London (Fodor's 2012) - Fodor's [203]
In 1284 the Bishop of Ely founded Peterhouse College, Cambridge’s smallest and oldest college. Take a tranquil walk through its former deer park, by the river side of its ivy-clad buildings. | Trumpington St. | CB2 1RD | 01223/338200 | www.pet.cam.ac.uk | Free | Daily 9–5 (groups 1–5).
Queens’ College.
Originally established in 1447 as the College of St. Bernard’s, one of Cambridge’s most eye-catching colleges was re-founded a year later by Margaret of Anjou, queen of Henry VI, and then re-founded again in 1475 by Elizabeth, queen of Edward IV—hence the new name.
Cross over the Cam via the Wooden Bridge, also known as the Mathematical Bridge. A popular myth tells of how it was built by Isaac Newton without any binding save gravity, then dismantled by curious scholars eager to learn Sir Isaac’s secret. However, the bridge wasn’t actually put together until 1749, 22 years after Newton’s death. | Queens’ La. | CB3 9ET | 01223/335511 | www.queens.cam.ac.uk | £2.50, free Nov.–mid-Mar., Oct. weekdays, closed mid-May–mid-June (call for info) | Mid-Mar.–mid-May, daily 10–4:30; mid-June–Sept., daily 10–4:30; Oct., weekdays 2–4, weekend 10–4:30.
The only Cambridge College founded by townspeople (in 1352) is Corpus Christi College,whose beautiful, serene, 14th-century Old Court is the oldest college quadrangle in Cambridge. The college’s Parker Library contains one of the world’s finest collections of medieval manuscripts. | Trumpington St. | CB2 1RH | 01223/338000 | www.corpus.cam.ac.uk | Free | Daily 2–4.
St. John’s College (1511), the university’s second largest, has noted alumni (Wordsworth studied here), a series of beautiful courtyards, and two of the finest sights in town: the School of Pythagoras, the oldest house in Cambridge; and the 1831 Bridge of Sighs, a replica of its Venetian counterpart. The windowed, covered stone bridge reaches across the Cam to the mock-Gothic New Court (1825–31). The New Court cupola’s white crenellations have earned it the nickname “the wedding cake.” | St. John’s St. | CB2 1TP | 01223/338600 | www.joh.cam.ac.uk | £3.20 | Mar.–Oct., daily 10–5:30; Nov.–Feb., daily 10–3:30.
Fodor’s Choice | Trinity College was founded by Henry VIII in 1546, and has the largest student population of all the colleges. It’s also famous for having been attended by Byron, Thackeray, Tennyson, Bertrand Russell, Nabokov, Nehru, and 31 Nobel Prize winners. Many of Trinity’s features reflect its status as one of Cambridge’s largest colleges, not least its 17th-century “great court,” scene of the university race in Chariots of Fire. Don’t miss the wonderful library by Christopher Wren, where you can see a letter written by alumnus Isaac Newton with early notes on gravity, and A. A. Milne’s handwritten manuscript of The House at Pooh Corner. | Trinity St. | CB2 1TQ | 01223/338400 | www.trin.cam.ac.uk | £3 mid-Mar.–Oct. | College daily 10–5; library weekdays noon–2, Sat. in term time 10–noon; hall and chapel open to visitors, but hrs vary.
WHERE TO EAT IN CAMBRIDGE
Midsummer House.
£££££ | ECLECTIC | In fine weather the gray-brick Midsummer House’s conservatory, beside the River Cam, makes for a memorable lunchtime jaunt. Choose from a selection of innovative French and Mediterranean dishes. You might get braised turbot, pumpkin and cep cannelloni, or slow-cooked duck with beetroot puree. | Midsummer Common | CB4 1HA | 01223/369299 | www.midsummerhouse.co.uk | Reservations essential | AE, MC, V | Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues.
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Exploring Canterbury | Where to Eat in Canterbury
60 mi (97 km) southeast of London.
A bustling medieval cathedral town, charming Canterbury has good shopping, plenty of history, and just enough to see in a day—making it an ideal