🇬🇧 The Ultimate One-Day Cambridge Guide (By a Cambridge Graduate)

Today, I’m sharing a guide based on my experience as both a Cambridge student and a student tour guide for friends visiting this beautiful city. 🚉 Getting Here: Two London train stations offer direct routes to Cambridge. Don’t forget—King’s Cross has the Platform 9¾ Harry Potter spot! 🧙♂️ Cambridge Station is located quite far south. Walking to the city centre takes about 30 minutes, so I recommend taking the U or A bus (10 minutes). 🏰 Must-Visit Colleges: In Cambridge, "colleges" refer to student living quarters (dorms + dining halls + chapels), while academic departments (e.g., Maths Faculty) are where classes are held. Every student belongs to both a department and a college. There are 31 colleges in Cambridge, but the "Big Three" are the most famous: 1️⃣ King’s College: Check opening times in advance. Must-see: the front lawn, the chapel, and the Xu Zhimo "Farewell to Cambridge" stone. Best photo spots: sitting in the chapel chairs & shooting the entire college from King’s College Bridge. 📸 2️⃣ St John’s College (My Personal Favourite 💙): Open only during Christmas, Easter, and summer breaks. During term time, ask a current student to show you around (maybe over bubble tea!). Highlights: a chapel that feels like a private tour, castle-like dorms, and the Bridge of Sighs. The entire corridor near the bridge is super photogenic. PS: Fisher Building has restrooms—a lifesaver since public toilets are hard to find in Cambridge! 3️⃣ Trinity College: The most prestigious college, but no individual tourist tickets are sold. You don’t need to enter—the famous Newton Apple Tree is outside the front gate. Hidden gem: Visit the Wren Library (enter through the back gate between 12-2 PM) to see Newton’s hair, undergraduate notes, the prism he used for light dispersion experiments, and a first edition of Principia Mathematica (no photos allowed due to copyright). Other Colleges: Queens’ College: The Old Hall dining room is stunning, but £5 entry isn’t worth it—just see the Mathematical Bridge from outside. Corpus Christi: The lawn is beautiful. Pembroke & Downing: Both free to enter and highly recommended for a quieter visit. 📍 Nearby Attractions: The Corpus Clock ⏰ The Eagle Pub (where DNA was announced) 🍻 The original Cavendish Laboratory site All within a 2-minute walk! 🍴 Food & Drinks: Jack’s Gelato 🍧 and Aromi Roman-style pizza 🍕 are student favourites! 🛍️ Shopping: Cambridge University Press Shop: cheapest souvenirs. Ryder & Amies: most variety. Reached word limit—feel free to ask questions in the comments! 😊 #Cambridge #CambridgeTravel #CambridgeGuide #CambridgeUniversity #TravelUK 🇬🇧✨