Visitor Information

The city of Cambridge is one of the oldest and most prestigious seats of learning in Britain. Communities of scholars have been living in Cambridge since the twelfth century. However, the first college of the university, Peterhouse, was established by Hugo de Balsham (Bishop of Ely) in 1284. Boasting over 700 years of architectural excellence, Cambridge is also one of the most picturesque university cities in the world. This is the Cambridge of Wordsworth, Darwin, Brooke, Byron, and Newton; of long sunny days punting on the river and of afternoons spent reading in the shade of the willow trees along the banks of the River Cam.

Cambridge has retained much of the ambience of a medieval market town and millions of visitors each year enjoy browsing through the many boutiques and speciality shops that the city has to offer. There are excellent recreational facilities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a ten pin bowling alley, tennis courts, jogging and cycling paths and a sports hall. For those wishing for a more cultural visit there are a number of theatres, numerous concert venues and three cinemas. Popular experiences include (links open new windows):

• Guided walking tours of the colleges
• Explore the Fitzwilliam Museum
• Afternoon tea at the famous Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester – the haunt of Rupert Brooke, Virginia Woolf and others
• The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival – an opportunity to see the bard’s most famous works performed in college gardens
• The BBC Radio Two Cambridge Folk Festival – hear the very best of folk and world music

A wide range of sites of interest in East Anglia are within easy reach of Cambridge including; Ely Cathedral, Duxford Air Museum, “Constable Country” and the historic wool towns of Suffolk.

A mere 45 minute train ride away, London is also easily accessible.

Whether you are visiting Cambridge to make use of the university library, to gather with colleagues or friends, or to soak up the atmosphere, Westcott House can provide the ideal location from which to explore the many attractions of this unique city.