Cambridge is best known as the home of the University of Cambridge, one of the world's premier universities. The River Cam flows through the city and its name is derived from the river.

Hotels in Cambridge

Cambridge is located 89 km (50 mi) north of London. With good rail services and road communication links, Cambridge is easily accessible. Regular trains run from King's Cross and Liverpool Street stations to Cambridge. The fastest services to and from King's Cross run nonstop and take under 50 minutes. This train departs every 30 minutes. Trains to and from Liverpool Street Station take about 75 minutes, and sometimes have cheaper tickets available. More than 3½ million visitors come to Cambridge every year.

The University of Cambridge was founded in the 13th century by monks who wished to escape the busy Oxford and chose the quiet town of Cambridge. In the 17th century Cambridge University educated many of the founders of Harvard University, also located in a place called Cambridge, near Boston. Cambridge University consists of a number of semi-independent colleges, some up to 5 km (3 miles) from from the town center. The university includes the renowned Cavendish Laboratory, King's College Chapel and the Cambridge University Library. Colleges such as Trinity College and St John's College own significant land both in Cambridge and outside.

Cambridge, especially the various college and university buildings, is fascinating for people with an interest in architecture. The colleges have been built sporadically over the centuries and the result is a mixture of styles both old and modern. The gardens by the river behind various colleges is called the Backs. A tour of the Backs gives the visitor a good feel for the various styles and it will bring you through the Gardens of Clare, Trinity and St John's Colleges.

The colleges in Cambridge all have chapels which can be visited, but town churches also offer a rich insight into the history of the town and university, and are usually free. Among these churches are Great St Mary's from the 15th century, St Benet's a tiny 11th century church and All Saints from the 19th century, although no longer used as church, it has been preserved as a rare example of the Arts and Crafts movement.