Cambridge (a beautiful city on the River Cam)
Cambridge is arguably a ‘prettier city’ than Oxford, although both are known for their ancient universities. Cambridge is situated on the River Cam, and home to an ancient university, beautiful bridges and many independent shops (despite in danger a few years back of being a clone town).
Cambridge University (home to students and wildlife!)
Cambridge University has 31 university colleges (a few hidden behind old walls). The 33 acres of land at Jesus College alone, is home to muntjac deer, sparrowhawks and endangered water voles.
Some of the best known university colleges are King’s College (known for its beautiful chapel and choir who perform Christmas carols on TV each year) and Trinity College (this is like a small town with huge courtyards, and holds the personal notebooks of Isaac Newton, a studied who discovered the laws of gravitation).
Other well-known Cambridge University graduates include A.A. Milne (creator of Winnie the Pooh), Bill Oddie (former Goodie and lover of wild birds) and national treasure Sir David Attenborough.
Cycling capital of Europe
Like Amsterdam, nearly everyone rides a bicycle in Cambridge. Around a third of residents cycle to school or work, due to the flat landscape and in-built culture from university days. The city has many cycle routes and dedicated cycle bridges and parking. Local group Camcycle promote for better safer bicycle town planning.
The beautiful bridges of Cambridge City
Cambridge is one of England’s most beautiful cities, and is also home to some of its most lovely ancient bridges.
The Bridge of Sighs (no need to go to Venice!)
The Bridge of Sighs is a covered stone bridge in the city of Cambridge, with a Gothic style, believed to be the favourite spot of Queen Victoria. Located at St John’s College (the only one in the university to have two bridges)
Many people walk or cycle along the city’s bridges (half of all Cambridge residents ride a bicycle at least once a week!)
Now Grade-II listed, it was built back in 1831, designed by Henry Hutchinson. It was indeed inspired by the famous Venetian bridge, although architecturally it is quite different.
Built to connect older and newer parts of the college, access is restricted to college students, or those having walking or punting tours.
The legend of its name is that poet Lord Byron named it, to translate from the Italian phrase ‘ponte dei sospiri’, after prisoners would sign at their final view of Venice through the window, before being taken down to their cells. Same with Cambridge, some were even seeing the city for the last time before death.
The curved mathematical bridge (built with straight wood!)
The Mathematical Bridge at Queen’s College (Cambridge) 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).
The wooden timbers act under compression (so the bridge is strong, without bending). The unique design also means that the bridge is easily repaired and maintained. Individual parts are easy to replace, without having to take the entire bridge apart.
Having said that, the bridge has been rebuilt twice (in 1866 and 1905) but both to the original design. There was actually a twin bridge designed by the same architecture, though it no longer stands.
Other bridges in or near Cambridge
There are over 20 more bridges on the River Cam, including:
- Clare Bridge is the oldest (built from 1639 to 1640) and has 14 stone balls, with a wedge missing from one.
- Magdalene Bridge (1823) is made from cast iron, on the site of a Roman crossing. It is now Grade II listed, and was historically vital for trade routes.
- Garret Hostel Bridge (1832) was originally built to walk over, and connects Trinity and Garret Hostel Lane.
Independent Cambridge (supporting indie shops)
Indie Cambridge is a membership organisation designed to connect and support independent businesses and shops across the beautiful county of Cambridgeshire in East Anglia. It brings together businesses and customers, by reaching hundreds of local customers via the app.
Membership (at around £45 a month) has many benefits. Your business will be listed on the app (far less than paying for an add) to targeted customers who like supporting indie customers, so of course you can also use this opportunity to offer special deals and new offers. Or even promote your own discount card.
You also appear on the website and may be mentioned in the popular monthly e-newsletter that is sent to 1000s of people. You also get to connect with other indie businesses, for mutual support.
There are also regular get-togethers with others, to network (so you don’t feel like an island, in a sea of chain stores and supermarkets).
You’ll even on membership be introduced to everyone they know, and be featured in the magazine, distributed free (over 5000 copies) in local shops twice yearly.
Indie Cambridge can even arrange an interview (for a fee) with a local journalist to write your unique store, and take a professional photo-shoot to use for your marketing. And if you’re not ready to sign up just yet, you can still sign up, for a free basic listing.
Supporting independent shops in Cambridge (one of the most cloned places in England) helps to reduce the number of chain stores. For every £5 or £10 you spend each week at an independent shop, this brings collectively billions back into the local economy over a year.
This is because local businesses use local suppliers, pay local taxes, use local signwriters, and tend to eat and drink locally too. Plus ‘top profits’ go the retail shop owner, rather than shareholders abroad.
Run an indie shop? Many seeds, flowers, plants (and plantable cards) are toxic to pets, so learn what not to sell to households with pets.
Fabulous finds in Cambridge City!
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- Arjuna Wholefoods is not just a cooperative health shop, but also offers home delivery and catering.
- Cambridge Organic is one of England’s oldest organic box schemes. If you wish to support your local farmers, then shop here for fresh produce. You can select what you get in your box, and pause if you go on holiday.
- Cambridge Sustainable Food is a local campaign to stop food waste. You can donate surplus food from your business to help local hungry people.
- Waterland CSA is a local community-supported-agriculture farm. So instead of buying from supermarkets and seeing farmers sell produce for a pittance, you ‘pay the farmers’ in advance then take your share of the harvest, when the crops come in! Delivery is through Connect Cambridge (by electric bikes or vans).
- Eastern Savings & Loans is Cambridge city’s main credit union. It’s easy to switch from your conventional bank. Find simple current and savings account, with profits being kept in your local community. Your money is then used to give out responsible loans for local businesses.
The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race (its interesting history)
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race began in 1829, covering a 4.2 mile stretch of the Thames, from Putney and Mortlake in London. Each boat has 8 rowers and a coxswain, who steers the boat and sets the race plan.
In 1877, the only only dead heat occurred (there were rumours however that the judge had fallen asleep or blind in one eye). As of today, Cambridge leads the winnings for both the men’s and women’s races.
One former Cambridge rower was Hugh Laurie, in the race when his team lost, after clashing oars! And in 2019, James Cracknell recently became the oldest person to win with his team at 46, after suffering severe injuries in a cycling accident.
In 1912 (strangely the same year the Titanic also sank) , both boats sank as they filled with water during poor weather. In 1978, Cambridge’s boat sank and again in 1984 (after hitting a barge before the race had even started).
In recent years, the French brand Chanel has taken over sponsoring the Boat Race. This has appalled some, as Chanel has a ‘not good enough’ score at Good on You.
The decision was take to ‘celebrate the historic race’, but of course it’s to sell expensive watches. We recommend instead sustainable vegan watches.
The countryside surrounding Cambridge
Cambridgeshire is a beautiful county in the East of England. It’s home to one of our most important wetlands that provides home for birds and wildlife, and fertile land for much of our organic food.
Always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and toxic plants/trees) and on leads near birds, barnyard friends and wild ponies.
The River Cam is shallow and ideal for (quite complicated) punting. It is said to include a hidden Ice Age channel below. It’s still known as the Granta (above) and the Cam (below).
The best-known stretch (the ‘Backs’) flows behind many university colleges. This river is not always tidal, as there are locks (Jesus Lock and Baits Bite Lock) that prevent saltwater from the Fens reaching Cambridge. Power boating is restricted, leaving the area beautiful to enjoy engine-free punts and rowing boats.
