A Cambridge weekend without booking fees

This list works differently from ticket marketplaces. Every venue link goes to the venue's own site, so what you pay is the venue's own price with no booking fee on top. Jesus Green, the Backs and the Fitzwilliam cost nothing. The Museum of Cambridge, the house at Kettle's Yard and the Botanic Garden charge admission, and the prices below are the ones each venue published on 15 September 2026.

Saturday - river and the Backs

Jesus Green, morning

Start on the riverside park on the north side of the centre. The River Cam runs along its northern edge and Jesus College lies to the south. Victoria Avenue separates it from Midsummer Common. The park is free and open, with the 1920s lido on its edge and Jesus Lock on the river. Upstream of Jesus Green, powered boats are banned from 1 April to 30 September, so the river belongs to punts and other manually propelled craft.

The Backs, midday

Walk to Queen's Road for the classic view across the college grounds along the Cam. The core colleges from north to south are St John's, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King's and Queens'. Each college sets its own access to its grounds, so the reliable free viewpoints are Queen's Road itself, the public bridges and the river. English Heritage listed the Backs as a Grade I historic park in 1995.

You do not need a marketplace to see the river. Punts pass under Clare Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs whether you watch from a bridge or book directly with a licensed punting station. If you want to go on the water, book with the station itself and keep the e-ticket from the operator.

The Fitzwilliam, afternoon

Finish indoors at the university museum on Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB. Entry to the collection is free. Opening hours published by the museum are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sundays 12 to 5pm, with last entry at 4.40pm. The collection runs from Egyptian antiquities to modern art. Photography without flash is allowed for personal use. Check the museum site before you go, since some galleries can close for maintenance.

Sunday - Castle Street and Kettle's Yard

Museum of Cambridge, late morning

The museum covers the lives of people in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire and the Fens from 1700 onwards. It occupies the former White Horse Inn, a 16th-century pub on Castle Street that closed in 1934. Standard admission is £7, and under-16s go free. On Sundays it opens 11am to 5pm. The museum warns that hours can change with volunteer availability, so check its visit page on the day.

Kettle's Yard, afternoon

A few steps along the same street, Kettle's Yard keeps the home of Jim and Helen Ede with their collection of 20th-century art and objects. The temporary exhibitions in the galleries are free. The house is not: an adult ticket is £14.50, or £13 without the donation, and it is free for visitors aged 25 and under and for University of Cambridge students. Entry is by timed ticket, and no bags, including handbags, are allowed in the house. Kettle's Yard opens Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.

Grantchester Meadows or the Botanic Garden

If the weather holds, walk south along the river through Coe Fen and Sheep's Green toward Grantchester Meadows, which costs nothing. For something closer to the station, the University Botanic Garden is five minutes' walk from it and opens every day except over Christmas. Adult admission is £9.50, and children up to 16 go free.

Our events

Saturday meetup

To meet other members, join our Saturday meetup. Details and registration are on our meetup page. It is the simplest way to turn this itinerary into introductions.

Cambridge Film Festival, 22 October to 1 November 2026

Our autumn anchor is the 45th Cambridge Film Festival, centred on the Arts Picturehouse at 38-39 St Andrew's Street. The full programme appears on 30 September on the festival website, and tickets are booked there. The festival is BAFTA- and BIFA-qualifying.

More in the calendar: the Cambridge Festival and Cambridge Wide Open Week.

Practical notes

• Free: Jesus Green, the Backs from Queen's Road and the bridges, the river walk south, the Fitzwilliam and the exhibitions at Kettle's Yard. Paid: the Museum of Cambridge (£7), the Kettle's Yard house (£14.50, free aged 25 and under) and the Botanic Garden (£9.50).
• Opening days differ. The Fitzwilliam and Kettle's Yard are closed on Mondays. The Museum of Cambridge opens Friday to Monday in term time and Thursday to Monday in school holidays.
• No aggregator is needed for anything above. If a page asks for a booking fee, you are on the wrong site. Go back to the venue domain.

Questions

Where can I see the Backs for free?

From Queen's Road, from the public bridges and from the river. Colleges set their own access to their grounds.

Is the Fitzwilliam free?

Yes, the collection is free. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sundays 12 to 5pm, last entry 4.40pm.

Is Jesus Green free?

Yes. It is a public riverside park, open with no ticket.

Do I need to book Kettle's Yard or the Museum of Cambridge ahead?

Kettle's Yard house visits use timed tickets, which can be booked on its website or on the day while they last. The Museum of Cambridge lists no advance booking, but its hours can change, so check its page on the day.

How do I meet other members?

Through our Saturday meetup page. The Film Festival in October is the next large gathering point.