Cambridge#Festivals and events

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{{See also|Prehistoric Britain|British Iron Age}}

Settlements have existed around the Cambridge area since prehistoric times. The earliest clear evidence of occupation is the remains of a {{nowrap|3,500-}}year-old farmstead discovered at the site of Fitzwilliam College.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/7194650.stm |title=Bronze Age site is found in city |work=BBC News |date=17 January 2008 |access-date=5 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111121528/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/7194650.stm |archive-date=11 January 2009 |url-status=live}} Archaeological evidence of occupation through the Iron Age is a settlement on Castle Hill from the 1st century BC, perhaps relating to wider cultural changes occurring in southeastern Britain linked to the arrival of the Belgae.{{cite web |url=http://www.visitcambridge.org/VisitCambridge/Factsheets.aspx |title=A brief history of Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge City Council |year=2010 |access-date=27 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522090533/http://www.visitcambridge.org/VisitCambridge/Factsheets.aspx |archive-date=22 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Duroliponte}}

The principal Roman site is a small fort ({{lang|la|castrum}}) Duroliponte on Castle Hill, just northwest of the city centre around the location of the earlier British village. The fort was bounded on two sides by the lines formed by the present Mount Pleasant, continuing across Huntingdon Road into Clare Street. The eastern side followed Magrath Avenue, with the southern side running near to Chesterton Lane and Kettle's Yard before turning northwest at Honey Hill.{{cite book |last=Gray |first=Ronald D |author2=Stubbings, Derek |title=Cambridge Street-Names: Their Origins and Associations |url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgestreetn00gray |url-access=limited |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=2000 |location=Cambridge |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgestreetn00gray/page/n23 2]–3 |isbn=978-0-521-78956-1}} It was constructed around AD 70 and converted to civilian use around 50 years later. Evidence of more widespread Roman settlement has been discovered, including numerous farmsteads{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/aug/28/archaeology-cambridge-university-girton-roman |title=The Roman foundations of Cambridge |first=John |last=Henley |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 August 2009 |quote='What's interesting about Cambridge is that with these tracts of land bequeathed to the university, you have a lot of preserved green space coming in close to the city centre,' says Chris Evans, head of the Cambridge unit. 'It hasn't been developed in the intervening centuries. There are iron-age and Roman farmsteads literally every 200–300 metres.' |access-date=26 February 2012 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219235450/http://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/aug/28/archaeology-cambridge-university-girton-roman |archive-date=19 December 2013 |url-status=live}} and a village in the Cambridge district of Newnham.{{cite web |url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/schoolgirls-unearth-roman-village-under-college-garden |title=Schoolgirls unearth Roman village under College garden |publisher=University of Cambridge |date=22 September 2010 |quote=Large amounts of Roman pottery convinced both Dr Hills and Dr Lewis that they had dug through to the remains of a 2,000-year-old settlement, significant because it suggests that the Roman presence at Newnham was far more considerable than previously thought. |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016055235/http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/schoolgirls-unearth-roman-village-under-college-garden |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live}}

File:Trinity Street, Cambridge.jpg in 2008 with Trinity College on the left and St John's College in the background]]

File:cmglee St Benets exterior.jpg, the oldest standing building in Cambridgeshire, next to Corpus Christi College]]

File:Peterhouse Chapel.jpg was the first college to be founded at the University of Cambridge.]]

File:President's Lodge, Queens' College, Cambridge.jpg]]

Following the Roman withdrawal from Britain around 410, the location may have been abandoned by the Britons, although the site is usually identified as {{nowrap|Cair Grauth}},Nennius ({{abbr|attrib.|Traditional attribution}}). Theodor Mommsen ({{abbr|ed.|Editor}}). Historia Brittonum, VI. Composed after AD 830. {{in lang|la}} Hosted at Latin Wikisource. as listed among the 28 cities of Britain in the History of the Britons attributed to Nennius.{{refn|Bishop Ussher believed the listing to refer to the Cambridge in Gloucestershire.Newman, John Henry & al. [http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Lives-of-the-English-Saints-St-Gilbert-Prior-of-Sempringham-Volume-3/527392/459 Lives of the English Saints: St. German, Bishop of Auxerre, Ch. X: "Britain in 429, A. D.", p. 92.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321234154/http://www.mocavo.co.uk/Lives-of-the-English-Saints-St-Gilbert-Prior-of-Sempringham-Volume-3/527392/459 |date=21 March 2016}} James Toovey (London), 1844.}} Evidence exists that the invading Anglo-Saxons had begun occupying the area by the end of the century.{{cite book | last = Burnham | first = Barry C |author2=Wacher, John | title = The Small Towns of Roman Britain | publisher = B T Batsford | date = 1990 | location = London}} Their settlement – also on and around Castle Hill – became known as Grantebrycge{{refn|In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, cited by Roach.}} ("Granta-bridge". By Middle English, the settlement's name had changed to "Cambridg koe", deriving from the word 'Camboricum', meaning 'passage' or 'ford' of stream in a town or settlement,A Dictionary, english-latin, and latin-english containing all things necessary for the translating of either language into the other

By Elisha Coles · 1679A Restoration of the Ancient Modes of Bestowing Names on the Rivers, Hills, Vallies, Plains, and Settlements of Britain by Gilbert Dyer Publication date 1805 (page 242) and the lower stretches of the Granta changed their name to match.){{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PUsAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA403 |journal=Notes and Queries |first=F. |last=Chance |date=13 November 1869 |volume=4 |location=London |title=Cambridge. |pages=401–404 |access-date=25 February 2012 |publisher=Bell & Daldy |oclc=644126889 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203053122/https://books.google.com/books?id=PUsAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA403 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=live }}) Anglo-Saxon grave goods have been found in the area. During this period, Cambridge benefited from good trade links across the hard-to-travel fenlands. By the 7th century, the town was less significant and described by Bede as a "little ruined city" containing the burial site of Æthelthryth (Etheldreda).{{cite book|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66604 |chapter=The city of Cambridge: Medieval History |editor-last=Roach |editor-first=J.P.C. |publisher=Victoria County History |via=Institute of Historical Research |year=1959 |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612160918/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66604 |archive-date=12 June 2012 |url-status=live}} Cambridge sat on the border between the East and Middle Anglian kingdoms, and the settlement slowly expanded on both sides of the river.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that Vikings arrived in 875; they imposed Viking rule, the Danelaw, by 878.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7T0uIfkPn28C&q=danelaw%20cambridge%20878&pg=PA7 |title=A History of the University of Cambridge |volume=1 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1988 |pages=9–10 [10] |first=Christopher Nugent Lawrence |last=Brooke |author2=Riehl Leader, Damien |isbn=0-521-32882-9 |access-date=5 November 2020 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528155914/https://books.google.com/books?id=7T0uIfkPn28C&q=danelaw+cambridge+878&pg=PA7 |url-status=live }} Their vigorous trading habits resulted in rapid growth of the town. During this period, the town's centre shifted from Castle Hill on the left bank of the river to the area now known as the Quayside on the right bank. After the Viking period, the Saxons enjoyed a return to power, building churches, such as St Bene't's Church, as well as wharves, merchant houses, and a mint which produced coins with the town's name abbreviated to "Grant".

In 1068, two years after the Norman Conquest of England, William the Conqueror erected a castle on Castle Hill, the motte of which survives. Like the rest of the newly conquered kingdom, Cambridge fell under the control of the King and his deputies.

Cambridge's first town charter was granted by Henry I between 1120 and 1131. It granted the town monopoly of waterborne traffic and hithe tolls and recognised the borough court.{{cite book |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66606 |chapter=The City of Cambridge: Constitutional History |editor-last=Roach |editor-first=J.P.C. |publisher=Victoria County History |via=Institute of Historical Research |year=1959 |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612161056/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66606 |archive-date=12 June 2012 |url-status=live}} The distinctive Round Church dates from this period.{{cite book |editor1-last=Roach |editor1-first=J.P.C. |chapter=The City of Cambridge: Churches |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3, the City and University of Cambridge |date=1959 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=123–132 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp123-132 |access-date=23 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913130648/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp123-132 |archive-date=13 September 2016 |url-status=live}} In 1209, Cambridge University was founded by Oxford students fleeing from hostility.{{cite web|date=18 December 2009 |publisher=BBC News |title=The Hanging of the Clerks in 1209 |first=Simon |last=Bailey |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/oxford/low/people_and_places/history/newsid_8405000/8405640.stm |access-date=24 September 2020 |archive-date=7 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107223547/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/oxford/low/people_and_places/history/newsid_8405000/8405640.stm |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/history/records.html |title=University and Colleges: A Brief History |publisher=University of Cambridge |date=7 February 2008 |access-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902111945/http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/history/records.html |archive-date=2 September 2011 |url-status=live}} The oldest existing college, Peterhouse, was founded in 1284.{{cite web |url= http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/welcome-peterhouse/about-college |title= About the College |publisher= Peterhouse College |access-date= 13 January 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100125020618/http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/welcome-peterhouse/about-college |archive-date= 25 January 2010 |url-status= live}}

Cambridge had a significant Jewish community in the middle ages, centred on what is now known as All Saints Passage, then known as the Jewry. A synagogue stood nearby. In January 1275, Eleanor of Provence expelled Jews from all of the towns within her dower lands, and the Jews of Cambridge were ordered to relocate to Norwich.{{cite book |last1=Hillaby |first1=Joe |last2=Hillaby |first2=Caroline |title=The Palgrave Dictionary of Medieval Anglo-Jewish History |year=2013 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=Basingstoke |isbn=978-0-230-27816-5 |ol= OL28086241M |pages=141–43, 73–9}}

In 1349, Cambridge was affected by the Black Death. Few records survive but 16 of 40 scholars at King's Hall died.{{cite book| title=The Black Death |author1-first=Philip |author1-last=Ziegler |isbn=978-0-14-027524-7 |publisher=Penguin |location=London |author2-last=Platt |author2-first=Colin |year=1998 |edition=2nd |page=178}} The town north of the river was severely impacted, being almost wiped out.{{Cite book |title=Cambridge, Described and Illustrated: Being a Short History of the Town and University |first=Thomas |last=Atkinson |year=1897 |page=41 |location=London |publisher=Macmillan |oclc=1663499 |url=https://archive.org/stream/cambridgedescrib00atkiuoft/cambridgedescrib00atkiuoft_djvu.txt |quote=The Ward beyond the Bridge, that is, all the town on the Castle side of the river, appears to have been almost entirely destroyed. Most of the people in the parish of All Saints' in Castro died and those that escaped left the neighbourhood for other parishes. |access-date=8 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405075301/https://archive.org/stream/cambridgedescrib00atkiuoft/cambridgedescrib00atkiuoft_djvu.txt |archive-date=5 April 2016 |url-status=live}} Following further depopulation after a second national epidemic in 1361, a letter from the Bishop of Ely suggested that two parishes in Cambridge be merged as there were not enough people to fill even one church. With more than a third of English clergy dying in the Black Death, four new colleges were established at the university over the following years to train new clergymen, namely Gonville Hall, Trinity Hall, Corpus Christi, and Clare.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J5XeBQwrjLwC&pg=PA70 |title=The Black Death and the Transformation of the West |series=European History |first=David |last=Herlihy |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-674-07613-6 |publisher=Harvard University Press |page=70 |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203053122/https://books.google.com/books?id=J5XeBQwrjLwC&pg=PA70 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=live }}

In 1382, a revised town charter effected a "diminution of the liberties that the community had enjoyed", due to Cambridge's participation in the Peasants' Revolt. This charter transferred supervision of baking and brewing, weights and measures, and forestalling and regrating, from the town to the university.

King's College Chapel was begun in 1446 by King Henry VI.{{cite web | url=http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/history.html | title=History of the Chapel | publisher=King's College, Cambridge | access-date=19 July 2011 | date=13 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717025057/http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/history.html | archive-date=17 July 2011 | url-status=live }} Built in phases by a succession of kings of England from 1446 to 1515 — its history intertwined with the Wars of the Roses — the chapel was completed during the reign of King Henry VIII. The building would become synonymous with Cambridge, and currently is used in the logo for the Cambridge City Council.{{cite book|last1=Pennick|first1=Nigel|title=Secrets of King's College Chapel|date=9 January 2012|publisher=Karnac Books|page=3}}

File:Cambridge 1575 colour.jpg

Following repeated outbreaks of pestilence throughout the 16th century,{{cite book|chapter=The city of Cambridge: Public health |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3, the City and University of Cambridge|date=1959 |editor1-last=Roach|editor1-first=J. P. C. |publisher=Victoria County History|location=London|pages=101–108|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp101-108|access-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923181342/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp101-108|archive-date=23 September 2016|url-status=live}} sanitation and fresh water were brought to Cambridge by the construction of Hobson's Conduit in the early 1600s. Water was brought from Nine Wells, at the foot of the Gog Magog Hills to the southeast of Cambridge, into the centre of the town.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/natural_history/walk_through_time/07.shtml | title=Cambridgeshire > Natural History > Cam Valley Walk > Stage 7 | publisher=BBC Cambridgeshire | access-date=23 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501094802/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/natural_history/walk_through_time/07.shtml | archive-date=1 May 2014 | url-status=live }}

Cambridge played a significant role in the early part of the English Civil War as it was the headquarters of the Eastern Counties Association, an organisation administering a regional East Anglian army, which became the mainstay of the Parliamentarian military effort before the formation of the New Model Army.{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66605 |title=The city of Cambridge – Modern history | A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge (1959) |pages=15–29 |year=1959 |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612160851/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66605 |archive-date=12 June 2012 |url-status=live }} In 1643 control of the town was given by Parliament to Oliver Cromwell, who had been educated at Sidney Sussex College in Cambridge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp15-29|title=The city of Cambridge: Modern history {{!}} British History Online|website=www.british-history.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706163721/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp15-29|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live}} The town's castle was fortified and garrisoned with troops and some bridges were destroyed to aid its defence. Although Royalist forces came within {{convert|2|mi|0|abbr=out}} of the town in 1644, the defences were never used, and the garrison was stood down the following year.

{{Infobox UK legislation

| short_title = Cambridge Inclosure Act 1807

| type = Act

| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom

| long_title = An Act for inclosing Lands in the Parish of Saint Andrew the Less, otherwise called Barnwell, in the Town of Cambridge, in the County of Cambridge, and certain Lands in the Parishes of Saint Andrew the Great, Saint Mary the Great, and Saint Mary the Less, or some or one of them, in the said Town of Cambridge, lying intermixed with the Lands in the said Parish of Saint Andrew the Less, otherwise called Barnwell.

| year = 1807

| citation = 47 Geo. 3 Sess. 2. c. 60 {{small|Pr.}}

| introduced_commons =

| introduced_lords =

| territorial_extent =

| royal_assent = 13 August 1807

| commencement =

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| collapsed = yes

}}

In the 19th century, in common with many other English towns, Cambridge expanded rapidly, due in part to increased life expectancy and improved agricultural production leading to increased trade in town markets.{{cite book |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66609 |chapter=The city of Cambridge: Economic history |editor-first=J. P. C. |editor-last=Roach |publisher=Victoria County History |via=Institute of Historical Research |year=1959 |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge |access-date=1 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612161044/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66609 |archive-date=12 June 2012 |url-status=live }} The Histon and Impington Inclosure Act 1801 (41 Geo. 3. (U.K.) c. 112 {{small|Pr.}}), the Trumpington Inclosure Act 1801 (41 Geo. 3. (U.K.) c. 128 {{small|Pr.}}), and the {{visible anchor|Cambridge Inclosure Act 1807}} (47 Geo. 3 Sess. 2. c. 60 {{small|Pr.}}) enabled the town to expand over surrounding open fields.{{cite book |editor1-last=Roach |editor1-first=J. P. C. |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3 |date=1959 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=109–111 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp109-111 |access-date=23 December 2024}}

The railway came to Cambridge in 1845 after initial resistance, with the opening of the Great Eastern Railway's London to Norwich line. The station was outside the town centre following pressure from the university to restrict travel by undergraduates.{{cite book |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp1-2 |editor-first=J. P. C. |editor-last=Roach |publisher=Victoria Couinty History |via=Institute of Historical Research |year=1959 |chapter=The city of Cambridge |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge |pages=1–2}} With the arrival of the railway and associated employment came development of areas around the station, such as Romsey Town.{{citation|title=Bringing it all back home: Changes in Housing and Society 1966–2006|first1=Allan|last1=Brigham|first2=Colin|last2=Wiles|publisher=Chartered Institute of Housing, Eastern Branch|year=2006|url=http://www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/tours/article3.htm|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220174731/http://www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/tours/article3.htm|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}} The rail link to London stimulated heavier industries, such as the production of brick, cement and malt.

From the 1930s to the 1980s, the size of the city was increased by several large council estates.{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15307 |chapter=Chesterton: Introduction |pages=5–13 |editor1-last=Wright |editor1-first=A. P. M. |editor2-last=Lewis |editor2-first=C.P. |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |year=1989 |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 9: Chesterton, Northstowe, and Papworth Hundreds |series=Victoria History of the Counties of England |access-date=6 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305141125/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15307 |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=live }} The biggest impact has been on the area north of the river, which are now the estates of East Chesterton, King's Hedges, and Arbury where Archbishop Rowan Williams lived and worked as an assistant priest in the early 1980s.{{cite book |title=Rowan's Rule: the biography of the Archbishop |first=Rupert |last=Shott |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-340-95433-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3kJbJ7ldSJsC&pg=PT83 |page=83 |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |location=London |access-date=8 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622030201/https://books.google.com/books?id=3kJbJ7ldSJsC&pg=PT83 |archive-date=22 June 2016 |url-status=live }}

During World War II, Cambridge was an important centre for defence of the east coast. The town became a military centre, with an RAF training centre and the regional headquarters for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire established during the conflict. The town itself escaped relatively lightly from German bombing raids, which were mainly targeted at the railway. 29 people were killed and no historic buildings were damaged. In 1944, a secret meeting of military leaders held in Trinity College laid the foundation for the allied invasion of Europe. During the war Cambridge served as an evacuation centre for over 7,000 people from London, as well as for parts of the University of London.

Cambridge was granted its city charter in 1951 in recognition of its history, administrative importance and economic success. Cambridge does not have a cathedral, traditionally a prerequisite for city status, instead falling within the Church of England Diocese of Ely. In 1962, Cambridge's first shopping arcade, Bradwell's Court, opened on Drummer Street, though this was demolished in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.christslane.co.uk/about/timeline.htm |title=Christ's Lane |publisher=Land Securities |date=n.d. |access-date=13 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907115715/http://www.christslane.co.uk/about/timeline.htm |archive-date=7 September 2008 }} Other shopping arcades followed at Lion Yard, which housed a relocated Central Library for the city, and the Grafton Centre which replaced Victorian housing stock which had fallen into disrepair in the Kite area of the city. This latter project was controversial at the time.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1467625/Derek-Taunt.html|title=Derek Taunt – Obituary|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 July 2004|access-date=26 February 2012|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830224507/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1467625/Derek-Taunt.html|archive-date=30 August 2013|url-status=live}}

The city gained its second university in 1992 when Anglia Polytechnic became Anglia Polytechnic University. Renamed Anglia Ruskin University in 2005, the institution has its origins in the Cambridge School of Art opened in 1858 by John Ruskin.

{{main|Cambridge City Council}}

File:Cambridge UK ward map 2010 coloured on Cambridge-Openstreetmap-08-06-13.svgs superimposed]]

There are two main tiers of local government covering Cambridge, at district and county level: Cambridge City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. Since 2017, both authorities have been members of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. The leader of the city council is the city's representative on the combined authority, which is led by the directly-elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017|year=2017|number=251|access-date=13 June 2023}}{{cite web|date=31 January 2017|title=Cambridgeshire and Peterborough make devolution history – Politics – Cambridge Independent|url=http://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/politics/cambridgeshire_and_peterborough_make_devolution_history_1_4788095|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131184922/http://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/politics/cambridgeshire_and_peterborough_make_devolution_history_1_4788095|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 January 2017|access-date=22 April 2021}} The district covers most of the city's urban area, although some suburbs extend into the surrounding South Cambridgeshire district. The city council's headquarters are in the Guildhall, a large building in the market square.{{NHLE|num=1268372|desc=Guildhall|access-date=4 January 2018|mode=cs2}}{{cite web |title=Council offices |url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/council-offices |website=Cambridge City Council |access-date=14 June 2023}}

{{See also|Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency)}}

The parliamentary constituency of Cambridge covers most of the city; Daniel Zeichner (Labour) has represented the seat since the 2015 general election. The seat was generally held by the Conservatives until it was won by Labour in 1992, then taken by the Liberal Democrats in 2005 and 2010, before returning to Labour in 2015. A southern area of the city, Queen Edith's ward and Cherry Hinton ward,{{cite web |url=http://www.election-maps.co.uk/ |title=Ordnance Survey |publisher=Election maps |access-date=17 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307072911/http://www.election-maps.co.uk/ |archive-date=7 March 2008 |url-status=dead}} falls within the South Cambridgeshire constituency, whose MP is Pippa Heylings (Lib Dems), first elected in 2024.

The University of Cambridge formerly had two seats in the House of Commons; Sir Isaac Newton was one of the most notable MPs. The Cambridge University constituency was abolished under 1948 legislation, and ceased at the dissolution of Parliament for the 1950 general election, along with the other university constituencies.

Cambridge was an ancient borough. Its earliest known municipal charter was issued by Henry I in the early 12th century.{{cite book |title=Report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Appendix 4 |date=1835 |page=2185 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MHBTAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA2185 |access-date=23 December 2024}} A subsequent charter from King John in 1207 permitted the appointment of a mayor;{{cite web | url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ceremonial-maces-chain-of-office-city-chest | title=Ceremonial maces, 1207 charter and the city's coat of arms | publisher=Cambridge City Council | access-date=8 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016055235/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ceremonial-maces-chain-of-office-city-chest | archive-date=16 October 2015 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all}} the first recorded mayor, Harvey FitzEustace, served in 1213.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/how-the-council-works/the-mayor/mayors-of-cambridge.en |title=The mayors of Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge City Council |access-date=4 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923003216/http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/council-and-democracy/how-the-council-works/the-mayor/mayors-of-cambridge.en |archive-date=23 September 2009}} Until the 20th century, the borough covered the same area as Cambridge's fourteen ancient parishes.{{efn|All Saints, Holy Sepulchre, Holy Trinity, St Andrew the Great, St Andrew the Less, St Bene't, St Botolph, St Clement, St Edward, St Giles, St Mary the Great, St Mary the Less, St Michael, and St Peter}} The borough did not include Cambridge Castle, which was in the neighbouring parish of Chesterton.{{cite book |title=Parliamentary Papers: Volume 26 |date=1837 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iEwSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP232 |access-date=23 December 2024}}

The borough was reformed to become a municipal borough in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835.{{cite book |title=Municipal Corporations Act |date=1835 |page=456 |url=https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk35britgoog/page/456/mode/2up |access-date=23 December 2024}} The borough's responsibilities were primarily judicial and regulatory rather than providing public services or infrastructure. A separate body of improvement commissioners was established in 1788 to maintain the city's streets, and the commissioners were gradually given other local government functions relating to sewers and public health. The commissioners were abolished in 1889 and their functions taken on by the borough council.{{cite web |title=Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 15) Act 1889 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/52-53/116/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=23 December 2024}}{{cite book |editor1-last=Roach |editor1-first=J. P. C. |title=A History of the County of Cambridge: Volume 3 |date=1959 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=101–108 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp101-108 |access-date=23 December 2024}}

The borough was enlarged in 1912 to take in Chesterton to the north and some areas from neighbouring parishes to the south.{{cite web |title=Local Government Board's Provisional Orders Confirmation (No. 10) Act 1911 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo5/1-2/185/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=23 December 2024}} It was extended again in 1934 to take in Cherry Hinton, Trumpington, and parts of several other neighbouring parishes.{{cite web |title=Cambridge Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10201391#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=23 December 2024}} The borough was awarded city status in 1951.{{London Gazette|issue=39201|page=2067|date=13 April 1951}} In 1974, Cambridge was made a non-metropolitan district; it kept the same boundaries, which had last been expanded in 1934, but there were changes to the council's responsibilities.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=31 May 2023}}

File:cmglee Cambridge aerial.jpg

File:Clare Colllege Cambridge.jpg as seen from The Backs]]

Cambridge is situated about {{convert|55|mi|0}} north-by-east of London and {{convert|95|mi|km|abbr=off}} east of Birmingham. The city is located in an area of level and relatively low-lying terrain just south of the Fens, which varies between {{convert|6|and|24|m|ft}} above sea level.{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/90641/Cambridge |title=Cambridge (England, United Kingdom) |publisher=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |access-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112141610/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/90641/Cambridge |archive-date=12 January 2010 |url-status=live}} The town was thus historically surrounded by low-lying wetlands that have been drained as the town has expanded.{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/SUDS-Design-and-Adoption-Guide.pdf|title=SUDS Design and Adoption Guide|date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220065907/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/SUDS-Design-and-Adoption-Guide.pdf|archive-date=20 December 2016|access-date=2 April 2018}}

The underlying geology of Cambridge consists of gault clay and Chalk Marl, known locally as Cambridge Greensand,{{cite web|url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID4.aspx |title=England's Geology – Cambridgeshire |work=Natural England |access-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021063524/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/geodiversity/englands/counties/area_ID4.aspx |archive-date=21 October 2009 }} partly overlaid by terrace gravel. A layer of phosphatic nodules (coprolites) under the marl was mined in the 19th century for fertiliser; this became a major industry in the county, and its profits yielded buildings such as the Corn Exchange, Fulbourn Hospital, and St. John's Chapel until the Quarries Act 1894 and competition from America ended production.

The River Cam flows through the city from the village of Grantchester, to the southwest. It is bordered by water meadows within the city such as Sheep's Green as well as residential development. Like most cities, modern-day Cambridge has many suburbs and areas of high-density housing. The city centre of Cambridge is mostly commercial, historic buildings, and large green areas such as Jesus Green, Parker's Piece and Midsummer Common. Some of the roads in the centre are pedestrianised.

Population growth has seen new housing developments in the 21st century, with estates such as the CB1{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/projects/cambridge/cambridgegateway/CB1+development.htm |title=CB1 development |publisher=Cambridgshire County Council |access-date=13 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009021937/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/projects/cambridge/cambridgegateway/CB1%2Bdevelopment.htm |archive-date=9 October 2010 }} and Accordia schemes near the station,{{cite press release|url=http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/news-releases/2008/accordia-wins-prize.en |title=Accordia wins top architectural prize |publisher=Cambridge City Council |date=15 October 2008 |access-date=13 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214062115/http://cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/news-releases/2008/accordia-wins-prize.en |archive-date=14 December 2010 }} and developments such as Great Kneighton, formally known as Clay Farm,{{cite web|url=http://www.clayfarm.co.uk/vision |title=Vision |publisher=Clay Farm |access-date=13 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109182335/http://www.clayfarm.co.uk/vision |archive-date=9 January 2010 }} and Trumpington Meadows{{cite web|url=http://www.trumpingtonmeadows.com/Home |title=Home |publisher=Trumpington Meadows Land Company |access-date=13 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831131342/http://www.trumpingtonmeadows.com/Home |archive-date=31 August 2009 }} currently under construction in the south of the city. Other major developments currently being constructed in the city are Darwin Green (formerly NIAB), and University-led developments at West Cambridge and North West Cambridge, (Eddington).

The entire city centre, as well as parts of Chesterton, Petersfield, West Cambridge, Newnham, and Abbey, are covered by an Air Quality Management Area, implemented to counter high levels of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere.{{cite web|title=Air Pollution in Cambridge|url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/content/air-pollution-cambridge|publisher=Cambridge City Council|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116082156/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/content/air-pollution-cambridge|archive-date=16 November 2018|url-status=dead}}

The city has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb).{{Cite web|url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=26530&cityname=Cambridge,+England,+United+Kingdom&units=|title=Cambridge, England Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=13 November 2018|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528155925/https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=26530&cityname=Cambridge%2C+England%2C+United+Kingdom&units=|url-status=live}} Cambridge has an official weather observing station, at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, about {{convert|1|mile|spell=in}} south of the city centre. In addition, the Digital Technology Group of the university's Department of Computer Science and Technology{{cite web|title=Cambridge University Computer Laboratory Digital Technology Group|url=http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/www/|access-date=26 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017141425/http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/www/|archive-date=17 October 2014|url-status=live}} maintains a weather station on the West Cambridge site, displaying current weather conditions online via web browsers or an app, and also an archive dating back to 1995.{{cite web|title = Weather Station, Cambridge University Computer Laboratory Digital Technology Group|url = http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/weather/|access-date = 26 September 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140922085922/http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/research/dtg/weather/|archive-date = 22 September 2014|url-status = live}}

The city, like most of the UK, has a maritime climate highly influenced by the Gulf Stream. Located in the driest region of Britain,{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7V7pNKAE8AsC&pg=PA1525 |title=Mapping the Distribution of Flowering Plants |first=Franklyn |last=Perring |journal=New Scientist |date=16 June 1960 |page=1525 |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203053122/https://books.google.com/books?id=7V7pNKAE8AsC&pg=PA1525 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0 |title=Climate & Soils |publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden |year=2012 |quote=Cambridge is in the driest region of Britain and has a more continental climate than most of Britain. |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401045512/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0 |archive-date=1 April 2012 |url-status=dead }} Cambridge's rainfall averages around {{convert|570|mm|2|abbr=on}} per year, around half the national average.{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/customers/water-efficiency-strategy |title=Our strategy |publisher=Cambridge Water |year=2012 |quote=We live in one of the driest areas of the UK. The East of England's rainfall of conditions is only half the national average and Cambridge is one of the driest parts of this region. |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327201856/http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/customers/water-efficiency-strategy |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} The driest recent year was in 2011 with {{convert|380.4|mm|2|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0 |title=Climate and Soils |publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden |access-date=21 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726111553/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2830&pid=0&prcid=0&ppid=0|archive-date= 26 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}} of rain at the Botanic Garden and {{convert|347.2|mm|2|abbr=on}} at the NIAB site.{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/cambridgedata.txt |title=NIAB weather data |publisher=Met Office |access-date=4 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215430/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata/cambridgedata.txt |archive-date=29 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}} This is just below the semi-arid precipitation threshold for the area, which is 350 mm of annual precipitation.{{cite web|url=https://www.mindat.org/climate-BSh.html|title=Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate|website=www.mindat.org|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401015300/https://www.mindat.org/climate-BSh.html|url-status=live}} Conversely, 2012 was the wettest year on record, with {{convert|812.7|mm|2|abbr=on}} reported.{{cite web |url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/NewsItem.aspx?p=27&ix=116&pid=2722&prcid=4&ppid=2722|title= Wettest year since records began |publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden |access-date=4 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130703145923/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/NewsItem.aspx?p=27&ix=116&pid=2722&prcid=4&ppid=2722 |archive-date=3 July 2013 |url-status=live}} Snowfall accumulations are usually small, in part because of Cambridge's low elevation, and low precipitation tendency during transitional snow events.

Owing to its low-lying, inland, and easterly position within the British Isles, summer temperatures tend to be somewhat higher than areas further west, and often rival or even exceed those recorded in the London area. Cambridge also often records the annual highest national temperature in any given year – {{convert|30.2|C|F}} in July 2008 at NIAB{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2008/july.html|title=UK Climate: July 2008|publisher=Met Office|access-date=21 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215447/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/2008/july.html|archive-date=29 June 2011}} and {{convert|30.1|C|F}} in August 2007 at the Botanic Garden{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2007&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|title=Anomaly details for Station Cambridge (B. GDNS): Maximum value of daily maximum temperature, August 2007|work=European Climate Assessment and Dataset|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160218/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2007&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=live}} are two recent examples. Other years include 1876, 1887, 1888, 1892, 1897, 1899 and 1900.{{cite web|url=https://www.trevorharley.com/hottest-day-of-each-year-from-1875.html|title=Hottest day of each year from 1875|publisher=Trevor Harley|access-date=22 April 2020|archive-date=21 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321181641/https://www.trevorharley.com/hottest-day-of-each-year-from-1875.html|url-status=live}} The absolute maximum stands at {{convert|39.9|C|F}} recorded on 19 July 2022 at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2019/new-official-highest-temperature-in-uk-confirmed |title=New official highest temperature in UK confirmed |access-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729160459/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2019/new-official-highest-temperature-in-uk-confirmed |archive-date=29 July 2019 |url-status=live}} Before this date, Cambridge held the record for the all-time maximum temperature in the UK, after recording {{Convert|38.7|C|F|abbr=on}} on 25 July 2019. Typically the temperature will reach {{convert|25.1|C|F}} or higher on over 25 days of the year over the 1981–2010 period,{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=SU&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Summer days (TX > 25 °C)|work=European Climate Assessment and Dataset|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030040/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=SU&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}} with the annual warmest day averaging {{convert|31.5|C|F}}{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Maximum value of daily maximum temperature|work=European Climate Assessment and Dataset|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030254/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TXx&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}} over the same period.

The absolute minimum temperature recorded at the Botanic Garden site was {{convert|-17.2|C|F}}, recorded in February 1947,{{cite web|url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|title=Botanic Garden Extremes 1931–60|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726111540/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=dead}} although a minimum of {{convert|-17.8|C|F}} was recorded at the now defunct observatory site in December 1879.{{cite web|url=http://www.torro.org.uk/site/lowtempsyear.php|title=8 December 1879|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119082325/http://www.torro.org.uk/site/lowtempsyear.php|archive-date=19 January 2011|url-status=live}} More recently the temperature fell to {{convert|-15.3|C|F}} on 11 February 2012,{{cite web|url=http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/coldest-temperatures-of-winter-so-far/|title=Coldest temperatures of winter so far|work=Met Office News Blog|date=11 February 2012|access-date=27 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422043637/http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/coldest-temperatures-of-winter-so-far/|archive-date=22 April 2012|url-status=live}} {{convert|-12.2|C|F}} on 22 January 2013{{cite web|url=http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/overnight-minimum-temperatures/|title=22nd Jan 2013 Temperatures|work=Met Office News Blog|date=22 January 2013|access-date=4 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126094159/http://metofficenews.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/overnight-minimum-temperatures/|archive-date=26 January 2013|url-status=live}} and {{convert|-10.9|C|F}}{{cite web|url=http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|title=December 2010|publisher=Cambridge University Botanic Garden|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726111540/http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Page.aspx?p=27&ix=2858&pid=2830&prcid=4&ppid=2830|archive-date=26 July 2011|url-status=dead}} on 20 December 2010. The average frequency of air frosts ranges from 42.8 days at the NIAB site,{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/u1214b469|title=Cambridge 1981–2010 averages|publisher=Met Office|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905105640/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/u1214b469|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live}} to 48.3 days at the Botanic Garden{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=FD&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Frost days (TN < 0 °C)|work=European Climate Assessment and Dataset|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030435/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=FD&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}} per year over the 1981–2010 period. Typically the coldest night of the year at the Botanic Garden will fall to {{convert|-8.0|C|F}}.{{cite web|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TNn&stationid=1639|title=Climatology details for station CAMBRIDGE (B. GDNS): Minimum value of daily minimum temperature|work=European Climate Assessment and Dataset|access-date=11 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422030359/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=TNn&stationid=1639|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}} Such minimum temperatures and frost averages are typical for inland areas across much of southern and central England.

Sunshine averages around 1,500 hours a year or around 35% of possible, a level typical of most locations in inland central England.

{{Cambridge weatherbox}}

The city contains three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), at Cherry Hinton East Pit, Cherry Hinton West Pit, and Travellers Pit,{{cite report |url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Nature-Conservation-Strategy_0.pdf |title=Cambridge City Nature Conservation Strategy "Enhancing Biodiversity" |date=September 2006|vauthors=((The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire & Peterborough)) |publisher=Cambridge City Council|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818014957/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Nature-Conservation-Strategy_0.pdf|archive-date=18 August 2016|url-status=dead}} and ten Local Nature Reserves (LNRs): Sheep's Green and Coe Fen,

Coldham's Common, Stourbridge Common, Nine Wells, Byron's Pool, West Pit, Paradise, Barnwell West, Barnwell East, and Logan's Meadow.{{cite web|title=Cambridge City Local Nature Reserves|url=http://lnr.cambridge.gov.uk/visit-the-cambridge-nature-reserves/|publisher=Cambridge City Council|access-date=16 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818020639/http://lnr.cambridge.gov.uk/visit-the-cambridge-nature-reserves/|archive-date=18 August 2016|url-status=dead}}

{{further|Cambridge Green Belt}}

Cambridge is completely enclosed by green belt as a part of a wider environmental and planning policy first defined in 1965 and formalised in 1992.{{cite web|title=The Origins of the Cambridge Green Belt|url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/rd-strat-400.pdf|website=www.cambridge.gov.uk|first=Anthony J.|last=Cooper|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023734/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/rd-strat-400.pdf|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Green belt final|url=https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/PS.EVR4%20-%20Green%20Belt%20-%20FINAL.pdf|website=www.eastcambs.gov.uk|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215083716/https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/PS.EVR4%20-%20Green%20Belt%20-%20FINAL.pdf|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=live}} While some small tracts of green belt exist on the fringes of the city's boundary, much of the protection is in the surrounding South Cambridgeshire{{cite web|title=CAMBRIDGE GREEN BELT STUDY A Vision of the Future for Cambridge in its Green Belt Setting|url=https://www.scambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Cambridge-Green-Belt-Study.pdf|website=www.scambs.gov.uk|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023736/https://www.scambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Cambridge-Green-Belt-Study.pdf|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=dead}} and nearby East Cambridgeshire{{cite web|title=East Cambridgeshire Local Plan – April 2015|url=https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Local%20Plan%20April%202015%20-%20front%20cover%20and%20inside%20front%20cover_0.pdf|website=www.eastcambs.gov.uk|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023752/https://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Local%20Plan%20April%202015%20-%20front%20cover%20and%20inside%20front%20cover_0.pdf|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=live}} districts, helping to maintain local green space, prevent further urban sprawl and unplanned expansion of the city, as well as protecting smaller outlying villages from further convergence with each other as well as the city.{{cite web|title=LDA Design – Cambridge Inner Belt Boundary Study|url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/ldf/coredocs/rd-mc-030-part1.pdf|website=www.cambridge.gov.uk|access-date=14 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023849/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/ldf/coredocs/rd-mc-030-part1.pdf|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Cambridge population pyramid.svg

File:UK born and foreign born population pyramid in Cambridge in 2021.svg

At the 2011 census, the population of the Cambridge contiguous built-up area (urban area) was 158,434,{{NOMIS2011|id=E34004798|title=Cambridge BUA|access-date=18 June 2020}} while that of the City Council area was 123,867.{{NOMIS2011 |id=E07000008 |title=Cambridge Local Authority|access-date=30 March 2020}}

In the 2001 Census held during University term, 89.44% of Cambridge residents identified themselves as white, compared with a national average of 92.12%.2001 Census (Ethnic group, Cambridge local authority). Office For National Statistics. Within the university, 84% of undergraduates and 80% of post-graduates identified as white (including overseas students).{{cite web

|url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/press/factsheets/ethnicity.html

|date=26 October 2007

|title=Fact sheet: Ethnicity

|publisher=University of Cambridge

|access-date=17 January 2008

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101185656/http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/press/factsheets/ethnicity.html

|archive-date=1 January 2008

}}

Cambridge has a much higher than average proportion of people in the highest paid professional, managerial or administrative jobs (32.6% vs. 23.5%)ONS 2001 Census (Approximated Social Grade – Workplace Population, Cambridge local authority) and a much lower than average proportion of manual workers (27.6% vs. 40.2%). In addition, 41.2% have a higher-level qualification (e.g. degree, Higher National Diploma, Master's or PhD), much higher than the national average proportion (19.7%).ONS 2001 Census (Qualifications, Cambridge local authority)

Centre for Cities identified Cambridge as the UK's most unequal city in 2017 and 2018. Residents' income was the least evenly distributed of 57 British cities measured, with its top 6% earners accounting for 19% of its total income and the bottom 20% for only 2%, and a Gini coefficient of 0.460 in 2018.{{cite news

|work=The Observer

|last1=Ferguson

|first1=Donna

|url=http://theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/04/cambridge-most-unequal-city-population-divide-income-disparity

|title=Cambridge tops the league … as Britain's most unequal city

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729003941/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/04/cambridge-most-unequal-city-population-divide-income-disparity

|archive-date=29 July 2019

|date=4 February 2018

}}{{cite news

|last1=Shennan

|first1=Sophie

|work=Varsity

|url=http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/14625

|title=Cambridge ranked most unequal city in the UK

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729005956/https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/14625

|archive-date=29 July 2019

|date=2 February 2018

}}

File:S95MarketCambridgefromGreatStMarys.jpg]]

The town's river link to the surrounding agricultural land, and good road connections to London in the south meant Cambridge has historically served as an important regional trading post. King Henry I granted Cambridge a monopoly on river trade, privileging this area of the economy of Cambridge.{{cite book|title=The Story of Cambridge |first=Stephanie |last=Boyd |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-62897-6|year=2005}} The town market provided for trade in a wide variety of goods and annual trading fairs such as Stourbridge Fair and Midsummer Fair were visited by merchants from across the country. The river was described in an account of 1748 as being "often so full of [merchant boats] that the navigation thereof is stopped for some time".{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CvoqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA64 |journal=The London Magazine, or, Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer |page=64 |title=A description of Cambridge |date=January 1748 |volume=17 |author1=Kimber, Isaac |author2=Kimber, Edward |location=London |publisher=R. Baldwin |access-date=29 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203053122/https://books.google.com/books?id=CvoqAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA64 |archive-date=3 February 2016 |url-status=live}} For example, 2000 firkins of butter were brought up the river every Monday from the agricultural lands to the northeast, particularly Norfolk, to be unloaded in the town for road transportation to London. Changing patterns of retail distribution and the advent of the railways led to a decline in Cambridge's importance as a market town.{{cite book |title=A History of the University of Cambridge |volume=3 |first=Peter |last=Searby |page=705 |isbn=978-0-521-35060-0 |year=1997 |publisher=Cambridge University Press}}

Cambridge today has a diverse economy with strength in sectors such as research and development, software consultancy, high value engineering, creative industries, pharmaceuticals and tourism.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B0B3A7B-E448-4D61-A853-0B5A1A467969/0/CambridgeCityDistrictReport2011.pdf |title=Cambridge City – Annual demographic and socio-economic report |page=17 |date=April 2011 |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828063418/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3B0B3A7B-E448-4D61-A853-0B5A1A467969/0/CambridgeCityDistrictReport2011.pdf |archive-date=28 August 2013 }} Described as one of the "most beautiful cities in the world" by Forbes in 2010,{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/2010/01/22/paris-london-travel-lifestyle-travel-tourism-new-york-top-ten-cities.html | work=Forbes | first=Tim | last=Kiladze | title=World's Most Beautiful Cities | date=22 January 2010 | access-date=22 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729120127/https://www.forbes.com/2010/01/22/paris-london-travel-lifestyle-travel-tourism-new-york-top-ten-cities.html | archive-date=29 July 2017 | url-status=live}} with the view from The Backs being selected as one of the 10 greatest in England by National Trust chair Simon Jenkins. Tourism generates over £750 million for the city's economy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/business/business-news/dramatic-increase-tourisms-contribution-cambridge-13139177|title=Dramatic increase in tourism's contribution to the Cambridge economy revealed|last=Gooding|first=Matt|date=5 June 2017|work=cambridgenews|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021958/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/business/business-news/dramatic-increase-tourisms-contribution-cambridge-13139177|archive-date=13 February 2018|url-status=live}}

Cambridge and its surrounds are sometimes referred to as Silicon Fen, an allusion to Silicon Valley, because of the density of high-tech businesses and technology incubators that have developed on science parks around the city. Many of these parks and buildings are owned or leased by university colleges, and the companies often have been spun out of the university.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukspa.org.uk/science_parks/content/1059/cambridge_science_park |title=Science Parks | Cambridge Science Park |work=United Kingdom Science Park Association |year=2012 |quote=many companies on the park have spun out of Cambridge University...the majority of the companies on the Cambridge Science Park have active links and research partnerships with the University |access-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130154419/http://www.ukspa.org.uk/science_parks/content/1059/cambridge_science_park |archive-date=30 January 2012 }} Cambridge Science Park, which is the largest commercial R&D centre in Europe, is owned by Trinity College;{{cite web|url=http://www.ukspa.org.uk/science_parks/content/1059/cambridge_science_park |title=Science Parks | Cambridge Science Park |work=United Kingdom Science Park Association |year=2012 |quote=Cambridge Science Park is Europe's longest-serving and largest centre for commercial research and development... |access-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130154419/http://www.ukspa.org.uk/science_parks/content/1059/cambridge_science_park |archive-date=30 January 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridgesciencepark.co.uk/about/history/ |title=History |publisher=Cambridge Science Park |access-date=14 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205065533/http://www.cambridgesciencepark.co.uk/about/history/ |archive-date=5 February 2012 |url-status=live }} St John's is the landlord of St John's Innovation Centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.stjohns.co.uk/about/history/ |title=History |publisher=St John's Innovation Centre |access-date=19 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707012502/http://www.stjohns.co.uk/about/history/ |archive-date=7 July 2011 }} Technology companies include Abcam, CSR, ARM Limited, CamSemi, Jagex and Sinclair.{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/directory/ou_spinout/ |title=Directory of Cambridge Network Members – Cambridge University Spin Out |work=Cambridge Network |year=2012 |access-date=29 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429102928/http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/directory/ou_spinout/ |archive-date=29 April 2007 }} Microsoft has located its Microsoft Research UK offices in West Cambridge, separate from the main Microsoft UK campus in Reading, and also has an office on Station Road.

Cambridge was also the home of Pye Ltd, founded in 1898 by W. G. Pye, who worked in the Cavendish Laboratory; it began by supplying the university and later specialised in wireless telegraphy equipment, radios, televisions and also defence equipment. Pye Ltd evolved into several other companies including TETRA radio equipment manufacturer Sepura. Another major business is Marshall Aerospace located on the eastern edge of the city. The Cambridge Network keeps businesses in touch with each other.

{{Main|Transport in Cambridge}}

Cambridge City Airport has no scheduled services and is used mainly by charter and training flights{{cite web |url=https://cambridgeairport.com/ |title=Cambridge City Airport |access-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=dead |website=cambridgeairport.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218142116/https://cambridgeairport.com/ |archive-date=18 February 2020 }} and by Marshall Aerospace for aircraft maintenance. London Stansted Airport, about {{convert|30|mi|km}} south via the M11 or direct rail, offers a broad range of international destinations.

File:New bike racks, Cambridge station - geograph.org.uk - 3109595.jpg

The city lies on fairly flat land and has the highest level of cycle use in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605201526/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/SearchRes.asp?term=KS15&btnSubmit=Search|url-status=dead|title=Home – Office for National Statistics|archivedate=5 June 2009|website=www.ons.gov.uk}} According to the 2001 census, 25% of residents travelled to work by bicycle. Furthermore, a survey in 2013 found that 47% of residents travel by bike at least once a week.[http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Cambridge-retains-cycling-capital-title-in-nationwide-survey-20130416110617.htm Cambridge retains 'cycling capital' title in nationwide survey | Cambridge News | Latest News Headlines From Cambridge City & Cambridgeshire | National News By] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419062221/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Cambridge-retains-cycling-capital-title-in-nationwide-survey-20130416110617.htm |date=19 April 2013}}. Cambridge News (16 April 2013). Retrieved on 15 July 2013.

File:Cambridge station building.JPG

Cambridge railway station was opened in 1845.{{cite book|last1=Fellowes|first1=Reginald B|title=Railways to Cambridge – actual and proposed)|date=1948|publisher=Oleander Press|location=Cambridge, UK|isbn=0-902675-62-1|page=10|edition=1976 reprint}} Trains run to {{rws|King's Lynn}} and {{rws|Ely}} (via the Fen Line), {{rws|Norwich}} (via the Breckland Line), {{rws|Leicester}}, {{rws|Birmingham New Street}}, {{stnlnk|Peterborough}}, {{stnlnk|Stevenage}}, {{stnlnk|Ipswich}}, {{rws|Stansted Airport}}, {{rws|Brighton}} and {{rws|Gatwick Airport}}.

The station has direct rail links to London with termini at {{rws|London King's Cross}} (via the Cambridge Line and the East Coast Main Line), {{rws|Liverpool Street}} (on the West Anglia Main Line) and {{rws|St Pancras}} (on the Thameslink line). Fast trains to London King's Cross run every half-hour during peak hours, with a journey time of 53 minutes, and these are supplemented by semi-fast trains to Brighton via London St Pancras, and slow trains to London King's Cross.{{cite web|url=https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/-/media/goahead/gtr-all-timetables/gn-timetables---10-dec-2017-to-19-may-2018/gn1712a06-web.pdf|title=Train Timetables|publisher=Great Northern|access-date=17 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093145/https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/-/media/goahead/gtr-all-timetables/gn-timetables---10-dec-2017-to-19-may-2018/gn1712a06-web.pdf|archive-date=13 January 2018|url-status=live}} The station's original line to London was to {{rws|Bishopsgate}}, via {{rws|Bishops Stortford}}.

A second railway station, Cambridge North, opened on 21 May 2017; it was originally planned to open in March 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/first-train-arrives-cambridge-north-13067120|title=First train arrives at Cambridge North station – but it took 30 years to get there|last1=Brown|first1=Raymond|date=21 May 2017|access-date=21 May 2017|newspaper=Cambridge Evening News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521113715/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/first-train-arrives-cambridge-north-13067120|archive-date=21 May 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/PICTURES-step-opening-Cambridges-second-railway-station-work-starts-guided-busway-extension/story-22370634-detail/story.html|title=PICTURES: First step towards opening of Cambridge's second railway station as work starts on guided busway extension|date=23 July 2014|work=Cambridge News|access-date=15 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905005943/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/PICTURES-step-opening-Cambridges-second-railway-station-work-starts-guided-busway-extension/story-22370634-detail/story.html|archive-date=5 September 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Cambridges-new-railway-station-to-open-in-2015-21022012.htm|title=Cambridge's new railway station 'to open in 2015'|date=21 February 2012|newspaper=Cambridge News|access-date=27 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224071720/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Cambridges-new-railway-station-to-open-in-2015-21022012.htm|archive-date=24 February 2012|url-status=dead}} A third railway station, {{rws|Cambridge South}}, near Addenbrooke's Hospital is now under construction;{{cite news |last=Cox |first=Tara |title=2025 opening for Cambridge South station is 'unacceptable' |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-south-station-james-palmer-14664599 |access-date=31 May 2018 |publisher=Local World |date=16 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517010234/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-south-station-james-palmer-14664599 |archive-date=17 May 2018 |url-status=live}} it is expected to open in 2025.{{cite web |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/cambridge-south-stations-preferred-location-s |title=Cambridge South station's preferred location selected |publisher=Network Rail |access-date=22 June 2020 |archive-date=25 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625003251/https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/cambridge-south-stations-preferred-location-s |url-status=live}} The former station of {{rws|Cherryhinton}}, for Cherry Hinton, operated when it was separate village to Cambridge.

Several railway lines were closed during the 1960s, including the Cambridge and St Ives branch line, the Stour Valley Railway, the Cambridge to Mildenhall railway and the Varsity Line to Oxford.

Areas outside the centre are car dependent causing traffic congestion in the drivable parts of centre.{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridgefutures.org/futures2/report1.htm |title=Cambridge Futures 2 – Report |publisher=Cambridgefutures.org |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130130191440/http://www.cambridgefutures.org/futures2/report1.htm |archive-date=30 January 2013 |url-status=dead }} The M11 motorway from east London terminates to the north-west of the city where it joins the A14, a road from the port of Felixstowe to Rugby. The A428 connects the city with the A1 at St Neots as the A421 (via Bedford and Milton Keynes) on to Oxford. The A10 connects via Ely to King's Lynn to the north and the historic route south to the City of London.

File:Guided bus from Trumpington - geograph.org.uk - 2543891.jpg

Cambridge has five Park and Ride sites, all of which operate seven days a week and are aimed at encouraging motorists to park near the city's edge.[http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/around/parkandride Cambridge park-and-ride]. Cambridgeshire County Council. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308123636/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/around/parkandride |date=8 March 2013 }} Since 2011, the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway has carried bus services into the centre of Cambridge from St Ives, Huntingdon and other towns and villages along the routes, operated by Stagecoach in the Fens and Whippet.{{cite web |title=The Busway – Routes and Times |url=http://www.thebusway.info/routes-and-times.aspx |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council |access-date=29 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225184459/http://www.thebusway.info/routes-and-times.aspx |archive-date=25 December 2014 }} The A service continues on to the railway station and Addenbrookes, before terminating at a new Park and Ride in Trumpington. Since 2017, it has also linked to Cambridge North railway station.

Service 905 provides a connection with Oxford, although passengers wishing to continue beyond Bedford have to change to service X5; both services are operated by Stagecoach East and run daily.

In February 2020, consultations opened for a transport system known as the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro. It would have connected the historic city centre and the existing busway route with the mainline railway stations, Cambridge Science Park and Haverhill.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-47628185 |title=BBC News |date=19 March 2019 |access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429102108/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-47628185 |url-status=live }} In May 2021 the newly elected mayor said he was focused instead on a "revamped bus network" but would not yet abandon the work done. {{As of|November 2022}}, the Greater Cambridge Partnership is consulting on plans comprising: transforming the bus network; investing in other sustainable travel schemes; and introducing a Cambridge Congestion Charge as part of a Sustainable Travel Zone.{{cite web |url=https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/making-connections-2022 |title=GCP Making Connections 2022 |publisher=Greater Cambridge Partnership |date=2022-11-24 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=engagementhq.com}}

In 2024, Cambridge Connect proposed repurposing the planned route of the canceled metro as a light railway. Known as the Isaac Newton line, it would connect the mainline railway stations with Cambourne, the guided busway station at Trumpington, Haverhill, Addenbrookes Hospital, and a new station in Cambridge city centre.[https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/calls-5million-government-put-cambridge-29736365 Isaac Newton line]

{{See also|List of schools in Cambridgeshire}}

File:Anglia Ruskin Cambridge Main, 28 Sep, 2012.jpg evolved from the 19th century Cambridge School of Art, which was opened in 1858 by educationist and art figure John Ruskin.]]

Cambridge's two universities,{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/docs/Draft%20housing%20strategy%202009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319223252/http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/docs/Draft%20housing%20strategy%202009.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2012 |title=Draft housing strategy 2009–2010 |publisher=Cambridge City Council |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead }} the collegiate University of Cambridge and the local campus of Anglia Ruskin University, serve around 30,000 students, by some estimates.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6388 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114025558/http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/single.htm?ipg=6388 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2013 |title=Cambridge |publisher=The Complete University Guide |access-date=28 September 2009}} Cambridge University stated its 2020/21 student population was 24,270,{{cite web |date= 19 July 2022|title=Cambridge at a glance |url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/cambridge-at-a-glance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617185758/https://www.cam.ac.uk/about-the-university/cambridge-at-a-glance |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |access-date=June 17, 2023 |website=University of Cambridge }} and Anglia Ruskin reports 24,000 students across its two campuses (one of which is outside Cambridge, in Chelmsford) for the same period.{{cite web|url=http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/your_university/about_anglia_ruskin/annual_review_0708.Maincontent.0002.file.tmp/Annual%20Review%2007-08%20web.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/your_university/about_anglia_ruskin/annual_review_0708.Maincontent.0002.file.tmp/Annual%20Review%2007-08%20web.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Annual Review 2007–8 |publisher=Anglia Ruskin University |access-date=28 September 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ARU now (2019) has additional campuses in London and Peterborough. State provision in the further education sector includes Hills Road Sixth Form College, Long Road Sixth Form College, and Cambridge Regional College. The Open University had a presence in the city between 1979 and 2018.{{Cite web |last=Findlay |first=Cait |date=2023-05-15 |title=Former Open University building in Cambridge to become swimming pool and offices |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/property/former-cambridge-open-university-building-26917421 |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Cambridgeshire Live |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2013-11-26 |title=The Open University in the East of England |url=https://www5.open.ac.uk/estates/our-estate/cambridge |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Estates |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117155835/https://www5.open.ac.uk/estates/our-estate/cambridge |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=2015-09-15 |title=Open University set to shut seven regional centres |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/open-university-set-shut-seven-regional-centres |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}

Both state and private schools serve Cambridge pupils from nursery to secondary school age. State schools are administered by Cambridgeshire County Council, which maintains 251 schools in total,{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/education/schools/ |title=Our schools and colleges |access-date=28 September 2009 |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402122811/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/education/schools |archive-date=2 April 2009}} 35 of them in Cambridge city.{{cite news |title=Educational establishments in Cambridgeshire |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council }} Netherhall School, Chesterton Community College, the Parkside Federation (comprising Parkside Community College and Coleridge Community College), North Cambridge Academy and the Christian inter-denominational St Bede's School provide comprehensive secondary education.{{Cite news |url= http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_crier/displayarticle.asp?id=444678 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120729163405/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_crier/displayarticle.asp?id=444678 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 29 July 2012 |title=It's a record breaker for GCSE students |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=28 September 2009 |first=John |last=Morgan |newspaper=Cambridge News}} Many other pupils from the Cambridge area attend village colleges, an educational institution unique to Cambridgeshire, which serve as secondary schools during the day and adult education centres outside of school hours.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jq2ZWVoo_vEC&q=%22village+college%22&pg=PA149 |title=Managing external relations in schools: a practical guide |first=Nicholas |last=Foskett |publisher=Routledge |year=1992 |isbn=0-415-06833-9 |page=149 |access-date=5 November 2020 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528155901/https://books.google.com/books?id=jq2ZWVoo_vEC&q=%22village+college%22&pg=PA149 |url-status=live }} Independent schools in the city include The Perse School, Stephen Perse Foundation, Sancton Wood School, St Mary's School, Heritage School and The Leys School.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/cities/3350043/City-spotlight-Cambridge.html |title=City spotlight: Cambridge |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Max |last=Davidson |date=20 May 2006 |access-date=28 September 2009 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131235241/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/cities/3350043/City-spotlight-Cambridge.html |archive-date=31 January 2010 |url-status=dead }} The city has one university technical college, Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, which opened in September 2014.

File:ISH WC Cambridge15.jpg, where the Cambridge rules of football were first played]]

Cambridge played a unique role in the invention of modern football: the game's first set of rules were drawn up by members of the university in 1848. The Cambridge Rules were first played on Parker's Piece and had a "defining influence on the 1863 Football Association rules", which again were first played on Parker's Piece.{{cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2006/06/09/cambridge_football_rules_parkers_piece_feature.shtml |title= Cambridge...the birthplace of football?! |publisher= BBC |access-date= 19 October 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160817142553/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cambridgeshire/content/articles/2006/06/09/cambridge_football_rules_parkers_piece_feature.shtml |archive-date= 17 August 2016 |url-status= live }}

The city is home to Cambridge United, who play at the Abbey Stadium. Formed in 1912 as Abbey United, they were elected to the Football League in 1970 and reached the Second Division in 1978, although a serious decline in them in the mid-1980s saw them drop back down to the Fourth Division and almost go out of business. Success returned to the club in the early 1990s when they won two successive promotions and reached the FA Cup quarter finals in both of those seasons and, in 1992, they came close to becoming the first English team to win three successive Football League promotions which would have taken them into the newly created FA Premier League; however, they were beaten in the play-offs and another decline set in. In 2005, they were relegated from the Football League and, for the second time in twenty years, narrowly avoided going out of business. After nine years of non-league football, they returned to the Football League in 2014 by winning the Conference National play-offs.

Cambridge United WFC is a women's only football club based in Cambridge. The team compete in the FA Women's National League South East. The club plays home games at St Neots Town's Rowley Park stadium and the Abbey Stadium.

Cambridge City, of the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, now play in neighbouring St Ives. Formed in 1908 as Cambridge Town, the club were Southern Premier League champions in 1962–63, the highest they have finished in the English football pyramid. After a legal dispute with their landlords,{{cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/03/newsstory.sport2|title = The supporters who took on a property developer and won|date = 3 October 2007|access-date = 3 September 2014|website = The Guardian|last = Conn|first = David|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140903190548/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/oct/03/newsstory.sport2|archive-date = 3 September 2014|url-status = live}} the club left their City Ground stadium in 2013 to groundshare at Histon's Bridge Road ground. The club have plans to open their own new ground in Sawston in 2024.{{Cite web|title=Cambridge City Football Club, Sawston build update – 26 Jan 21|url=https://www.cambridgecityfc.com/news/sawston-build-update---26-jan-21|access-date=14 September 2023|website=www.cambridgecityfc.com|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729193059/https://www.cambridgecityfc.com/news/sawston-build-update---26-jan-21|url-status=dead}}

Parker's Piece was used for first-class cricket matches from 1817 to 1864.{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/375_f.html |title=List of first-class matches on Parker's Piece |publisher=Cricketarchive.com |access-date=17 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119143740/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/375_f.html |archive-date=19 November 2009 |url-status=live }} The University of Cambridge's cricket ground, Fenner's, is located in the city and is one of the home grounds for minor counties team Cambridgeshire CCC.{{cite web |url=http://cambcounty.play-cricket.com/home/aboutUs.asp |title=About Us |publisher=Cambridgeshire CCC |access-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717191057/http://cambcounty.play-cricket.com/home/aboutUs.asp |archive-date=17 July 2012 }} The Cambridgeshire Cricket Association operates an amateur club cricket league with six adult divisions, including numerous clubs in the city, plus junior divisions.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambsca.co.uk|title=Cambridgeshire Cricket Association|publisher=Cambridgeshire CA|access-date=1 June 2022}} Most of the university colleges also operate their own teams, and there are several casual village cricket teams that play in the city suburbs.

The city is represented in both codes of Rugby football. Rugby union club Cambridge R.U.F.C. were founded in 1923{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Steve|title=Cambridge RUFC season preview|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7596431.stm|access-date=16 September 2016|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=5 September 2008}} and play in the RFU Championshiphttps://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/cambridge-rugby-club-eyeing-up-first-home-rfu-championship-victory-of-the-season-against-cornish-pirates/ar-AA1mNqvE {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} at their home ground, Grantchester Road, in the south-west corner of the city. Cambridge Lions represent the city in rugby league and are members of East Rugby League.{{cite news|title=Cambridge Lions suffer loss at Southend Spartans in East Rugby League|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cambridge-lions-suffer-loss-southend-spartans/story-29402730-detail/story.html|access-date=16 September 2016|work=Cambridge News|date=15 June 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

File:Cambridge MayBump2015 (pixinn.net).jpg on the River Cam]]

The River Cam, which runs through the city centre, is used for boating. The university and its colleges are well known for rowing and the Cambridgeshire Rowing Association, formed in 1868, organises competitive rowing on the river outside of the university.{{cite web|url=http://www.cra-online.net/info/history/early.htm|title=Early CRA History|publisher=Cambridgeshire Rowing Association|access-date=14 January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519101519/http://www.cra-online.net/info/history/early.htm|archive-date=19 May 2009}} Rowing clubs based in the city include City of Cambridge RC, Cambridge '99 RC, Cantabrigian RC and Rob Roy BC. Parts of the Cam are used for recreational punting, a type of boating in which the craft is propelled by pushing against the river bed with a quant pole.

Cambridge Swimming Club, Cambridge Dive team and City of Cambridge Water Polo Club are all based at Parkside Swimming Pool.{{cite web|title=Parkside Pools|url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/content/parkside-pools|publisher=Cambridge City Council|access-date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617143106/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/content/parkside-pools|archive-date=17 June 2016|url-status=live}}

Home and training ground to many influential traceurs, Cambridge is well known for its vibrant, and at times high-profile, parkour and freerunning scene.{{Cite book |last=Henry |first=Max |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/982649914 |publisher=Mascot Books |title=The parkour roadmap |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-68401-297-8 |location=Herndon, VA |oclc=982649914}}{{Citation |title=How One City CHANGED Parkour | date=16 February 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IdgGdMuOVI |language=en |access-date=2022-05-09}}

Cambridge is home to two real tennis courts (out of about 50 in the world) at Cambridge University Real Tennis Club.{{cite web |url=http://www.curtc.net/ |title=Cambridge University Real Tennis Club |publisher=Curtc.net |access-date=17 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229190213/http://curtc.net/ |archive-date=29 December 2010 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5312518/prince-edward-to-play-real-tennis-during-ballarat-visit/|title = Prince Edward to play real tennis during Ballarat visit|date = 28 March 2018}} Cambridgeshire Cats play American football at Coldham's Common. Cambridge Royals are members of the British Baseball Federation's Triple-A South Division.{{cite web | url=http://www.britishbaseball.org/news_article/show/613720?referrer_id=271910-news | title=Triple-A South, Double-A Central and Northern Conference 2016 schedules announced | publisher=British Baseball Federation | date=18 February 2016 | access-date=12 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012235815/http://www.britishbaseball.org/news_article/show/613720?referrer_id=271910-news | archive-date=12 October 2016 | url-status=live }} Cambridge has two cycling clubs: Team Cambridge{{cite web |url=http://www.team-cambridge.co.uk/ |title=Team Cambridge |publisher=Team Cambridge |access-date=17 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821025832/http://www.team-cambridge.co.uk/ |archive-date=21 August 2011 |url-status=live }} and Cambridge Cycling Club.{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridge-cycling-club.org.uk/ |title=Cambridge CC |publisher=Cambridge-cycling-club.org.uk |access-date=17 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522033454/http://www.cambridge-cycling-club.org.uk/ |archive-date=22 May 2010 |url-status=live }} Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club{{cite web|url=http://cambridgeandcoleridge.org.uk/|title=Cambridge & Coleridge AC official website|access-date=20 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303184908/http://www.cambridgeandcoleridge.org.uk/|archive-date=3 March 2011|url-status=live}} is the city's track and field club, based at the University of Cambridge's Wilberforce Road track. Cambridge Triathlon Club is based at Impington Village College.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridgetriathlonclub.com/|title=Cambridge Triathlon Club | For the love of sport}} Cambridge Handball Club compete in the men's England Handball National Super 8 League and the women's England Handball National Super 7 League. There are three field hockey clubs; Cambridge City Hockey Club, Cambridge South Hockey Club and Cambridge Nomads.

The city is also represented in polo by Cambridge Polo Club, based in Barton, just outside the city. The Romsey Town Rollerbillies play roller derby in Cambridge.{{cite web |url=http://ukrda.org.uk// |title=Uk Roller Derby |publisher=Uk Roller Derby |access-date=31 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024164540/http://ukrda.org.uk/ |archive-date=24 October 2011 }} Cambridge Parnells GAA represent the area in Gaelic football, playing out of Coldham's Common and participating in the Hertfordshire GAA Championship.{{Cite web |title=Club & Community – Our Clubs – Cambridge Parnells |url=http://www.hertfordshiregaa.co.uk/page/club--community/our-clubs/cambridge-parnells-6948/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=www.hertfordshiregaa.co.uk |language=en}} Speedway racing was formerly staged at a greyhound stadium in Coldhams Lane.{{cite web|title=Cambridge Speedway|url=http://www.speedwayplus.com/Cambridge.shtml|website=www.speedwayplus.com|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011200205/http://www.speedwayplus.com/Cambridge.shtml|archive-date=11 October 2016|url-status=live}}

Cambridge is known for the sporting events between the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, especially the rugby union Varsity Match and the Boat Race, though many of these do not take place within either Cambridge or Oxford.

File:Cambridge Guildhall.jpg]]

File:Cambridge Corn Exchange, Wheeler Street, Cambridge (geograph 4835488).jpg]]

Cambridge's main traditional theatre is the Arts Theatre, a venue with 666 seats in the town centre.{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridgeartstheatre.com/ |title=Cambridge Arts Theatre Website |publisher=Cambridgeartstheatre.com |access-date=17 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712142603/http://www.cambridgeartstheatre.com/ |archive-date=12 July 2010 |url-status=live }} The theatre often has touring shows, as well as those by local companies. The largest venue in the city to regular hold theatrical performances is the Cambridge Corn Exchange with a capacity of 1,800 standing or 1,200 seated. Housed within the city's 19th century former corn exchange building the venue was used for a variety of additional functions throughout the 20th century including tea parties, motor shows, sports matches and a music venue with temporary stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.cornex.co.uk/ccm/cornex/pages/virtualtour/history-of-the-cambridge-corn-exchange.en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829124506/http://www.cornex.co.uk/ccm/cornex/pages/virtualtour/history-of-the-cambridge-corn-exchange.en|archive-date=29 August 2008|title=The History of the Cambridge Corn Exchange|publisher=Cambridge City Council|access-date=2 March 2009}} The City Council renovated the building in the 1980s, turning it into a full-time arts venue, hosting theatre, dance and music performances.

The newest theatre venue in Cambridge is the 220-seat J2, part of Cambridge Junction in Cambridge Leisure Park. The venue was opened in 2005 and hosts theatre, dance, live music and comedy{{cite web|url=http://www.junction.co.uk/about-us/our-spaces |title=Our Spaces |work=junction.co.uk |quote=J2 is the venue for our theatre, dance, family theatre and comedy programme |access-date=28 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212004617/http://www.junction.co.uk/about-us/our-spaces |archive-date=12 February 2012 }} The ADC Theatre is managed by the University of Cambridge, and typically has 3 shows a week during term time. It hosts the Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club which has produced many notable figures in British comedy. The Mumford Theatre is part of Anglia Ruskin University, and hosts shows by both student and non-student groups. There are also a number of venues within the colleges.

Within the city there are several notable museums, some run by the University of Cambridge Museums consortium and others independent of it.

The Fitzwilliam Museum is the city's largest, and is the lead museum of the University of Cambridge Museums. Founded in 1816 from the bequeathment and collections of Richard, Viscount FitzWilliam, the museum was originally located in the building of the Perse Grammar School in Free School Lane.{{cite book |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/cambs/vol3/pp326-327 |chapter=The University of Cambridge – The Fitzwilliam Museum|title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3, the City and University of Cambridge|editor-first=J. P. C. |editor-last=Roach|date=1959|pages=326–327|access-date=17 May 2016}} After a brief housing in the University of Cambridge library, it moved to its current, purpose-built building on Trumpington Street in 1848. The museum has five departments: Antiquities; Applied Arts; Coins and Medals; Manuscripts and Printed Books; and Paintings, Drawings and Prints. Other members of the University of Cambridge Museums are the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, The Polar Museum, The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, Museum of Classical Archaeology, The Whipple Museum of the History of Science, and the University Museum of Zoology.

The Museum of Cambridge, formerly known as the Cambridge & County Folk Museum, is a social history museum located in a former pub on Castle Street.{{cite web|url=http://www.fensmuseums.org.uk/page_id__45.aspx|title=Museum of Cambridge: The life and history of the people of Cambridge|publisher=Fen Museum Partnership|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220064054/http://www.fensmuseums.org.uk/page_id__45.aspx|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live}} The Centre for Computing History, a museum dedicated to the story of the Information Age, moved to Cambridge from Haverhill in 2013.{{cite news|title=Cambridge Centre of Computing History opens|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-23493348|access-date=13 September 2016|work=BBC News|date=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220065606/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-23493348|archive-date=20 February 2015|url-status=live}} Housed in a former sewage pumping station, the Cambridge Museum of Technology has a collection of large exhibits related to the city's industrial heritage.

Pink Floyd are the most notable band with roots in Cambridge. The band's former songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Syd Barrett was born and lived in the city, and he and another founding member, Roger Waters, went to school together at Cambridgeshire High School for Boys. David Gilmour, the guitarist who replaced Barrett, was also a Cambridge resident and attended the nearby Perse School. Bands that were formed in Cambridge include Clean Bandit, Henry Cow, the Movies, Katrina and the Waves, the Soft Boys,{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5472|label=The Soft Boys}} Ezio{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p165353|label=Ezio}} the Broken Family Band,{{cite web|url=http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/the-broken-family-band/biography|title=The Broken Family Band biography|publisher=xfm.co.uk|access-date=13 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220143638/http://www.xfm.co.uk/artists/the-broken-family-band/biography|archive-date=20 December 2008}} Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats,{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats: Blood Lust|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/blood-lust-mw0002264930|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=2 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105141812/http://www.allmusic.com/album/blood-lust-mw0002264930|archive-date=5 January 2013|url-status=live}} and the pop-classical group the King's Singers, who were formed at the university.{{cite web|url=http://www.kingssingers.com/about.php?startid=9 |title=The Official Kings Singers Website :History |work=kingssingers.com |year=2012 |quote=The group takes its name from King's College Cambridge, where Martin Lane, Al Hume, Alastair Thompson, Richard Salter, Simon Carrington and Brian Kay were choral scholars. |access-date=25 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010165008/http://kingssingers.com/about.php?startid=9 |archive-date=10 October 2011}} Solo artist Boo Hewerdine{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p85801|label=Boo Hewerdine}} is from Cambridge, as are drum and bass artists (and brothers) Nu:Tone and Logistics. Singers Matthew Bellamy,{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8176141/Muse-profile-of-the-band.html |title=Muse: profile of the band |first=David |last=Cheal |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=13 April 2001 |access-date=28 February 2012 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185130/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8176141/Muse-profile-of-the-band.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live}} of the rock band Muse, Tom Robinson,{{cite news |title=Tom Robinson is showing a new generation the power of the protest song|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/tom-robinson-singer-shows-new-generation-the-power-of-the-protest-song-in-his-first-album-for-20-10467604.html|website = The Independent |access-date=11 February 2016 |language = en-GB|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160216060406/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/tom-robinson-singer-shows-new-generation-the-power-of-the-protest-song-in-his-first-album-for-20-10467604.html|archive-date = 16 February 2016 |url-status=live}} Olivia Newton-John{{cite web |url=http://www.olivia-newtonjohn.com/olivia-newton-john/bio.php |title=Biography |publisher=olivia-newtonjohn.com |access-date=9 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219180138/http://www.olivia-newtonjohn.com/olivia-newton-john/bio.php |archive-date=19 December 2008 |url-status=dead}} and Charli XCX were born in the city. 2012 Mercury Prize winners Alt-J are based in Cambridge.{{cite web |last=Jane |first=Sarah |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20176215 |title=Mercury Prize: Alt-J album An Awesome Wave wins award |publisher=BBC News |date=2 November 2012 |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116170303/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20176215 |archive-date=16 January 2013 |url-status=live}}

Live music venues hosting popular music in the city include the Cambridge Corn Exchange, Cambridge Junction, the Portland Arms, and The Blue Moon.{{cite web|last=Naylor|first=Tony|date=10 October 2017|title=The alt city guide to Cambridge|url=http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/oct/10/alt-city-guide-cambridge-bars-clubs-food-drink-music-culture|url-status=live|access-date=20 February 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014759/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/oct/10/alt-city-guide-cambridge-bars-clubs-food-drink-music-culture}}{{cite web |last1=Wilde |first1=Gabrielle |title=The Blue Moon – Cambridge pub that's so cool it puts The Fonz to shame |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/blue-moon-cambridge-pub-thats-23639889 |website=Cambridge News |date=8 April 2022 |access-date=11 July 2022}}

Started in 1991, the annual Cambridge Music Festival takes place each November.{{cite web |title=Cambridge Music Festival – British Arts Festivals Association |url=https://www.artsfestivals.co.uk/festivals-directory/festivals/cambridge-music-festival/ |publisher=BAFA |access-date=29 February 2020 |language=en |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229130417/https://www.artsfestivals.co.uk/festivals-directory/festivals/cambridge-music-festival/ |url-status=live}} The Cambridge Summer Music Festival takes place in July.{{cite web |title=Cambridge Summer Music Festival – British Arts Festivals Association |url=https://www.artsfestivals.co.uk/festivals-directory/festivals/cambridge-summer-music-festival/ |publisher=BAFA |access-date=29 February 2020 |language=en |archive-date=29 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229130422/https://www.artsfestivals.co.uk/festivals-directory/festivals/cambridge-summer-music-festival/ |url-status=live }}

Cambridge contains Kettle's Yard gallery of modern and contemporary art and the Heong Gallery which opened to the public in 2016 at Downing College.{{Cite web|last=|date=19 May 2016|title=History of the Heong Gallery building|url=https://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/about/downing-college-archive/archives/history-heong-gallery-building|url-status=live|access-date=17 February 2021|website=Downing College Cambridge|language=en|archive-date=6 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206092025/https://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/about/downing-college-archive/archives/history-heong-gallery-building}} Anglia Ruskin University operates the publicly accessible Ruskin Gallery within the Cambridge School of Art.{{cite web|title=About the gallery|url=http://www.anglia.ac.uk/arts-law-and-social-sciences/ruskin-gallery/about-the-gallery|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609233939/http://www.anglia.ac.uk/arts-law-and-social-sciences/ruskin-gallery/about-the-gallery|archive-date=9 June 2016|access-date=18 May 2016|publisher=Anglia Ruskin University}} Wysing Arts Centre, one of the leading research centres for the visual arts in Europe, is associated with the city, though is located several miles west of Cambridge.{{cite web|date=3 December 2012|title=cultunet|url=http://www.cultunet.com/es/recursos-culturales/convocatorias/wysing-arts-centre-programme-of-artists-residencies-cambridge|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429192943/http://www.cultunet.com/es/recursos-culturales/convocatorias/wysing-arts-centre-programme-of-artists-residencies-cambridge|archive-date=29 April 2014|access-date=3 February 2013|publisher=cultunet.com}} Artist-run organisations including Aid & Abet, Cambridge Art Salon, Changing Spaces{{cite web|last1=Collins|first1=Ruthie|title=Cambridge art scene: change in the air|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/jan/03/cambridge-art-scene-galleries-change|website=The guardian|access-date=20 April 2016|date=3 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427205431/http://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/jan/03/cambridge-art-scene-galleries-change|archive-date=27 April 2016|url-status=live}} and Motion Sickness{{Cite web|last=Curtis|first=Adrian|date=29 August 2019|title=Motion sickness art exhibition at Lion Yard looks at the 'Me me, me generation'|url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/motion-sickness-art-exhibition-at-lion-yard-looks-at-the-me-me-me-generation-9081198/|url-status=live|access-date=20 February 2021|website=Cambridge Independent|language=en|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115174607/https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/motion-sickness-art-exhibition-at-lion-yard-looks-at-the-me-me-me-generation-9081198/}} also run exhibitions, events and artists' studios in the city, often in short-term or temporary spaces.

File:Cowboys on the field (14851514483).jpg]]

File:Cmglee Cambridge Science Festival 2015 Menger sponge.jpg and menger sponge models at the Cambridge Science Festival]]

Several fairs and festivals take place in Cambridge, mostly during the British summer. Midsummer Fair dates back to 1211, when it was granted a charter by King John.{{cite web|url=http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfa/researchandarticles/cambridgefair|title=Cambridge Midsummer Fair|access-date=26 April 2016|publisher=National Fairground Archive, University of Sheffield|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630135625/http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/nfa/researchandarticles/cambridgefair|archive-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live}} Today it exists primarily as an annual funfair with the vestige of a market attached and is held over several days around or close to midsummers day. On the first Saturday in June Midsummer Common is the site for Strawberry Fair, a free music and children's fair, with various market stalls. For one week in May, on Jesus Green, the annual Cambridge Beer Festival has been held since 1974.{{cite web |url=http://www.cambridgebeerfestival.com |title=Cambridge & District CAMRA Winter Ale Festival 2010 |publisher=Cambridgebeerfestival.com |access-date=13 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128192625/http://cambridgebeerfestival.com/ |archive-date=28 January 2011 |url-status=live }}

File:Cambridge Film Festival - 2022 - Triangle of Sadness.jpg audience for a screening of Triangle of Sadness]]

Launched in 1977 Cambridge Film Festival is the third-longest-running film festival in the UK.

Presented annually each autumn by the Cambridge Film Trust, the Festival showcases a selection of around 100, predominantly independent and specialised, films and embeds them within a programme of special events, Q&As, and talks.

Cambridge Folk Festival is held annually in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall. The festival has been organised by the city council since its inception in 1964. The Cambridge Summer Music Festival is an annual festival of classical music, held in the university's colleges and chapels.{{cite web|url=http://www.gramophone.co.uk/festivals/cambridge-summer-music-festival|title=Cambridge Summer Music Festival|publisher=The Gramophone|access-date=20 October 2010}} The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival is an eight-week season of open-air performances of the works of William Shakespeare, held in the gardens of various colleges of the university.{{cite web |url= http://www.cambridgeshakespeare.com/about/ |title= About the Festival |publisher= The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival |access-date= 27 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120209185139/http://www.cambridgeshakespeare.com/about/ |archive-date= 9 February 2012 |url-status= live }}

The Cambridge Science Festival, typically held annually in March, is the United Kingdom's largest free science festival.{{cite news|title=University of Cambridge Science Festival 2011|work=BBC News|url=http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-12759607|access-date=21 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402222018/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-12759607|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}} The Cambridge Literary Festival, which focusses on contemporary literary fiction and non-fiction, is held bi-annually in April and November.{{Cite web|title=All about|url=https://www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/about/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=Cambridge Literary Festival|language=en-GB}} Between 1975 and 1985 the Cambridge Poetry Festival was held biannually.{{cite web|last=Blair-Underwood|first=Alison|year=2012|title=Open account – A memoir: the Cambridge Poetry Festival|url=http://www.manifold.group.shef.ac.uk/issue9/AlisonBlairUnderwoodPR9.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322235238/http://www.manifold.group.shef.ac.uk/issue9/AlisonBlairUnderwoodPR9.html|archive-date=22 March 2013|access-date=6 June 2013|work=Blackbox Manifold, Issue 9: Peter Robinson at Sixty|publisher=Blackbox Manifold}} Other festivals include the annual Mill Road Winter Fair, held the first Saturday of December,{{Cite news

|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/whats-on/cambridge-mill-road-fair-christmas-13958797

|title=All you need to know about the 2017 Mill Road Winter Fair

|last=Rabbett

|first=Abigail

|date=1 December 2017

|work=Cambridge News

|access-date=31 May 2018

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110082234/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/whats-on/cambridge-mill-road-fair-christmas-13958797

|archive-date=10 January 2018

|url-status=live}} the E-luminate Festival, which took place every February from 2013 to 2018,{{cite news

|last1=Rabbett

|first1=Abigail

|title=All you need to know about Cambridge's e-Luminate festival

|work=Cambridge News

|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/eluminate-festival-cambridge-when-light-12547526

|access-date=31 May 2018

|date=17 January 2018

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615053551/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/eluminate-festival-cambridge-when-light-12547526

|archive-date=15 June 2018

|url-status=live

}}{{Cite web|last=Frame|first=Helen|date=22 May 2018|title=Why Cambridge e-Luminate festival has been put on hold|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-e-luminate-festival-lights-14693085|access-date=17 February 2021|website=CambridgeshireLive|language=en|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227094645/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-e-luminate-festival-lights-14693085|url-status=live}} and The Big Weekend, a city outdoor event organised by the City Council every July.{{cite web |title=Big Weekend |url=https://www.visitcambridge.org/whats-on/major-festivals-and-events/the-big-weekend |website=Visit Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge City Council |access-date=31 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404011133/https://www.visitcambridge.org/whats-on/major-festivals-and-events/the-big-weekend |archive-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=live }}

Three Cambridge Free Festivals held in 1969, 1970, and 1971 that featured artists including David Bowie, King Crimson, Roy Harper, Spontaneous Combustion, UFO and others are believed by the festival organiser to have been the first free multiple-day rock music festivals held in the UK.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-1969.html |title=Description, poster, and images, 1969 Cambridge Free Festival, Midsummer Common, 8-11 June 1969. Performers: David Bowie, King Crimson, Roy Harper, and others. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=19 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219023155/http://ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-1969.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-midsummer-pop.jpg |title=Concert poster: The Cambridge Free Festival, Midsummer Common, 8-11th June 1969. Performers: David Bowie, King Crimson, Roy Harper, and others. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830220314/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-midsummer-pop.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cam-69-free-fest-blurb.jpg |title=Invitation to attend and explanation of event: The Cambridge Free Festival, Midsummer Common, 8-11th June 1969. Performers: David Bowie, King Crimson, Roy Harper, and others. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830220231/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cam-69-free-fest-blurb.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cam-69-free-fest-time-1.jpg |title=Programme of performers, 8 and 9 June 1969. The Cambridge Free Festival, Midsummer Common, 8-11th June 1969. Performers: David Bowie, King Crimson, Roy Harper, and others. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830220301/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cam-69-free-fest-time-1.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cam-69-free-fest-time-2.jpg |title=Programme of performers, 10 and 11 June 1969. The Cambridge Free Festival, Midsummer Common, 8-11th June 1969. Performers: David Bowie, King Crimson, Roy Harper, and others. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=30 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830220248/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cam-69-free-fest-time-2.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-1969.html |title=1970 Cambridge Free Festival, Coldham's Common, 5 August 1970. Edgar Broughton, Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come, Demon Fuzz, Black Widow, Elder Kindred. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=19 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219023155/http://ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-1969.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-festival.html |title=Cambridge Free Festival, Coldham's Common, 12th/13th June 1971. Spontaneous Combustion scheduled Saturday afternoon and UFO Saturday evening, 12 June 1971, were among the 23 scheduled performers. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=18 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218015827/http://ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-festival.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-71-timeline.jpg |title=Concert line-up, Cambridge Free Festival, Coldham's Common, 12th/13th June 1971. Spontaneous Combustion scheduled Saturday afternoon and UFO Saturday evening, 12 June 1971, were among the 23 scheduled performers. Retrieved 15 July 2020. |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128173659/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-71-timeline.jpg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-71-poster.jpg |title=Concert poster: Cambridge Free Festival, Coldham's Common, 12th/13th June 1971. Spontaneous Combustion scheduled Saturday afternoon and UFO Saturday evening, 12 June 1971, were among the 23 scheduled performers. Retrieved 15 July 2020 |access-date=15 July 2020 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128013017/http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/cambridge-free-71-poster.jpg |url-status=live }}

The city has been the setting for all or part of several novels, including Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Rose Macaulay's They Were Defeated,{{Cite news |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19321224.2.33.5 |title=They were defeated |newspaper=Evening Post |location=Wellington, NZ |page=7 |date=24 December 1932 |access-date=7 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921022121/http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19321224.2.33.5 |archive-date=21 September 2011 |url-status=live}} Kate Atkinson's Case Histories,{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3622947/A-daily-sense-of-danger.html |title=A Daily Sense of Danger – Case Histories by Kate Atkinson |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Katie |last=Owen |date=29 August 2004 |access-date=25 February 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611044344/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3622947/A-daily-sense-of-danger.html |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=live}} Rebecca Stott's Ghostwalk{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/03/2007_12_fri.shtml |title=Woman's Hour -Rebecca Stott on 'Ghostwalk' |publisher=BBC Radio 4 |year=2012 |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728020732/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/03/2007_12_fri.shtml |archive-date=28 July 2012 |url-status=live }} and Robert Harris' Enigma,{{cite book |author=Chainey, Graham |title=A Literary History of Cambridge |location=Cambridge |orig-year=1985 |year=1995 |isbn=0-907115-25-X |publisher=Pevensey Press}}{{cite book |author=Garrett, Martin |title=Cambridge: a Cultural and Literary History|location=Oxford|year=2004|isbn=1-902669-79-7 |publisher=Signal Books }} while Susanna Gregory wrote a series of novels set in 14th century Cambridge.{{cite web |url=http://www.literaturewales.org/writers-of-wales/i/130359/desc/gregory-susanna/ |title=GREGORY, SUSANNA | List of Writers |work=The Writers of Wales Database |publisher=Literature Wales |access-date= 25 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831223859/http://www.literaturewales.org/writers-of-wales/i/130359/desc/gregory-susanna/ |archive-date= 31 August 2013 |df= dmy-all }} Gwen Raverat, the granddaughter of Charles Darwin, talked about her late Victorian Cambridge childhood in her memoir Period Piece, and The Night Climbers of Cambridge is a book written by Noel Symington under the pseudonym "Whipplesnaith" about nocturnal climbing on the colleges and town buildings of Cambridge in the 1930s.{{cite web|url=http://cucc.survex.com/archive/jnl/1983/roof.htm|title=Some References to Cambridge Night Climbing|access-date=26 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209213416/http://cucc.survex.com/archive/jnl/1983/roof.htm |website=Cambridge University Caving Club Archive |archive-date=9 February 2009|url-status=dead}}

Fictionalised versions of Cambridge appear in Philippa Pearce's Tom's Midnight Garden and Minnow on the Say, the city renamed as Castleford, and as the home of Tom Sharpe's fictional college in Porterhouse Blue.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/noequalinworlda00crow |url-access=registration |title=No equal in the world: an interpretation of the academic presidency |first=Joseph N. |last=Crowley |publisher=University of Nevada Press |location=Reno, NV |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-87417-237-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/noequalinworlda00crow/page/167 167] |access-date=25 February 2012 }}

ITV TV series Granchester was partly filmed in Cambridge.{{cite web |title=Grantchester – Drama Series Hits ITV 1 |url=https://www.visitcambridge.org/things-to-do/film-and-tv-locations-to-visit/grantchester-tv-series |website=Visit Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge City Council |access-date=31 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401075528/https://www.visitcambridge.org/things-to-do/film-and-tv-locations-to-visit/grantchester-tv-series |archive-date=1 April 2019 |url-status=live }}

News and television programmes are broadcast from the BBC Look East (West) studio in Cambridge.{{cite web |title=BBC One – Look East (West) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rpwxj |website=BBC}}

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on 96.0 FM, Heart East on 103.0 FM, Cambridge 105 on 105 FM, Star Radio on 100.7 FM and Cam FM on 97.2 is a student run-radio station at the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University.

The city's local newspapers are Cambridge News, Cambridge Independent and Varsity, the student newspaper of the University of Cambridge.

File:Addenbrooke's hospital.JPG]]

Cambridge is served by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with several smaller medical centres in the city and a teaching hospital at Addenbrooke's. Located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Addenbrooke's is one of the largest hospitals in the United Kingdom and is a designated regional trauma centre.

The East of England Ambulance Service covers the city and has an ambulance station on Hills Road.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/Trust.aspx?id=RYC&v=6 |access-date=28 September 2009 |title=East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust |publisher=National Health Service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927125551/http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/Trust.aspx?id=RYC&v=6 |archive-date=27 September 2011 }} The smaller Brookfields Hospital stands on Mill Road.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhs.uk/Services/hospitals/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=1349 |title=Brookfields Hospital |publisher=NHS.UK |access-date=4 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020153/https://www.nhs.uk/Services/hospitals/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=1349 |archive-date=7 February 2019 |url-status=live }} Cambridgeshire Constabulary provides the city's policing; the main police station is at Parkside,{{cite web |url=http://www.cambs-police.co.uk/contactus/maps.asp |title=Contact us |publisher=Cambridgeshire Constabulary |access-date=28 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915190245/http://www.cambs-police.co.uk/contactus/maps.asp |archive-date=15 September 2009 |url-status=live }} adjacent to the city's fire station, operated by Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/about/parkside.php |title=Cambridge fire station |publisher=Cambridgehsire Fire and Rescue |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928063131/http://www.cambsfire.gov.uk/about/parkside.php |archive-date=28 September 2009 }}

Cambridge Water Company supplies water services to the city,{{cite web |url= http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/home/about-us |title= About Us |publisher= Cambridge Water Company |year= 2012 |access-date= 26 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120224213521/http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/home/about-us |archive-date= 24 February 2012 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }} while Anglian Water provides sewerage services.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/about_you/charges.asp |title=About you: water charges |publisher=Cambridge Water |access-date=28 September 2009 |quote=Anglian Water supply your sewerage services. Cambridge Water bills and collects on behalf of Anglian Water. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916212341/http://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/about_you/charges.asp |archive-date=16 September 2009 }} For the supply of electricity, Cambridge is part of the East of England region, for which the distribution network operator is UK Power Networks.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/AboutElectricity/DistributionCompanies/ |title=National Grid: Distribution Network Operator (DNO) Companies |work=nationalgrid.com |year=2012 |quote=Distribution Network Operator (DNO) Companies |access-date=26 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220153254/http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/AboutElectricity/DistributionCompanies |archive-date=20 February 2012 |url-status=live }} The city has no power stations, though a five-metre wind turbine, part of a Cambridge Regional College development, can be seen in King's Hedges.{{cite web |url=http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3107979 |title=The SmartLIFE Sustainable Skills Centre in Cambridge |access-date=28 September 2009 |publisher=Building.co.uk |first=Will |last=Jones |date=6 March 2008}} The Cambridge Electric Supply Company had provided the city with electricity since the early twentieth century from Cambridge power station. Upon nationalisation of the electricity industry in 1948 ownership passed to the British Electricity Authority and later to the Central Electricity Generating Board. Electricity connections to the national grid rendered the small 7.26 megawatt (MW) coal fired power station redundant. It closed in 1965 and was subsequently demolished; in its final year of operation it delivered 2771 MWh of electricity to the city.CEGB Statistical Yearbook 1965, CEGB, London

Following the Public Libraries Act 1850 the city's first public library, located on Jesus Lane, was opened in 1855.{{cite book |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66616 |chapter=The city of Cambridge: Public buildings |editor-last=Roach |editor-first=J. P. C. |publisher=Victoria County History |via=Institute of Historical Research |year=1959 |title=A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 3: The City and University of Cambridge |access-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604224711/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66616 |archive-date=4 June 2011 |url-status=live }} It was moved to the Guildhall in 1862, and is now located in the Grand Arcade shopping centre. The library was reopened in September 2009,{{Cite news|title=Revamped Central Library ready to open |url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=451672 |newspaper=Cambridge News |access-date=28 September 2009 |date=25 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926033441/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=451672 |archive-date=26 September 2012 }} after having been closed for refurbishment for 33 months, more than twice as long as was forecast when the library closed for redevelopment in January 2007.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=408967 |title=Library is hit by new delay fear |date=17 April 2009 |first=Chris |last=Elliott |newspaper=Cambridge News |access-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926033500/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=408967 |archive-date=26 September 2012 }} As of 2018 the city contains six public libraries, run by the County Council.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libraries-leisure-&-culture/libraries/find-a-library/|title=Find a library|work=Cambridgeshire County Council|access-date=9 February 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209183902/https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/libraries-leisure-%26-culture/libraries/find-a-library/|archive-date=9 February 2018|url-status=dead}}

The Cambridge City Cemetery is located to the north of Newmarket Road.

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Cambridge - Church of St Mary the Great.jpg

| image2 = St Botolph's Church, Cambridge.JPG

| total_width = 350

| image3 = Castle Street Methodist Church, Cambridge (2).JPG

| caption3 = Castle Street Methodist Church, the older of the two Methodist churches

| perrow = 2/2

| image4 = Cmglee Cambridge Mosque look out.jpg

| caption4 = The atrium of Cambridge Central Mosque

| caption1 = Great St Mary's Church marks the centre of Cambridge.

| caption2 = St Botolph's Church

}}

Cambridge has a number of churches, some of which form a significant part of the city's architectural landscape. Like the rest of Cambridgeshire it is part of the Anglican Diocese of Ely.{{cite web|url=http://www.elydiocese.org/who-we-are1/a-brief-history-of-the-diocese-of-ely/|access-date=26 April 2016|title=A brief history of the Diocese of Ely|website=The Church of England Diocese of Ely|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513231910/http://www.elydiocese.org/who-we-are1/a-brief-history-of-the-diocese-of-ely/|archive-date=13 May 2016}}

Great St Mary's Church has the status of "University Church".{{cite web|url=http://www.gsm.cam.ac.uk/great-st-marys/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801173303/http://www.gsm.cam.ac.uk/great-st-marys/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 August 2012|title=Great St Mary's|publisher=Great St Mary's Ministry|access-date=21 March 2012}} Many of the university colleges contain chapels that hold services according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, while the chapel of St Edmund's College is Roman Catholic.{{cite web|url=http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/life/chapel/index.php |title=Chapel |publisher=St Edmund's College, Cambridge |date=12 May 2008 |access-date=17 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923132344/http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/life/chapel/index.php |archive-date=23 September 2008 }} The city also has a number of theological colleges training clergy for ordination into a number of denominations, with affiliations to both the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University.

Cambridge is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia and is served by the large Gothic Revival Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church at the junction of Hills Road and Lensfield Road, St Laurence's on Milton Road, St Vincent De Paul Church on Ditton Lane and by the church of St Philip Howard, in Cherry Hinton Road.{{cite web|url = http://www.catholicdirectory.org/Catholic_Information.asp?ID=868|title = Diocese of East Anglia|access-date = 6 January 2015|website = Catholic Directory|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150106141418/http://www.catholicdirectory.org/Catholic_Information.asp?ID=868|archive-date = 6 January 2015|url-status = live}}

There is a Russian Orthodox church under the Diocese of Sourozh who worship at the chapel of Westcott House,{{cite web|url=http://www.sourozh.org/parishes-eng/|title=Parishes – Diocese of Sourozh|publisher=Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh|access-date=21 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305232751/http://www.sourozh.org/parishes-eng/|archive-date=5 March 2012|url-status=live}} the Greek Orthodox Church holds services at the purpose-built St Athanasios church under the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain,{{cite web |url= http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=225&Itemid=136 |title= The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Anthanasius and St. Clement |publisher= Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain |access-date= 21 March 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120314061425/http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=225&Itemid=136 |archive-date= 14 March 2012 |url-status= live }} while the Romanian Orthodox Church share St Giles' with the Church of England.{{cite web|url=http://en.orthodoxcamro.co.uk/about-the-parish.html|title=St. John the Evangelist Romanian Orthodox Parish in Cambridge|access-date=30 November 2019|archive-date=24 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224083419/http://en.orthodoxcamro.co.uk/about-the-parish.html|url-status=live}}

There are two Methodist churches in the city. Wesley Methodist Church was built in 1913, and is located next to

Christ's Pieces. The Castle Street Methodist Church is the oldest of the two, having been built in 1823, and was formerly a Primitive Methodist church.

There are three Quaker Meetings in Cambridge, located on Jesus Lane, Hartington Grove, and a Meeting called "Oast House" that meets in Pembroke College.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge-quakers.org.uk/ |title=Quakers in Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge Quakers |access-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725104136/http://www.cambridge-quakers.org.uk/ |archive-date=25 July 2011 }}

An Orthodox synagogue and Jewish student centre is located on Thompson's Lane, operated jointly by the Cambridge Traditional Jewish Congregation and the Cambridge University Jewish Society, which is affiliated to the Union of Jewish Students.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctjc.org.uk|title=Welcome to CTJC|publisher=Cambridge Traditional Jewish Congregation|quote=We share our shul building with the students, who run Shabbat services during term-time.|access-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227111756/http://www.ctjc.org.uk/|archive-date=27 December 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ujs.org.uk/jsocs/view/271/cambridge-university/ |title=Cambridge University | Union of Jewish Students |publisher=Cambridge University Union of Jewish Students |quote=The Cambridge Traditional Jewish Congregation hold Orthodox services at Thompsons Lane which are run by the students during term time and the residents in the vacation. |access-date=28 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726021846/http://www.ujs.org.uk/jsocs/view/271/cambridge-university/ |archive-date=26 July 2012 }} The Beth Shalom Reform synagogue which previously met at a local school,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cambridgeshire/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8609000/8609693.stm|title=Home of its own: Cambridge Synagogue has a new base|work=BBC News|date=12 April 2010|access-date=28 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804181020/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cambridgeshire/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8609000/8609693.stm|archive-date=4 August 2012|url-status=live}} opened a purpose-built synagogue in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.beth-shalom.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=100|title=Beth Shalom Reform Synagogue – Cambridge – A New Synagogue|work=beth-shalom.org.uk|quote=Our new Synagogue and Community Centre is an environmentally-friendly, economical and flexible space...|access-date=16 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914171118/http://www.beth-shalom.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=100|archive-date=14 September 2016|url-status=live}} There is also a student-led egalitarian minyan which holds services on Friday evenings.

Cambridge Central Mosque is the main place of worship for Cambridge's community of around 4,000 Muslims.{{Cite web|url=https://cambridgecentralmosque.org/|title=Cambridge Central Mosque – Home|website=Cambridge Central Mosque|language=en-GB|access-date=28 November 2019|archive-date=4 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504140620/https://cambridgecentralmosque.org/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=312719|title=Mosque site hunt is over|last=Extance|first=Rachel|date=6 May 2008|newspaper=Cambridge News|access-date=21 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105221743/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/displayarticle.asp?id=312719|archive-date=5 January 2009}} Opened in 2019, it is described as Europe's first eco-friendly mosque{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-48044025|title='Eco mosque' opens for worshippers|date=24 April 2019|access-date=28 November 2019|language=en-GB|archive-date=4 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004043341/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-48044025|url-status=live}} and is the first purpose-built mosque within the city. The Abu Bakr Jamia Islamic Centre on Mawson Road and the Omar Faruque Mosque and Cultural Centre in Kings Hedges are additional places of Muslim worship.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cambridgemosque.com/|title=Cambridge Mosque|website=www.cambridgemosque.com|access-date=28 November 2019|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224020057/https://cambridgemosque.com/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.omarfaruquemosque.org.uk/index.php?section=1|title=Omar Faruque Mosque – North Cambridge Mosque, UK|website=www.omarfaruquemosque.org.uk|access-date=28 November 2019|archive-date=18 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118073503/http://www.omarfaruquemosque.org.uk/index.php?section=1|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.salatomatic.com/d/Cambridge+17159+Omar-Faruque-Mosque-and-Cultural-Centre/?msg=9|title=Omar Faruque Mosque and Cultural Centre|publisher=Salatomatic|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715230518/http://www.salatomatic.com/d/Cambridge+17159+Omar-Faruque-Mosque-and-Cultural-Centre/?msg=9|archive-date=15 July 2011|access-date=20 July 2010}}

Cambridge Buddhist Centre, which belongs to Triratna Buddhist Community, was opened in the former Barnwell Theatre on Newmarket Road in 1998.{{cite web |url= http://www.cambridgebuddhistcentre.com/cbc/CBC_history.php |title= History of the Barnwell or Festival Theatre |publisher= Cambridge Buddhist Centre |access-date= 13 January 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091006015146/http://www.cambridgebuddhistcentre.com/cbc/CBC_history.php |archive-date= 6 October 2009 |url-status= live }} There are also several local Buddhist meditation groups from various Buddhist including Samatha Trust and Buddha Mettā Society.{{cite web|url=https://cambridgebuddhistsociety.org.uk/meditation.html|title=Meditation and Local Groups|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=2 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902132939/http://cambridgebuddhistsociety.org.uk/meditation.html|url-status=live}}

A Hindu shrine was opened in 2010 at the Bharat Bhavan Indian cultural centre off Mill Road.{{cite web|url=http://www.iccacambridge.co.uk/home|title=The Indian Community and Culture Association of Cambridge (ICCA)|work=Bharat Bhavan Indian cultural centre|access-date=3 March 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.iccacambridge.co.uk/hall-hire/shrine|title=The Shrine|work=Bharat Bhavan Indian cultural centre|access-date=3 March 2012}}

A Sikh community has met in the city since 1982, and a Gurdwara was opened in Arbury in 2013.{{cite web|title=History of Cambridge Gurdwara – Cambridge Gurdwara|date=18 December 2012|url=https://www.cambridgegurdwara.org/history/|access-date=24 April 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424141432/https://www.cambridgegurdwara.org/history/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Our History – Cambridge University Sikh Society|url=https://cam.sikhsoc.org/our-history/|access-date=24 April 2021|language=en-GB|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225190618/https://cam.sikhsoc.org/our-history/|url-status=live}}

{{Infobox COA wide|name=City of Cambridge|image=File: Arms of the Cambridge City Council.svg|imagesize=220|bannerimage=|badgeimage=|coronet=|torse=|escutcheon=Gules a Bridge of one arch surmounted by three Towers Or in chief a Fleur-de-Lys Gold between two Roses Argent the base barry way of the last and Azure thereon three Ships each with one mast and yardarm the sail furled also Sable.|supporters=On either side a Sea Horse the upper parts Gules the nether part proper finned Or|motto=|orders=|banner=|badge=|symbolism=Cambridge owes its name and early development to the bridge at the farthest navigable part of the Cam (formerly Granta) river. The arms show this importance in the bridge, ships and sea horses. The roses and the fleur-de-lis are royal and national emblems.|year_granted=The arms were officially granted on 7 June 1575 by Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms, and recorded in the Visitation of 1648.|crest=On a Wreath Or and Gules upon a Mount Vert a Bridge in the form of a castle with two Ports and three domed Towers and between the Towers two Turrets also domed Argent.}}

Cambridge is twinned with two cities. Like Cambridge, both have universities and are also similar in population; Heidelberg, Germany since 1965,{{cite web|url=https://www.heidelberg.de/english/Home/Life/cambridge.html |title=Sister Cities: Cambridge |publisher=City of Heidelberg |access-date=27 May 2023 }} and Szeged, Hungary since 1987.

{{wide image|Panorama of Kings Parade in Cambridge, UK, at St. Mary's.jpg|800px|King's Parade seen from outside St. Mary the Great}}

{{wide image|Panorama of Cambridge City Centre.jpg|800px|Panorama of the city centre, viewed from the tower of St. Mary the Great}}

{{portal|England}}

• List of bridges in Cambridge
• List of churches in Cambridge
• Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies
• :Category:Buildings and structures in Cambridge
• :Category:Organisations based in Cambridge
• :Category:People from Cambridge

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{See also|Timeline of Cambridge#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Cambridge}}

• Barwell, Noel (1910), [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73643 Cambridge], Blackie & Son Limited
• {{cite book |publisher = Macmillan & Bowes |location = Cambridge |title = A catalogue of books printed at or relating to the University, town & county of Cambridge, from 1521 to 1893 |author = Bowes, Robert |date = 1894 |oclc = 1064186 |ol = 23284674M }}
• Rawle, Tim (author and photographer), John Adamson (editor). Cambridge (new ed. with foreword by William Bortrick). Cambridge: The Oxbridge Portfolio (2016), 204 pp. {{ISBN|978-0-9572867-2-6}}.

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons category|Cambridge}}

{{Wikivoyage|Cambridge (England)|Cambridge}}

• [https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ Cambridge City Council]
• {{cite EB9 |wstitle = Cambridge (2.) |volume= IV | page=728 |short=1}}
• [https://www.greatercambridge.org.uk/ Greater Cambridge Partnership]
• [https://www.calh.org.uk/ Cambridgeshire Association for Local History]
• [https://www.ccan.co.uk/ Cambridgeshire Community Archives]
• [https://www.visitcambridge.org/ Visit Cambridge]: the official tourism website for Cambridge

{{Cambridgeshire}}

{{East of England}}

{{UK cities}}

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Cambridge

| North = Histon, Milton

| Northeast = Fen Ditton

| East = Teversham

| Southeast = Fulbourn

| South = Great Shelford

| Southwest = Grantchester

| West = Coton

| Northwest = Girton

| image =

}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in the East of England

Category:County towns in England

Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Cambridgeshire

Category:Towns in Cambridgeshire

Category:Unparished areas in Cambridgeshire

Category:Boroughs in England

Category:Former civil parishes in Cambridgeshire