One woman’s love affair with food has become an attraction in Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE: We all have a kind of idea about Cambridge – like the famous University founded in 1209, the super-brainy students from all over the world, a medieval city full of history and the academic rower race meeting rival Oxford every spring – 163 times – on the river Thames. King´s College Chapel is the chapel at King´s College, but feels more like a cathedral. River Cam runs through the heart of Cambridge and companies offer boat hire and tour services, deliver historical commentary of all the colleges you pass.
Young trend. In the past three years there has been an invasion of young professionals who have moved in to work in hi-tech and science research companies. They have brought a demand for younger, smarter bars, such as the first Sticks N Sushi outside London, a thriving arts and culture scene, yoga studios and artisan cafés. House prices have risen by 75 per cent the last ten years.
Cambridge Food Tour
Local food. One woman’s love affair with Cambridge cuisine has become one of the city’s attractions. Gerla de Boer settled to teach others about the city’s mastery of food and drink, starting up the Cambridge Food Tour. Today Gerla offers seven different tours for seven different tastes. Link Food Tour
Traditions. Cambridge is overflowing with pubs from the traditional to the trendy. Elm Tree, address: 16A Orchard St., is an old-fashion pub tucked away down a side street serving a vast selection of draught ales. Bring cash as cards is not accepted.
Fitzbillies, address: 51-52 Trumpington St, is a Cambridge institution. Its sticky Chelsea buns have been made and sold here since 1921. Open for coffee, lunch and afternoon tea seven days a week. Dinner is served on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
The wealthy locals
Meet locals. For cheap food a safe bet is Regent Street. A pub called Prince Regent is a cheap chain and for tasty burgers, fast homemade food and excellent coffee, drop into Regent´s Cafe. Open from 6am and popular for students and taxi drivers. Many of the locals are wealthy and you will always meet students all over the city. Or rub shoulders with the locals in Market Square, the market is open seven days a week.
My advice. For one-day visit kick off with a guided tour and a view of the city from the Tower of Saint Mary the Great. Then head off on your own – to the prestigious university, colleges, Botanic Garden and visit the Fritzwilliam Museum – or simply stroll around the Cambridge Market.
Spooky tales
Visitor Information Centre at The Guildhall, Market Square. From here public tours leave seven days a week. Only official tour guides are permitted inside the University of Cambridge colleges. If you are brave, spend an hour with a guide to hear more about strange happenings and spooky tales and investigating to where ghostly sightings have been reported. I didn´t bump into any ghost, but sensed I returned to London a bit more intellectual.
More inspiration: Jazz up the Afternoon Tea
Make it Happen!
Touch Down: One hour by train from London King´s Cross and London Liverpool Street to Cambridge.
Stay: Cambridge has a wide range of Bed and Breakfast, Guest Houses and Hotels to suit all tastes and budgets.
Eat: Book a table with canal view at Galleria Restaurant, near Magdalene Bridge, address: 33 Bridge Street. Offering a modern fusion menu. Main courses from 11-16 pounds and 2-courses lunch menu costs 11.
Play: Cambridge Junction covers theatre, comedy, dance, live music, clubs and events for young people. Operating over 3 spaces and is one of the most exciting clubbing venues in the city.
Mini Guide: For shopping, Cambridge has two shopping malls and a lot of small shops Cambridge is a university city and the county town of Cambridgeshire, England, on the River Cam about 50 miles or 80 km north of London. Good idea: With hundreds of free events over two weeks, the Cambridge Festival of Ideas includes workshop, exhibitions, arts, researches from the University and something for everyone. The next Festival of Ideas will take place 16-29 October 2017.
Brief and Brilliant HP