Cambridge, England

Cambridge is synonymous with stately university precincts, mortarboards being tossed into the air on graduation day and punting along the River Cam. One of the world’s most famous university towns, Cambridge boasts a pedigree that dates back to the middle ages - the first college was founded here in 1284, and today there are 31 prestigious colleges under the umbrella of Cambridge University, providing an education for 18,000 of the best and brightest students from around the country. Only Oxford has such a palpable sense of learning and knowledge. Visitors can wander from college to college, exploring grand chapels and courtyards designed by ...

Cambridge is synonymous with stately university precincts, mortarboards being tossed into the air on graduation day and punting along the River Cam. One of the world’s most famous university towns, Cambridge boasts a pedigree that dates back to the middle ages - the first college was founded here in 1284, and today there are 31 prestigious colleges under the umbrella of Cambridge University, providing an education for 18,000 of the best and brightest students from around the country. Only Oxford has such a palpable sense of learning and knowledge. Visitors can wander from college to college, exploring grand chapels and courtyards designed by such dignitaries as Sir Christopher Wren, and examining the private collections of these proud academic institutions. Many are drawn here by the chance to walk in the footsteps of former alumni like Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and John Cleese. Then there’s the river - pushing a flat-bottomed punt along the peaceful waterways of the Backs is one of the quintessential English experiences.

About the Expert

Joe Bindloss has written more than 30 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Time Out and other publishers, with a focus on Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent and island nations.