenue and All Saints Passage โ there are some fabulous flavours to select from.
Darkish chocolate and sea salt was exhausting to beat, however yow will discover mint stracciatella, yuzu sorbet or ginger juice and fudge ripple amongst others.
Thereโs even an choice to leap the queue (which may get fairly lengthy on sunny days) at Beneโt Avenue, in the event you order by way of the web site..
Cake at Fitzbillies
A Cambridge establishment, thereโs now a department of Fitzbillies in Bridge Avenue and on in Kingโs Parade to affix the unique in Trumpington Avenue, based in 1920.
Most well-known for its sticky Chelsea buns (they make round 200,000 per 12 months), you may seize one to remove or sit down within the cafe to relaxation your ft and refuel.
Thereโs afternoon tea as nicely which you’ll eat in at Trumpington Avenue or get to remove to take out on a punt or get pleasure from as a picnic โ assured to get the thumbs up from the entire household.
For extra concepts of issues to do whilst youโre visiting Cambridge with children, youโre solely round half an hour from Ely, with the gorgeous Ely cathedral in addition to Nationwide Belief web site Wimpole Corridor (try my go to throughout an East Anglia highway journey) and Saffron Walden in close by Essex
*First printed 2021, up to date 2025*
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Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks โ any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Punting/Fitzwilliam Museum pictures courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
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