The Backs
The Backs is the stretch of the River Cam where several Colleges back onto the water with lawns, gardens and bridges: St John's, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King's and Queens', running north to south. The name simply means the backs of the Colleges, and the river view is the composed, private side of buildings whose fronts face the streets.
In practice
The 10-hectare landscape between Queen's Road and the river was shaped across the 18th and 19th centuries; a grand scheme drawn up by Lancelot "Capability" Brown in 1779 was never executed, and the grounds remain individually owned by the Colleges. Public paths and bridges give views across the Backs, and the full sequence of bridges and lawns opens up from a punt; walking in College grounds depends on each College's visiting arrangements. College lawns and courts are private working places: keep to public paths, never picnic on College grass, and check visiting arrangements before assuming a College is open.
Why it matters to newcomers
The Backs is where you take your guests and where you learn the city's etiquette in one walk: admire from the path or the river, do not treat Colleges as parks. Morning and late afternoon are quietest, and pairing the walk with a punt shows the same buildings from their best side.
Related
- Punt and punting - the river route along the Backs
- College - the institutions behind the lawns
- Cambridge architecture and landmarks guide
- Cambridge parks and green spaces guide
Sources: The Backs, Parks and Gardens UK; The Backs.