For anyone who wants to enjoy the authentic Cambridge life, it’s now possible to hire a bike, cruise in a punt along ‘The Backs’ and even stay at an historic college for a surprisingly low cost. Students, tourists and filmmakers enjoy soaking up the scenery in one of Britain’s most beautiful cities, says a leading travel expert.
Cambridge is one of the UK’s most attractive and historic cities. Even those who have never visited know it from films such as ‘The Theory of Everything’, ‘Oppenheimer’, ‘Chariots of Fire’ and even ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’.
To get the true Cambridge experience, it’s now possible to stay in some of its most historic and atmospheric colleges. Even on a short stay, this enables visitors to hire bikes (often the best way to meander through the streets) and enjoy a leisurely punt along ‘The Backs’ to get the best views of the picturesque colleges. Booking rooms in a beautiful Cambridge college can be done for a surprisingly low cost, says a leading travel expert.
Lily Smith, from the specialist accommodation finder UniversityRooms.com, says: ‘Whether it’s a first visit or you’re heading back to The Backs for the umpteenth time, there’s always a lot to enjoy in Cambridge, including the return of its outdoor festival, “Out of the Ordinary”, this Bank Holiday after its very successful first year.
‘Cambridge has 31 colleges, many dating back centuries, and has appeared in TV series from “Porterhouse Blue” to “Grantchester” and movies from “The Theory of Everything” and “Chariots of Fire” to “Oppenheimer” where, whisper it, King’s College was used instead of Oppenheimer’s actual college, St John’s.
‘Many Cambridge students and residents don’t know that King’s College actually stood in for 1750’s London in some scenes of the swashbuckler “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”. Alas, there are no scenes of Captain Jack Sparrow escaping in a punt down the River Cam, however.
‘One of the best ways to view the colleges is along The Backs, a stretch of the Cam that flows behind the backs of several of Cambridge’s most attractive colleges. If you don’t fancy tackling the stranger tides of the Cam yourself, it’s very relaxing to be “chauffeured” by an experienced punter.
‘Perhaps the most immersive Cambridge experience of all, though, is to book a room in one of its truly historic colleges, which can be surprisingly inexpensive, even at the height of the summer season. Best of all, you can stay in them even if you are not a student.
‘For example, the 15th-century Christ’s College is one of the oldest and most attractive buildings. Visitors just have to cross the road from the busy shopping centre to pass through the 500-year-old Great Gate into quiet and tranquil gardens. Amazingly, rooms can still be booked this month for as little as £51 a night.
‘Arguably more breathtaking still, St John’s College celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2011. St John’s has magnificent gardens down to The Backs, with its courts connected by the beautiful Bridge of Sighs. Although the Main Gate leads right into the heart of the city, the college courts provide a serene and peaceful environment for guests. Rooms this month cost from £138 a night.
‘St John’s is the largest college site in Cambridge (and even rival Oxford!). In contrast, Sydney Sussex College is one of the smallest, but it’s famed for its strong community spirit and known for its warm and friendly welcome to visitors. Again, the college is sited right in the heart of the historic city. Sydney Sussex may be small but it has a long history dating from 1596, when it was founded on St. Valentine’s Day. This month, Rooms start at under £82 a night.
‘Rooms in many historic Cambridge University colleges are mainly available during the academic vacations. These are:
- Easter: mid-March to mid-April
- Summer: mid-June to mid-October
- Christmas: beginning of December to mid-January
‘That means if you have ever been inspired by “Carols From King’s” to see Cambridge at Christmas, you can book accommodation in a neighbouring historic college during December.
‘Staying in a Cambridge college provides a unique backstage pass to university life, while helping to generate revenue that contributes to the upkeep of these iconic buildings. The B&B or self-catering rooms are mostly located in central Cambridge.
‘It doesn’t take an educated guess to realise that university accommodation is likely to get fully booked as awareness of this relatively inexpensive alternative grows. One thing to consider is that some colleges have a no-under-18s rule, so double-check the campus’ page for details. For more information and to book your stay now, see: https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/city/cambridge/home/
