Cambridge University celebrates 800 years of academic excellence in 2009. They one of the world's oldest universities, and known worldwide as a leading academic centres. Cambridge univesity comprises 31 Colleges and over 150 departments, faculties, schools and other institutions.

In Football Cambridge United F.C. have never made a huge impact on the football tables (except in 1990 when the reached the brink of promotion to the new premier league). However, Cambridge has a larger part to play in the history of football. In 1848 members of the university drew up the games first set of rules, these were first played on Parker’s Piece (the green common in the center of Cambridge) and had a significant influence on the Football association rules of 1863.

The Cambridge Beer Festival has been going since 1974 which makes it the longest running CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) beer festival in the UK. It is currently held at Jesus Green and in 2006 170 real ales, 50 ciders and perries were on offer. In 2007 30,384 visitors consumed about 70.000 pints of beer and 194 tubs of cider! Cambridge can certainly organize a piss up at a beer festival.

Browns is one restaurant that has stayed consistent throughout the last few years when restaurants have rapidly come and gone. This restaurant can always be relied upon for plain and affordable food appealing to all ages; a spacious lively brasserie, it is open all day every day for breakfast lunch and dinner. It offers all the traditional favourites such as salmon fishcakes and Guinness and mushroom pie. Located next to The Fitzwilliam museum it is a great place to stop when sightseeing. However the simple food and affordable prices often attract students so be prepared for the lively intelligent conversation around you.

The Salisbury Arms is certainly the best pub for traditional pub lovers who are serious about their ales and beers. The 16th century coaching inn is a friendly Victorian pub with over a dozen different real ales, what could be more welcoming! The food is also reliably traditional with all the pub favourites such as chips, sausage and mash, and scampi. Sunday lunches are also cooked completely from scratch, you can’t ask for more traditional than that.

Interesting fact - it is illegal to play tennis on the streets of Cambridge. So keep those rackets and balls confined to the grounds or you could be out!

The University of Cambridge has more Nobel Prize winners than any other institution. 81 affiliates of the University of Cambridge have won the Nobel Prize since it started in 1904.

  • Affiliates have won in every category, with 29 Nobel prizes in Physics, 23 in Medicine, 19 in Chemistry, seven in Economics, two in Literature and two in Peace.
  • Trinity College has 31 Nobel Prize winners, the most of any college at Cambridge.

The Fitzwilliam Museum houses world-class collections of works of art and antiquities spanning centuries and civilisations. These include sculpture, furniture, pottery, oriental art, paintings, drawings and prints, illuminated, literary and music manuscripts, antiquities from Egypt, Greece and Rome, coins and medals and a fine collection of 20th century art. There is a regular programme of exhibitions, events, family activities and music.

The Botanic Garden is about a mile south of the City centre, just five minutes walk from the railway station. This tranquil 40 acre garden offers year round interest to visitors. It has a collection of over 10,000 plant species in beautifully landscaped settings, including Rock Garden, Lake, Glasshouses, Winter Garden, Woodland Walk, and nine National Collections.

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