A mini-guide to Cambridge

Where to eat, what to see and why you should go now (like right now!)

It’s natural to be overwhelmed by what is going on in the world at the moment. To feel immobilised by anxiety, fury and fear. But the truth is there’s next to nothing we can do about it and the only way of staying sane is to focus on the things we do that give our life meaning and purpose.

I’m not, of course, advocating ignoring it, simply not getting so swept up by the rolling coverage that you lose the ability to do or think about anything else.

I was lucky I’d arranged a couple of days in Cambridge this week to fulfil a couple of longstanding commitments to visit a wine writer colleague, Chris Wilson who runs an urban winery called Gutter & Stars and a chef, Alex Rushmer, whose cooking I’ve long admired.

It was also no coincidence that I chose to go at this time of year when Cambridge is at its most beautiful, carpeted with daffodils and other spring flowers.

What I couldn’t have predicted is that I would manage to pick the most glorious day of the year so far which made it even more joyous. (Cambridge can be bitingly cold and reverted to being dismally grey on the second day.)

I also packed in another couple of restaurant visits into my 24 or rather 28 hours, (I know, I know, but no breakfast) and a visit to King’s College but if you had longer you could take it at a less frenetic pace.

Or, even, just go for the day. Cambridge is a quick 50 minute train journey from London’s Kings Cross station.

There’s also an argument, even though this is precisely what I did, for not over-planning your visit. There’s so much to take advantage of, judging by the flyers plastered all over the railings and walls of the city, especially if you enjoy classical music. You want to be able to drop into a concert on impulse. It reminded me of Edinburgh during the Fringe (check out my post from last summer).

Even if you couldn’t book any of the restaurants below at short notice there are plenty of others, especially down Mill Road or in the street food stalls in the market.

And rather than the hotel I stayed in you could book an Airbnb or a university room out of term-time.

Where to eat, where to stay …