Cambridge Tourist Traps

The Fudge Kitchen is like an institution in itself in Cambridge- traditional English fudge is still made before your very eyes, by hand, every day and if you're still not sure about it, try out the free sample!

It's on King's parade where there are touristy shops everywhere and you will usually get lots of tourist's milling around the shop but ignore all of that, order a slab- yes, a slab of fudge (none of this cubes business) and eat some of the best fudge EVER- you'll never go back to those horrid cubes of fudge in tin boxes every again! it's really worth the price (maybe £4 per slab of fudge- but its so rich it'll last you ages)

An hours punting along the backs of Cambridges on the river Cam sounds like a delightful way to spend an hour. At sixteen pounds an hour at the weekend, the expeience certainly doesn't come cheap.

Quite apart from the fact that most people seem to have great difficulty in the comparatively easy act of punting, the chances are that you will be fighting for river space with dozens of others who have been similarly sold the 'pup' of a romantic punt in soft evening summer sunshine.

In addition such trips are also usually spoilt by a stag-party in another boat thinking their pirates and ramming other boats, a party of fat Germans crashing into a bridge, and a few high spirited local teenagers gobbing on you off a bridge.

Unique Suggestions: Pay for an overnight rental and get away from the crowded areas

Fun Alternatives: Go for good walk instead, you will see far more

What a great way to spend an hour or so. Lie back and let the students do the work! I must confess that I did not join the others on a punt. Next time I visit Cambridge I will certainly take time out and go in one. From what I was told it was excellent value for money.

was at one stage the most expensive car park in the UK! Now it's less expensive but the prices are still silly.

Unique Suggestions: Best tip if you have to use it is to stay parked there all day until late evening (after 8, when the prices come down again if the car park is unmanned).

Fun Alternatives: Best parking tip is to use the cheaper Park and Ride system (actually quite good) or park in the cheaper Parkside car park (by Parker's piece next to the swimming pool).

Or if you do, be prepared for the other 10,000visitors that descend upon Cmabridge during the summer months. I was in town today (24th July '04) and it was so busy it was unbelievable. Sure, you can enjoy everything as you would in spring or autumn, but it's so much more relaxing then when there are less people in your way, all wanting to do the same thing. Of course being from Cambridge I'm used to it being heaving in summer (when I am indead here in summer). But if you can avoid coming in summer and perhaps instead in spring or autumn, when it's still warm, then you're likely to have a more relaxing time. And you'll get better photos too. I tried taking some today and I couldn't get a shot without someone's backpack in it!

Unique Suggestions: Try to do the more popular activities earlier in the day. For example punting is THE MOST popular thing to do in Cambridge and the rivers are crowded in the afternoons, especially at weekends. The Colleges (Kings, John) will be less crowded in the mornings too. Take a break and enjoy one of the many parks here in the afternoon, or sit back and watch the punters.

Punting is a very popular activity in Cambridge but can also be quite expensive. If you know a Cambridge student, you can punt fro free with them, otherwise it'll be full price.

Unique Suggestions: Go in a group as the charge is usually per boat not per person.

Only one, I'd say, and that's the Punt Tours! The tours are great, but there are literally dozens and dozens of canvassers trying to get you onto the river! Once you've been on you ought to get a badge to wear so that you don't get harassed any more. To be fair to the guys, they don't chase after you and are prepared to take 'no' for an answer.

Tip: Haggle with them, it'll get the price down, especially if there's a lot of you and especially if you say 'that yard down there only charges xxx pounds' - insert relevant amount!