Cambridge



Cambridge is a university city in Cambridgeshire in England. It is a city of crocuses and daffodils on the Backs, of green open spaces and cattle grazing only 500 yards (450 m) from the market square. Cows sometimes wander into the market area, since they are not fenced in. The Cambridge of Brooke, Byron, Newton and Rutherford, of the summer idyll of punts, 'bumps', cool willows and May Balls is worth seeing.

Understand
Cambridge brings many images to mind: the breathtaking view of King's College Chapel from across the river Cam, the rich intricacy of Gothic architecture, students cycling to lectures, and lazy summer punting on the River Cam.

Cambridge manages to combine its role as an historic city with a world-renowned university and, since the 20th century, an internationally acknowledged centre of excellence for technology and science. The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 by scholars leaving Oxford after a dispute with townsfolk. They chose the quiet town of Cambridge as a suitable location for study. In the 17th century Cambridge University educated many of the founders of an American university called Harvard, which is also in a place called Cambridge (named after the English university). Cambridge University has many famous alumni, including: mathematicians such as Sir Isaac Newton, scientists such as Stephen Hawking and Charles Darwin, philosophers such as Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein, and writers such as John Milton and Lord Byron. It was the site of Rutherford's pioneering work in nuclear physics, and Francis, Crick, and Watson's DNA work (see the Eagle pub below). Cambridge academics have won more Nobel Prizes than those of any other university in the world. The rumour that just one college, Trinity, had more Nobel prize-winners than France, however, is false.

The city is surrounded on all sides by heritage villages, towns and ancient monuments (such as Ely and Peterborough), all within easy travelling distance. Like Oxford, Cambridge was spared from the German carpet bombing that devastated many other British cities during World War II, and is thus one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the UK

More than 6 million visitors come to Cambridge every year to savour the delights of the historic city. The city itself is quite compact with many of the main attractions in easy walking distance. Cambridge is an ideal base for exploring some of the gentlest (read flattest; good for leisurely walks, poor for hills with viewpoints) and most unspoilt countryside in England.
 * Visit Cambridge tourist information.

Get in
Cambridge is around north of London. Two railway routes connect Cambridge with the capital, with additional routes to towns and cities throughout the East of England and the Midlands. Several major routes including the M11 motorway connect the city with other UK destinations.

By plane
Cambridge is around from  . You can fly into Stansted from destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and domestic destinations including Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newquay. A large number of routes are operated by Ryanair and Jet2.com.

You can travel from Stansted Airport to Cambridge by train, which takes roughly 35 minutes. Trains are operated by CrossCountry (towards Birmingham New Street) and Greater Anglia (towards Norwich), both part of the National Rail network. You can also travel from Stansted to Cambridge using National Express coaches - routes 727, 728, 767 and 777. There is a Car Rental Village at Stansted Airport, where drivers can hire a car from several companies including Alamo, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt.

Other airports with links to Cambridge includeː


 *   - Flights from major European cities. Use London and other metro-style routes to London King's Cross, London Liverpool Street and London Liverpool Street stations to connect with National Rail routes to Cambridge.
 *   - Flights from most major international airports, including in cities throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Direct National Express coaches to Cambridge - routes 727, 728 and 788. Rail routes includeː to Farringdon then Thameslink to Cambridge;  to London Liverpool Street then Greater Anglia to Cambridge; or,  to King's Cross St Pancras then Great Northern/Thameslink to Cambridge.
 *   - Flights from international airports throughout Europe and North America. Direct Thameslink trains connect Gatwick with Cambridge, which run at least twice per hour throughout the day.
 *   - Flights from European and Middle Eastern destinations. Direct National Express coach route 788 to Cambridge.
 *   - Flights from a small number of "holiday" or domestic destinations. Norwich International Airport is approximately by road from Cambridge.

By train
Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

There are two railway stations in the city. The first is, approximately south of the city centre. You can use several bus routes to travel between Cambridge station and the city centre - including Babraham Road Park and Ride, The Busway Route A, The Busway Route C, Citi 1, Citi 3, Citi 7 and Stagecoach 13. You can also hire a Voi e-scooter (driving licence required) or e-bike.

The second is, roughly east of Cambridge Science Park. You can use The Busway routes B and C to connect with city destinations including the Cambridge Science Park and the city centre.

Both railway stations are on the National Rail network. You can book "PlusBus" tickets from any National Rail ticket retailing website or at station offices for a combined rail and bus ticket. Find out more onː PlusBus.info

You can get direct trains to Cambridge from several London stations, includingː

You can also catch direct trains to Cambridge from London Gatwick Airport (Thameslink) and London Stansted Airport (CrossCountry or Greater Anglia).
 * Farringdon (Interchangeː ) - Fast services by Thameslink.
 * Finsbury Park (Interchangeː ) - Fast and stopping services by Great Northern and Thameslink.
 * King's Cross (Interchangeː ) - Express, fast and stopping services by Great Northern and Thameslink, including the "Cambridge Cruiser" non-stop route, which takes between 40 and 45 minutes.
 * Liverpool Street (Interchangeː ) - Fast and stopping services by Greater Anglia.
 * London Bridge (Interchangeː ) - Fast services by Thameslink.
 * St Pancras International (Interchangeː and ) - Fast services by Thameslink.
 * Tottenham Hale (Interchangeː ) - Fast and stopping services by Greater Anglia.

There are also regular, direct trains from destinations further afield, includingː


 * Birmingham New Street (Interchangeː ) - Fast services by CrossCountry.
 * Brighton - Fast services by Thameslink.
 * Ely - Fast and local services by CrossCountry, Greater Anglia, Great Northern.
 * Ipswich - Local services by Greater Anglia.
 * King's Lynn - Local services by Great Northern.
 * Leicester - Fast services by CrossCountry.
 * Norwich - Local services by Greater Anglia.
 * Peterborough - Fast and local services by CrossCountry and Greater Anglia.
 * Stevenage - Fast and local services by Thameslink and Great Northern.

By cycle
Cambridge is famous for its cycling culture and you can travel into the city by bike from the surrounding towns using signposted routes. National Cycle Network Route 11 connects Saffron Walden, Duxford and Waterbeach with Cambridge using local roads. National Cycle Network Route 51 connects Huntingdon, St Ives and Newmarket with the city centre. The route - part of NCN51 - between St Ives and Cambridge is traffic-free, next to The Busway into Cambridge North. A different traffic-free cycle route connects the village of Fenstanton with Girton, next to the A14 dual-carriageway.

You can hire bikes fromː


 * Off Fen Causeway in Newnham, west of the city.

You can also hire Voi e-bikes using an app within the set zone. Check the app for riding and parking details.

Remember to follow local riding rules. You must not cycle on the pavement (sidewalk) unless blue signs or road markings specify otherwise. Cycling on the road is almost always allowed, even where there are adjacent cycle lanes. One-way street rules apply to cyclists, unless signs specify otherwise. Cyclists must stop at red traffic lights, but bike-only green lights allow riders to leave early. Always lock your bike with a solid lock. If your bike is stolen, you can report it to Cambridgeshire Constabulary by phone on 101 or online.

By car
From London, Harlow, Bishop's Stortford and Stansted Airport, you can drive to Cambridge on the motorway. For Cambridge, use junctionsː

You can access the from  at Junction 27.
 * Junction 9.svg then  for Wandlebury, Babraham Park and Ride, Addenbrooke's Hospital and Cherry Hinton
 * Junction 11.svg for Trumpington Park and Ride, Trumpington, Addenbrooke's Hospital and Cambridge city centre
 * Junction 12.svg for Cambridge University Library and The Backs
 * Junction 13.svg for Madingley Road Park and Ride, Kettle's Yard and The Backs

From Birmingham (via ), Peterborough (via ) and Huntingdon, use the and exit atː


 * Junction 31.png for Girton and Cambridge city centre or use  for Trumpington Park and Ride and Addenbrooke's Hospital
 * Junction 33.png for Cambridge Science Park or  for Milton Park and Ride

From Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Norwich (via ), use and exit atː


 * Junction 35.svg for Newmarket Road Park and Ride, Cherry Hinton and the Grafton Centre
 * Junction 33.png for Cambridge Science Park or  for Milton Park and Ride

Other routes into Cambridge includeː


 * From Royston, Ware and Hertford, follow then  for Trumpington and Cambridge city centre.
 * From Cambourne, St Neots and Milton Keynes (via ), follow then  for Cambridge city centre.
 * From Milton, Ely and King's Lynn, follow then  for Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge city centre.
 * From Haverhill, follow for Cambridge city centre.
 * From Saffron Walden, follow B183 then for Shelford, Trumpington and Cambridge city centre.

Park and Ride
You can park free of charge at five Park and Ride sites on the outskirts of Cambridge, then travel into the city centre. Return bus journeys into the city centre start from £3. Check the pricing on the Park and Ride website.

The Park and Ride sites areː


 * - off the near  Junction 33. Buses to Cambridge Science Park, Midsummer Common and Drummer Street (near Grand Arcade).
 * - off the near  Junction 35. Buses to Cambridge United FC, Cambridge Retail Park, The Grafton, Drummer Street (near Grand Arcade).
 * - off the and signposted from . Buses to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge Railway Station, Drummer Street (near Grand Arcade).
 * - off the near  Junction 11. Buses to Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Fitzwilliam Museum and Grand Arcade.
 * - off the near  Junction 13. Buses to West Cambridge (for Cambridge University), Bridge Street and Grand Arcade.

By bus
You can get to Cambridge by coach from destinations throughout the UK and Europe.

National Express coaches from several destinations, includingː


 * London Stratford (̩490)
 * London Victoria (490)
 * London Heathrow Airport (727, 728, 788)
 * London Luton Airport (788)
 * London Stansted Airport (727, 728, 767, 777, 788)
 * Birmingham (777)
 * Great Yarmouth (727)
 * Leicester (767)
 * Norwich (490, 727, 728)
 * Nottingham (767)

Flixbus operates coaches to Cambridge from UK and international destinations. Some coaches call at Cambridge Trumpington Park and Ride only, rather than the city centre. Destinations includeː


 * Amsterdam Sloterdijk (UKN601)
 * Antwerp (UKN601)
 * Paris Bercy Seine (UKN603)
 * Utrecht (UKN601)
 * London Stratford (UKN603)
 * London Victoria (UK006)
 * Birmingham (UKN603)
 * Leeds (UKN601)
 * Leicester (UKN601)
 * Manchester (UKN603)
 * Nottingham (UKN601)
 * Sheffield (UKN601)
 * Stevenage (UK006)

There are local buses from nearby destinations, includingː


 * Bedford (Stagecoach 905 - Change at Bedford for Stagecoach X5 to Oxford)
 * Ely (Stagecoach 9/X9)
 * Haverhill (Stagecoach 13/X13)
 * Huntingdon (The Busway B, The Busway C - Change at Huntingdon for Stagecoach 904 to Peterborough)
 * Newmarket (Stephensons 11, Stephensons 12)
 * Saffron Walden (citi 7)
 * St Neots (Stagecoach 905)

Get around
Cambridge is mostly pedestrian-friendly: most sights can be easily reached on foot and much of the central area is traffic-free. Some of the pavements are shared use between pedestrians and cyclists; this can catch you out unless you watch out for it. Cambridge walking directions can be planned online with Google maps & other websites & apps. Students and locals often use bikes to get around and hiring a bike is a viable alternative to simply walking.

You can also opt for a hop-on, hop-off open-top sightseeing bus which provides commentary in several languages. The sightseeing bus passes the railway station, American Cemetery, and many of the historic colleges, but as the city centre is pedestrianised, it can approach the more central colleges on only Sundays.

There is little need to use the local bus services unless you are staying in a far-flung area of the city, but they are clean and efficient if you need to. Citi buses cost between £1 and £2 for individual cash fares within Cambridge City (change is given but drivers may refuse large denomination notes), contactless payments are available on most buses, but just tell the driver your destination as you board and take your ticket from the machine. The dominant bus operator is Stagecoach but Whippet also operate buses within the city and offer day tickets for their buses only. There is a multi operator bus day ticket available for £8 which you can purchase on the bus services of any participating operator. If you are arriving in Cambridge by rail, Plusbus tickets offer good value.

Cambridge City Council discourages car use. Parking charges are high and although the hated rising bollards are now gone they have been replaced by bus gates and lanes which are monitored by cameras and fines are issued to unauthorised vehicles passing through them.

Uber ride-hailing is available, and there are many taxi companies in Cambridge.

Colleges


Cambridge University consists of a number of semi-independent colleges, many central, some up to from the town centre (traditionally measured from Great St. Mary's church). The following are a good selection for sightseeing. Most of the colleges within the central area are worth a look, if you have the time.

Some colleges charge for entrance. It can be expensive, around £5 per person or more. If you're friends with a student, they're allowed to bring a visitor in for free. Colleges are typically closed to visitors during the University exam period, at the end of May and the first week of June.

Please remember to be respectful when visiting the colleges. They are students' homes for much of the year, and the workload and pressure at the University can be immense. Do not enter buildings you are not explicitly invited to, do not stare into people's windows, and be polite when taking photographs; be especially discreet in the libraries. Always remember that the colleges' role is first and foremost that of academic institutions; they are not there for tourists, and it is rude to do anything which impedes or inconveniences the people who live and work in them.



Churches
The history of Cambridge is entwined with that of the Church of England. The colleges (see above) all have chapels which can be visited, but town churches also offer a rich insight into the history of the town and university, and are usually free. Even if you aren't interested in places of worship, they are well worth a few minutes attention and are peaceful places to enjoy.

Further out

 * Further north see Ely for Stretham Old Engine and Wicken Fen.
 * Further north see Ely for Stretham Old Engine and Wicken Fen.
 * Further north see Ely for Stretham Old Engine and Wicken Fen.
 * Further north see Ely for Stretham Old Engine and Wicken Fen.
 * Further north see Ely for Stretham Old Engine and Wicken Fen.
 * Further north see Ely for Stretham Old Engine and Wicken Fen.
 * : "The women there do all they ought, the men observe the Rules of Thought...." - Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) was in Berlin when he wrote this semi-comic paean to the village. It's 3 miles south and upstream from Cambridge, a pleasant afternoon stroll or punt. The Church of St Mary and St Andrew (C of E) dates from 12th century, with several distinguished figures in its graveyard. There are thatched cottages, several pubs, and the famous Orchard Tea Gardens, open daily 10AM-6PM. The orchard was planted in 1868; in 1897 a group of student visitors asked if they could take tea there rather on the lawn, and this became a fashion. Brooke took up lodging at The Orchard in 1909 and attracted a glittering coterie: They love the Good, they worship Truth, they laugh uproariously in youth . . . Continue upstream to the pool below the weir at the confluence of the Cam and Brook. This was frequented by Europe's most famous "wild swimmer" Lord Byron.

Do

 * Explore the backs. It's free, and gives you a real flavour of the city. You can walk through King's College, onto King's Parade, a beautiful row of exclusive shops. You can also experience the backs by punt which is extremely popular.
 * Punting. 9:30AM-dusk daily. If anything is stereotypically 'Cambridge', this is it. Punting involves propelling a flat bottomed boat with a long wooden pole (quant) by pushing a pole against the shallow river bottom. For the full effect, take strawberries and Champagne to quaff as you glide effortlessly down the river. You can either travel along the famous College Backs or head out towards the village of Grantchester. Guided tours are also available from around £20.00 per person on the day. Save by booking online at (Traditional Punting Company, Let's Go Punting, Rutherford's Punting Cambridge, Scudamore's and Cambridge Chauffeur Punts. If you're up for more of an adventure, try it out for yourself on a self-hire boat (typically about £30/hour for an entire punt, so can be a lot cheaper if you are part of a group). Punting to Grantchester (upriver) takes about an hour and a half for an experienced punter or tour, and the complete journey takes much longer for first-timers. Along the Grantchester route there are riverbanks on the way for mooring up with meadowland suitable for picnics (Note that pranksters have been known to push unattended punts out into the river.)
 * Walking tours. Guided walking tours are available all year round with a range of walking tours to choose from. These tours can be tailored to suit group interest with the central tourist office. There is also the option to experience Cambridge virtually with some University Colleges providing their own tours. These include King's College and St John's College with a
 * Rowing. Cambridge is renowned for rowing on the Cam. All colleges and some schools have their own clubs, and there are over half a dozen large 'town' clubs. There are a number of regattas and head races on the river throughout the year, though the highlight in the rowing calendar on the Cam is the annual bumping races. For College crews, the 'May' bumps are in June, for the local clubs, this normally is the fourth week in July. Over four evenings of racing (Tuesday - Friday), eights attempt to gain higher position by catching the crew ahead of them before being 'bumped' by the crew behind. Races take place downstream (north) of the city, between the A-14 road bridge and the railway bridge at Stourbridge Common, and are best viewed from the towpath alongside the river, or from the Plough pub in Fen Ditton, both accessible by foot from the town centre - words of warning though - if on the towpath side, be careful for the massive number of bikes that accompany the crews racing, if in the pub, you may not get a seat, and beer prices are at a premium.
 * Cycling. Rent a bicycle and bike the mostly flat terrain around Cambridge. Popular destinations are Grantchester (3 km), American Cemetery (5 km), along River Cam towpath to Milton Country Park (5 km), Wicken Fen (12 km), Duxford Imperial War Museum especially during air-shows (15 km) and Ely (23 km). (More trips)
 * Football:
 * Cambridge RUFC were promoted in 2023 and now play rugby union in the RFU Championship, their second tier. The home ground is Grantchester Road, capacity 1250.
 * Cambridge University RUFC plays the annual Varsity Match against Oxford but doesn't play in a regular league.
 * Play tennis for free for up to 45 minutes at a city-council tennis court. No need to book – just bring racquets and balls. Parktennis runs free social games at Jesus Green most Saturdays at 10–11AM.
 * Play table tennis for free at Ping Pong Parlour in the Grafton Shopping Centre (balls and bats provided), or on an outdoor table.



Learn
Most lectures are only open to members of the university; however, a variety of public talks and lectures are organised:
 * Cambridge University public lectures and seminars
 * Cambridge Video & Audio
 * Trinity Public Lecture Series
 * Darwin College lecture series
 * Madingley Hall Public Lecture Series

There are a large number of summer schools, mostly English language, but also some offering tuition in a wide range of other subjects.

It is also possible for members of the public to attend residential summer schools within the University, such as Lite Regal Education

Work
Cambridge University students aren't allowed to work during term-time, so there are often possibilities for punting, hotel services, bar or waitering work for foreign nationals. Those from outside the EU require a work permit, see the Work section of United Kingdom for more details.

There are also the Science Park and Business Park located around the city limits which are home to many global gaming, digital, technology, bio-tech and pharmaceutical companies.

Buy
King's Parade has numerous souvenir shops and gift shops with Cambridge (and London) branded merchandise. Scour the charity shops down Burleigh Street, Regent Street and Mill Road for bargains. Book collectors will find many shops especially Trinity Street. The market square in the centre of town has a general market Monday to Saturday with fruit and vegetables, bread and cakes, books, bicycle repair, tea and coffee, fast food and clothes, and a more arts-and-crafts oriented market on Sunday with pottery, ceramics, prints, clothing, etc. The surrounding streets and the nearby and  shopping centres have most of the common retail names and many individual shops to cater for most needs. The has all the usual high-street shops in a mall and surrounding streets.

M&S Food (part of the Marks and Spencer department store chain) have a mini-supermarket that sells high-quality sandwiches, prepared meals, snacks and other groceries - usually at a high price. The main supermarket in the city centre is Sainsbury's on Sidney St. which stocks a full range of groceries and everyday products as well as alcohol and cigarettes. There are many more supermarkets including large Tesco (Chedder's Lane & Yarrow Road), Asda, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose superstores as well as a large Aldi discounter on the edge of the city.



Eat
Cambridge has a good range of eateries, as well as a daily market next to Great St Mary's Church where there are maybe 10-15 food stalls. Many of these offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, all for reasonable prices (a falafel wrap, for example, is £4-5).

Pubs
Many pubs in Cambridge also serve good food at reasonable prices, for example:



Drink
Charming pubs and peculiar drinking traditions abound. Cambridge has a colossal number of pubs, over 110 at the last count. For specialist and obscure spirits and wines check out Bacchanalia, Vinopolis or any of the Cambridge Wine Merchants stores.



Country pubs
Grantchester is home to four pubs - and the Green Man are closest to the river bank, and the Rupert Brooke and Blue Ball are to the right (Cambridge direction) along the main street of the village.

Café chains
You'll also find all the usual coffee chains:

Sleep
There is a range of options for accommodation in the city, although not so many for the budget traveller. In addition to guesthouses and hotels, there is a youth hostel and the option of staying in one of the rooms in a college. These rooms can be old with fantastic original features; they're a great base from which to explore the city. Outside of term, these will often be rooms which students have vacated for the holidays. Colleges can be contacted directly for information on accommodation in college, or they can be booked through UniversityRooms.

Mid-range
There are a number of guesthouses on Tenison Road, about 10 minute walk from the train station towards town.





Stay safe
Although Cambridge is one of the safer cities in the UK, you should use your common sense at night and be careful in badly-lit areas outside the city centre. As of 2019, pick-pockets are taking advantage of the throngs of tourists on King's Parade and the nearby shops; keep an eye on valuables. It is wise to be on your guard around Regent Street & St Andrew's Street after midnight with anti-social behaviour due to people leaving pubs and nightclubs.

Bicycle theft is an ongoing problem. If you have a bike, keep it locked up to a solid object with a strong lock (preferably a D-lock), as cycle theft is big business. There are cycle parking places with cycle stands to lock you bike to, in several places around the city centre and at the railway station. "Secure" covered cycle parking with CCTV surveillance and cycle stands is available in the lower section of the Park Street car park and at the Grand Arcade cycle park.

The city's police station is on Parkside which is next door to the city's fire station. The opening times of the enquiry office is every day 8AM-10PM and bank holidays 9AM-5PM. There are a couple of smaller stations in the nearby villages of Histon and Sawston. The opening time of the enquiry office is for Histon, Mondays; 4PM-8PM, Wednesdays to Fridays; 8AM - midday, with Tuesdays, weekends and bank holidays closed. For Sawston, it is Wednesdays to Friday; 1PM-5PM, Mondays, weekends and bank holidays closed. The non-emergency contact number is 101, calls are fixed rate of £0.15 on landlines and mobiles.

The city's Accident and Emergency department (Casualty department) is located at Addenbrooke's Hospital on Hills Road, south of the city centre.

Connect
As of July 2022, Cambridge has 4G from all UK carriers, and you might get 5G with EE, O2 or Three. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Gyms and swimming pools
All other gyms are private members only, including:
 * is the public sports centre on the south side of Parker's Piece. Entry is possible without membership.  Next door is the large  public swimming pools.
 * In summer it's worth visiting the, Britain's longest outdoor pool, on Jesus Green, Chesterton Rd CB4 3BD - +44 1223 302579. As of 2021, the Lido is open all year round.

Places of worship

 * Many Anglican churches, including college chapels and Great St Mary'snext to the market square.
 * Roman Catholic:
 * Muslim:
 * Sikh:
 * The local is active but, as of 2020, without a temple - +44 7909 528 091
 * Sikh:
 * The local is active but, as of 2020, without a temple - +44 7909 528 091
 * Sikh:
 * The local is active but, as of 2020, without a temple - +44 7909 528 091

Go next
Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby


 * Grantchester: Take a day trip to enjoy the countryside and have scones and tea at The Orchard. With a long history of famous patrons such as Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf, EM Forster and Bertrand Russell, taking tea in The Orchard is a well established tradition.  This large garden planted with apple trees is perfect for lounging on a deck chair in the sun with a cup of tea and a scone for sustenance. Or head out by punt with a picnic hamper.
 * Great and Little Gransden Glimpse the real England! Take a bus (30 mins or so, bus no. 18, or 18A) from Drummer Street to the tiny ancient villages of Little and Great Gransden, which appear in the Magna Carta. Brimming with thatched cottage charm, horses and peaceful country walks, these villages offer escape into English village life. Pub food is available in both villages.  Explore the ancient churchyards, the doll path in the meadow between them, and enjoy a leisurely hike around this tranquil village area.  The Duncombe Arms in neighbouring Waresly serves excellent food, and offers BnB accommodation.  Waresly is one- or two-hour walk from the riding stables at the bottom of Great Gransden.  You could even join a horse trek.  The undulating road offers wonderful views across farm land, and the ancient Waresly Wood, some of which is National Trust property. The 17th century open trestle post mill Windmill between The Gransden villages is unusually intact.  It was last operational in 1912.
 * Ely: Market town, with impressive Cathedral towering above the Fens (Ely used to be an island): regular trains and buses (9, X9, 12), or about two hours by cycle via NCN 51 to NCN 11.
 * King's Lynn is well worth visiting for its wealth of architectural gems especially Nelson Street and Tuesday Market place. The explorer Vancouver came from here. Museums and churches and the largest brass in the country in St Mary's Church.
 * Newmarket: Market town (in Suffolk), with a famous horse-racing venue, and everything horsey related including the National Horseracing Museum. Tu-Su 11AM-4:30PM (22 March - 30 October). Hourly trains and regular buses (10, 11, 12), or about two hours by cycle on NCN 51.
 * Bury St Edmunds: Market town, with a brewery, cathedral and gardens. Hourly trains and regular buses (11)