The Best Things To Do In Cambridge With Kids

If you’re looking for ideas on the best things to do in Cambridge with kids, you’re in the right place. Cambridge is a beautiful and historic little city with so much on offer for families. We visited on a weekend trip from London and had such a great time.

In this guide, I’ll be sharing all you need to know about visiting Cambridge with children. Including: what to do, things to see and where to stay, so read on!

Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links I may earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you and I am extremely grateful as this helps me to keep my blog running!

The Best Things to Do in Cambridge with Kids

I’ll dive straight into the best kids’ activities in Cambridge. Some of these aren’t specifically aimed at children, but they are all family-friendly! Below, I’ll also share where we stayed and how to get to Cambridge from London.

Go Punting on the River Cam

According to my 4-year-old, punting on the River Cam is the absolute best thing to do in Cambridge with kids! If you don’t already 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 punting tour and a 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-punt; however, I wouldn’t recommend trying this with toddlers!

Photos from Punting in Cambridge as a family.

We chose a shared tour with The Traditional Punting Company, which was great for families. They also have the option to add an activity book to their tour for just £3. This was a really great way to keep my 4-year-old engaged with the culture around him. Read more tips on enjoying punting with kids in my detailed guide here.

Prices vary depending on date and time, but start from around £18 per person.

READ MORE: 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 Cambridge’s Free Family-Friendly Museums

One of the really great things about Cambridge is that there are so many free things to do. There are 7 free museums in Cambridge, and we visited three of them, and they were all brilliant for families. 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 Arctic-themed Duplo set, which my kids loved and other themed books and games.

Sedgewick Museum of Earth Science

Also known as the Dinosaur Museum! If your children love dinosaurs, 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 4-year-old was thrilled to pick out the dinosaur postcard.

They also have puzzles, interactive boards and colouring for kids to enjoy.

University Museum of Zoology

Here you’ll discover the animal kingdom, where both extinct and present-day animals are studied at this museum. My son was fascinated to be able to touch a real rhino horn, and so was I.

The Fitzwilliam Museum

The Fitzwilliam Museum 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 who like a sweet treat! 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.

Search for the Dinkey Doors

We discovered these from the nature booklet on The Traditional Punting Company’s tour and it is such a fun thing to do when visiting Cambridge with kids.

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 are 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 toddlers don’t fall in the river!

Visit the Chapel at King’s College

King’s College is one of the most famous places in Cambridge. It is part of Cambridge University, but the chapel is open to visitors.

We didn’t do this as it is on the expensive side (£16.50 for adults and £14 for children over five) and we didn’t think it was especially a fun activity for kids; however, I wanted to mention it, as it is one of the major tourist attractions in Cambridge.

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 big playground for the kids! Starting from The Mill Pub on Mill Lane, you can cross the bridge and walk along the riverbank. Pass through Sheep’s 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 boys really enjoyed. In summer months, there is also a big paddling pool, and you’ll likely see animals grazing in the field.

Watch the Corpus Clock

This unique clock is worth stopping by. 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.

Wander Cambridge Market

The market is set up daily from 10-4, it’s mainly food stalls with a few small business sellers. Our kids weren’t too interested in the market, but I enjoyed it!

Cross the Bridges

As the River Cam runs through Cambridge, there are lots of cool 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.

Go 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 boutique shops here.

Other Useful Information About Visiting Cambridge with Kids

Getting to Cambridge with Kids

Cambridge is very easy to get to from London via train. Direct trains run from King’s 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.

How long do you need in Cambridge with Kids?

Many people do it as a day trip; however, with little kids and toddlers, I wouldn’t recommend this, as it would be an exhausting trip. I’d rather spend longer and enjoy it at a comfortable pace!

Two full days in Cambridge are enough to do all the main activities. We had three, and it was nice not to be rushed.

Where to Stay in Cambridge as a Family

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 called The Midsummer Common, as it is 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.

THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE IS LINKED HERE

This house was lovely, in a great location and came with parking permits (if you need them).

If you prefer a hotel to a private house, The Hobson Cambridge would be my choice. Or if you’re visiting Cambridge on more of a budget, Novotel Cambridge North is a little further out from the centre but is at a lower price point.

---

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 and you enjoy Cambridge as a family!

Happy Exploring,