About Cambridge
Cambridge is simply a delightful place to live and work. As well as one of the world's most prestigious universities, excellent access to London and an abundance of culture, it is one England's most beautiful spots.Tourists from all over the world visit Cambridge to see the historic university, which has housed some of the great minds of our time e.g. Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Professor Steve Hawkins. Cambridge University has won more Nobel Prize than any other university on the planet. As well as its reputation for intellectual excellence, the city has become one of the most popular homes for high tech companies. Now home to over 90 hi-tech companies and 5,000 personnel, Cambridge Science Park continues to attract new businesses, from small start-ups and spin-outs to subsidiaries of multinational corporations including- Microsoft, Philips and ARM to name a few.
Cambridge has a great nightlife, although it must be said that is has not been allowed to become a 'booze infested' party town. If you are looking to enjoy a lazy pint whilst watching the cricket, Cambridge's surrounding villages have their fair share of traditional pubs over looking the green. If modern bars are your thing, the city centre boasts plenty of trendy bars and restaurants to choose from. In the summer, there is an abundance of bars that open up onto the banks of the River Cam, one can sit and watch the punts drift by.
One of the best ways to see Cambridge is from a punt, a flat-bottomed boat, powered by human endurance and a long pole. I.e. Much the same as an Italian gondola. You can hire punts from Silver Street or Quayside by Magdalene Bridge. There are also chauffeur punts, for those who do not have the confidence to punt themselves. The other much favoured way to see the city is by bicycle. You can hire bikes all over the city, including the train station. The city is extremely cycle friendly and cycles are one of the most common forms of transport. As previously mentioned Cambridge has excellent access to London (40 mins by train), the station can be found on station road heading out to the south of the city. Buses can be found at Drummer Street in the heart of the city centre and routes go to nearly all surrounding villages.
Cambridge has many excellent museums and art galleries, including The Fitz William museum on Trumpington Street and Kettles yard on Castle Rd. Most of these are free entry and house anything from antiquities, pottery and paintings to sculpture. The Cambridge market is a dominant part of city centre living, it is open 6 days a week. It sells food, clothes, and other goods, with souvenirs in summer. On Sunday, there are craft stalls and a Farmers' Market. The colleges' buildings are usually arranged around courts. It is possible to walk round some of these and visit chapels and halls. Some colleges charge an entrance fee.
The one thing that many people comment on when visiting Cambridge is the amount of greenery that both surrounds and enters the city centre. It is possible to take a bicycle and within 5 minutes ride into open countryside with grazing cows and bounding meadows. As well as natural green parks there is Parker's Piece which is an open sports ground, used by local schools and sports clubs, and the location of some local events. Larger events take place at Jesus Green or Midsummer Common. Midsummer Common is so-called because at midsummer, there is a large fair there, called Midsummer Fair.
Needless to say, if you are planning on doing some site seeing in Cambridge, it is worth planning ahead as there is simply too much to see in one day. If you are looking to settle in Cambridge, it is a great place for young and old, has wonderful schools and colleges, fantastic facilities and a laid back atmosphere that has been compared to continental living.