My parents are visiting next week. They've been to Cambridge many times before so I'm not going to take them to King's College and other familiar sights. Nor are we going to do a lot of walking as they are getting just a little elderly.
Here's a possible itinerary for when parents visit:
Day 1
Jesus College, sculpture exhibition.
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| Barry Flanagan, Bronze Horse, Jesus College |
If people have enough energy: pop in to
All Saints' Church on the way out and look at the Pre-Raphaelite decorations and stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and Ford Madox Brown.
Possible coffee stop at
Clown's on King Street.
Day 2
Drive out to
Madingley Garden.
My mother loves gardens and this recent discovery of mine is top of my list for places to visit.
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| Madingley Garden |
If we have enough stamina, we could stop by the
American War Cemetery on the way back.
But we will probably head for coffee instead -- possibly at the
West Café in the Hauser Forum on the new West Site of Cambridge University. I discovered the West Café last month and had a lovely lunch on the outside terrace, overlooking the fields. Added bonus: sciencey types with ipads at all the other tables.
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| West Café, Hauser Forum |
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| The Barton bike path going past the Hauser Forum |
Plus, if you're on a bike: it's a lovely bike ride to get there via the West Cambridge bike path.
Day 3
Botanic Garden.
Did I mention that my mother loves gardens? The Botanic Garden is one of her favourites, plus we now have the fantastic new Garden Café there. Both my mother and father love modern architecture so the award-winning
Sainsbury Lab is an added draw.
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| Garden Café, Botanic Garden |
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| Garden Café umbrellas and bits of the Sainsbury Lab |
Day 4
If people are up for it, we may take a drive down to near Stansted and go to the
Henry Moore Sculpture Park in Perry Green. I've not been there but it looks like a nice, doable outing from Cambridge. Nature plus art: a good combination.
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| Catalogue of the Henry Moore collection at Perry Green |
Local alternative (in case people don't feel like travel):
Lynn Strover Art Gallery in Fen Ditton. This has a Bank Holiday exhibition called
The Little Picure Show from Sat-Mon, 24-26 Aug 2013.
Day 5
I have to pick up another family member from
Luton Airport in the morning so that will eat half the day. Perhaps we will relax afterwards and have Cream Tea at the
Orchard Tea Garden in Grantchester.
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| Gateway Gallery, Luton Airport |
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| Orchard Tea Garden in winter |
Possible supper at
Bill's on Green Street.
Day 6
A day to go punting. Or just veg out. Possibly finish with drinks on the roof terrace of the
Varsity Hotel.
Although, if you want great views for free, just take the lift up to the top floor of the Park Street car park. ;-p
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| Mural at the Newmarket Street roundabout |
More ideas for a Cambridge itinerary are here at my pinterest site:
Visitors' itinerary.
Where do you take visitors?
Related blog posts:
Murals in a tunnel under a roundabout
Werewolf art at Luton Airport
Madingley series
Permalink: http://artincambridge.blogspot.com/2013/08/where-to-take-family-visitors-cambridge.html
