We recently visited the city of Cambridge, England for the first time. It a beautiful and historic little city and we were pleased to discover so many great things to do in Cambridge with kids.
In this guide, I’ll be sharing the best things to do in Cambridge with kids. I’ll also tell you the best way to get to Cambridge and where to stay, so read on!
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PUNTING ON THE RIVER CAM
I asked my four-year-old what his favourite thing to do in Cambridge was and he said it was punting! If you don’t know, a punt is a type of flat-bottomed boat pushed along the river with a pole. This is the best way to see the city of Cambridge and is fun for the whole family.
You can choose between a shared and private punting tour. Shared means other people are in the boat with you, while private is more expensive but you’ll have the boat to yourself. Both these options include a Punter to sail the boat for you and they’ll also tell you interesting facts about the area. It is also possible to self pun however I wouldn’t recommend trying this with little kids!
Photos from Punting in Cambridge
We chose to punt with The Traditional Punting Company, they offer a special family price for families with a child under five. They also have the option to add an activity book to your tour for just £3, this was a really great way to keep my 4-year-old engaged with the culture around him.
READ OUR FULL GUIDE TO PUNTING WITH KIDS HERE
Disclaimer: After doing research on punting in Cambridge, I reached out to The Traditional Punting Company and they kindly gifted us the tickets as a PR Collaboration.
ENJOY THE FREE MUSEUMS
There are so many museums in Cambridge and there are some great free options. We visited three of them during our time in Cambridge and they were all brilliant for kids. They all had free activity sheets to complete as well as other hands-on activities.
The Cambridge Museums are smaller than London’s options, we spent about 1-2 hours in each. I shall go into more detail about the ones we visited below.
NOTE: most of the museums are closed on Sundays and some on Mondays as well so factor this into your itinerary.
SCOTT POLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (THE POLAR MUSEUM)
Here you’ll discover all about the Arctic and Antarctica. The worksheet asked you to look for something cold, something loud etc and draw them. This was a great way to get kids investigating the display cases, once it’s completed you can take it back to the desk to be stamped.
There is also a little children’s area set up by the main entrance. (The accessible entrance we used with the pushchair is around the side.) They had an artic-themed Duplo set which my kids loved and other themed books and games.
The Polar Museum, Cambridge
SEDGEWICK MUSEUM OF EARTH SCIENCE
Also known as the Dinosaur Museum! If you have little dinosaur fans, this one is not to be missed. We liked it so much more than the Museum of Natural History in London.
They have a whole range of different worksheets to choose from. We completed the one where you get a little prize at the end and my 4yo was thrilled to pick out the dinosaur postcard.
They also have puzzles, interactive boards and colouring for kids to enjoy.
The Sedgewick Museum of Earth Science, Cambridge
UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY
Here you’ll discover the animal kingdom both extinct and present-day animals are studied at this museum. Freddie was fascinated to be able to touch a rhino horn and so was I.
The Zoology Museum Cambridge
THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM
This is one of the most famous museums in Cambridge. Unfortunately, we didnt get to visit as I misremembered the opening times and it’s closed on Mondays. Dont make the same error as me!
ENJOY A CHELSEA BUN
Visiting Fitzbillies is a great thing to do in Cambridge with kids. They are famous for their Chelsea buns and are so popular, they now have three locations in the centre. We enjoyed it so much we went twice. Once at the Bridge Street location where we got them to go and sat by the river. Freddie opted for a ghost meringue and loved it. Then to the Trumpington Street location where we sat inside for tea and buns. They have a restaurant here and the brunch looked delicious!
We tried a few of the special buns along with the original, my favourite was the chocolate and sea salt.
Chelsea Buns and Sweet Treats from Fitzbillies
SEARCH FOR DINKEY DOORS
We discovered these from the nature booklet on The Traditional Punting Company’s tour. There are fifteen adorable tiny doors hidden around Cambridge. We found the nine that are central. This is a great way to keep kids entertained as you wander the city.
Unless you have very sharp eyes, it’s unlikely you’ll notice them unless you know where to look. I found this blog post that shares most of the locations. Alternatively, you can purchase the official map for just £1 on their website here.
Some of the doors open or have interactive parts which children will really love!
EXPLORE THE GROUNDS OF TRINITY COLLEGE
While most of the University land is closed to the public, you are able to explore The Backs, which is the College grounds beside the River Cam. They are open from 9-5 daily.
This is a beautiful place for a little walk, just make sure kids don’t fall in the river!
WALK DOWN THE RIVER
Lots of the land by the river is privately owned but we found a nice autumnal walk down the river which included a playground! Starting from The Mill Pub on Mill Lane, you can cross the bridge and walk along the riverbank. Pass through Sheeps Green, Coe Fen and down to Hodson’s Folly. Coming back via Lammas Land Playground.
This is a big playground and field that both our kids enjoyed. In summer months there is also a big paddling pool and you’ll likely see animals grazing in the field.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN CAMBRIDGE WITH KIDS
THE CORPUS CLOCK
This unique clock is worth stopping past. Our kids were quite fascinated by it. It’s not an activity that will keep them entertained for very long, but it’s still a cool thing to see.
CAMBRIDGE MARKET
The market is set up daily from 10-4, it’s mainly food stalls with a few small business sellers.
CROSS THE BRIDGES
As the River Cam runs through Cambridge there are lots of bridges you can cross. Some are very unique. Some, such as the Bridge of Sighs can only be seen from the river or if you pay for a tour but others such as the Mathematical Bridge pictured below you can view for free.
SHOPPING
My kids are not into shopping, but if yours are, they’ll love Cambridge. You’ll find all the chain retailers plus many independent shops here.
Corpus Clock | Cambridge MArket | Silver Street Bridge with a view of The Mathematical Bridge
GETTING TO CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge is very easy to get to from London. Many people do it as a day trip however, with little kids, I wouldn’t recommend this. Two full days in Cambridge is enough to do all the main activities. We had three and it was nice not to be rushed.
The easiest way to get to Cambridge is via train from London. Direct trains run from Kings Cross / St Pancras and also from London Liverpool Street. Both routes take between 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes depending on which train you get on. We found trains from Liverpool Street were the cheaper option.
Sometimes buying tickets in advance can be cheaper on The Train Line Website. You can also buy them directly through National Rail. I usually check both sites for the best price.
Parking is not so easy in the centre of Cambridge and can get expensive. If you plan to drive, try to find accommodation with parking.
WHERE TO STAY IN CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge is a small city that is very easy to navigate on foot. Staying anywhere in Central Cambridge is perfect for exploring the city. We stayed in a beautiful house right next to Midsummer Common. It has quite a lot of stairs so it’s not 100% toddler-friendly but we managed fine and they did provide a travel cot/crib and a highchair.
In full honesty, this house was lovely, in a great location and came with parking permits (if you need them) but we did have some difficulties checking in. It is run by a management company and they were not very good! If you plan to stay here, make sure to contact them in advance for check-in details as they did not automatically send them to us.
Thank you so much for reading our guide on the best things to do in Cambridge with kids. I hope it has helped you to plan your trip!
Happy Exploring,
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Great info!!
Thank you 🙂