Cambridge UK
An afternoon exploring Cambridge.
I expected to see Cambridge University on our visit. But I did not realize that Cambridge is a collegiate university, made up of many independent colleges. Each college has its own property and finances.
In fact there are 31 colleges in Cambridge and the student population makes up 20% of the city’s total.
Cambridge University was originally founded in 1209. It is the second oldest university in English speaking countries. Cambridge has more Nobel Prize winners than any other university.
King’s College Chapel.
One of the most iconic buildings in Cambridge. It took over 100 years to build.Every Christmas Eve, the BBC broadcasts the Choirs concert from the King’s College Chapel.
Cambridge is full of historic interesting buildings.
I couldn’t resist this shot. It made me laugh and it made me hungry for fish and chips, and of course the traditional English mushy peas.
Imagine walking along the streets where Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage (inventor of first computer), and Ernest Rutherford (father of nuclear physics) once walked. Along with many many others.
Interestingly Cambridge has educated:
- 15 British Prime Ministers
- 9 Monarchs
- 3 Signatories of the US Declaration of Independence
Punting, using flat bottomed boats propelled by poles, is a popular activity in Cambridge. Punting along the River Cam is a great way to see the colleges and beautiful bridges. Since the colleges are private property, they are not always open to visitors.
This college happened to be open and so we walked in along the tree lined road and got a nice view of the river and a bit of the campus.
Most museums in Cambridge are free. We happened to walk past the Sedgewick Museum and decided to go inside and check it out. The first thing we saw was this large dinosaur skeleton.
As it was nearing sunset, we returned to the car park, where we were parked on the top level. Dave took advantage of our elevated location and snapped this shot, sunset over Cambridge.
In interesting local news, Prince William has recently returned to Cambridge where he will be taking some courses.
Love your pics and explanations! All the hundreds and hundreds of books I’ve read about England and Cambridge, and you make everything more clear than all of them! Thank you!!!!
Thanks Susan! It took us a while to figure it all out. We walked past so many colleges, but kept wondering where was Cambridge University? lol 🙂
My nephew is a professor of physics at Cambridge. I will send this to his sister. The photo from the car park is smashing!
Wow, physics! That is both impressive and out of my world, LOL! Dave says “Thanks” about his sunset photo. He is really getting into photography and I am loving his perspective.