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Cambridge A stone’s throw north of London, Cambridge is one of England’s most intellectual centers. Since this distinction is deep rooted in British culture, the architecture here is a stunning ode to centuries of academic foment. But whereas Oxford seems to sleep in the hazy mystery of the past, Cambridge is a bustling center of “Now” in British academia, its proximity to the capital of England perhaps lending Cambridge some of its currency in the modern world. Indeed, while the town’s intellectualism dates more than a millennium into the past, it is aggressively pursuing the riches of the present by becoming a sort of “Silicon Valley of Great Britain.”
Visitors to Cambridge will find a surprising contrast between the modern bustling energy that is pouring wealth into the city counterbalanced with the feudal fortresses stockpiling academic knowledge. Flashy new clubs and designer brands sparkle madly before ancient pillars of academia. As for restaurants, the Midsummer House is a bit of a splash, but a delightful restaurant for gourmet Mediterranean cuisine. The Corn Exchange is great for live music, and the Ballare will accommodate those who wish to dance till sunrise. Yet timeless and eternal, the ancient gems of Cambridge’s architecture patiently await your rapt – if somewhat bleary eyed – gaze the following day.
A wonderful place to start out sightseeing in Cambridge is the Great Saint Mary’s Church. Dating back to the 15th Century (although the first church was built in the 13th century) this is the central point of Cambridge and looms over the Senate House just across the street.
(Hint: you’ll get a view of much more than just the Senate House if you make a point to find the entrance and climb up one of the towers in Great Saint Mary’s). Other fascinating attractions in Cambridge include Trinity College, featuring Isaac Newton’s legendary Apple Tree, and The Amateur Dramatic Club on Park Street. Perfect for the highbrow theatre you’ve been craving, this building hearkens back to England’s proud dramatic legacy.
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