Cambridge where to go

Question

I an going out with a few friends to cambridge we will be going out during the day for a few drinks and some fun where is the popular places to go remember this will be mid day onwards.

Anyone know cambridge well enough to say where to go?

Answer 1

For a start the first thing anyone should do in Cambridge (provided the weather is good) is some punting.  If you've got someone who can punt then this is good as it is a lot cheaper than hiring someone to do it for you.  If your really keen to do it the actual art of punting is not particularly hard and a good laugh if your up for it but there is a knack to it so maybe get a guy there to explain the basics to you.

There are two main areas you can punt from:  Silver Street Bridge and Bridge Street.  The former will allow you to access both the countryside of Grantchester or the historic backs of the colleges with the latter only allowing access to the colleges.  If it's a hot sunny busy day then the backs of the colleges may be quite crowded so you may be better off heading up Grantchester way.  

If you do decide to go bear in mind that the punting areas are littered with touts trying to sell you punting tours, I would recommend that you plain ignore these pests and rent one directly from the river.  My favoured place is Granta Punts which is near Silver Street but a bit out of the way on the Mill Pond next to the Granta pub.  

Load up with some beers and snacks and off you go.  

There is also an open top bus which is to be avoided in my opinion.  It used to be very good but was taken over a few years ago by a chavvy organisation based in Purfleet, Essex.  As a result the tour has deteriorated into nothing more than an overpriced, under-serviced, tourist trap.  You also won't be able to drink on the bus by law.  

Beers-wise, there are far fewer traditional and decent pubs to hit in Cambridge than there used to be which, call me old fashioned, is a bit of a shame.

If it's a hot day and you want to sit outside the best bets are the Anchor (expensive), The Mill or The Granta all around the Silver Street region.  The Mill is quite small but has grassy area that you can spill out onto and is probably your best bet if it's busy and you're quite a big group.  The other two are a bit more upmarket.  Nearby there's Miller's Yard (off Mill Lane) which has a few eating places from noodle bars to full blown restaurants.

Another central area is Bridge Street.  The main pubs here, The Mitre and The Baron of Beef are both still quite traditional but the restaurants are mostly chains here.  A lot of people are fans of Henry's which is right by the river in a complex called Quayside.  Down from there, a bit out of the way but signed quite well, there's a place called the River Bar and Kitchen which is quite a trendy bar where you can get food.  

I think the final area I can think of where you could go is St Andrew's Street.  There's a Wetherspoons there called the Regal and a Vodka Revolutions although the latter seems to think it's a London bar rendering it a bit **** due to it's pretentiousness.  All Bar One and a few restaurants here also.  

There are also a few places a bit more central jotted around The Market Square area in between the main areas I've just mentioned.  

If pubs or bars aren't your thing there is always the option to sit out on Parker's Piece.  This is a massive open green area which is quite central.  You can relax there and play a bit of football, cricket, frisbee or whatever takes your fancy.  At this time of year there's normally a team of foreign students kicking around looking for a good pasting at football.  

This is in no way a comprehensive list but I hope it provides you with a start.  

Some other little Gems include.

The Eagle Pub - A lot of Cambridge history tied up with this pub including the discovery of DNA round the corner and airman of the Royal Air force who burnt their names into the ceiling during the war.  

King Street - 5 pubs here to suit varying tastes, famous for it's King Street Run pub crawl.  

The Alma Pub - Classic under age drinking spot.  Rumour has it a foetus got served in there once!

Answer 2

Hi I'm from cambridge.

I would reccomend the Regal(weatherspoons) for cheap drinks/food, then go round the corner for Revolution (coctails e.t.c)

for more traditional goto the riverside, you have Anchor and the mill. which is where you can sit outside and watch people fall in the river from thier punts.