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Cambridge England
University City
Cambridge has that unforgettable look and feel as you view The Backs, the river and of course the magnificent Gothic chapel of King's College which dominate the surrounding buildings.
Although the university town in Cambridgeshire was and is a very important market centre, it owes its fame as well as its prosperity to the University, which was established in the 13th century and it soon became one of the most celebrated centres of learning in all of Europe.
Not surprisingly, the city was a market town in the Middle Ages, standing on the same spot where the Roman Road from Colchester to Chester crossed the river Cam. Around the year 284 a band of disgruntled students and teachers from Oxford founded a college that was to become Cambridge University, the pride of the county.
Everybody seems to be riding bikes in this wonderful city. This university city not quite as old as Oxford sits right in the middle of the southern part of the county. Set around this quiet rectangular area and surrounded on all four sides by several of the ancient and beautiful colleges have gardens along the placid River Cam. Here the wide grassy banks of The Backs furnish an idyllic setting for those who like to have a picnic by the riverside, or drift along in a punt.
The town itself is a long irregular designs of venerable buildings, some supremely fine such as King's Chapel, every Christmas the heart-stopping scene of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. To walk through the gardens and a mellow parade of English architectural styles, is to enter another era entirely.
The University City was a regional centre for more than 1,000 years before the university was established. The actual town began when the Romans built a camp on a small hill beside the River Cam, which they called the Granta. By the 5th century it had become a Saxon market town.
In the 9th, it was a Danish army base and in the 11th, a Norman military stronghold. It was not until the 13th century that the first students appeared - and with them the City took on the character which still exists today.
It's a delight to discover things to do in cambridge and especially the old town too and wander in the narrow lanes off the King's Parade, and along Magdalen Street where there are groups of medieval houses. You'll see lots of Cambridge pubs and bars in the area as well as a few bed and breakfasts to choose from.
If you set aside an hour or two I recommend you take the city Medieval Walk which will most definately take you way back in time:
How to get to Cambridge from London: If you're driving to the university city it's best to take the motorway (M11) which starts in North East London near a place called Waltham Forest. Once on the (M11) drive north for about 60 miles until you see the signs for Cambridge. The drive time is about 1 hour 20 minutes from London depending on the traffic conditions of course.
The university city is located to the right of the (M11) motorway. You can also connect with the (M11) Motorway from the (25) Motorway which circles London. The two Motorways connect at the south end of county
Essex
Getting there by train from London is easy and convenient: Liverpool Street Mainline Station is on the east side of London and is well served by the Underground, Buses and London Cabs. I should mention here that London Stanstead Airport is connected by train from Liverpool Street Station too.
As I mentioned before, this city is home of one of the world's most famous universities and is a vibrant place full of theatres and museums. The Fitzwilliam Museum, an art and antiques museum, may be the smallest museum in Europe, and of course there are many more galleries you should expect to see around this major university city.
Again, don't forget to review the many pubs, cafes and restaurants, including shops and boutiques you should explore. Also, a reminder to try punting on the River Cam and include browsing the bookshops and even rent a bicycle to get around the picturesque city streets. Great Fun!!
The city has 31 colleges and is such a delight to walk the cobbled courts, chapels, gardens and bridges. I should mention, The city also has some very interesting modern design architecture to explore.
More information can be found at: Visit Cambridge
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