10am: Arrival
We visited on the train because there are so many buses, cyclists and one way systems that driving can be difficult and slow. Generally, Cambridge Train Station is a 20-30 minute walk from touristy attractions but we soon broke that up with some brunch.
10:53am: Brunch
Originally, we had wanted to go for bottomless brunch but I couldn't find anywhere that would do it on a weekday. Instead, we had brunch at the Old Bicycle Shop. It was only a 13 minute walk from the station and was on the way in to town, so helped to break up the walk. I had sweet potato pancakes (with dried apricot, coconut yogurt, oat crumble and banana powder) and a virgin mojito-esque drink for ~£9. Also, Darwin apparently bought a bike from there when it used to be a shop. There was an interesting map of Cambridge on the wall.
12:09 Punting on the River Cam
If you want to go punting, make sure you book in advance! I went with Cambridge Punt Company and it cost £12pp but if you booked on the day in person, it would have cost £20pp. It also means that you don't get nagged by people trying to get you to join one. I would recommend going on a tour rather than hiring a boat yourself if it is your first time, especially if you're a couple. The idea of a private punt seems romantic but to get it to move, the punter has to be stood up. It often takes hard work and you can be found going around in circles, rather than getting a tour around the colleges. It is a great plan if there's a group of you. We shared our punt with two other couples but there were ones that were heaving full of people, packed uncomfortably close together. The punts have backs but they are not deep like a boat so your legs are straight out rather than you sitting with them underneath you. It can be difficult to get up if you're older!
1:30 Drink Break
We had wanted to go up the tower of Great St Mary's but there was a private group tour going on for 30 minutes. So instead, we had a quick look at the market (at Market Hill) and at Kings College on our way to The Eagle for a pint. The Eagle is where Watson and Crick announced they had discovered the secret of life. It has a plaque inside dedicated to them. We each had a pint (~£5 a pint) and sat in the beer garden.
2:35 View of Cambridge
Whenever I visit a place, I like to get a good look of the view. Just around the corner from The Eagle, there is the tower of Great St Mary's. It costs £4 to go up but the view is excellent. Plus you can see straight into Kings College, for a lot cheaper than the £10 it costs to get into the college itself.
2:50 Journey Back
We then slowly walked back to the train station, going through Lion Yard Shopping Centre, through a few shops and via some iced coffee. At the train station there is a Marks and Spenser's, which we stopped by in to get some cocktails in tins to take with us on the train.
Overall, we were in Cambridge 10-4 and it didn't seem enough time at all!
