I honestly feel like I live in the best place in the country. We moved from the big smoke to Cambridge 6 years ago and I utterly love it. Probably more and more as time goes by. Today I want to share with you some of my favourite things about the city.
The green space and river
Although Cambridge is a city, unlike London, the green space and idyllic river scenes make me feel like I can breathe. There is space. And cows.
People row and live on boats. After the rowing races they chuck each other in the river. Good old traditions.
I am also proud to say I can actually punt (only took me 5 years to learn).
Cycling
You have to own a bike here. If you know me at all, in real life or through my blog, you know I’m obsessed with my bicycle. So much so, that I decorated it with bunting (tutorial here). It just makes sense to get around on a push bike.
Students
As much as it is busy and sometimes noisy with the students around, the city doesn’t feel right without them there. During the holiday periods the city feels oddly deserted and the buzz returns when term begins. It’s a love/hate relationship. I should be grateful, I wouldn’t have a job without all 22,000 of them.
Architecture
The city centre in Cambridge is filled with ancient buildings and inspiring sculptures. I find myself diverting on my journey to and from work some days, just to enjoy a different cobbled street or back path. Spaced along the river are wooden houses surrounded by pretty gardens and in the city centre a fun sculpture stands to pay tribute to a local eccentric who fundraised for charity his whole life.
A compact city
I love that you can reach anywhere in Cambridge within 30-40 minutes on foot or by bike. We never manage to leave the house without seeing someone we know. It’s friendly and compact. People stop to help each other and a good morning greeting isn’t unusual.
Creativity and that yarn bomb I mentioned…
Finally, it’s a creative city. People take up hobbies such as art, music, dance and craft. A yarn bombed lamp post or bike rack isn’t unusual.
Look as this guerilla knitting/crochet we saw today by the river. I wonder who could have put it there (*wink wink*)?! Perhaps they were inspired by Meredith of the blog One Sheepish Girl? She has declared today Sheepish Yarn Bombing Day!
Have you ever visited Cambridge? Or do you live in a place you love as much as I love Cambridge?
All images in this post are owned by claireabellemakes. Please contact me should you wish to use them.
I have shared this post on Handmade Monday – come see what others have been up to!
Just about sums it up perfectly. I love your obsession with the cows, oh and the fact that you focus on the good bits of using a bicycle and not that it is a nightmare in a car! It is a great place to live near and I do not visit as often as I would like.
I get so excited when the cows come back each year! They are practically like pets in my back garden. We haven’t had a car since we lived here, imagine how much we have saved! I am so happy we never sit in traffic!
You’ve really captured Cambridge here and described so many or the things I love about it too. I remember my first sight of the cows on Midsummer Common. Never will forget that. One of the many quirky, but lovely things about our city. Excellent post!
I could never bring myself to eat cam cattle!
o that wasn’t there on Thursday! (yarn bombing) walked from work to Cafe Nero and back, walked past that boathouse and didn’t spot it – and there were three knitters amongst us!
It appeared over night on Friday 😉
What a lovely post. I miss Cambridge lots, so thanks for the pictures. I lived there for 7 years, before moving up north about 18 months ago. Never saw any yarn bombing though, that must be a new thing?!
There has been an active yarn bomber by the name of the Willow Wanderer in Cambridge in the last 6 months and I think it is gaining popularity!
I’ve never been to Cambridge, but I think I love it even more now that it’s been yarn bombed. 😉
The river is beautiful! I always love cities that are on water (as long as I’m not the one being thrown into it….lol!)
Someone yarn bombed a whole load of bike racks here recently, it really brightened the street!
I Love living here too, it really is my favorite place in England. Sometimes it feels like a dream, Its always so beautiful here and the people so friendly despite it being a city. Te education & activies are fantastic
We certainly are lucky!
Lovely post Claire! I love Cambridge too and I was lucky enough to grow up here. I only spotted the new Snowy sculpture on Thursday (as I don’t go in to town often enough) and I recognised it straight away!! What a legend!!
You are right about the creativity, I love the buskers in town (except the bagpipes, sorry!) and will never forget the violinist I saw once playing while walking along a tight rope!!
xx
Have you heard the buskers in town that play accordion and trumpet? I think they are Romanian and they are SUPER!
(I don’t like bagpipes either!)
Claire x
(I don’t like bagpipes either!)…I won’t take it to heart *sob*
I prefer them in a group band rather than solo! Sorry 🙁
Yay! I love living in Cambridge too, not least because I am lucky enough to live on one of the boats – the boat in your photograph to be precise! That’s my partner at the helm! And its such a lovely photo! Thanks
If I could use your photo on my blog I would be so grateful!
Amy
http://www.nbluckyduck.blogspot.com
I’d love to live on a boat! I remember visiting your narrow boat as part of the river festival. Your cat looked very at home 🙂
I hope you enjoy the photo. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Claire
Great post, made me smile! I adore Cambridge and don’t visit as often as I should… I’m hoping to get to know my own city (Colchester) just as well starting next month… 🙂 xx
I’m so grateful to have time to enjoy Cambridge now!
I love the bunting on your bike! X
Thanks! It has survived rain and hail and still looks pretty!
Such a lovely post. I love Cambridge so much too. I think I might have been here for just over 6 years now and love it today as much ad I did on my first visit. Nothing ever gets old here, we have the best of everything!! Xxxxx
You’ve hit the nail on the head, nothing gets old! I discover something new all the time too. Hurrah for Cambridge! xx
I always wanted to venture to Cambridge but never got around too it, reminds me a lot of Durham from the photographs though. Yarn bombing is always cool!
Oh I have never been to Durham, must put it on my list!
I’ve only been through Cambridge, sorry!
I love my little corner of Scotland, fresh air, space and peace. Lovely!
That sounds like bliss!
I love Cambridge too, ever since my sister and her husband were students there in the 80s. I was the idiot that, cycling between lectures with her, stopped on my bike at a junction and caused a real pile up!!
York is my true love though, I lived there many years ago and am hoping to be able to return there to live again one day soon 🙂
There are still lots of cyclists like that here 😉 Never been to York, but I’ve heard it’s lovely!
A lovely post – love the bunting on your bike 🙂
I’ve never been to Cambridge but you make it sound so wonderful. I think I need to look at my local area and find reasons to love it! Great post x
Hubby and I came once for his work and loved it, would definitely like to visit again.
Look me up if you do!
I love Cambridge and dare I say Oxford and agree nothing better than living in the countryside
Must do a Cambridge/Oxford comparison one day….I may be biased!
it’s really-really nice! I was there when I was a student years ago, I live in Barcelona and it’s also very good 🙂 I have just found your blog and I like it a lot, thanks for sharing Claire!
I love Barcelona – we visited a few years back. Great architecture there too. Thanks for stopping by!
I love the bunting on your bike! and the beautiful touch of yarn bombing too 🙂
Cambridge sounds lovely, its great to find the place that feels just right for you isn’t it. I love living in the Wiltshire countryside – we’re just outside Bath which is a beautiful City too and i feel like i get the best of both worlds – although i’m a country bumpkin at heart 🙂
I hear that Bath is lovely, I must visit one day. Stay put if you like it in the country I say!
I’ve never heard of yarn bombing before, but I love the results. Perhaps it could be next directed to Glasgow… (hint.) x
If I ever visit Glasgow I could be persuaded to yarn bomb 😉
Have never been to Cambridge but it looks a beautiful place and its nice to have a city that’s not too big. Love the yarn bomb!
Thanks! The yarn bomb has survived the rain today 🙂
Right, sold- I’m moving!
I got very excited to find a yarn bombed tree in the Mirabelle Gardens in Salzburg when we were there on holiday!
I think everyone should yarn bomb when they go travelling – spread the woolly love!
I admit I have a very soft spot for Cambridge as my Dad was born and brought up in the Fen not far from there and I still have relatives living in Fenstanton. However, I adore where I live, in Herefordshire’s Golden Valley. We moved here three years ago and I haven’t regretted it at all. The people are welcoming and friendly, the countryside is beautiful and I just wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
xxxx
Sounds lovely! I really think it makes such a difference to live somewhere you utterly adore. x
What a lovely post. I haven’t visited Cambridge but you’ve really made me want to.
Thanks
Ali x
You must! It’s a great place for a day trip or weekend away x
I’m not too far from Cambridge, It’s a great place, I love going to The Fitzwilliam,The Sedgwick and the Zoology Museums as well as the small gallery shops dotted around the centre. I have a couple of photo’s on my blog, one of the punts (well done on mastering them) and one of the Mathematical Bridge. There are so many things to like about the city.
Jan x
I’m very impressed you can punt. A true Cambridge girl!
It was not without years of fighting my way through the trees on the banks though! I haven’t yet fallen in (jinxed it now)…..
The yarnbombing is a nice spot of colour to brighten up the day! We love the same things about Cambridge…we’re also blessed with a great farmer’s market on a Sunday and a guitarist who plays out of a bin.
Oh I do love the farmers market and the bin musician. I adore the look on tourist’s faces when they see him for the first time!
You do live in a wonderful city! There’s a possibility that my husband could do his D.Phil. there in the future and I dream of living there often. Glad to know there are other knitters and bloggers there if we ever do get to move to Cambridge!
Ooh it would be marvellous if you were to move here! There are LOADS of crafty types here and many many knitters. Look me up if you make it here from Sicily!
Really cool yarn bombing, simply loving it! Thanks for the inspiration!
Gosh I would LOVE to visit Cambridge someday!
Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality!
Cannot wait to move there! I have to get a bike. Where do I get a bike?
There are so many bike shops around the city! Or you can look on the Gumtree Cambridge website for second hand bikes.
I found this because I read about the yarn-bombed trees on Jesus Green in the Cambridge News today. And here I am discovering that this has been going on for months! (Years?!) Exciting.
Isn’t it?! I do love yarn bombing, it really brightens the soul 🙂
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Cambridge?? What can you say. Well one word Perfect!! No where else i would like to live. The people, the vibe, the history, the city, the buildings and lets not forget the Midsummer Cows. I love my home city of Liverpool but Cambridge…………..I am blessed to live there.
The cows make it for me 🙂
Erm…..not when you stand in a pat like I have done on a few occasions
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