The Beautiful Bridges of Cambridge City
The ancient university city of Cambridge in the East Midlands, and home to some of England’s most beautiful and unique bridges. Many people walk or cycle along these bridges (half of all Cambridge residents ride a bicycle at least once a week!)
The Mathematical Bridge at Queen’s College is an amazing piece of engineering. In that although it’s curved, it’s built from straight planks of wood!
Most of Cambridge’s bridges sit on the River Cam, which is over 120,000 years old, shaped into its present form by a flood 14,000 years ago. It’s home to unusual wildlife like elaborately coloured mandarin ducks and sea shags (like small green versions of cormorants).
A popular pastime on the River Cam is punting (flat-bottom boats that you steer with a pole, far less polluting than most forms of river transport). Apparently it’s quite tricky, so get lessons!
The Bridge of Sighs is a covered stone bridge, known for its Victorian Gothic architecture. It’s located at St John’s College (the only one to have two bridges). Apparently it’s named after the prisoners on their way to court, who would sigh as they crossed it!
