Culture City Tours: 10 Amazing Things to Do in Cambridge

There are some things you simply have to do in Cambridge. See the colleges. Take a punt down the River Cam. Wander through streets that have witnessed centuries of history.

But Cambridge gets even better when you venture beyond the obvious.

From a tiny cocktail bar on Mill Road and a brewery hidden down a side street to contemporary art inside a former home and a walk through the meadows to Grantchester, we've rounded up 10 of the best things to do in Cambridge, including a few places you might not find on the usual tourist itinerary.

Whether you've just moved to Cambridge, have friends coming to stay or simply want to rediscover the city you call home, consider this your alternative Cambridge culture tour.

1. Go punting - but see Cambridge from the water

Yes, it's the Cambridge cliché. But there's a reason punting remains one of the best things to do in Cambridge.

The River Cam gives you a completely different perspective on the city, taking you behind some of Cambridge's most famous colleges and through the Backs. Rather than simply ticking it off the tourist list, take your time, go later in the day when the river can feel a little calmer, or hire your own punt and learn the surprisingly tricky art of steering it yourself.

Our tip? Bring something to drink, accept that you might bump into the bank at least once and enjoy it. Some Cambridge traditions deserve their reputation.

2. Discover the house that became an art gallery

Forget the traditional museum experience. Kettle's Yard is one of Cambridge's genuine cultural treasures.

Originally the home of curator Jim Ede and his wife Helen, the house brings together modern art, furniture, ceramics, natural objects and everyday possessions. The result feels less like walking around a gallery and more like being invited into the home of someone with impeccable taste.

Today it's the University of Cambridge's modern and contemporary art gallery, with the original house complemented by changing exhibitions.

It's intimate, slightly unexpected and a very different side of Cambridge.

3. Have cocktails at 196 on Mill Road

For one of Cambridge's best little drinking spots, leave the historic centre behind and head down Mill Road.

196 cocktail bar isn't a huge, flashy cocktail bar, but that's precisely the point! It's small, atmospheric and tucked into a shopfront at 196 Mill Road, with the sort of relaxed neighbourhood feel that makes you want to stay for another round.

Mill Road itself is worth exploring. It's one of the most characterful parts of Cambridge, packed with independent restaurants, cafés, shops and pubs and a completely different proposition from the postcard Cambridge around King's Parade.

4. Drink beer where it's actually brewed

Hidden just off Mill Road in an old farm building on Hooper Street, Calverley's Brewery is the sort of place you could easily walk straight past without knowing what was behind the doors. Don't.

The independent small-batch brewery was founded by two brothers and its taproom serves a rotating selection of beers brewed right there. You can even order sourdough pizza from nearby Scott's All Day straight to your table.

It feels pleasingly removed from Cambridge's more polished drinking spots. Part brewery, part neighbourhood hangout and very much worth seeking out.

5. Walk to Grantchester and earn your cake

One of the best walks in Cambridge begins near the city centre and gradually leaves Cambridge behind, following the River Cam towards Grantchester.

The route through Grantchester Meadows gives you open fields, river views and a little slice of the countryside without having to get in a car.

Your reward at the other end is The Orchard Tea Garden, where tea and cake beneath the fruit trees has been a Cambridge ritual for generations.

Walk there, refuel and wander back. On a warm spring or summer day, it's difficult to beat.

6. Spend a morning eating and drinking your way along Mill Road

If King's Parade shows you historic Cambridge, Mill Road shows you another side of the city.

Start with coffee at Hot Numbers Coffee on Gwydir Street. The independent Cambridge coffee roaster combines speciality coffee with music and events and occupies part of the old Dales Brewery.

Then don't rush off. Explore the international food shops, delis, cafés and restaurants around Mill Road. For something a little special, book a table at Fancett's, an intimate neighbourhood restaurant known for its French-inspired cooking and regularly changing menu.

Round things off with a pint at The Cambridge Blue, a proper backstreet pub with a huge beer selection and garden. It's still an independent freehouse and was named Cambridge & District CAMRA's Young Members Pub of the Year for 2026.

7. Swap the city centre for Stourbridge Common

When Cambridge city centre gets busy, head east.

Stourbridge Common gives you wide-open grassland beside the River Cam and is one of those places that reminds you just how quickly Cambridge can transition from city to countryside.

Take a walk along the river, bring a picnic or simply find somewhere to sit for an hour. It's a particularly lovely option when you want some green space without making an entire day of it.

8. Try one of Cambridge’s most creative scoops

You can't explore Cambridge without stopping for something sweet, and Jack's Gelato is a local favourite worth knowing about.

Its Bene't Street shop is right in the heart of the city, but this isn't your standard ice cream stop. Jack's is known for small-batch gelato and sorbets, with a frequently changing selection of flavours that can range from classics such as pistachio and raspberry to more unexpected creations like Cambridge fig leaf, cardamom and rose, or even Cambridge Gin & Tonic.

It's the perfect excuse to grab a scoop and continue exploring the city on foot. And because the flavours change so often, there's usually something different to try each time you visit.

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9. Explore Eddington like a local

You don't need to head into Cambridge city centre every time you want something to do. Eddington has developed its own growing community of cafés, restaurants, events and green spaces.

Start with a walk around Brook Leys and explore the neighbourhood on foot or by bike. The Ridgeway provides a dedicated walking and cycling route through Eddington towards Cambridge, while the neighbourhood itself has been designed to make walking and cycling easy.

Then head towards Eddington Square. The neighbourhood calendar includes everything from community markets and live jazz to outdoor yoga and sporting events, so it's worth seeing what's happening before you set off.

For Present Made residents, it's a reminder that some of the best things to do aren't necessarily a day out. Sometimes they're right on your doorstep.

10. Do Cambridge after everyone else has gone home

Our final recommendation isn't a specific attraction at all.

Go into central Cambridge in the evening.

The experience of walking through the historic centre after the shops have closed and the day-trippers have left is completely different. Wander along Trinity Street, Senate House Passage and King's Parade before heading towards the river and The Backs.

The architecture hasn't changed. The atmosphere has.

It's quieter, slower and gives you time to actually look around rather than navigating the daytime crowds. If you've recently moved to Cambridge, an aimless evening walk is also one of the best ways to begin discovering the little streets and corners that eventually make the city feel like yours.

Discover your Cambridge

Cambridge may be famous around the world for its university, colleges and punting, but living here gives you the chance to discover much more.

The best things to do in Cambridge aren't always the biggest attractions. They're the independent coffee shop you keep returning to, the backstreet pub you introduce your friends to, a walk along the river on a sunny evening or discovering an event happening ten minutes from home.

Living at Present Made Eddington puts Cambridge within easy reach while giving you a neighbourhood to come home to. Eddington itself is around 20 minutes from Cambridge city centre by bus, with dedicated pedestrian and cycle connections providing another way to explore.

So go punting at least once. But then go and find your Cambridge.