Explore Cambridge

If Oxford is the darker, brooding older brother, Cambridge is the prettier, lighter, pastoral sibling. The city is defined by “The Backs”—the stunning view of the colleges backing onto the River Cam. Here, weeping willows dip into the water, and pristine lawns (which you must strictly admire from a distance) stretch up to buildings that look like wedding cakes made of stone. The light here feels softer, filtered through the trees and the fenland mist.

Cambridge is flat—relentlessly flat—which means the sky feels huge. It is a city of bicycles; thousands of students cycle with terrifying speed and grace in swaying gowns, baskets full of books. The soundscape is the ring of bicycle bells, the splash of punt poles, and the angelic choral music drifting from King’s College Chapel. There is less traffic noise than Oxford, and a more village-like feel in the center.

While steeped in history (Newton, Darwin, and Byron walked these streets), Cambridge is also “Silicon Fen.” It is a global tech hub, giving the city a buzzing, forward-looking energy that contrasts with the medieval architecture. The food scene has improved dramatically, moving from student canteens to artisan bakeries and river-side dining.

To be in Cambridge is to feel a sense of tranquility. It invites you to slow down, to sit by the river with a book, or to wander the botanical gardens. It is manicured perfection, sometimes to a fault, but undeniably one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in the world.