From The Student Room

TSR Wiki > University > Student Life > City and Nightlife Guides > Cambridge

---

Thanks to Springboard for the original content of this page, now updated by TSR users.

With some of England’s most breathtaking monuments, we explore the city of Cambridge. Academia aside, you’ll also find a wide range of eateries, night spots and shops in Cambridge, along with an entertainment calendar that makes living here a paradise for arts lovers and socialites.

Contents 1 Nights 2 Bites 3 Shops 4 Sights 5 Sleeps 6 What the people who live there say about Cambridge 7 Higher ed in Cambridge

Nights

The Anchor

Silver Street Tel: 01223 353554 Student watering hole and ideal spot to watch the punters collide on the River Cam under the Silver Street Bridge. Serves pub grub all day.

Club Fez

15 Market Passage Tel: 01223 519224 Recline on floor cushions and enjoy Moroccan-style ambience and Latin sounds. Arrive early to avoid entry fee.

The Junction

Clifton Road Tel: 01223 511511 This music/theatre/dance venue turns into a club at the weekend, and hosts live bands and discos. Also holds a monthly gay and lesbian night. Charges apply.

Bites

Clown’s

54 King Street Tel: 01223 355711 Popular with locals, and it’s not hard to see why. Welcoming staff serve a delicious menu of cakes, toasties and hot meals, from £1-6.

Restaurant 22

22 Chesterton Road Tel: 01223 351880 You would be forgiven for missing it, but not for eating here. This former house is now home to just eight tables and a seriously exclusive dining experience.

Dojo’s

1–2 Mill Lane Tel: 01223 363471 This noodle bar serves enormous portions, some vegetarian, drawing on East Asian influences, all for around £6 and in under five minutes.

Shops

The Shopping Forum

18–22 Jesus Lane A maze of small, funky stores that have a huge pull for both the people of Cambridge and visitors alike.

Grafton Centre

Tel: 01223 316201 The Grafton Centre has over 72 shops including the main high-street stores and also boasts a cinema.

Lion Yard

Tel: 01223 350608 Another modern shopping complex situated between shopping street Petty Cury and the market. The centre is pedestrianised and has more than 40 shops and a library.

Cambridge Markets

Located in the heart of the city, the market is Cambridge’s vibrant trading hub, bursting with character, charm and variety. Open seven days a week, with a Sunday farmer’s/arts and crafts market for you to sample local produce and artwork.

Sights

The Colleges

King’s, Trinity, St John’s, Clare, Christ’s, Jesus and Magdalene should be top of your list. All are breathtaking and historic in their own right and open to the public, with some charging a small fee.

The River Cam

Take a student-punted tour along ‘the backs’ to see the Colleges from an even more beautiful perspective, or punt your way to the leafy village of Grantchester. Hop on at the Silver Street bridge.

Fitzwilliam Museum

Trumpington Street Tel: 01223 332900 This Neoclassical building is filled to the rafters with Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese and Greek antiquities, as well as works by European artists, including Monet.

Sleeps

YHA Cambridge

97 Tenison Road Tel: 01223 354601 Relaxed and welcoming with 100 beds from £16 per night. Good kitchen, laundry, luggage storage, TV lounge and Internet access.

Camping and Caravanning - Club Site

19 Cabbage Moor Tel: 01223 841 185 Rooms are scarce, expensive and often low-quality in Cambridge. This site has excellent facilities, is only a few miles out of town and open March to October. Pitches from £4, plus a non-members charge of £4.60.

Tenison Towers Guest House

148 Tenison Road Tel: 01223 566511 This gem is a sensory delight with its fresh flowers and home-made bread. Prices start at £20 and it’s only 10 minutes walk from the train station.

What the people who live there say about Cambridge

Robert, 24

‘The picturesque village of Grantchester is only a short walk away – or punt, if you’ve got the energy! It’s a haven for relaxation, and you must visit the Orchard Garden Tea Rooms.’

Natalie, 19

‘I’m studying performing arts and am a regular visitor to venues like the beautiful Corn Exchange and ADC theatre. The outdoor summer Cambridge Shakespeare Festival is a stunning spectacle.’

Jules, 22

‘I’m a third year student at King’s College and still marvel in the beautiful Evensong that is held in the Chapel. It’s an inspiring place to be.’

Richard, 25

‘I work in Cambridge and it can get touristy in the summer, especially around the river, but don’t let that put you off!’

Donna, 18

‘I visited Cambridge for the first time this year. I was particularly impressed with Trinity College and after just one visit, I’ve decided to apply to study there next September.’

Higher ed in Cambridge

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the largest in the UK with a worldwide reputation for outstanding academic achievement.

There are 31 Colleges, and each is an independent institution with its own property and income. In addition to submitting the UCAS application form naming Cambridge as one of your choices, you must also submit a Cambridge Application Form (CAF). For admission to Cambridge, it is necessary to be accepted by a College and only one form may be submitted. Applications to more than one College, or to a College and also an open application, are not allowed.

Anglia Polytechnic University

More than 28,000 students span two campuses, one of which is in Cambridge. Courses include undergraduate and professional qualifications through to postgraduate and research degrees.