Bridge of Sighs — Local services in Cambridge

St John’s College completely blew me away with its grand architecture and peaceful courtyards, but the real gem here is the Bridge of Sighs. I’d seen pictures before, but nothing beats standing there in person, especially if you catch it from the river while punting — it genuinely feels like something out of a movie.

The bridge itself is smaller than I expected but so elegant, and it's one of the most photographed spots in Cambridge for good reason. The college buildings on either side are just as impressive, with that classic Gothic look and towers that make you feel like you’ve stepped into another century.

Inside the college grounds, the courtyards are full of atmosphere — quiet, green, and somehow untouched by time. If you can, try visiting early or on a weekday when it’s a bit quieter. The chapel is also worth popping into, and I loved how the whole space opens up toward the river — you can actually cross the Bridge of Sighs as part of the self-guided tour, which was a really cool moment for me.

It’s hard to pick a favorite college in Cambridge, but this one easily makes the top three. It’s the perfect mix of photogenic landmarks, history,...

If one wants to understand the Bridge of Sighs, one must first understand bridges more generally. Bridges are so vital to our way of life that there is a Wikipedia article called "List of Bridges" that lists bridges. The Bridge of Sighs at St John's, which ironically doesn't make it onto Wikipedia's list, is a remarkable specimen. It is rumoured that in the early 1400s, a gentleman would walk across the bridge every day hoping for it to collapse under his weight. Each day, the bridge refused to give way, and the man became exasperated. The bridge was named after this exasperation. I've used the bridge regularly to travel from Third Court to New Court and I can't remember it failing. At other times, I've used it to travel from New Court to Third Court, and it performs flawlessly. I'm not afraid to say it: this...

Coming from continental Europe, I was very disappointed that many of the open spaces of these 'public' universities were sealed off from the public. Because if this, there is absolutely no way of seeing any of these listed attractions, including the Bridge of Sighs and so on. So be wary that as a regular visitor you may only have access after a certain time in the evening, if at all (when I was there, the grounds were completely closed for several days). I wish this was spelled out more explicitly in Cambridge's tourism website or more of these reviews, otherwise I would have gone elsewhere and spent my holiday in another perhaps more scenic...