Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Wider Wargaming => General Discussion => Topic started by: old smokie on 24 July 2014, 01:12:50 PM

Title: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: old smokie on 24 July 2014, 01:12:50 PM
we'll be having a 3 week holiday in Cambridgeshire 2015, anyone know of any interesting places to visit etc  :)

TIA
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: FierceKitty on 24 July 2014, 01:17:51 PM
The round church, near John's. One of the prettiest buildings in Cambridge.
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Leon on 24 July 2014, 01:52:20 PM
The new WWI centre near Cambridge will be opening soon, could be worth a visit: http://www.lestweforget.eu.com/ (http://www.lestweforget.eu.com/)
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Rob on 24 July 2014, 03:03:15 PM
Ely cathedral if you like medieval architecture. If I am correct William the Conqueror commissioned four great cathedrals; Westminster, York, Lincoln and Ely. This cathedral was used a lot in the Queen Elizabeth I films.

IWM at Duxford if you like WW2. They have tanks, artillery and some cold-war tanks there too. There is a nicely done Normandy '44 area which you enter through a landing craft!

If dark-ages are of interest get yourself a copy of "Hereward" by Peter Rex. I know its often politically incorrect in our country to have English heroes but Hereward the Wake was actually a complete murderous bastard that wantonly killed Normans for fun and there was nothing they could do about it until they captured his "island" in the fens near Ely.  :o (I wonder how many Hollywood epics would have been made of his deeds if he were Scottish or American?  :-\)


Cheers Rob  :)
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Nosher on 24 July 2014, 03:25:58 PM
Ely Cathedral a must, Imperial War Museum at Duxford a must, Madingley American Cemetery a must, Route66 nightclub a must, Cromwell Museum in Huntingdo a must

Hang on! Only Route66 is in Cambridge... shows how cultured I was whilst stationed there in the 80's  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Steve J on 24 July 2014, 06:27:41 PM
Apart from the recommendations above, which I endorse, the following spring to mind:

Wicken Fen nature reserve.

Punting along the 'Backs' of the Cambridge Colleges is a must, plus wandering among the colleges (where applicable) is lovely.

St Ives has a lovely old bridge and market square, with a statue of Oliver Cromwell. IIRC also a nice little museum.

Cambridge University Botanical Gardens.

Hope this helps?
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: fred. on 24 July 2014, 07:53:04 PM
I lived in Cambridge for several years and never visited half these places !!!

Duxford is ace - its also huge, expect to spend a whole day there.

Ely Cathedral - while nice enough, offers little more than other cathedrals, and Ely itself is not too exciting (apart from the roundabouts where the farmers seem to have little idea what to do).

The city of Cambridge offers lots, but can be really busy - mornings tend to be quieter. Use the Park and Ride - there are several sites around the city.
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: FierceKitty on 25 July 2014, 12:20:24 AM
If The Gardenia is still in business (near Caius, on the way to Market Hill), have a meal there; super Greek restaurant. The Fitzwilliam Museum has some super paintings too, if you're civilised.
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Steve J on 25 July 2014, 06:48:20 AM
The Fitzwilliam Museum is often described as the best small museum in the country. Well worth a visit.
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Hertsblue on 25 July 2014, 08:06:25 AM
Duxford certainly, a wargamer's paradise. It also includes the US Airforce museum which has, amongst many other things, an SR71 Blackbird.

Further afield, if you have transport - Audley End House near Saffron Walden, a huge, rambling stately pile; Castle Hedingham in Essex, one of the best preserved Norman keeps in the country; Framlingham Castle in Suffolk; the Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey in Essex - spend the entire day there. All these are within an hour or so's drive from Cambridge.
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Leman on 25 July 2014, 11:35:03 AM
I believe Cambridge is quite nice.
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: FierceKitty on 25 July 2014, 12:29:05 PM
Better university than the Other Place, anyway.
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: old smokie on 25 July 2014, 02:59:11 PM
thanks for all the info etc  :-bd

will be attending the Flying legends show and the Spitfires, Merlins and Motors show  :), my lovely wife has also booked a flight for me in a Dragon Rapide, and also hoping to get a flight in a friends Spitfire  8) :)
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: Steve J on 25 July 2014, 05:11:18 PM
Quotemy lovely wife has also booked a flight for me in a Dragon Rapide, and also hoping to get a flight in a friends Spitfire

You lucky, lucky b*astard! I'm not jealous, no not me, no really I'm not...

Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: paulr on 26 July 2014, 02:55:49 AM
Quote from: Steve J on 25 July 2014, 05:11:18 PM
Quote from: old smokie on 25 July 2014, 02:59:11 PM
attending the Flying legends show and the Spitfires, Merlins and Motors show  :), my lovely wife has also booked a flight for me in a Dragon Rapide, and also hoping to get a flight in a friends Spitfire  8) :)
You lucky, lucky b*astard! I'm not jealous, no not me, no really I'm not...

What he said, double!
Title: Re: visiting Cambridgeshire 2015
Post by: old smokie on 26 July 2014, 11:31:13 AM
I know, I know  :)