A local's guide to Cambridge - from art at Kettle's Yard to picturesque picnic spots

[Celerity]

https://www.themodernhouse.com/journal/residents-guide-to-cambridge/



As Zadie Smith, the novelist and a former Cambridge resident, once said: “Cambridge was a joy. Tediously. People reading books in a posh place. It was my fantasy. I loved it. I miss it still.” Arranged around the River Cam and best known for its university, Cambridge is a postcard-pretty city of two parts.



The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and was granted a royal charter by Henry III just over 20 years later. Now composed of 31 colleges, its sheer size means, if you’re a teacher or student, it is possible to navigate the city almost solely on college-owned land. If you’re a visitor or resident, however, it is more likely that you will be skirting around it. Either way, the university’s historic buildings are magical to view.

But, as our guide to Cambridge shows, there is more to the city than academia. It also has beautiful architecture, wonderful expanses of parkland, natural swimming spots and is appealingly close to the countryside. And then there’s the wonderful Kettle’s Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum, where a healthy dose of art and culture awaits.

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