Things to do in Cambridge by Canal

Cambridge is one of the most beautiful cities in England, well known for its University and colleges, it’s boat race with rival Oxford and the River Cam. In this guide we’ll explain some of the best things to do in Cambridge if you’re visiting via the waterways. 

University Experiences

Established in 1209, Cambridge is one of the oldest and most prestigious Universities in the world, and is home to famous alumni including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and more recently David Attenborough. Some of the most famous colleges include;

• King’s College: Founded in 1441 by King Henry VI. This magnificent college is renowned for its stunning gothic chapel, which took over 100 years to complete.
• St John’s College: Founded in 1511, the college is most well-known for its bridge of sighs. Supposedly, the bridge got its name from the sighs of students who crossed it on the way to exams. You might also recognise the bridge if you’re a fan of the Harry Potter films as it made an appearance in the Half Blood Prince.
• Corpus Christi College: Founded in 1352, the college’s clock famously runs five minutes fast. The clock, installed in the 17^th century was intended to hurry students so they would arrive to their classes on time.

Altogether, there are 31 colleges that make up Cambridge University and the hardest to get into are Kings, Clare and Emma. Most of the university buildings are impressive feats of architecture and can be seen from the River Cam or by walking through the City centre. Or if you’d like to experience Cambridge University past and present, there are also organised tours around the colleges for a more in-depth experience.

Punting in Cambridge

If you’ve already arrived in Cambridge via narrow boat, you might have already seen punters on the River Cam and be tempted to join in the fun. It’s one of the most popular activities to do as a tourist in Cambridge and is a unique way to experience the city’s famous architecture.  

Punting first became popular in Cambridge in the late 19^th century, where students began to use punts to navigate the shallow waters of the River Cam. Originally used mainly for transportation, it soon developed into a common pastime for students. In 1887 Cambridge University established its own punting team known as the Cantabrigian Rowing Club and the different colleges would race each other down the river.  

One of the most popular punting races is known as the Bumps race, which is essentially like playing “Tag” with punts, the aim of the race is to catch up with the boat in front and bump them, causing them to drop out of the race. – Let’s just say, we don’t recommend doing this with a narrow boat!

Photo by Chris Boland

Museums in Cambridge

As a city of intellectuals there’s no surprise that there are a number of fantastic museums to experience while in Cambridge. These museums include;

• Museum of Archeology and Anthropology: A collection of over a million artifacts from all over the world, including Samurai armour and 500 year old potato from Peru.
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden: 40 acres filled with over 8,000 plant species. The garden was opened by Charles Darwin’s mentor John Stevens Henslow in 1831.
• Museum of Classical Archeology: A must for fans of classical art, experience one of the largest collection of plaster casts of Greek and Roman statues in the world.
• The Fitzwilliam Museum: Founded in 1816 by the 7^th Viscount FitzWilliam, the Fitzwilliam museum is one of Cambridges best kept secrets. It contains art by Monet, Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt along with a large collection of antiquities.
• Kettle’s Yard: If contemporary art is more your thing, Kettle’s Yard hosts a collection of modern and contemporary exhibitions.
• The Polar Museum: The Polar Museum holds a host of objects from the Arctic and Antarctic. With a number of object collections around polar exploration.
• Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences: The Sedgwick Museum is the oldest out of all of the University of Cambridge’s museums. It was established in 1728 and has at least 2 million fossils, rocks and minerals on display.
• Museum of Zoology: The museum of zoology holds two million specimens. Many discovered by great naturalists like Charles Darwin.

Food and drink in Cambridge

There’s a wealth of food and drink options in Cambridge that will suit all appetites. A city of such history has many cosy pubs including the Eagle, opened in 1667, where scientists Watson and Crick famously celebrated their discovery of DNA in 1953. The oldest pub in Cambridge is the Pickerel Inn which opened in 1608. Another top choice for casual dining is the Pint Shop which is known for its scotch eggs and charcoal spit roasted meats.

Cambridge by Canal

What better way to experience the picturesque beauty of Cambridge than from a relaxing canal boat. Our featured route to Cambridge and Return from March Marina is a delightful way to experience Cambridge and the surrounding countryside.

Find out more about our canal boats here, or If you’re ready to plan your perfect canal boat holiday find out how to book today!