One of the most revered and beautiful university towns in the UK, Cambridge, with its myriad of medieval colleges, cobbled passageways and splendid backs, needs little introduction. Founded in 1209, Cambridge has played home to some of the greatest minds of our time, from Isaac Newton, John Milton and Lord Byron to Stephen Hawking and 18 Nobel Prize winners. Just over 50 miles (80 km) north of London, with excellent connections via air, train and road, Cambridge is easy to reach and makes an ideal short accessible break.
Did you know Byron kept a bear when he studied at Cambridge? Join expert local guide, Martyn Sibley, who will enable you to make the most of an accessible break in Cambridge, and share some of the city’s greatest secrets. Tours can be tailored to suit your interests. Whether you want to explore the ancient colleges. Catch a theatre production or live music event. Indulge in some retail therapy at the historic marketplace and quirky independent shops. Or simply watch the world go by on the beautiful ‘Backs’ – the gardens tucked behind the university’s grandest colleges, overlooking the River Cam.
INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR
– Accommodation – with accessible bathroom and toilet
– Accessible transfers from Stansted Airport or Cambridge Station (if applicable)
– Guided tours
– Excursions
– Indemnity and liability insurance
– Detailed information, tips and recommendations
– Hoist is available upon request
Five Days / Four nights accessible tour of Cambridge
DAY 1
A warm welcome at Stansted Airport or Cambridge train station (if applicable) followed by a short drive to your Cambridge accommodation situated by the historic centre. There’s plenty of time to relax with free time to get acquainted with the city.
For the rest of the day, we recommend soaking up the ambience of the city with a stroll to the Backs, the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, and Byron’s Pool Local Nature Reserve.
DAY 2
Tuck into a proper British breakfast, as we get ready to discover some of Cambridge University’s grandest colleges.
We’ll start with a short stroll to King’s College, one of the most beautiful and iconic colleges in Cambridge. Founded in 1441 by King Henry VI, King’s is most famous for its magnificent college chapel and choir, whose Christmas hymns are broadcast live every year.
We’ll also explore the following colleges:
Trinity College – one of the most renowned and richest colleges in Cambridge (and in fact the third richest institution in the UK after the royal family and the Church of England), founded by Henry VIII in 1546. Trinity has produced more Nobel Prize winners than France, is home to Isaac Newton’s famous apple tree and is where Byron happened to keep a bear. Contains the famous Wren library.
Magdalene College – a notoriously conservative college (the last to admit women, and the only college that still insists on white tie for its May Balls). Beautiful courts and riverside location. Home of the Pepys Library, where Samuel Pepys deposited a large proportion of his diaries and other books.
St. John’s College – An ancient rival to Trinity College (sparking the phrase, ‘I’d rather be at Oxford than at John’s’) John’s was founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII, and the St. John’s ‘Lady Margaret’ boatclub is named after her. The chapel is spectacular, with a huge domed ceiling, and the choir is second only to King’s.
DAY 3
Enjoy breakfast before we drive to the historic town of Ely, just 16km away from Cambridge.
Once accessible only by boat, the city today is famous for its magnificent cathedral.
First built in 672AD, as an abbey church by St Etheldreda, the cathedral today dates back to 1083, and was granted cathedral status in 1109.
Dominating the skyline, it is one of England’s most beautiful and largest cathedrals. Known locally as the ‘Ship of the Fens’ it is famous for its unique Octagon tower, which, when lit, can be seen for miles. The cathedral is also home to the only national museum dedicated to Stained Glass. There’s also chance to visit the Ely Museum, housed in the city’s old gaol.
Ely’s most famous resident was Oliver Cromwell, the man who defied the British monarchy to become leader of England from 1653 to 1658. The Cromwell family left Ely some time in 1647, but you can still visit their house, which now doubles up as an interactive museum and the award-winning local Tourist Information Centre.
Ely also has a beautiful waterside area, which is an attraction within itself, where you can explore the many cafes and antique shops, visit the Babylon Art Gallery or listen to music in Jubilee Gardens.
DAY 4
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before we delve into hundreds of years of history via Cambridge’s astonishing array of world class museums.
From the ancient Egyptian relics at the Fitzwilliam Museum to science and survival at The Polar Museum, there’s plenty to wonder at.
Science buffs will love checking out the original specimens collected by Darwin on his famous trip on The Beagle, while art aficionados can gaze upon old masters by artists such as Canaletto, Titian and Cezanne at museums all within walking distance of each other.
The Fitzwilliam Museum certainly shouldn’t be missed. Founded in 1816, it has been described as housing ‘one of the greatest art collections of the nation and a monument of the first importance’. The collection includes works of art and antiquities of national and international importance, among them antiquities from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and masterpieces by Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Hogarth, Constable, Monet and Picasso and many more…
Here is a list of the wealth of museums you can visit:
Art/Archeology Museums
– Babylon Gallery
– Broughton House Gallery
– Cambridge Contemporary Art
– Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
– Fitzwilliam Museum
– Museum of Cambridge
– Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
– Museum of Classical Archaeology
– Our Lady and the English Martyrs Catholic church
– Polar Museum
– Round Church
Science/Biology Museums
– Cambridge Science Centre
– Centre for Computing History
– IWM Duxford
– Museum of Zoology
– National Horseracing Museum
– Scott Polar Research Institute Museum
– Whipple Museum of the History of Science
DAY 5
A final breakfast followed by a farewell drive to Stansted Airport.
THE PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE
– Flights to/from Cambridge or any other airport
– Room types other than stated
– Meals
– Drives other than stated
– Tickets for museums and sights
– Insurance
To book an accessible tour of Cambridge or find out more information, contact Martyn Sibley at martyn@accomable.com or call +44 (0) 779 874 6551.
To book accessible accommodation in the UK and worldwide, visit www.accomable.com
By Martyn Sibley
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