f8lee Loc: New Mexico

I will be spending a couple of weeks in Cambridge for work next month, and wonder if some of you locals there have suggestions as to where the more photogenic areas are. I'll likely be on my own, and while it's been decades since I was in London I've never been to Cambridge at all. TIA

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Never been there. We've a couple of members who live in the locale but if they don't pick up your message this might help;

http://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/best-photography-spots-1099.html

Several other similar available via. Google.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

I used to live in Cambridge and still live close by. The historic and fantastically photogenic city centre is very compact and is easily done on foot. Buy a guide book and be prepared for the colleges charging entry fees. If you want any more detail PM me.

Graham

Skate Loc: Kilgore, TX

Hello. We used to live about 40 miles east of Cambridge when I was in the USAF. We gave several tours of Camb. to friends, family and aircrew members. If you are driving I HIGHLY RECOMMEND parking on the outskirts of town (Park and Ride) and take their bus into the city center (cost £1 ). Camb. is a small town, made up of about 28 small colleges-some no larger than one building-which makes up the Univ. There are two main streets, parallel to each other. One street is in the city center which goes in front of the major colleges except for a couple of side streets to the entry doors of the colleges. The other one is behind the colleges (called "the backs").
I would get off the bus in market center and look for an information booth. They are usually marked with an ( i ). Get the map and go to the right and start at the Round Church. All of the places I tell you about are great spots for pictures. From the Round Church the next buildings to your right are St Johns college/Trinity College - worth a look - the ornate entry etc. Can't remember if it is in St John's or Kings College but inside the gates of one of them is a replica of Venice's Bridge of Sighs. Ask someone about it---makes a beautiful photo! The next college on the right is Kings College which is a must!! Go inside and take pics of the ceiling - fan pattern - the stained glass is beautiful, the organ and naive are really ornate and at the front there is a Rubin's painting - The Gift of the Magi. TURN OFF YOUR FLASH - it will be light enough... Go back out the door you came in and there is a small church there - just to the right is a window and an apple tree - yep you guessed it - Sir Isaac Newtons dorm room window. I think - St Michael's - church is across the street. You can pay about a £ or 2 and go to the top and see the entire city. Proceed down the street and see Corpus Christi (the oldest one there) and Queens college. Just go into the courtyards for those two. That's about all the time you will have to see the colleges - just past Queens college - cross over the Cambs river on Silver street (the wooden bridge on the right was built by engineering students). Walk along the river on "the backs" of the colleges and take great pics of the animals: sheep, ducks and cows. You can go "punting" on the River Cam- they can give you a ride or you can do it yourself.... fun..
Return to the market for the bus back out to the car park. Then drive back toward town to the American Cemetery - A MUST - there is plenty of parking there.
That will be a short but full tour of Cambridge .......
Good luck
Skate

Sent from my iPad

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Just a couple of notes on your fine tour of my city, the Bridge of Sighs is at St John's College. The oldest college is Peterhouse and the wooden bridge is known as the mathematical bridge. Most importantly, you omitted one must do thing, buy a Chelsea bun from Fitzbillies in Trumpington Street, they are a sticky delight.

Graham

Skate Loc: Kilgore, TX

Thanks Graham, you are right, it has been so long since we were stationed at RAF Mildenhall and I have killed way toooo many brain cells since then..still one of our most favorite towns in England. Maybe we will get back over there before they close the base. I really enjoy your posts..... brings back good memories.....
Skate

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Mildenhall is closing, Alconbury has gone. Just Lakenheath remains as an active flying base.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

One non-photo related suggestion, if I may: If you can catch a service at King’s College Chapel, you will hear some of the best choral music in the world. King’s College is, arguably, the home of one of the Twentieth and Twenty-first centuries’ greatest composers of sacred music — John Rutter. Now, please, this isn’t a religious suggestion. It’s a music suggestion.

By the way, when I was there on July 4, 2013, across the street from King’s College is/was a camera/photo store with the nicest guys in it. Can you imagine, wishing this yank a happy Independence Day?

khalidikram

King' s college chapel, both inside and outside.
Great court, Trinity College.
Bridge of sighs, St. John's College.
View of Clare college and King' s college chapel, taken from King' s college "backs" (riverside).
Views of the colleges along the River Cam (if you are going to take a punt).
View from the tower of St. Mary's church (if it isn't raining).
View of the front gate of Trinity College, if King Henry VIII is holding a kitchen chair instead of the scepter (look up).

I don't know if the colleges now charge for admission; they didn't do so in my time as an undergraduate there. Cambridge is a beautiful city, and I hope you have a wonderful time.