Cambridge, UK

The River Cam flows through the heart of Cambridge, extending approximately 49 miles from Debden in Essex into the Great Ouse near Pope's Corner at Ely. The picturesque river is a top spot for outdoor recreation throughout the year, offering official public boating moorings on both sides of the river near Jesus Lock and at the bridge at Clayhithe. Small boat and rowing craft enthusiasts can navigate approximately 40 miles of the river to its terminus at the Great Ouse, which connects to the River Nene and England's canal system. Great fishing opportunities are offered along the river's clear waters, which are believed to still be home to native fish species burbot, previously presumed to be extinct since the 1970s. Visitors can also swim along the upper portion of the river year-round at Granchester Meadows.

King’s College Chapel was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1950, noted as one of the best examples of late Perpendicular Gothic architecture in England. The chapel, which is located on the grounds of the University of Cambridge's King's College, was constructed in segments between 1446 and 1515, though its iconic stained-glass windows were not completed until 1531. Today, it is known as one of Cambridge's most iconic tourist destinations, serving as an unofficial symbol for the city. Visitors can tour the chapel throughout the year and view design elements such as the chapel's famed vaulted ceiling, the largest fan-vaulted ceiling in the world. Regular worship services are still presented at the chapel, along with college music performances such as the annual King's College Music Society May Week Concert.

King's College, King's Parade, Cambridge CB2 1ST, Phone: +44-0-12-23-33-11-00

The Backs is a Grade 1 Historic Park in Cambridge comprising of reclaimed land and garden spaces running alongside the riverfront backside of several of the city's colleges. The park, which was landscaped by noted English landscape architect Lancelot Brown, abuts the campuses of St. John's, Trinity, Clare, King's, and Queen's Colleges. Several world-famous bridges traverse the River Cam along the park's stretches, including the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge. Visitors can explore the park throughout the year and enjoy gorgeous nature photography opportunities. Each spring, the park is blanketed in plantings of daffodils and crocuses, which provide spectacular color to the landscape.

Queen's Rd, Cambridge CB3 9AH, UK, Phone: +44-12-23-45-70-00

The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is one of the world's top-rated botanical gardens, located between Trumpington and Hills Roads and Bateman Streets over a 40-acre plot of land. The garden, which is overseen by the university's Department of Plant Sciences, was originally created in 1831 and opened as a public attraction 15 years later. Today, it holds an extensive collection of more than 8,000 native and international plant species, cultivated as teaching tools for significant leading botanical research. Visitors can explore the garden's beautiful glasshouses, which are home to more than 3,000 species of plant life and showcase sections devoted to South African, Australian, North and South American, and Oceanic plant life that thrive across a variety of ecosystems and climates. Charming woodland, water, and rock gardens are showcased outside, along with seasonal gardens open during the autumn and winter months.

1 Brookside, Cambridge CB2 1JE, UK, Phone: +44-12-23-33-62-65

The Bridge of Sighs is a gorgeous covered bridge known as one of Cambridge's top tourist attractions, famously acclaimed by British Queen Victoria as one of the city's most beautiful landmarks. Despite popular urban legends about the iconic bridge's name being taken from the frustrated sighs of pre-exam students at nearby St. John's College, it is actually named in tribute to Venice's beautiful covered bridge of the same name. It was originally designed in 1831 by architect Henry Hutchinson and spans the River Cam near the college's Third and New Courts. Today, it is listed as a Grade I building and serves as one of the city's most popular photo opportunity spots.

St John's College, Cambridge CB2 1TP, United Kingdom

The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the world, originally founded in 1209 after the breakaway of several scholars from the nearby University of Oxford. Today, the university is still considered to be one of the most prestigious learning institutions in the world, known for its acclaimed educational programs and gorgeous historic architecture. Visitors can explore the university's campus and see landmark sights such as the renowned King's College Chapel, the Cripps Building of St. John's College, and the James Stirling-designed history faculty building. Beautiful examples of patterned brickwork are on display at historic buildings throughout the university's Queen's and St. John's College, including walls constructed in the English, Flemish, and Running bond styles.

The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is the oldest public museum at the University of Cambridge, originally established as the Woodwardian Museum in 1728. Today, the geology-focused museum is known for its extensive collections of more than two million rock, fossil, and mineral specimens, which span a history of more than 4.5 million years of geologic time. Visitors can peruse special collections such as the Beagle Collection, which showcases artifacts collected by Charles Dawson during his famed world voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, and the Harker Collection, named in honor of noted petrologist Alfred Harker. The museum is open to the public for free Mondays through Saturdays during the afternoon hours and on select special event evenings, including the Cambridge-wide Twilight at the Museums event.

University Of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK, Phone: +44-12-23-33-34-56

Imperial War Museum Duxford is Britain's largest aviation-centric museum, located near Duxford in Cambridgeshire. The museum showcases the history of the Duxford Aerodrome airfield, which was operated by Britain's Royal Air Force and played significant roles in the First and Second World Wars. Nearly 300 historic aircraft are presented throughout the museum's exhibit halls, ranging from B-52s and Concorde jets to Vulcan bombers and Tiger Moth biplanes. A collection of military vehicles and naval vessels is also displayed in exhibits, along with collections of film, photography, and other artifacts related to the lives and histories of British World War forces such as the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4QR, UK, Phone: +44-12-23-83-50-00

The Mill has been widely renowned as one of Cambridge's best pubs, located along the banks of the beautiful River Cam at Laundress Green. The historic 19th-century pub has been the recipient of three CAMRA awards, including the 2015 award for Cambridge Pub of the Year. Excellent cask ales are served up throughout the week, available for drinking at the pub's full-service dining area, charming indoor bar, or outside Millpond area. Delectable entrees include hearty seasonal pies, beer-battered haddock and chips, and craft burgers with toppings such as chorizo, pineapple, and chipotle mayo. Bargoers can play a selection of board games or choose their favorite vinyl to play on the restaurant's radiogram. The restaurant is also noted as one of the region's best pet-friendly spots, welcoming well-behaved dogs.

14 Mill Ln, Cambridge CB2 1RX, UK, Phone: +44-12-23-31-18-29