A photo of an ice cream from Jacks Gelato.

Our Favourite Places

Our city

An alternative guide to Cambridge.

We asked our students to share the best bits of Cambridge with you. Some of them are hidden gems, and some of them actually hidden. Some will have you queuing round the block but trust us – it'll be worth it.

Map of Cambridge showing ARU location
Come and find us here.
Medieval engraving Art & Culture

The Fitzwilliam Museum

Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1RB

Half a million works of art - there aren’t many places where you’ll find Leonardo da Vinci, Monet and Picasso, all under one roof.

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Grantchester Meadows Walks

Grantchester Meadows

Grantchester
Cambridge

It’s totally worth the long walk to get there! The river is gorgeous.

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Relevant Record Cafe exterior (Photo: Charles Matthews) Shopping

Relevant Record Cafe

260 Mill Road
Cambridge CB1 3NF

Hidden away at the end of Mill Road is Relevant Record Cafe.

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Italian tomato sauce dish Food & Drink

Tradizioni

18 The Broadway
Cambridge CB1 3AH

This somewhat unassuming Italian makes simple, tasty dishes just like their Nonna taught them.

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Close-up of an ornate box Art & Culture

David Parr's House of Artistry

184/186 Gwydir Street
Cambridge CB1 2LW

On the outside, it looks like any other terraced house in the city...

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Customers at The Roof Terrace Food & Drink

Drinks with a Difference

Various locations
Cambridge

Fancy taking in some of the best views of the city? Or maybe a cocktail in a secret room – if you can find it.

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Cycle King exterior Shopping

Cycle King

195-197 Mill Road
Cambridge CB1 3AN

One of the best ways to get about the city is by bicycle, so knowing where to take it for repairs is essential.

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The Eagle beermats on table Pub

The Eagle

Bene't Street
Cambridge CB2 3QN

This isn’t any ordinary pub. The Eagle is where Francis Crick and James Watson announced they had discovered ‘the secret of life,’ the structure of DNA.

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Aerial view of Market Square, Cambridge Shopping

Market Square

Market Hill
Cambridge

On any given day you’ll find Market Square alive with independent traders of every shape, size and variety.

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8-bit representation of building Art & Culture

The Centre for Computer History

Rene Court, Coldham's Road
Cambridge CB1 3EW

A museum where you’re not only allowed to touch the display, you're actively encouraged.

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Goldfinch stone in Mill Road cemetery Walks

Mill Road Cemetery

Mill Road
Cambridge CB1 2AW

Set amongst the headstones of Mill Road Cemetery, you’ll find seven bird sculptures created by artist Gordon Young.

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Stone relief with mammoth carving Art & Culture

Sedgwick Museum

University Of Downing Street
Cambridge CB2 3EQ

A complete Iguanadon skeleton waits to greet you as you enter this museum of Earth Sciences.

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Photo of Lost in Vinyl exterior on a vinyl sleeve Shopping

Lost in Vinyl

14 Magdalene Street
Cambridge CB3 0AF

Do as the name suggests and lose yourself for a few hours in this record shop.

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Bould Brothers Coffee exterior Food & Drink

Bould Brothers Coffee

16 Round Church Street
Cambridge CB5 8AD

If you want coffee so good that it’s been featured in the pages of Vogue then Bould Brothers Coffee is the place for you.

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Mock-up of tequila plant growing out of greenhouse Walks

The Botanic Gardens

1 Brookside
Cambridge CB2 1JE

The Botanic Gardens is home to many rare and wonderful plants.

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People gathered around food trucks Food & Drink

foodPark

Various locations
Cambridge

A collective of some of the best local street food traders operating regular markets across Cambridge throughout the year.

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Aerial view of Jesus Green lido Health & Leisure

Jesus Green Lido

Chesterton Road
Cambridge CB4 3AX

This isn’t any ordinary lido, you know. Not only is it one of the longest outdoor swimming pools in the country, but it also has an unusual shape...

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A pile of cheese toasties in a bowl Food & Drink

Urban Larder

9 The Broadway
Cambridge CB1 3AH

Sat in the middle of Mill Road is this cosy little coffee shop.

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A row of cottages Walks

Orchard Street

Orchard Street
Cambridge CB1 1JS

Step onto Orchard Street and you might think you’ve suddenly left the city.

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The Wrestlers exterior Food & Drink

The Wrestlers

Newmarket Road
Cambridge CB5 8JE

This isn’t your average pub grub. The Wrestlers have been serving up delicious Thai food for over thirty years.

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Cream being poured into a cup of coffee Food & Drink

Stir

253 Chesterton Road
Cambridge CB4 1BG

A short walk out of the city centre but well worth the trip.

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Reality Checkpoint lamp post Walks

Reality Checkpoint

Parker's Piece
Cambridge

This isn’t any ordinary lamppost. For a start, it’s probably one of the only lampposts to have its own Wikipedia page.

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Pint Shop interior Food & Drink

Pint Shop

10 Peas Hill
Cambridge CB2 3PN

The former home of the writer E.M Forster is now home to the Pint Shop.

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Photo of the Corpus Clock and Chronophage Walks

The Chronophage

58 Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1RH

A grasshopper-like creature that devours each minute with a snap of its jaws.

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A plate of food from Stem & Glory Food & Drink

Stem & Glory

50-60 Station Road
Cambridge CB1 2JH

A go-to place for vegans and vegetarians in the city.

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Beer being poured from a tap into a pint glass. Pub

Calverley's Brewery & Taproom

23A Hooper St
Cambridge CB1 2NZ

Calverley's Brewery is a beer lovers hidden gem, based just off Mill Road in the heart of Cambridge.

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Fopp logo Shopping

Fopp

37 Sidney Street
Cambridge CB2 3HX

Your one-stop shop for all things music, film and books.

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The Empress pub pictured from outside. Pub

The Empress

72 Thoday Street
Cambridge CB1 3AX

The Empress If you live near, on or just off Mill Road this place should be your Cambridge local, in fact even if you don't live within walking distance this should still be your local!

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The outside of the Maypole pub photographed early evening. Pub

The Maypole

20A Portugal Pl
Cambridge CB5 8AF

For a great list of ales and craft beer and good sized pub garden, look no further than The Maypole!

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A photo of one of Cambridge 'dinky doors'. Walks

Dinky Doors

Various

You might have tried Geocaching but Dinky Doors are Cambridge through and through. Why? Because frankly they’re a bit weird...

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ARU PhD student Jack pictured outside with a coffee from Hot Numbers cafe. Food & Drink

Hot Numbers

Dales Brewery, 5/6 Gwydir St
Cambridge CB1 2LJ

Hot Numbers has a cult status in Cambridge and it is well deserved. They serve the best coffee in town, play/showcase some great music and have really tasty food as well.

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A photo of three hands holding a coffee. Food & Drink

Espresso Library

210 East Road
Cambridge CB1 1BG

Espresso Library is a airy, glass-fronted cafe with bikes hanging from ceiling, with a delicious range of artisan coffees and tasty homemade food.

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A photo of table and chairs inside of a cafe. Food & Drink

5 blends coffee shop

42 Mill Rd, Petersfield
Cambridge CB1 2AD

Amazing and unique artwork on the walls giving you modern yet rustic vibe. It's the perfect spot for getting some work down, having some down time alone or having a catchup with your mates.

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Arjuna Wholefoods store photographed from the outside. Shop

Arjuna Wholefoods

12 Mill Rd, Petersfield
Cambridge CB1 2AD

A Cambridge staple, a wholefood shop with heritage offering ethically sourced and high quality organic artisan food and daily vegan meals to take-away, a must visit!

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Two scoops of ice cream in a Jacks Gelato branded cup. Food & Drink

Jack's Gelato

6 Benet St
Cambridge CB2 3QN

If you’re looking for some amazing gelato (and even if you’re not!) then Jack’s Gelato is the place to go. Jack’s is so good, and loved by so many, that I was once stood in a queue for an ice cream there at 10pm on Wednesday in February!

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A photo of Vegan Vice burgers and sides. Food & Drink

Vegan Vice

170 East Rd
Cambridge CB1 1DB

It's probably the best fast-food place in Cambridge and caters to all diets so if you're going with friends everybody will find something they want. If your thinking you'll be eating dry tofu burgers or flavourless Quorn nuggets, you are dead wrong.

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Specialist recording equipment pictured inside OT Music Studio. Shopping

24 Hour Club

39A St Andrew's S
Cambridge CB2 3AR

This designer clothes shop sources the newest urban fashion from places such as France, New York, London, and Japan. It has 2 floors of clothing and a cool interior using ladders as clothing rails and led lights for a relaxed vibe while shopping.

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Jemporium Vintage pictured from outside with mannequins in the window. Shopping

Jemporium Vintage

6A Burleigh St
Cambridge CB1 1DG

A wonderful breath of individuality and the home of alternative fashion in Cambridge. You'll find a carefully curated range of band t shirts, comfortable denim, genuine American high school varsity wear and some unique sportswear.

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ARU student Jay Wright pictured applying a new window stick in Full Circle Cafe. Food & Drink

Full Circle Cafe

9 Norfolk St
Cambridge CB1 2LD

Zero waste & ethical shop on 9 Norfolk street. Lovely little shop, and quite affordable considering they are completely plastic-free and mostly organic. They also offer a discount for students. (Jay Wright, BA Illustration).

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A box light with the word burgers illuminated. Food & Drink

Doppelganger

59 Regent St,
Cambridge CB2 1AB

Vegan burger restaurant. Funky interior and some of the best vegan burgers out there! (Jay Wright, BA Illustration).

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Cakes and coffees photographed on a table in Thrive Cafe. Food & Drink

Thrive Cafe

5-7 Norfolk St,
Cambridge CB1 2LD

My favourite place to hang out and chat with some tea and cake is Thrive Cambridge Cafe, next to the university. (Alice Setti, BA Fine Art).

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A photograph a people walking through Christ's Pieces Cambridge. Park

Christ’s Pieces

Emmanuel Road
Cambridge CB1 1JW

My favourite park is Christ’s pieces to go read or draw or just walk. (Alice Setti, BA Fine Art).

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Where now

Showcase

Student Work

Take a look at some work from our graduating class of 2020.

See recent work

Campus

Take a look around our facilities

From dark rooms to performance spaces, computer labs and a printmaking workshop complete with letterpress.

Explore

People

Staff, students and alumni

Meet some of the people that make up the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Meet Nick

Events

Take a look at our culture calendar

Whether you're into film, Shakespeare, music therapy or the future of modern policing, our events cover just about everything.

See what's happening