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When to visit Cambridge

Posted by (Lake Oswego, Oregon) on

I'm considering including Cambridge on a trip to England next year and have the choice of these three dates:

April 15 - May 2 (a stop between time in Delft/Bruges and a walking holiday in Northumberland)
June 29 - July 4 (before two walking holidays in the Peak District and Yorkshire)
July 19-26 (after two walking holidays in the Peak District and Yorkshire)

What are the pros and cons of each? I'm interested in avoiding crowds and heat. I won't have a car and will travel by train.

I spent a week in Oxford last September and loved every minute of it, and didn't do any of the day trips I'd planned. I will possibly do day trips from Cambridge.

Thank you.

Posted by
1948 posts

Hi, Grier, do you want to be in Cambridge when the University is in session or between terms? Or does it make a difference? When school is not in session you can find accommodation at the University which is what I did at Oxford in September 2022. I really enjoyed that experience.

Posted by
1326 posts

Hi Laurie Beth, I don't think it matters whether school is in session or not. I was in Oxford between terms and enjoyed it. I had lunch at one of the colleges and enjoyed it even though there weren't any students there. I'll look into university housing. Thanks for the suggestion.

Posted by
7566 posts

April 15 - May 2 (a stop between time in Delft/Bruges and a walking holiday in Northumberland)
June 29 - July 4 (before two walking holidays in the Peak District and Yorkshire)
July 19-26 (after two walking holidays in the Peak District and Yorkshire)

I would agree with Gundersen. Stop in Cambridge before you head up to Northumberland, as all your other places are farther north. That way you'll be at the most southern destination (Cambridge) when it's still relatively cool outside, and you can head up north as it gets warmer. Not that it will make a huge difference but it will matter a bit.

Enjoy your visit! I spent almost 6 weeks in England this year; mostly in The Peak, North Yorkshire and Northumberland and loved them all.

Posted by
1326 posts

Thank you for your replies.

I agree that it makes the most sense to do the Cambridge stay in the spring as it's on the way between Bruges and Northumberland. My hesitation in adding it is that it will extend my trip to five weeks which is a bit longer than I'd like. I wondered if the summer dates made sense as that trip is shorter but the extended train travel and summer dates aren't appealing.

Laurie Beth and Laura: Thank you for suggesting staying in university housing. I've always wanted to do that and will check it out.

Mardee, I share your enthusiasm for visiting the UK. I leave next month for my seventh extended trip to the UK in the past few years.

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