Cambridge is perhaps unique in the UK as a place where the progressive and modern exist comfortably alongside the genteel and traditional. At any time of the year, hotels in Cambridge are booked up by visitors from around the world hoping to take in all the city and its surroundings have to offer.
Cambridge is arguably most famous for being a university town. Many of the university's buildings are iconic structures in their own right and boast long and fascinating histories. Fortunately, these beautiful and magnificent buildings not only add charm to the landscape of the city, they are also open to visitors most of the year.
Top of most people's list of university buildings to visit is the world famous King's College Chapel, a structure as recognizable and as synonymous with Cambridge as the Houses of Parliament are to London.
Part of the chapel dates back to the mid-fifteenth century; but much of the building work, including the marvellous interior fan vault ceiling -the largest example of its kind in the world - was finally completed during the early years of the sixteenth century under the direction of Henry VIII.
An extremely pleasant and relaxing way of seeing the architecture of Cambridge is to board one of the many chauffeured punts that operate up and down the River Cam parallel to the grass stretches - or 'Backs' - which, as their name implies, lead up to the backs of the buildings.
History not only lives and breathes in Cambridge's glorious architecture, however. The city and its surroundings boast many preserved gardens and other areas that have been safeguarded from modern development.
A visit to the small but beautifully appointed Newnham College gardens, for example, is highly recommended; whilst the Fellowes' Garden at Christ's College is worth visiting to see the famous pair of mulberry trees dating back to the days when the poet, John Milton, was a student at the college.
Slightly further afield from the buildings and hotels in Cambridge is the village of Grantchester where afternoon tea can be enjoyed at the tranquil and purposely underdeveloped Orchard Tea Garden, once frequented by writers E M Forster and Virginia Woolf.
A more lively tradition of culture of course also exists in Cambridge with its famous selection of theatres and music venues, including the much loved Cambridge Arts Theatre and the high capacity Cambridge Corn Exchange.
In addition, hotels in Cambridge always gear up each year for Cambridge Tours a whole host of regularly held literary and arts festivals in the area, including the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival; the Cambridge Film Festival; and, of course, the Cambridge Folk Festival.
Appropriately for a city associated so strongly with academia, Cambridge also offers many stimulating and educational attractions for visitors.
The city boasts several museums, for example, including the renowned Fitzwilliam Museum which houses many collections of art and other objects of interest such as coins, books and clocks.
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