Friends, this is an update question from my earlier thread about being in the UK for the first time, and thinking of spending a few days in Cambridge. More and more it is seeming like a great idea. However, I see that the days I am planning to be in Cambridge are the exact days of the "May Balls", which I must admit I had never heard of before. These are evidently quite expensive and raucous parties attended in large part by university students, celebrating the end of exams. There are also fireworks, which can be viewed from after dark punting. So, for the Cambridge buffs among you, now my questions are: (1) Does this mean that exams are over and one can get in to visit the university, making this a good time to visit? (2) and, does the atmosphere surrounding the May Balls just add something of interest to a visit, or does it really interrupt normal life in Cambridge in a way that makes this the worst time to visit? Thanks for your guidance on this.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Larry,
As I've already said on your other trip, you probably don't want to visit Cambridge in May. I thought you were going in June.
The campus closures for May exams (most of the month) are, for a tourist/traveler, a very significant planning consideration. Rick gives more information in his London (day trips) and England tour books, about the May closures.
Really, I thought you were going in June and you wouldn't have to consider the May campus closures.
Posted by
OP
Carmel, CA, USA
2456 posts
Sorry Kent, I was not totally informative. The May Balls are not in May, but during the third week of June, regularly or at least this year. The dates I am looking at for Cambridge would be in the June 14 to 17 time frame, coincidentally exactly the big days/nights of the May Balls. This would be the final stop on my trip, before flying out of Heathrow on the morning of June 18. Looking at the photos of May Balls on the web, I see a number of elegantly dressed and diverse student types, often wandering around seemingly in a drunken stupor. This would be an interesting side show, but not so much if its the principal show in town on those days and evenings.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Larry, thanks for clarifying that: the May Balls are in June.
I didn't know that because when I was in the area in May of last year, I decided not to go to Cambridge because of the exam closures in May.
Posted by
Cambridge
10 posts
If this Sunday is anything to go by, I'd say the atmosphere isn't the best for tourists, due to the amount of binge drinking going on...