Silver Street’s medieval name was ‘Smallebriggestrate’ – Small Bridge Street – to distinguish it from Bridge Street at Magdalene College. The two riverside pubs - The Anchor and The Mill - give you a clue as to what this area was used for. The bridge overlooks the Mill Pool, where corn and flour were loaded onto barges from the bustling medieval wharves beside the mill. Book a local tour. Enjoy a beautiful guided punting tour on river Cam which will float you behind all the historical colleges and give you a unique perspective of the town. You can also join this beautifully led historical walking tour of Cambridge. Locally led, this tour will take you to the colleges including a visit to beautiful King’s College. Grab a pint at The Shed in Lode – you will need it to sustain you over this ten-mile walk. Follow High Street onto Station Road, becoming Fen Road and Lug Fen Droveway, to Bottisham Lode Pumping Station. From here, follow the River Cam southwest to Clayhithe, pausing at Bottisham Sluice to watch any river vessels passing through – and rest up weary feet.

When you enter Trumpington Street, pause for a minute to appreciate the view in both directions. There is a perfection in this road’s built environment that exemplifies the very best of Cambridge. Among the pleasing variety of urban styles, two large buildings stand out.When you reach Magdalene Bridge, look downstream with Magdalene College on your left and Quayside on the right bank. Magdalene is pronounced ‘Maudleyn’, a fine piece of vanity that recalls Lord Audley of Walden, Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor, who re-founded the college in 1542. Ever since we lived in Cambridge for an entire month, the city has become our favorite day trip from London. We found spring time in Cambridge to be absolutely gorgeous with all the flowers and trees blooming. So, come along with me on my favorite walking tour of Cambridge UK. Favorite Places on My Walking Tour of Cambridge UK Coton Corridor Great West Walk (1) 8 miles - Coton Reserve, American Cemetery, Madingley Wood, Three Horseshoes Pub, Wimpole Way You have now reached one of the most iconic vistas in Cambridge. Immediately to your right is the early 18th century Senate House, the official centre of the University. Next to it are the Old Schools, where an 18th century facade masks the medieval buildings that housed the first university administration and library. Beyond them is the glorious panorama of King’s College, usually besieged by throngs of tourists along King’s Parade. Before you venture to join them, take a minute to look at the church to your left. Just across the river from Clare College is the sprawling green expanse of the Fellows’ Garden. The garden was designed by Nevill Willmer, a professor of History at Cambridge. Willmer’s interest in color theory paid off in the beautiful flora of the garden.

Join as a member today to add your support to protecting the beauty of Cambridge and its environment. Membership includes 1 year free parking at Wandlebury. There are approximately 10 miles of circular trails in all and it’s suitable for anyone to visit, including families and dogs. Since becoming a protected reserve, the RSPB has continued to make the lakes an even richer home for wildlife. Is Cambridge UK walkable? Oh yes, very much so. Actually, walking is the best way to experience Cambridge. The BY BIKE auto-plot option will follow any roads and paths that are flagged as accessible for bikes on OpenStreetMap (OSM). You should assume that you will need a multi-terrain bike. Nevertheless, there is a bigger picture playing out in Cambridge as a whole and the surrounding countryside. Speculative residential and commercial property schemes, fuelled by sky high house prices and rent levels, are having a major impact on the urban fabric. Cambridgeshire’s population is predicted to rise by over 20% in the next 15 years and tens of thousands of new homes are planned on the city fringes, in existing villages and two large new towns throughout the county.

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Walk along Petty Cury. The first turning on the right takes you into Lion Yard. If you continue straight ahead you will enter the Grand Arcade, a larger and more lavish shopping mall opened thirty years later. Go through the centre, exiting its flagship John Lewis store by following signs onto Downing Street. Great St. Mary’s lives up to its name with one of the best vantage points in the city atop its tower. This University Church was completed in 1205 and remodelled in the 15th century, with the west tower being added in the first half of the16th. Many churches have received similar treatment, changing in size and design over the years to accommodate new architectural tastes and requirements. Where the Hereward Way meets the Old Great North Road (less romantically known as the B1081), follow the road down towards Stamford, turning left into First Drill Lane and right over a stile to drop through fields into town. Head for the George Hotel for lunch, a historic coaching inn with opulent rooms, and a gorgeous leafy courtyard. Offering a window onto a largely lost landscape, Fen Drayton Lakes is a collection of lakes, ponds, and lagoons, stemming from the River Ouse. Cross Hemingford Meadow to Meadow Lane. Continue to a fork in the road, then follow the fingerpost to take a path that skirts the edge of Hemingford Grey (another Love Lane). Turn right on to Church Street and follow the path along the boundary of the graveyard to the River Great Ouse.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Round Church, is a Norman church with a circular nave, the oldest of only five such churches in the UK.Cambridge old churches are scattered all over the city’s center and they are beautiful to visit. One of my favorite quaint English churches is in Cambridge. Where to park in Cambridge? Parking at the Grand Arcade is the best place for starting your walking tour of historical Cambridge UK since they are rebuilding the Round church parking structure. Parking structures have very narrow parking spots in England, so be careful about driving in England and go slowly. This all changed when Henry VI planned King’s College in the 1440s. He authorised the clearance of the town between the water and the High Street, now King’s Parade. From this time on most of the older university colleges came to dominate the east side of the river. As the west side was developed for gardens and parkland belonging to the colleges, each was linked to its grounds by a bridge across the Cam. Michaelhouse was originally the second residential college to be established in Cambridge, but on this trail, its recent alteration in use is of interest to us. The early 14th century collegiate church united with Great St. Mary’s in 1908 when its parish became too small. In 2001-2 it was converted into a multi-purpose building. It is now a gallery, small performance space and café and is still occasionally used for church services. Michaelhouse is a quiet testament to how the city is changing in more subtle ways. Cambridge historical colleges form the main attraction of this college town. Walking down King’s Parade is a beautiful experience.

Get ready for a climb! At the North end of King’s Parade, we will come across Great St Mary’s Church. Watch my video about planning a trip to Cambridge. This is a simple video that walks you through my custom maps and routes for planning a great trip to Cambridge, UK. Park in the village and walk down Walcot Road to the entrance of Hills and Holes. Follow the boundary path that runs between the nature reserve and Walcot House and emerge at Heath Road. At the junction, where The Green Drift and Mill Road meet, cross over and follow the old Roman Road, Ermine Street (also on the Hereward Way) through fields, then into the parkland of Burghley House. The first stop on our walking tour of Cambridge UK is the Round Church, also known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Round Church was built by crusaders in the 12th century and is one of the oldest landmarks in Cambridge.This social group meets all year round at 10am every Thursday morning, with the slower walk starting at 10.30am. Walks are well-attended, with 40 people joining most weeks. Some people like it so much they do both walks! Teas/coffees are available afterwards. Walk along The Waits by the waterside and down the narrow street of Merryland to cross the charming 15th century footbridge. There are plenty of places to eat around The Quay and St Ives Bridge before you head west for Houghton Mill again. Silver Street also marks the southern edge of the former King’s Ditch. This was the boundary of the medieval town which ran from the Cam near Magdalene College, across the modern city centre towards the river. The King’s Ditch was chiefly built during the 13th century, in the long reign of Henry III. It ensured that travelling traders heading for Cambridge’s markets had to pay tolls when they passed through the gates.