🇬🇧 The Ultimate Cambridge Day Trip Guide

As a former Cambridge student and tour guide, I’m sharing the insider’s guide to exploring this iconic university town! 🚆 Getting There • From London: Two stations (King’s Cross/Liverpool St) offer direct trains (~1hr). • Pro Tip: Snap a pic at King’s Cross Platform 9¾! 🧙‍♂️ • Arrival: Cambridge Station is south of town—skip the 30-min walk; take Bus U/A (10 mins to centre). 🏛️ Must-Visit Colleges Cambridge’s 31 colleges are where students live, dine, and pray (classes happen in "Departments"). The "Big Three": 1️⃣ King’s College 👑 (Must-book!) Highlights: Chapel (stunning stained glass!), Great Lawn, Xu Zhimo’s Farewell Poem stone. Best Photos: Chapel pews + bridge views. 📸 2️⃣ St John’s College ⛪ (Limited access!) Only open during Christmas/Easter/Summer breaks (term-time: beg a student to guest you in!). Don’t Miss: Chapel’s solitude, Bridge of Sighs, castle-like dorms. PS: Toilets in Fisher Building—rare in Cambridge! 🚻 3️⃣ Trinity College 🍎 (No public entry!) Newton’s Apple Tree is outside the gates. Secret Hack: Visit Trinity Library (12-2pm) to see: Newton’s hair, undergrad notes, prism (light dispersion!), 1st-ed Principia Mathematica. 🔬📚 (No photos allowed!) Other Gems: • Queens’ College: Skip the £5 Old Hall—just see the Mathematical Bridge. 🌉 • Corpus Christi: Lovely lawns + the Corpus Clock nearby. ⏳ • Free & Charming: Pembroke + Downing Colleges. 🍽️ Food & Landmarks • Eagle Pub: Where DNA was announced! 🧬 (+ classic fish & chips). • Jack’s Gelato 🍦 + Aromi Pizza 🍕—student favorites! • Science Spot: Cavendish Lab (physics history) is 2 mins away. 🛍️ Shopping • Cambridge University Press Shop: Cheapest souvenirs. • Ryder & Amies: Best variety. 💡 Pro Tips • Punting: Haggle! £40-50 for 2 is fair. 🛶 • Toilets: Scarce—use college cafes/museums. • Weather: Bring layers—Cambridge winds are sneaky! 🌬️ #Cambridge #CambridgeUniversity #TravelUK #DayTrips #OxfordOrCambridge #Punting #StudentLife