Karen Martin visits the historic city of Cambridge to discover its timeless charm…
The city centre of Cambridge buzzes with the sound of chatter in multiple languages from throughout the world. A cultural and historic hub, the ancient city’s academic heart pulses with the youthful intellect of the most gifted students on the planet.
A lucky few make the exodus from the excellent schools in Tunbridge Wells to rub shoulders with the brightest and best of our time and follow in the footsteps of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking.
Town and gown, student and tourist jostle for space in this compact architectural gem. Archaic customs, quaint and English, are combined with cutting edge tech, big pharmaceutical firms and ground-breaking research and development to create a thriving global community. Its foundations are built on a past traced back to Roman times and a present focused on innovating for a better future.
OLD AND NEW
A mile from the historic honeyed limestone colleges and quads of Cambridge University is a new building providing a warm welcome in chic contemporary style and comfort. Built on the site of an old school, The Fellows House is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Constructed during the pandemic, it opened its doors just as corporate and overseas visitors were starting to shed their masks and step back outside.
Meeting the consistent standards required of travellers familiar with Hilton Hotels, The Fellows House is a haven of practical luxury. Different types of ‘aparthotel’ accommodation range from standard hotel rooms to suites with kitchen facilities and adjoining rooms. These work for visiting families or executives needing serviced accommodation with the perks of a hotel.
There’s a gym, quiet because it’s for residents only, a lovely pool, sauna and steam room and the heated outdoor Fellows Garden is a tranquil quad accessed from meeting rooms, the restaurant and the spa. Self-contained rooms and hotel facilities make The Fellows House a home away from home with extras.
The menu in the Folio Kitchen includes vegan dishes and suits international palates. Cocktails and small plates are served in the Folio Bar. The Sage coffee shop is the domain of a talented pastry chef who produces vegan, egg-free, gluten-free and sugar-free sweet treats. Who thought there was such a thing?
OPEN DAYS
Cambridge is less than two hours’ drive away from West Kent, steeped in history, full of great bars, restaurants and shops and surrounded by beautiful countryside and idyllic villages. As a weekend break, it’s a destination that ticks lots of boxes.
If you happen to have a smart, aspirational child who has A level predictions which might just get them a sought after place at Cambridge University, the open days on 6-7 July and 15 September 2023 are opportunities to access all areas of the hallowed halls and dreaming spires of Oxbridge.
Peterhouse College was created in 1284 and Henry VIII founded Trinity College, putting Cambridge at the forefront of achievement which it remains to this day.
ART AND SCIENCE
Cambridge is a university campus that happens to be a city. Its 800-year academic history has elevated it above a typical market town like, say, Chelmsford or Maidstone. The Fitzwilliam Museum is a jewel of a collection of more than half a million works of art and historic artefacts to rival the greatest of London museums.
Archaeology, anthropology, zoology, botanics, science and modern art are all represented in University of Cambridge Museums and Botanic Garden (www.museums.cam.ac.uk). But you’ll need more than a weekend to get around it!
Taking a punt is the way to get the best view of Cambridge. The river Cam gave its name to the city and winds through green fields, past churches, chapels and courtyards. Bicycles (and now motorised scooters) duck and dive over cobbles and along lanes past throngs of strolling visitors.
Out on the river, punters pole through shallow, timeless waters, an unmissable experience for the visitors drawn to this special place. Like the gondoliers of Venice, the punters on the Cam drift silently through a city, past places where history was made.
Rooms at The Fellows House are available from £174. www.hilton.com/en/hotels/stncaqq-the-fellows-house-cambridge (www.museums.cam.ac.uk). But you’ll need more than a weekend to get around it!
Taking a punt is the way to get the best view of Cambridge. The river Cam gave its name to the city and winds through green fields, past churches, chapels and courtyards. Bicycles (and now motorised scooters) duck and dive over cobbles and along lanes past throngs of strolling visitors.
Out on the river, punters pole through shallow, timeless waters, an unmissable experience for the visitors drawn to this special place. Like the gondoliers of Venice, the punters on the Cam drift silently through a city, past places where history was made.
Rooms at The Fellows House are available from £174. www.hilton.com/en/hotels/stncaqq-the-fellows-house-cambridge
