48 hours in… Cambridge

On the edge of the Fens, Cambridge in the colder months is at its most enigmatic and
atmospheric. Early in the morning, as the mist rolls off the river Cam, you may even have the city to yourself. Steeped in tradition, Cambridge is also cutting edge – ancient colleges coexist happily with exciting new architecture, while the medieval streets of its compact centre is home to a vibrant foodie scene. Soak up its rich culture in the world-class Fitzwilliam or Kettle’s Yard, then retreat to one of its many green spaces, like the University Botanic Garden or Midsummer Common, where you may just spot a herd of grazing cows.

Midday: Go to your hotel

Check into Graduate Cambridge with arguably the best position in town, surrounded by stunning colleges one side and open countryside the other.

1pm: On your bike

Settle in at the Old Bicycle Shop on Regent Street with its quirky vintage decor and tasty classics, including baked camembert and braised lamb flatbreads.

3pm: Hit the shops
Cambridge is full of quirky wonders, from Bodies In The Bookshop that specialises in crime fiction to Contemporary Crafts that showcases fabulous ceramics, and don’t forget Market Square, which has been here since Saxon times.

5pm: Go for a pint
Make it DNA bitter at the Eagle where Crick and Watson announced they’d discovered the secret of life back in 1953. Check out the back bar, covered in graffiti by RAF pilots who drank here in World War Two.

6pm: Take a pew
Pop into St Bene’t’s Church opposite and marvel at this simple and refined interior, also Cambridge’s oldest structure, built around 1,000AD.

7.30pm: Time for an early dinner

Head back to Graduate Cambridge for their Garden House restaurant with floor to
ceiling windows overlooking the river – pumpkin ravioli and peri peri chicken thighs are
highlights.

Saturday 9.30am: Take a punt
A guided early-morning punt at Scudamore’s Punting – a stone’s throw from the hotel – is the best way to get the river to yourself. Float past the College Backs of St John’s, Clare and King’s, and under the Bridge of Sighs.

10.30am: Piece of cake
With their pretty art nouveau exterior, Fitzbillies on Trumpington Street has been serving up sticky confections since 1921 – their Chelsea bun is legendary.

11.30am: Walk it off
Gen up on the city with a cantabtours.com guided walk. Find out how many billions Trinity College is worth, what engineering students once placed on the roof of Senate House and where you can see an offshoot of Newton’s apple tree.

1.30pm: Go Sicilian
Feast on Italian pizza slices, arancini, focaccia and cannoli at Aromi, serving up classic Sicilian fare since 1957.

3pm: Take in some art
Immerse yourself in some of the many masterpieces at the Fitzwilliam Museum, from Picasso to Titian and Monet to Lowry. Pause in the entrance hall, considered one of the finest Victorian interiors in the world.

5pm: Hear a world-famous choir
Every day at this time, you can enjoy Evensong at Kings College Chapel for free, along with the skeletal beauty of the fan-vaulted ceiling and the largest collection of stained glass in the world.

7.30pm: Grab a beer
In an elegant Grade II listed building, the Pint Shop offers over 30 craft beers along with tasty sharing boards and hearty mains.

Sunday 10am: Take in some art
Stroll over to Kettle’s Yard Museum and Gallery on Castle St, a modernist gem lived in by art curator Jim Ede who collected paintings and sculptures by Ben Nicholson, Jean Miro, Barbara Hepworth and many more.

1pm: A final punt
A few doors down is the Punter, a boho gastro-pub full of quirky antiques. On a warm day, their charming plant-filled courtyard is the perfect spot for lunch - their Sunday roast is a standout.

Photo: Joe Giddens/PA