Cambridge with Kids
Family travel guide for parents planning with children
Top Family Activities
The best things to do with kids in Cambridge.
Punting on the River Cam
The classic Cambridge experience where you glide past seven colleges while your kids count ducks. Choose chauffeured tours for safety with little ones, or self-hire for teens who want to master the pole. The water stays shallow and slow-moving.
Cambridge Science Centre
Hands-on exhibits where kids build rockets, play with light, and experiment with sound. The staff run mini-workshops every hour, and there's a dedicated toddler zone with giant foam blocks. Everything's designed to survive sticky fingers.
Museum of Zoology
Dinosaur skeletons tower over whale bones while your kids spot tiny hummingbirds in cases. The Discovery Space lets them handle real specimens, and the gift shop sells rubber bugs at pocket-money prices. Free entry means tantrums aren't expensive.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
40 acres of gardens with a proper adventure playground hidden among the trees. Kids can hide in bamboo groves, smell chocolate-scented plants, and spot terrapins in the glasshouse lake. The café serves child-sized portions and excellent coffee.
The Polar Museum
Packed with penguin stories, explorer diaries, and actual Antarctic clothing kids can touch. The interactive floor map lets them plan expeditions while learning about climate change. Smaller than other museums, good for shorter attention spans.
Fitzwilliam Museum
Surprisingly child-friendly with free activity trails and a room where kids can dress up as knights. The armor collection fascinates most children, and there's a family room for quiet time. Staff hand out magnifying glasses for spotting tiny details.
Best Areas for Families
Where to base yourselves for the smoothest family trip.
The sweet spot between university and residential Cambridge, with wide pavements for strollers and a riverside playground. You're ten minutes from the colleges but away from tourist crowds.
Highlights: Jesus Green playground, riverside walks, family-friendly pubs with gardens
Cambridge's multicultural heart where Ethiopian restaurants sit next to Italian gelato shops. The street art keeps kids entertained during walks, and independent toy shops offer unique souvenirs.
Highlights: Parks with excellent playgrounds, ethnic supermarkets, casual family restaurants
Leafy suburb feel with easy college access. The village-like center has a duck pond and bakery that sells animal-shaped cookies. Quiet evenings after busy college days.
Highlights: Grantchester Meadows for picnics, quiet residential streets, local library with story time
Budget-conscious families love this area east of the center. The local recreation ground has climbing frames and a skate park, plus it's walking distance to the Science Centre.
Highlights: Abbey Pool for swimming, large supermarket for supplies, frequent buses to center
Family Dining
Where and how to eat with children.
Cambridge dining bends over backwards for families, possibly because professors bring their children everywhere. Most restaurants offer high chairs without drama, and staff expect dropped food. The student population keeps prices reasonable and atmosphere relaxed.
Dining Tips for Families
- Book Sunday lunch at a college café - King's College serves roast beef at child-friendly prices when students are away
- Avoid the Market Square food stalls at peak times - the crowds make stroller navigation impossible
- Most pubs have beer gardens with play equipment, letting parents eat while kids climb safely
Historic dining halls with zero pretension - kids love the Hogwarts vibes and you get three courses for the price of a pub meal
Ethiopian injera fingers, Vietnamese pho, and Turkish kebabs - most places have mild options and don't mind kids trying new foods
Watch boats while eating - The Punter and The Anchor have extensive kids' menus and outdoor heaters for chilly days
Tips by Age Group
Tailored advice for every stage of childhood.
Cambridge works for toddlers if you plan around naps and cobblestones. The compact center means you can retreat to accommodation quickly, and most attractions have space for pushchairs.
Challenges: Historic colleges have stepped entrances and no lifts - you'll carry the stroller frequently
- Book ground-floor accommodation - many B&Bs have steep stairs
- The Grand Arcade has excellent baby-changing and a Costa for emergency snacks
Cambridge strikes the right balance for this age, old enough to spark interest in colleges, young enough to stay engaged with hands-on museums. The interactive exhibits at Whipple Museum and Zoology Museum land exactly where education meets entertainment.
Learning: Download the 'History Hunters' app for self-guided college tours designed for 7-12 year olds
- Buy the family punt ticket, it's cheaper than individual rides and kids can take turns steering
Teens gravitate toward Cambridge's independent streak and photo-worthy backdrops. They can wander colleges alone during opening hours, and the shopping streets near Market Square give them room to roam.
Independence: Safe enough for 14+ to explore alone during daylight, give them a meeting point at Market Square
- Teens can join student-led walking tours - more engaging than parent commentary
- The Grafton Centre has H&M and Urban Outfitters for teen shopping needs
Practical Logistics
The nuts and bolts of family travel.
The city center is stroller-friendly with pedestrianized zones. But cobblestones around King's Parade will shake fillings loose. Most buses have low floors and space for unfolded buggies - the Citi 1 and Citi 3 cover all major attractions. Taxis with car seats are available but book ahead through CamCab or Panther Taxis.
Addenbrooke's Hospital sits south of the center with 24-hour A&E. Boots and Superdrug on Market Street stock formula, diapers, and baby paracetamol. The smaller pharmacy inside Sainsbury's on Sidney Street stays open until 11pm.
University rooms rent out cheaply during holidays - Jesus College and Churchill College both offer family rooms with proper bathrooms. Check if your hotel offers cribs before booking - many older buildings have narrow staircases that make travel cots impossible.
- Compact stroller for cobblestones
- Waterproof everything - including yourself
- A proper rain cover for the stroller
- Layers for unpredictable Cambridge weather
- College museums are free - plan rainy afternoons around them
- Supermarket meal deals beat restaurant lunches for under-5s
- The number 5 bus gives a city tour for the price of a ticket
Family Safety
Keeping your family safe and healthy.
- ! River Cam looks gentle but has strong currents, keep life jackets on young kids even in shallow areas
- ! College grounds close at dusk, plan exit routes with teens who might lose track of time
- ! Cyclists rule the roads, teach kids to check bike lanes before stepping off pavements
- ! Market Square gets crowded on weekends, arrange a meeting spot in case family separates
- ! Sun reflects off light stone buildings - pack sunscreen even on cloudy days
- ! Some college staircases have no railings, keep toddlers on reins in historic buildings
Book Family Activities
Top-rated family experiences in Cambridge.
Cambridge University Walking Tour by Alumni™ Kings College Option
Experience Cambridge through the eyes of those who lived it. This is the only tour in Cambridge exclusively led by genuine University of Cambridge graduates, operated by Alumni Tours™. Unlike generic
Cambridge University With Alumni: Optional Kings College Entrance
Enter King's College! Established by King Henry VI, with successive King's providing more ambitious additions (so the name). The chapel has the largest vaulted ceiling in the world and even a Rubens,
Shared Punt Tour - Cambridge
Customers can purchase tickets for up to 3 or 6 people on a shared tour. Enjoy the College Backs of Cambridge on a guided punt tour. Up to 3 people will have an entire row, up to 6 people will have an
Creepy Cambridge - Cambridge's Most Entertaining Ghost Walk
What do you get if you take 2000 years of history, add lashings of ancient buildings, and mix in some of the world's most colourful characters? A city that's 'alive' with ghosts, that's what! Meet the
Private Cambridge Punting Tour
Sit back, relax and enjoy the views from the comfort of your own punt. Your private chauffeured punt tour for up to 12 people will last for approximately 50 minutes and cover the college "Backs". Whil
Walking Tour of Cambridge
Fun and friendly private walking tours of the city of Cambridge. We are qualified Cambridge guides, the only guides permitted to lead groups into the University colleges. Every tour can be personalise
Explore Activities in Cambridge
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Cambridge.
See All Cambridge Tours on Viator