When you think of a romantic and relaxing weekend away with your other half, a city break might not come to mind. Chances are you want a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and to head somewhere a little less manic. Which is where Cambridge comes in.
While it is a city, it feels far from it, with a real village-y feel. Old bakeries and coffee shops sit atop of cobbled paths, fat Chelsea buns sat in window displays, the smell of fresh brewed coffee enticing passers-by. The River Cam flows right through the centre, where many revel in the chance to see the city from the water, taking in the rich history and stunning greenery. It has beautiful B&Bs, boutique hotels, many places to stay and a host of cultural activities begging for languid afternoons spent together taking it all in. Beyond this, you can also enjoy all that a city has to offer, with a great centre for shopping, easy transport links and plenty of things to immerse yourself in.
When looking for a romantic break away, it couldn’t be more perfect. Whether you’re looking for a moonlit boat ride, cocktails with a view or your own gin-making experience, there is so much to choose between. Here we’ve put together 16 romantic things to do in Cambridge that you don’t want to miss out on.
Book a punting tour along the river
No trip to Cambridge is complete without going on a punting tour. After all, what could be more romantic than sailing the River Cam and learning all about the history as the sights pass majestically by? The views are beautiful and you’ll get to see Cambridge from a completely different angle. If you fancy giving punting a go yourself, you can by booking a boat hire. If not you can opt for a private tour (which we highly recommend – punting is harder than it looks!) or a shared tour. Scudamore’s also have a variety of punting experiences that you can try such as afternoon tea punting, a champagne punt tour, gin punt tour and more.
Where: Scudamore’s Punting Company, 32a Bridge Street, Cambridge, CB2 1UJ
Discover Cambridge Gin and Cambridge Gin Laboratory
If you or your loved one is interested in gin, then an experience at Cambridge Gin is great romantic activity to do during the day or evening. There are a number of sessions that you can take part in to enhance your knowledge of gin and have great fun at the same time. Spend an hour tasting different gins and learning about the process or book a 2-hour session and make an array of gin-based cocktails. If you are visiting at the right time, there are a number of special classes that you can book to celebrate the different occasions throughout the year. Once you are done, take a look around their store and purchase a bottle of gin (or two) and attempt to make your own cocktails at home.
Where: 20 High Street, Cambridge, CB3 9NF
Enjoy some cocktails on the Varsity Hotel’s rooftop
When it comes to romantic things to do in Cambridge, one of the most intimate spots in town is Varsity Hotel’s rooftop. Enjoy an array of classy cocktails whilst taking in the panoramic views of Cambridge. It’s a great place to sit back, relax and catch up with your partner whilst in a special location. If you want to make the most of the evening, why not book into their steak house or Six Brasserie – It’s always worth booking in advance to make sure you get a table.
Where: Thompson’s Lane (off Bridge Street), Cambridge, England, CB5 8AQ
Arrange an afternoon tea in one of Cambridge’s popular restaurants
Let’s face it, when it comes to romantic things to do in Cambridge, you need some foodie date options. Cambridge has a whole plethora of eateries that will serve you a delicious afternoon tea and aren’t to be missed. Depending on which establishment you visit, different themes and styled afternoon tea will be served. For example, The University Arms serve afternoon tea at their Parkers Tavern which is inspired by the city’s literary legacy. Gonville Hotel’s afternoon tea has to be mentioned and so does Graduate Hotels Garden Room.
A Bentley Tour with The Gonville Hotel
We just mentioned Gonville Hotel for their afternoon tea above, however, another offering the Gonville Hotel offers is their Bentley Tour. Their Bentley tour experience is unique, taking you around the city in a traditional Bentley car. Their head chauffeur, Brian, has a wealth of knowledge and is more than happy to share it with you throughout. He will even stop off and let you get some photos of key locations like The Corpus Clock and Castle Hill.
Where: Gonville Hotel, Gonville Place, Cambridge, CB1 1LY
Catch a show at Cambridge Arts Theatre
Founded in 1936 Cambridge Arts Theatre hosts a whole array of shows throughout the year, from musicals to theatrical productions. Take a look through their website and see if you fancy any of their shows. Rock of Ages is showing in October while SIX are visiting in February. For a romantic evening, treat yourself to a show at the theatre and then book to enjoy some cocktails on the Varsity Hotel’s rooftop.
Where: 6 Street Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ
Cheese and Wine evening at Cambridgeshire Wine School
Who doesn’t love cheese and wine? Spend the evening at the Cambridgeshire Wine School learning the principles of pairing cheese and wine. Throughout the evening you will try a selection of seven different wines and seven kinds of cheese from specialist local cheesemonger Hum Closen. You’ll learn about why certain wines go better with different cheeses and the best ways of hosting a wine and cheese evening at home. These sessions take place throughout the year so book as soon as possible to not miss out. Cambridgeshire Wine School also have a selection of other evening events for you to book.
Where: The Venetian Wine Bar, 21 Station Place, CB1 2FP
Tour the city on a bike
Cambridge provides a beautiful backdrop for a cycling date. The city is very flat, making it easy to explore and spend some quality time together. Set off in the afternoon and then watch the sun go down and get lost in the historic buildings seeing them from a different perspective. There are plenty of places you can hire a bike or if you are a keen cyclist, why not bring your own with you? Cycle lanes flood the city making it easy to get around, when there isn’t a lane, you’ll spot a lot of cyclists using the pavements. If you want to try something different, you could rent the electric scooters and explore.
Book a Cambridge food tour
Talking about touring the city, why not try something different and book a Cambridge food tour? If you are a foodie, you’ll love exploring all the hidden secrets of the city, and finding unique eateries off the beaten track. The tours take 3 hours 30 minutes, running at 11:30 in the morning. You’ll get to discover new places to eat and meet the faces behind the independent businesses whilst trying samples of their food. Trying to create a romantic date day and night, why not start with the Cambridge food tour before booking a gin tasting experience at Cambridge Gin?
Where: Cambridge, exact location given on booking.
Climb the Church of St Mary’s Tower
As part of your romantic things to do in Cambridge to-do list, make sure you have 30 minutes to an hour to climb the Church of St Mary’s Tower. Create plenty of memories and capture photos of the 360° views from the top of their newly-refurbished outdoor viewing platform. You’ll have to climb 123 steps, but we promise the panoramic views from the top are well worth it. Make sure you have a camera with you to take some photos. You may even get a photo of someone proposing – it’s a very popular spot to do so!
Where: The University Church, Senate House Hill, Cambridge, CB2 3PQ, UK
Walk around the city with ice cream from Jack Gelato
Sometimes the simplest of romantic gestures is spending quality time together. Forget about the hustle and bustle of everyday life and explore the city of Cambridge on foot. There are many picturesque places for you to explore in the city with gorgeous backdrops. Whilst on your walk, factor some time to visit one of the two Jack Gelato shops in Cambridge. Known to be some of the best Ice Cream in the city, they make all their ice cream fresh with a plethora of flavours available. You only need to look at their TripAdvisor reviews to get an idea of how highly they are rated.
Where: 6 Bene’t Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QN | 7 All Saints Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3LS
Dinner at Parker’s Tavern
Complete your romantic trip to Cambridge with dinner at Parker’s Tavern. Parkers Tavern is a quintessential all-day British brasserie serving unpretentious classic meals. Everything is cooked fresh, using locally sourced ingredients by a talented team of chefs. Make sure you factor in some time to visit their bar for a cocktail before or after your meal – they have a great collection of cocktails. Parker’s Tavern is also known for putting together a delicious afternoon tea too so don’t miss this!
Where: 52-42 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1AD
Picnic in The Cambridge Botanic Gardens
Find a picnic basket, pack a blanket and prepare a picnic with your favourite sandwiches and snacks. A picnic is a lovely romantic gesture, especially in the backdrop of The Cambridge Botanic Gardens. Here you have over 40 acres of peaceful gardens, with over 8,000 plant species. You can explore the different garden sections, learning about the different flowers and wildlife, before settling down and enjoying your lunch together.
Where: 1 Brookside, Cambridge, CB2 1JE
Helicopter tour of Cambridge
See Cambridge from a completely different perspective. Hover over the city and listen to your pilot whilst they spot and explain the different landmarks from the sky. Flying up to 1000 feet is a breath-taking experience that is very special and you will cherish it forever. Whether you are booking for a special occasion or you want to treat your loved one to something very memorable, we highly recommend a helicopter tour – just make sure you don’t forget your camera.
Go on a classic cinema cate
It’s a classic but always good fun and it doesn’t cost a lot of money. Cosy up together, share a large popcorn (argue over salt, sweet or mixed), order a glass of wine and beer or a large coke (depending on the cinema) and relax watching a film. Cambridge has three different cinemas that you can choose from, The Vue, The Arts Picturehouse or The Light. Depending on when you are visiting, different films are showing, so make sure you look up the schedule before visiting and to make sure you get a ticket, book in advance. If you want to make the most of your date night, book into a restaurant beforehand or after and check out the local bars and pubs after.
Visit the museums of Cambridge
Some will argue that visiting a museum should not be part of our romantic things to do in Cambridge, however, we disagree. Romance is all about doing something you and your partner love to do, if art and culture is something you love, then visiting the museums of Cambridge should be on your list. Cambridge is full of history and with that has many excellent museums and art galleries for you to visit. The Kettle Yard gallery and The Fitzwilliam Museum are both well worth a visit. Other museums that you should visit include Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Stapleford Granary Arts and Music Centre, The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey and The Museum of Cambridge.
If you’re looking for other places to go that have the same historic charm as Cambridge, there are many destinations you can try. If you love adventure, you could plan a day at one of the holiday parks in Norflok, which is located just an hour away, or why not visit the Suffolk coast? There’s so many places to pick from that can enhance your break away.
Will you be doing any of these 16 romantic things to do in Cambridge? Which of the sixteen ideas is your favourite? Have you got any suggestions of romantic things to do in Cambridge that we haven’t included? Let us know in the comment box below.
