This is a museum dedicated to all our ancestors. The archaeology gallery holds one of Britain's most important collections of native Roman and Anglo-Saxon findings. The anthropology gallery's top floor is graced by a colossal wooden totem pole and contains intriguing objects from a variety of cultures. Every visitor is likely to find a personal favorite whether it be an imposing carving or a detailed ornament. A third gallery is devoted to temporary exhibitions. Wheelchair users should note that there is a lift inside though they are advised to contact prior to visiting.
Housed in a 17th-century school hall, the Whipple Museum's collection of scientific instruments gives an intriguing insight into humanity's technological progress over the centuries. Displays include calculators through the ages, intricate astrolabes and telescopes. An upstairs gallery focuses on the university's contribution to scientific discovery in the 18th century. The museum is named after Robert Whipple, who ran the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company. He donated over 2000 books and instruments to the University of Cambridge, and his collection is used by the Department of History and Philosophy of Science as an integral part of its teaching. Admittedly, the displays are sometimes not well labeled so it is worth asking the guardian to explain the exhibits more fully. Wheelchair users are advised to telephone prior to visiting.
One of Cambridge University's most prestigious buildings, the illustrious Fitzwilliam Museum is home to some of the most prized collections of art and ancient artifacts. The antiquities and art collection were inherited from Viscount Fitzwilliam, the benefactor who established the museum in 1816. Beyond the museum's neoclassical facade rests a rich collection amounting to nearly 550,000 objects, paintings, and manuscripts, some of which date as far back as 2500 BCE. Some of the most notable masterpieces include Simone Martini's Saint Geminianus, Ford Madox Brown's The Last of England and paintings by greats like Renoir and Picasso. There is also a fascinating collection of world history and oriental art.
On the north and east sides of Market Square you will find shops and college accommodations: to the west, there is Great St Mary's Church, and behind it, King's College Chapel, the Old Schools and the Senate House. The market place has been here for centuries, once taking up all the area between Great St. Mary's Church, St. Edward's Church, St. Andrew the Great and Holy Trinity churches. From Monday to Saturday the stall holders sell their wares: fresh produce, cut flowers, second-hand books, clothing, soap and souvenirs. On Sundays the square features an art and craft market and local farmers' stalls.
Great St. Mary's, which overlooks the market place, plays an important role in university and civic life, in addition to its duties as a parish church. Building began in 1478 and Henry VII himself gave 100 oak trees to construct its roof. The upper galleries were added in the 18th Century, with 123 steps leading to the top of the bell tower, which offers an excellent view of the city.
It is said that once, one could walk from Cambridge to Oxford crossing only Trinity land. Start outside the gatehouse on Trinity Street: Henry VIII founded the college in 1546 by merging two existing ones. His statue stands proud; below him, the coat-of-arms of Edward III, founder of one of the earlier institutions, and below that, the shields of his sons. Look especially at the feathers of the Prince of Wales, still used by Prince Charles today, and a blank shield, Edward's youngest son died in infancy. To the right of the gatehouse, an apple descended from the tree which prompted Isaac Newton to make his theory of gravity.
To wander the acres of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden is to escape the city's crowds and traffic. The landscaped grounds, which include a lake, water gardens, rockeries and glasshouses, are beautifully maintained with a chronology of plants introduced to Britain, a scented garden for the visually impaired, carnivorous plants, and much more. You can also enjoy the interesting guided tour around this beautiful place.
The distinctive round shape of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre originated in the Holy Land, where early Christians built circular walls around tombs. English crusaders returned from Palestine with a vivid memory of the design and the Round Church was built around 1130. The church was altered in the 15th Century when windows were added, and again in 1841. Today the Round Church houses the Brass Rubbing Centre.
The University of Cambridge is a collegiate university, which means that while there is no sole university site, a cluster of 31 independent colleges lay scattered around different parts of the city. The university, founded in 1209, is deemed as the 'second-oldest university in the English-speaking world'. This prestigious university was born following a fallout of a group of scholars with the townspeople of Oxford, a disagreement that led to separation from the University of Oxford. The oldest, Peterhouse, was founded in 1284; the newest, Robinson, in 1977. The colleges come in all shapes and sizes: from small postgraduate Clare Hall, built in the late 1960s, to the grand Tudor expanse of Trinity. Every student is affiliated to a college, and each college is self-governing and financially independent. The university controls the faculties, subject departments, central administration (the Old Schools and the Senate House), museums, the printing press and the Botanic Garden. The university has nurtured a slew of scholars who have gone on to shine in their respective fields, including Stephen Hawking, Srinivasa Ramanuja, Sir Isaac Newton, and English playwright Christopher Marlowe.
A warren of seven academic edifices line the banks of the Cam River in Cambridge's historic heart, offering a glimpse into the area's immense heritage, history and architectural importance. The Backs are titled so because one can view the backs or rear of the seven colleges from a vantage on the river. These seven colleges, deemed as some of the most prestigious in the academic universe, include King's College, Clare College and St. John's College, among others. Built on land reclaimed from the river's floodplains, they rise majestically over the area's lush surrounds, standing as historic sentinels of academia and tradition. Visitors can view these architectural greats as they glide in a boat along the river, sinking in the serene vistas that surround them.
The River Cam is the principle river that flows through Cambridge and eventually merges with the River Great Ouse. The river is easily navigable for small boats, making it a popular destination for leisure activities. Punting, canoeing, sailing or rowing down the river is an excellent and entertaining way to explore the famous Cambridge College "Backs". Sections of the river are also good for swimming, especially during summer. River Cam is so much a part of the fabric of Cambridge, that a trip to the city is simply incomplete without a ride down at least a part of its length.
Trace local life back through the ages in the rooms of this humble museum, formerly the White Horse Inn. Each room's display is based on a theme, for instance, local industries, toys through the ages or old kitchen utensils. Great fun can be had guessing the objects' original uses, try witch bottles and eel traps for starters. Temporary exhibitions study particular aspects of Cambridge life. Children can complete the worksheet quiz with enthusiasm, while the grown-ups relive their youth. There's a gift shop, limited wheelchair access and a Braille and tape guide.