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Return To View All Towns In Cambridgeshire Bed And Breakfast In CambridgeTelephone: 01954 714600 The Cambridge BelfryTelephone: 01353 663574 The Lamb HotelTelephone: 01480 861644 The WillowsTelephone: 01480 810266 Thorpe Lodge Farm B&BTelephone: 01480 462410 Three Horseshoes InnMore Information About CambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about 50 miles (80 km) north of London. It is also at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen. Cambridge is best known as the home of the University of Cambridge, one of the world's premier universities. The university includes the renowned Cavendish Laboratory, King's College Chapel, and the Cambridge University Library. The Cambridge skyline is dominated by the last two buildings, along with the chimney of Addenbrooke's Hospital in the far south of the city and St John's College Chapel tower in the north. According to the 2001 United Kingdom census, the City's population was 108,863 (including 22,153 students), and the population of the urban area (which includes parts of South Cambridgeshire district) is estimated to be 130,000. Cambridge is surrounded by many smaller towns and villages. Beginnings of the university In 1209, students escaping from hostile townspeople in Oxford fled to Cambridge and formed a university there[4] The oldest college that still exists, Peterhouse, was founded in 1284[5] One of the most impressive buildings in Cambridge, King's College Chapel, was begun in 1446 by King Henry VI.[6] The project was completed in 1515 during the reign of King Henry VIII. Cambridge University Press originated with a printing licence issued in 1534. Hobson's Conduit, the first project to bring clean drinking water to the town centre, was built in 1610 (by the Hobson of Hobson's choice). Parts of it survive today. Addenbrooke's Hospital was founded in 1766. The railway and Cambridge station were built in 1845. According to legend, the University dictated their location: well away from the centre of town, so that the possibility of quick access to London would not distract students from their work. However, there is no written record of this notion. It was said that "Cambridge is a fountain of knowledge where students come to drink" Twentieth century Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the size of the city was greatly increased by several large council estates planned to hold London overspill. The biggest impact has been on the area north of the river, which are now the estates of Arbury, East Chesterton and King's Hedges, and there are many smaller estates to the south of the city. The city gained its second University in 1992 when Anglia Polytechnic became Anglia Polytechnic University. Renamed Anglia Ruskin University in 2005, the institution has its origins in the Cambridge School of Art opened in 1858 by John Ruskin. The Open University also has a presence in the city. Despite having a university, Cambridge was not granted its city charter until 1951. Cambridge does not have a cathedral, traditionally a prerequisite for city status, instead falling within the Church of England Diocese of Ely. Cambridge today Cambridge is now one of East Anglia's major settlements, along with Norwich, Ipswich and Peterborough. Many of the buildings in the centre are colleges affiliated to the University of Cambridge, including King's College and Magdalene College. Colleges such as Trinity College and St John's College own significant land both in Cambridge and outside: Trinity is the landlord for the Cambridge Science Park,[7] and also the port of Felixstowe; St John's is the landlord of St John's Innovation Centre next door to the Science Park, and many other buildings in the city centre. Business Cambridge and its surrounds are sometimes referred to as Silicon Fen, an allusion to Silicon Valley, because of the density of high-tech businesses and technology incubators that have developed on science parks around the city. Many of these parks and buildings are owned or leased by university colleges, and the companies often have been spun out of the university. Such companies include Abcam, CSR, Acorn Computers (now ARM), CamSemi and Sinclair. Microsoft chose to locate its Microsoft Research UK offices in a University of Cambridge technology park, separate from the main Microsoft UK campus in Reading. Cambridge was also the home of Pye, who made radios and televisions and also defence equipment. In later years Pye evolved into several other companies including TETRA radio equipment manufacturer Pye Telecommunications. Another major business is Marshall Aerospace located on the eastern edge of the city. The Cambridge Network keeps businesses in touch with each other. Geography Cambridge is about 50 miles (80 km) north-by-east of London. The city is located in an area of level and relatively low-lying terrain just south of the Fens, which varies between 6 metres (20 ft) and 24 metres (79 ft) above sea level.[9] The River Cam flows through the city south from the village of Grantchester. The name 'Cambridge' is derived from the river.[10] Like most cities, modern-day Cambridge has many suburbs and areas of high-density housing. The city centre of Cambridge is mostly commercial, historic buildings, and large green areas such as Jesus Green, Parker's Piece and Midsummer Common. Many of the roads in the centre are pedestrianised. Demography The demography in Cambridge changes considerably in and out of University term times, so can be hard to measure. In the 2001 Census held during University term, 89.44% of Cambridge residents identified themselves as white, compared with a national average of 92.12%.[11] Within the University, 84% of undergraduates and 80% of post-graduates identify as white (including overseas students).[12] Cambridge has a much higher than average proportion of people in the highest paid professional, managerial or administrative jobs (32.6% vs. 23.5%)[13] and a much lower than average proportion of manual workers (27.6% vs. 40.2%).[13] In addition, a much higher than average proportion of people have a high level qualification (e.g. degree, Higher National Diploma, qualified doctor), (41.2% vs. 19.9%).[14] Transport Roads Because of its rapid growth in the 20th century, Cambridge has a congested road network. Several major roads intersect at Cambridge. The M11 motorway from east London terminates there where it joins the A14. Skirting the northern edge of the city, the A14 is a major freight route which connects the port of Felixstowe on the east coast with the Midlands, North Wales, the west coast and Ireland. The A14 is often congested, particularly the section between Huntingdon and Cambridge where the east–west traffic is merged with the A1 to M11 north–south traffic on a 2-lane dual carriageway. The A10, a former Roman road from north London, passes round the city on its way to Ely and King's Lynn. The A428 connects the city with Bedford and St Neots, and the A1303 to Newmarket and beyond to Colchester. The city has a ring road, the A1134, about a mile and a half in diameter, inside which there are traffic restrictions. It has a well developed bus service including five Park and Ride sites encouraging motorists to park near the city's edge, all of which operate seven days a week Rail Cambridge railway station was built in 1845 with a platform designed to take two full-length trains, the third longest in the country. Cambridge has direct rail links to London with termini at King's Cross (on the Hitchin-Cambridge Line and the East Coast Main Line) and Liverpool Street (on the West Anglia Main Line). There is a direct shuttle service to King's Cross every half hour during off peak hours.[24] Peak hour trains to King's Cross all have additional stops. Future developments for the Cambridge to London line include the provision of 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) high speed trains from 2013.[25] The line is currently graded for 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). The line is all welded rail, but because of the flat geography there are many level crossings, and they make it harder to run at higher speeds. Cambridge is linked by rail to King's Lynn and Ely (via the Fen Line), Norwich (via the Breckland Line), Leicester, Birmingham New Street, Ipswich and London Stansted Airport. The important UK rail hub of Peterborough is also less than an hour from Cambridge. The railway service connecting Cambridge and Oxford, known as the Varsity Line, ceased in 1968. A second station within the city, in Chesterton, has been proposed and in 2009 received the backing of the East of England Regional Assembly.[26] Air The city's airport is known as Marshall Airport Cambridge UK (formerly Teversham Aerodrome) and is owned by Marshall Aerospace. There are no scheduled passenger services, though the runway can accommodate an unladen Boeing 747 or MD-11 and ScotAirways used to make scheduled flights to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The airport is used mainly by business, leisure and training flights, and to fly in aircraft for maintenance.[27][28][29] In 2004 a charter service to Jersey was operated by Aurigny Air Services using Saab 340 turboprop aircraft.[citation needed] A dealer in fibreglass-moulded light monoplanes is also based at the airport.[citation needed] Controversially it has been mooted to remove Marshalls to a site away from the city, and develop the land with housing. Sir Arthur Marshall, the founder of the company, died in 2007. London Luton Airport at 32 miles (51 km) and particularly London Stansted Airport at 28 miles (45 km) are both easily accessible from Cambridge. The other London airports are also quite easy to get to, London Gatwick Airport and London Heathrow Airport both being about 90 minutes' travel, and the smaller London City Airport being at the foot of the M11. Cycling As a university town lying on fairly flat ground and with traffic congestion, Cambridge has a large number of cyclists. Many residents also prefer cycling to driving in the narrow, busy streets, giving the city the highest level of cycle use in the UK.[31] According to the 2001 census, 25% of residents travelled to work by bicycle. A few roads within the city are adapted for cycling, including separate traffic lights for cycle lanes and cycle contraflows on streets which are otherwise one-way; the city also benefits from parks which have shared use paths. There are, however, no separate cycle paths within the city centre. Despite the high levels of cycling, expenditure on cycling infrastructure is around the national average of 0.3% of the transport budget. There are a few cycle routes in the surrounding countryside and the city is now linked to the National Cycle Network. The main organisation campaigning to improve conditions for cyclists in Cambridge is the Cambridge Cycling Campaign.[32] Bike theft in the city is a problem, with over 3000 bicycles reported stolen between April 2005 and March 2006. The actual number is believed to be higher as many thefts are not reported to the police.[33] Guided bus Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, set to be the world's longest guided busway, is under construction and will pass through Cambridge.[34] It will run on the road from Huntingdon to St Ives, then along the disused railway line south-east to Cambridge, where it will rejoin the road at either Milton Road or Histon Road to the city's railway station. From there it will again be guided to Addenbrooke's Hospital and Trumpington.[35] The scheme, budgeted at £116.2 million, was scheduled to open in early 2009[36] but has been beset by delays and is unlikely to open before the middle of 2009, and even then only in parts.[37] The scheme has been heavily criticised by campaigners who believe the route would be better served by rail. Sport FootballCambridge played a unique role in the invention of modern football: the game's first set of rules were drawn up by members of the University in 1848. The Cambridge Rules were first played on Parker's Piece and had a "defining influence on the 1863 Football Association rules."[39] The city is home to Cambridge United F.C., who played in the Football League at the Abbey Stadium from 1970 to 2005, when they were relegated to Conference National. When relegation became inevitable the club was placed in administration with substantial debts, but it emerged from administration in time for the 2005–06 season. The club's biggest success came in the early 1990s, with two successive promotions, two successive FA Cup quarter-final appearances, a run to the Football League Cup quarter-finals, and reaching the brink of promotion to the new Premier League. The city's other football club Cambridge City F.C. play in the Southern Football League Premier Division at the City Ground in Chesterton. Histon, just north of Cambridge, is home to Conference National side Histon F.C.. Rugby Cambridge's most successful sports team over recent years is rugby union club Cambridge R.U.F.C.. After three successive promotions they managed to survive their debut season in National Division Two 2006–07. The club's home ground is at West Renault Park on Granchester Road in the southwest corner of the city. Cambridge Eagles rugby league team play in the National Conference League East Section during the summer months, often drawing on rugby union players keen to continue playing rugby throughout the year. Watersports The River Cam running through the city centre is used for boating. The University has its own rowing club, Cambridge University Boat Club, and most of the individual colleges have boathouses on the river. The main focus of university rowing life are the two bumps races held in the Lent and Summer terms. Cambridgeshire Rowing Association was formed in 1868 and organises competitive rowing on the river outside of the University.[40] Shallower parts of the Cam are used for recreational punting, a type of boating in which the craft is propelled by pushing against the river bed with a pole. Other sports As well as being the home of the Cambridge Rules in football, Parker's Piece was used for first-class cricket matches from 1817 to 1864.[41] The University of Cambridge's Cricket ground, Fenner's, is located in the city and is one of the home grounds for minor counties team Cambridgeshire CCC.[42] Cambridge is also home to two Real Tennis courts out of just 42 in the world at Cambridge University Real Tennis Club.[43] British American Football League club Cambridgeshire Cats play at Coldham's Common. Cambridge has two cycling clubs Team Cambridge[44] and Cambridge Cycling Club.[45] Motorcycle speedway racing took place at the Greyhound Stadium in Newmarket Road in 1939 and the contemporary local press carried meeting reports and photographs of racing. It is not known if this venue operated in other years. The team raced as Newmarket as the meetings were organised by the Newmarket Motorcycle Club. Varsity sports Cambridge is also known for its university sporting events against Oxford, especially the rugby union Varsity Match, the Rugby League Varsity Match and the Boat Race. These are followed by people across the globe, many of whom have no connection to the institutions themselves. TheatreCambridge's main traditional theatre is the Arts Theatre, a venue with 666 seats in the town centre.[46] The theatre often has touring shows, as well as those by local companies. The largest venue in the city to regular hold theatrical performances is the Corn Exchange - capacity 1800 standing or 1200 seated. Housed within the city's 19th century former corn exchange building the venue was used for a variety of additional functions throughout the 20th century including tea parties, motor shows, sports matches and a music venue with temporary stage.[47] The City Council renovated the building in the 1980s, turning it into a full-time arts venue, hosting theatre, dance and music performances.[47] The newest theatre venue in Cambridge is the 220-seat[48] J2, also known as The Shed, part of the Junction complex in Cambridge Leisure Park. The venue was opened in 2004 and hosts live music, comedy and night clubs as well as traditional and contemporary theatre and dance.[48] The ADC Theatre is managed by the University of Cambridge, and typically has 3 shows a week during term time. The Mumford Theatre is part of Anglia Ruskin University, and hosts shows by both student and non student groups. There are also a number of venues within the colleges. Cambridge in literature and film
Music Popular music Most notable of the bands that formed in Cambridge are Pink Floyd, the band's former songwriter guitarist and vocalist Syd Barrett was born and lived in the city. He and other founder member Roger Waters went to school together at Cambridgeshire High School for Boys and David Gilmour was also a Cambridge resident and attended the nearby Perse School. Other bands who formed in Cambridge include Henry Cow, Katrina and the Waves, The Soft Boys,[51] Ezio[52], Horace X [53] and The Broken Family Band.[54] Solo artists Boo Hewerdine[55] and Robyn Hitchcock[56] are from Cambridge, as are Drum and bass artists (and brothers) Nu:Tone and Logistics. Singer Olivia Newton-John[57] and Matthew Bellamy, lead singer of rock band Muse, were born in the city.[58] Singer-songwriter Nick Drake and Manchester music mogul Tony Wilson, the founder of Factory Records, were both educated at the University of Cambridge Festivals and events Great St Mary's Church has the status of being the "University Church".[67] Many of the University colleges contain chapels that hold services according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, while the chapel of St Edmund's College is Roman Catholic.[68] The city also has a number of theological colleges for training clergy for ordination into a number of denominations, with affiliations to both the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University. Twinned citiesCambridge is twinned with two cities. Like Cambridge, both have universities and are also similar in population.
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