I'm doing a home exchange, so I have 2 weeks in the Cambridge/Saffron Walden area. Has anyone been there? I have some very general ideas, but no real specifics. Anything you can offer would be helpful, from eating to driving (which I'll be doing for the first time!).
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
Driving in Cambridge can be a challenge. It is very anti-car, pro-bike. Parking isn't always easy, and can be pretty expensive.
Watch really carefully the posted speed limits in and around Cambridge. They have invested in several job lots of speed cameras in various different types of boxes. Don't get flashed - and, yes, when they say 20 they mean 20.
Another place to watch your speed is on the A14 and its friends. The A14 around Cambridge has averaging cameras set at 60, sometimes 50. They measure both the speed as you pass them, and also - because they take your picture at each camera and feed the information to computers they can work out your average speed while you are on that road. If they find you have exceeded the limit a ticket will come in the post...
Do you read Pepys? His library is at Magdalene College and is rather special.
The Mathematical Bridge is a reconstruction - it is worth reading up on the original and seeing what is there now. The Backs are beautiful too.
There are all the usual tourist things in Cambridge.
What sort of things interest you - what would you like to see?
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2600 posts
Audley End is near Saffron Walden and worth a visit
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/audley-end-house-and-gardens/
Take a drive out to some towns/villages - Lavenham, Long Melford and Thaxted are woth a look.
Posted by
Hampshire, England.
1075 posts
As you're driving in England for the first time, please read the relevant sections of the Highway Code, assuming you're from the U.S don't assume driving here is the same but just on the other side of the road:
https://www.gov.uk/highway-code/contents
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Great part of the country. You don't say when you are travelling.
Good day trips out for me would include Duxford at junction 10 of the M11. It's part of the Imperial War Museum and has lots of planes including concorde that you can go in. Especially good if the planes are flying, but it is also busier on those days.
If you want a longer drive, the coast at Aldeburgh and Southwold is a must. Lavenham etc have also been mentioned. Newmarket is the home of hose racing in the UK - there is a racecourse and you can often see the jockeys exercising their mounts in the morning as lots of trainers are based there. You can go into London by train. If I were you, I would stay north and east of where you are staying as this is the nicest countryside and the quietest.
If you are on your own, I would recommend places to eat such as Wagamamas in Cambridge or Nandos (both chains). I don't like going in pubs on my own, but if you are staying in a village, it would be worth going into your local to see what it is like. There are numerous tea shops in this area, so you will never go hungry or thirsty.
Pay by credit card for all your supermarket shopping, petrol and train travel. If you travel by train, go after 9.30 and book 12 weeks in advance for the cheapest fares. You will need cash for car parking (although some now have pay by mobile phone facilities). Some small shops will have a minimum say £10 threshold for CC payment.
Have a good trip.