Cambridge is known for its university and the grand college buildings that come with it, but there’s a lot happening beyond that. With around 130,000 residents, it’s a compact city where daily life goes well beyond the academic world. If you step away from the chapel at King’s and the college tours, you’ll start to notice what the people who live here enjoy—independent cafés, quiet riverside paths, small music venues, and local markets. Here are some of the best things to do in Cambridge outside of the universities and colleges.
The Fitzwilliam Museum is Cambridge University’s main art and antiquities museum, with over 500,000 objects spanning centuries. It was founded in 1816 and has everything from Egyptian relics to paintings by Monet, Picasso, and Rembrandt. The building itself is grand and formal.
A short walk away, Kettle’s Yard is a completely different experience—a quiet house filled with 20th-century art, arranged in a way that blends everyday objects with paintings and sculptures.
It was put together by Jim Ede, a former Tate curator, and the result feels personal and calm. Together, the two places show very different sides of art in Cambridge. Admission to both is free.
Fitzwilliam Museum located on Trumpington Street in Cambridge © Shutterstock
Coasting along the River Cam in a traditional flat-bottomed punt is a classic Cambridge experience.
These boats are moved with a long pole pushed against the riverbed, and they give you views you wouldn’t get from walking. Along the way, you’ll pass the backs of several colleges—including King’s and Trinity—and go under bridges like the Bridge of Sighs.
If you go with a guide, they’ll usually tell stories about famous alumni, quirky traditions, and university history going back over 800 years. You can also try punting yourself, though it takes some practice.
Cambridge River Cam © Shutterstock
The Centre for Computing History is a hands-on museum focused on the history of technology, with more than 13,000 artifacts tracing how computers evolved—from huge machines that filled entire rooms to today’s smartphones.
A lot of the machines still work, so you can play vintage arcade games or try typing on a ZX Spectrum from the 1980s. There’s also a huge functioning "Megaprocessor" that shows how a computer chip works.
The museum highlights Cambridge’s role in tech development and includes rare prototypes and industry milestones.
Founded in 1846 by Professor John Henslow, who taught Charles Darwin, the Cambridge University Botanic Garden covers 40 acres (16 hectares) and includes more than 8,000 plant species from around the world.
It’s laid out across a range of landscapes—from a rock garden and a lake to a large glasshouse complex divided into nine climate zones.
Depending on the time of year, you might catch cherry blossoms in spring, a fragrant summer garden, changing leaves in autumn, or winter’s bare trees and bold shapes.
The garden functions as both a peaceful place to walk and a working research facility focused on conservation and climate science. There are often trails, workshops, and seasonal events, so it’s worth checking what’s on when you visit.
Botanical garden in Cambridge, England © Shutterstock
Relevant Record Café is a great example of the creative, independent energy you’ll find around Mill Road. Upstairs is a relaxed café serving good coffee and locally sourced food.
Head downstairs and you’ll find thousands of vinyl records organized by genre and era to dig through. Mixed in with the records are vintage pinball machines, so you can play a few rounds while browsing.
Since opening in 2014, the café has built a friendly, community-focused feel. In the evenings, they host events like live music, pub quizzes, and occasional pinball tournaments.
The Polar Museum, part of the Scott Polar Research Institute, gives a detailed look at both early polar exploration and current research.
One section focuses on Captain Scott’s 1912 Terra Nova expedition, with original letters, photos, and equipment that show the scale and difficulty of the journey.
There are also displays about Arctic communities, climate research, and how Cambridge scientists continue to study the polar regions today.
Rotating exhibits often reflect environmental issues that are still unfolding. It’s a compact space, but well put together and one of the best things to do in Cambridge.
Set in a 17th-century coaching inn, the Museum of Cambridge focuses on everyday life in the city across the last 300 years. Unlike the larger university museums, this one looks at local history through the lens of ordinary people—using domestic objects, work tools, and materials tied to community traditions.
There are period rooms that recreate historical living spaces, from a Victorian kitchen to a living room from the Second World War. Themed galleries explore things like childhood in Cambridge, changing technology, and local customs.
Temporary exhibitions often focus on underrepresented histories, such as those of women or immigrant communities. Many of the volunteer guides have personal ties to the displays.
Just north of the city, Milton Country Park stretches across 95 acres (38 hectares) of lakes, woodland, and open meadows—once gravel pits, now transformed into a public green space.
The lakes are open for kayaking, paddleboarding, and rowing, with equipment rentals available on-site. Beginners can book a session with an instructor, while more experienced paddlers are free to explore on their own.
The park is known for its birdlife—kingfishers, herons, and other species are often seen around the water. Walking and cycling trails loop through the park, weaving between wildflower meadows and around the lakes. There are regular events throughout the year too, including birdwatching walks and conservation workshops.
As evening sets in, Cambridge’s older streets take on a different feel—perfect for a ghost walk. These guided tours are led by costumed storytellers and pass through medieval lanes, college courts, and riverside paths linked to centuries of ghost stories.
Tales range from Oliver Cromwell’s floating head at Sidney Sussex College to the figure of a drowned punter seen along the River Cam.
While the walks lean into theatrical storytelling, they’re also grounded in local history, tying haunting legends to things like plague outbreaks, persecution, or academic stress. Cambridge’s scientific background also makes its way into the experience—guides often touch on how early scholars tried to make sense of the paranormal. You don’t need to believe in ghosts to enjoy it.
In Cambridge, the Sunday roast isn’t just a meal—it’s a bit of a local ritual. Some people make a whole day of it by hopping between pubs to compare roasts.
You’ve got old pubs like The Eagle, where Watson and Crick used to drink, and The Anchor down by the river, plus newer places doing their own version of the classic.
Expect roast meat—usually beef, pork, or chicken—with crispy potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables, and thick gravy. Some pubs go traditional, others favor a more modern style, but either way it’s good comfort food.
Since you’re surrounded by farmland, a lot of the ingredients come from nearby. And quite a few chefs have worked in the colleges before moving into pub kitchens, so they know what they’re doing.
Right in the center of town, Cambridge Market runs every day except Sunday and has a bit of everything.
Local growers sell fruit and vegetables, there are food stalls doing everything from falafel to noodles, and you’ll usually find baked goods, cheese, and coffee too.
Beyond food, there’s a rotating mix of vendors selling records, secondhand books, handmade jewelry, and vintage clothes. Some stalls change day to day, so it never feels exactly the same. You might come across a local artist or a seller with old maps and prints.
The market’s been here for centuries, and it still feels like a central part of the city.
If you’re looking for a break from the city, Wandlebury Country Park is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Cambridge.
It sits on the Gog Magog Hills and covers around 110 acres, with easy trails through meadows and woodlands.
One of the first things you’ll notice is the Iron Age hillfort—you can still make out the ring-shaped earthworks, even though they’ve been there for over 2,000 years. It’s a calm place to walk, with wildlife like butterflies and birds depending on the season.
There’s also a restored chalk grassland area and an old stable block that now hosts events and workshops. On a clear day, the views stretch out across the countryside and over the city.
The Rice Boat is a family-run restaurant on Mill Road that focuses on South Indian and Sri Lankan food, especially from Kerala. The atomosphere is casual, and the food served tends to be fantastic coconut milk-based fish stews, spicy devilled curries, and hoppers (thin, bowl-shaped rice pancakes with crispy edges and soft centers).
There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes that go beyond the usual lentil curries. If you're craving something different from the typical pub or British fare, this is a good change of pace. It’s popular with students and locals.
Midsummer Common is one of the big open greens along the River Cam, and yes—there are actually cows that graze here in summer. It’s used year-round by people walking, cycling, or just lying in the grass.
You’ll see rowers on the river, joggers on the paths, and the occasional food truck or event tent going up depending on the season.
The Midsummer Fair takes place here each June—it’s been happening since 1211—and Bonfire Night brings a big crowd in November. There’s also a path that connects it to Jesus Green.
The Whipple Museum is inside one of the university’s departments, and it focuses on the history of scientific instruments.
You’ll see early telescopes, handmade microscopes, and things like astrolabes and globes that were once used to study the stars or navigate oceans. Some pieces were used by well-known scientists, including Darwin and Newton, and you get a sense of how scientific tools have changed over time—from delicate works of craftsmanship to more precise machines. The museum is small and low-key, but there’s plenty to take in.
This antique centre has three floors to explore and is just a few minutes’ walk from the Grafton Centre.
It’s a shared space with different dealers selling everything from Victorian jewelry and furniture to vintage books, prints, and postcards.
Some pieces are affordable and fun to browse through; others are more rare or collectible.
The layout feels a bit like a maze, and you’ll probably stumble across things you weren’t expecting. Many of the dealers are around and happy to talk about where their items came from, especially if there’s a connection to Cambridge’s past.
written by
Dre Roelandt
updated 15.07.2025
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