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Cambridge - Dates / Hotels / History
 The
Bridges of Cambridge
If you’ve taken a stroll down by the river
Cam in recent weeks, you may have noticed the rather impressive
new pedestrian and cycle bridge which has been lowered into
place and will be opening soon to link Riverside with Chesterton.
It’s the first new river crossing to be opened in the
city since the Queen Elizabeth Way road bridge was unveiled
in 1971, and it joins more than 20 other bridges across the
river in the city (not to mention a number of railway bridges).
Not altogether surprisingly, the city of Cambridge was named
after a structure spanning the river. In fact, the original
bridge was a wooden one that crossed the river close to where
the current Magdalene Bridge now stands, and is believed to
have been built in the 8th century by Offa, King of Mercia.
As the city grew, and the University grew in influence, many
bridges were built to provide safe passage to scholars returning
to their colleges. Among the most famous of the University
bridges is The Bridge of Sighs, based on the similarly named
one in Venice, which took prisoners to their execution (rather
than students to their final exams...)
Other bridges have attracted myths and legends across the
centuries. The Clare College Bridge built in 1640 is the longest-surviving
bridge in the city (many were destroyed in the English Civil
War), and is topped by a number of large spherical ‘globes’.
One of the globes has a large chunk sliced out of it, supposedly
the work of the bridge’s builder as a protest at not
being paid in full. The wooden ‘Mathematical Bridge’
at Queens’ College was supposedly built by Isaac Newton,
and, so the story goes, was designed and engineered so perfectly
that it was constructed without the need for any nails or
fastenings.
Sadly, both of these legends are untrue, but they still make
for good stories to tell to gullible visitors
 2008
The Year Ahead - Dates for dairy
It’s the United Nations International Year
of Planet Earth. It’s the EU’s Year of Languages.
It’s the International Year of Sanitation! It’s
the Beijing Olympics. And it’s the Euro 2008 football
championships (you remember, that sport that British people
aren’t very good at). But quite apart from that, it’s
going to be another fun-packed year ahead right here in Cambridge.
Here are just a few highlights to put in your shiny new desktop
diaries...
Once January’s out of the way, things get off to a flipping
good start (do you see what we did there?) in February with
Pancake Day on Feb 5, followed by the Chinese New Year (it’s
the year of the rat, you know) on Feb 7 and that night for
romantics  everywhere,
Valentine’s Day, on Feb 14. March sees the return of
popular family event the Cambridge Science Festival from 10-20
March, and the world’s literary giants descend on the
city for Cambridge Wordfest from 28-30 March. Don’t
forget your dear old Ma on Mother’s Day on 2 March and
Easter, which is 23 March this year. April is the time for
patriots everywhere to hang out the flags for St George’s
Day (23 April) while May sees food and drink combine to startling
effect, with the Cambridge Beer Festival on Jesus Green (19-24
May) coinciding with National Vegetarian Week (19-25 May).
In June everyone heads for the fairs. Strawberry Fair’s
on Midsummer Common on 7 June, Cambridge Town and Country
Fair is set to return to Parker’s Piece on 14-15 June,
then the traditional rides and games of Midsummer Fair takes
place around 21 June. July sees the big summer events like
Pop in the Park and The Big Day Out on Parker’s Piece,
while Cherry Hinton Hall hosts the internationally-renowned
Cambridge Folk Festival from 31 July to 3 August. August usually
sees a big marquee erected on Jesus Green for live comedy,
music and children’s entertainment, and the Bard’s
on the loose during the month in various settings for the
Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. September’s all about
kids and students going back to school and annual Cambridge
events to look out for such as the Dragon Boat Festival and
Stourbridge Medieval Fair, and then autumn heads into winter
Halloween on 31 October, fireworks on Midsummer Common around
5 November, and the big run-in to Christmas, all over again.
Then onward to 2009!
Are you staying near Junior2Senior?
 THE
UNIVERSITY ARMS
The imposing Victorian hotel on the corner of Parker’s
Piece in the centre of Cambridge is one of the De Vere chain’s
deluxe hotels. This timelessly elegant four star hotel offers
all the big city comforts you could wish for. It has 119 rooms,
many with spectacular views over the green expanse of the
Piece. It boasts eight four poster bedrooms and two suites
that would be the perfect location for a Valantine’s
night to remember, all stylishly equipped with bathrobes and
slippers, chocolates and fruit. Downstairs Restaurant 17 will
be serving up a special Valentine’s menu of its excellent
cuisine, then you can have a nightcap in Parker’s Bar,
before heading upstairs.
De Vere University Arms, Regent Street. T: 01223 273000.
EXPRESS BY HOLIDAY INN
For a highly affordable night away from it all, Express by
Holiday Inn offers real comfort and convenience. It’s
a brilliantly affordable place for an escape from the everyday
routines of home life. Guest rooms are fresh and modern, with
high speed internet access and satellite TV. The hotel, just
outside the city along Coldham’s Lane also offers simple,
tasty evening meals in an informal setting in their bar, and
breakfast is always included in the room rate!
Express by Holiday Inn Cambridge, Coldham’s Business
Park. T: 01223 866800.
 SWYNFORD
PADDOCKS
This delightful country house hotel in Six Mile Bottom near
Newmarket is a haven of comfort, fine dining and rural tranquillity.
This is a historic building set amid acres of extensive lawns
and ancient trees, with horses cantering in the fields next
door. It’s a place with real history attached to it
as well, having once been the home of Lord Byron, and the
gardens are home to the burial spot of legendary racehorse
Brigadier Gerard (whose portrait also adorns the dining area).With
the Newmarket Racecourses just down the road, the racing theme
continues throughout the hotel. Its 15 spacious bedrooms are
all individually designed to commemorate horses who have graced
the famous turf nearby, complete with jockey silks and other
memorabilia. Private ensuite bathrooms are well-stocked with
Moulton Brown toiletries, while four-poster and deluxe double
bedrooms are also available. Back downstairs you’ll
find a number of eating and drinking options. If you want
a slightly less formal meal you can enjoy something in the
Silks Brasserie, but if you want to experience the full scope
of the talented kitchen team under head chef Paul Buckley,
book a table in the wood-panelled Byron restaurant for a feast
to savour.
Swynford Paddocks, Six Mile Bottom. T: 01638 570234.
QUY MILL HOTEL
An oasis of peace and quiet out in the countryside between
Cambridge and Newmarket, the Quy Mill Hotel is a perfect hideaway
for a romantic night. The former watermill (complete with
old waterwheel) is set in 11 acres of grounds, and has 49
well-appointed bedrooms with whirlpool baths, (some with four-poster
beds) and excellent facilities all round. Fine food is served
in the hotel’s restaurant and bar area, their Celtic
Bar has a remarkable selection of more than 50 malt whiskies
to sample, and the health club contains an indoor 12 metre
swimming pool, steam room, sauna, state-of-the-art gymnasium,
spa and fitness centre. Just the thing for a blissful escape
from reality.
Quy Mill Hotel, Stow-cum-Quy. T: 01223 293383.
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