Cambridge or Oxford?

Cynthia, on my only trip to London and elsewhere in England, I spent some time in each of Cambridge and Oxford. For a short visit, my preference would be Cambridge, which is a smaller and more intimate university town. You can enjoy a punting trip, a visit to some of the colleges, including the Kings College Chapel. I was lucky enough to attend an evening concert there. From Cambridge you can also take just a 15 minute train ride to Ely, where there is a spectacular cathedral. I especially enjoyed the Stained Glass Museum upstairs, where you can stand eyeball to eyeball with stained glass almost 1,000 years old. Amazing how similar ancient and modern stained glass techniques are. Oxford is also a great place, but more of a larger and congested city, not a university town. Has some great sites and museums though.

Are they Harry Potter fans? If so, Oxford would be a good choice.

Of the two major museums in Oxford and the one in Cambridge, my guess is that the Pitt-Rivers in Oxford would be the most interesting to children. However, that doesn't matter if you don't have time for a museum.

I'm half way between them - about an hour to either.

It is hard to pick because they are quite different.

I love the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, their changing exhibitions are always fun and interesting.

If you want a great bun it is hard to imagine better than Fitzbillies, across the street from the Fitz.

They both have excellent architecture (and some carbuncles), both have a river, both have gorgeous college gardens and high academic standards. More cows in Cambridge.

Cambridge has a brilliant outdoor market - good food, good crafts, good produce. Oxford has a brilliant and old indoor market - and MooMoos.

Punting is also done in Oxford, albeit rather less well-known than Cambridge. Punting along the Cherwell especially gives a much different view of the city and if anything through Christchurch Meadow feels more rural than in Cambridge. Unless you really know what you are doing though I'd recommend getting a chauffeur, especially as the Cherwell is a bit muddy and deep in places.

I first wanted to see Cambridge because of the movie "Chariots of Fire." A few years later we visited Oxford. I thought Cambridge was more scenic, but loved the museum in Oxford that is in the building with the library. They are both worth visiting.

I've been to both. I wanted to prefer Cambridge (fan of Newton, Turing and Hawking), but honestly Oxford is just a more interesting visit. The colleges are nicer looking, closer together and more accessible; the museums and galleries more interesting.

In August they will both be very very busy - you should definitely plan to not go on a weekend! I live in Cambridge so am very biased but I personally think it's a lot more beautiful - it's smaller so it's easy to see more of, punting down the river is great fun, we have loads of history and free museums (not just the Fitzwilliam but also smaller ones like zoology or anthropology) and there's some great restaurants! The insides of the colleges are absolutely stunning, as is just about everywhere you walk. A lot of the centre is also vehicle-free whereas in Oxford I always notice a lot of buses, so that I feel gives Cambridge a bit of a nicer atmosphere too.