Cambridge

About Cambridge

Located on the River Cam, the city of Cambridge is well known for its prestigious university, which dates back as far as 1209. The university itself is quite a draw for people visiting the area, with King’s College Chapel being a key attraction in the area. Other key attractions in the area include the Corn Exchange, Fitzwilliam Museum and The Mathematical Bridge. The latter is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the university campus.

The population of Cambridge, which stands at around 150,000 people, is a diverse one. It has a small and vibrant multicultural makeup. This is in part thanks to the university itself which is a popular destination for students from all over the world. The economy in Cambridge is also diverse, and in addition to the education sector for which it is well known, also includes technology companies and those engaged in the research and biotechnology sectors. Some of the major employers within these fields with bases in Cambridge include AstraZeneca, Raspberry PI Foundation, Abcam PLC and, of course, Cambridge University.

Cambridge is also home to the Cambridge Science Park and a very popular location for startups in the fields of Tech and Science. Companies like Genomics PLC and Waymap are looking to make their mark in the area.

Getting around

The city is easy to get to using a range of transport options. Stansted is the closest airport, linking the region to destinations all over the UK and also Europe. There are regular trains linking the airport to Cambridge. Cambridge also has fantastic train links from around the country. There are two direct trains from London, taking 90 minutes and 60 minutes in total journey time. The journey from Manchester to Cambridge takes around 5 hours and there are 71 daily trains along the route. It is a 3-hour train journey for those travelling from Birmingham.

Getting to Cambridge by road is a popular choice. The M11 connects the city to London in the South and the A1 connects it to Peterborough with easy access to the rest of the motorway network and the north of the country. It is worth noting that if you are planning to visit Cambridge by car there is a congestion charge zone in place which covers both the centre of the city and the outskirts. There are 5 large park and ride schemes in operation in the area.

Where to stay in Cambridge

With project management courses often scheduled to last several days, it can be a good idea to find somewhere to stay in the local area to avoid long daily journeys. Cambridge has a great selection of hotels available, including:

The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton (CB4 1UZ)

An apartment style hotel, The Fellows House offers the perfect combination of modern and historic. The centrally located hotel offers all of the amenities that you might expect from a hotel in the Hilton group. There is onsite paid parking and electric vehicle charging points for guest use. There are also meeting rooms at the hotel making it a very convenient choice as a venue for project management courses.

The Varsity Hotel and Spa (CB5 8AQ)

Located on the edge of the River Cam, this hotel’s picturesque location makes it a great choice for those who prefer a location that embraces everything that the local area has to offer. The hotel has valet parking, meeting rooms and all of the hotel and spa facilities you could want during your stay. It is well located for the airport, access to the city centre and there are plenty of restaurants nearby.

Hilton Cambridge City Centre (CB2 3DT)

Just a 5-minute walk away from the bus and train stations this hotel is ideally suited to those who prefer to use public transport. There are hire bicycles available for guest use and whilst there is onsite parking it is a little pricey.  The hotel is well equipped with modern stylish rooms. The staff are friendly and happy to help with guest enquiries and the hotel is a popular choice with those visiting Cambridge for business or leisure.

Things to do in Cambridge

Cambridge is a vibrant city with plenty to offer those who are staying for a few days.

Restaurants

As you might expect from a city with a rich history and diverse multicultural population, Cambridge has a fantastic range of dining options to entice visitors. You will find plenty of traditional pubs offering a friendly inviting atmosphere and great food as well as plenty of upscale restaurants. There are also Italian eateries (my personal favourite is De Luca on Regent Street for artisan pizzas), a range of Indian and Asian restaurants serving authentic dishes and even steakhouses with something to suit everyone.

If you really want to celebrate in style (maybe at the end of your training course!) then there are also a couple of Michelin-starred restaurants in the city:

Midsummer House, Midsummer Common (CB4 1HA)

A stylish restaurant in a beautiful Victorian house, Midsummer House holds not one but two Michelin stars. A well-established restaurant that has been in this location for more than 20 years, the dishes have a classic base with plenty of unique twists and plenty of luxury ingredients.

Restaurant Twenty Two, 22 Chesterton Road (CB4 3AX)

Another Cambridge restaurant with a Michelin star, Restaurant Twenty Two offers bright and understated décor and plates that are a work of art. The young team behind the dishes focus on precision, attention to detail and techniques in order to showcase their ingredients and create incredibly popular dishes.

Entertainment

There are plenty of things to keep you occupied in Cambridge in the evening. If you fancy something a little different to enjoying a beer in one of the many small pubs that you will find in and around the city then why not book a place on a ghost tour? Steeped in history and with plenty of old buildings Cambridge has some unusual tales to tell.

Visiting museums can be tricky when you are in Cambridge on a training course, but The Fitzwilliam Museum is one of my personal favourites and holds after hours exhibits and events. So, depending on your schedule it is possible to enjoy one of their exhibitions after the day’s work has finished. Open to everyone, and, better still, these late night events are free to attend and offer a really unique way to spend the evening in Cambridge.

If you fancy a bit of stargazing then the Cambridge Observatory is the place to head to. They hold a regular programme of events in the evenings.