Talk to anyone who has never been to Cambridge about the place and it’s more than likely the only thing they’ll mention is the University. This is understandable as, together with Oxford, Cambridge is probably the most famous seat of learning in the world. But there is so much more to it than that. Cambridge is a beautiful city, set in wonderful countryside but within easy reach – just over 50 miles – of London.
With the River Cam running through it, Cambridge was a highly important trading centre during the Roman and Viking ages but the earliest town charters weren’t granted until the 12th Century. It was in 1209 that the University of Cambridge was first founded and these days, it’s the beautiful University buildings that dominate the architectural landscape of the city. This identity has been preserved throughout the many ages of development including the Industrial Revolution.
This has been important for the tourist sector of Cambridge but in modern times, the city has a thriving economy for other reasons. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Brains Belt’ of the UK, Cambridge is home to some of the biggest Tech and Pharmaceutical companies in the world. With a mix of historical and modern, Cambridge has a depth of character and opportunity that makes it an intriguing and attractive option for relocation, and there are many other aspects of the city to support this too.
Amenities
If shopping opportunities mean a lot to you, Cambridge is a veritable paradise. The City Centre Grand Arcade lives up to its name, with over 60 stores spread over three floors with several big-name retailers, as well as cafes and restaurants. Other areas such as the picturesque Trinity Street mix brand names with unique independent shops. The city boasts a wonderful range of restaurants to suit foodies with the most diverse of tastes, from the Michelin-starred Restaurant 22 to the spicy Galpol Bengal restaurant. The stellar standard of educational amenities in Cambridge almost goes without saying – the primary and secondary schools of the area are rated as highly as you’d expect. Primary schools such as Histon and Impington Brook are classed as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, while both State and Independent Secondary Schools in the Cambridge area are similarly rated, providing superb foundations for advanced education choices.
Areas
Cambridge has a diverse range of suburbs and neighbours to choose from, all with a charm of their own. Chesterton, for instance, is just a short walk out of the city centre and offers an amazing blend of urban convenience and rural tranquillity. It’s a perfect balance of both worlds, with a variety of local shops, cosy cafes, and lush parks, ensuring residents have everything they need close by. And this is the general theme of the most sought-after areas in Cambridge – Trumpington, to the South of the centre, is more family-friendly but still with that balance. When it comes to green space, Cambridge has more per acre than most cities in the UK. Areas such as Petersfield and Romsey Town are cheaper and considered ‘hipper’, geared towards young professionals and students.
Transport Links
Given its location, Cambridge is clearly an attractive option for commuters who work in London. Regular trains to London’s King Cross take less than an hour and there are several direct trains each day to Brighton and the airports at Gatwick and Stansted. The bus network from the Drummer Street station is superbly efficient too. But the mode of transport that everyone associates with Cambridge is the bicycle. The city boasts more cyclists than any other in the UK. And because of the compact size of Cambridge, it is quite probably the most efficient vehicle to use to get from one part of the city to another – there’s an extensive network of cycle paths and the most bike-friendly infrastructure. This makes environmental sense for the city making Cambridge a much cleaner place to live in.
Sightseeing
With history and education being such a massive part of Cambridge’s identity, it’s hardly surprising that the most popular attraction is probably the Fitzwilliam Museum. Located in the heart of the historic city centre, the museum is home to everything from Renaissance sculptures to Egyptian antiquities. The museum experience doesn’t stop there – Polar Scott Research Institute and The Centre for Computing History are other popular attractions for the curious. Outdoor destinations of note and beauty are Jesus Green, Midsummer Common, and Parkers Piece, not to mention the University of Cambridge’s Botanic Gardens, home to over 8,000 plant species from all over the world. And of course, you can’t say you’ve been to Cambridge without punting in a boat on The Cam River at least once.
Culture
The cultural spectrum of the city is broad and exciting. Kettle’s Yard is home to the University of Cambridge’s modern and contemporary art collection and has seen a major redevelopment in recent years. It now includes works by some of the biggest names such as Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Alfred Wallis, Constantin Brancusi, Henry Moore, and Barbara Hepworth. For fans of the more aural arts, music has a particular significance for the city, which is the birthplace of the founders of Rock megaband Pink Floyd. The Cambridge Folk Festival is known the world over, attracting the biggest names in the genre every year. And the Corn Exchange has long been a stopping-off point for bands and comedians on Nationwide tours. A little more high-brow, The Cambridge Arts Theatre is a highly-respected arena for the dramatic arts, dance, and more.
To many people, Cambridge appears to be a city stuck in an old-fashioned past. For those in the know, the city really has the best of both worlds as its main selling point. The fact that so many sizable companies are choosing to set up home there should tell you that the more learned view is that Cambridge is perfectly placed to be a city of the future, and definitely a great place to live.
