What to do

While we have you pretty well booked up on Sunday the 13th, you may want to do something on one of the other days. Cambridge is a beautiful town, and the colleges alone make for an enjoyable day. Some charge a small fee for entrance; of these, King's College, St John's College and Trinity College are the ones worth paying for. King's College has some of the most glorious buildings in Britain; John's has great architecture and great grounds; and Trinity has all of the above, including a library designed by Christopher Wren. All are close together and all are worth a visit.

Of the other colleges, I highly recommend Emmanuel College, which is very close to the city centre. They have a large body of grounds, including a chapel designed by Wren. They also maintain a large flock of ornamental ducks, which are the unofficial college symbol.

Cambridge is quite a compact city; there are many shops and restaurants in the centre. Just outside, there are quite a few things to see. The Botanical Gardens are lovely, and the University has multiple museums. First on the list (not least because it gives Elenor employment) is the Fitzwilliam Museum, a breathtaking collection of art and artifacts in a breathtaking building. They have a fantastic collection of antiquities, armor and other fun things and is a must-do for kids.

Near Cambridge is the American Military Cemetery (link) which is the only US military cemetery in the UK, and is a lovely peaceful place. I highly recommend a visit.

Also nearby is Duxford, which is a former RAF and USAF base, which is now an air museum. They have everything, from WWII fighters to a Concord. There are buses from town, or else it's a short cab ride. (link)

Also, in the event of good weather, you should go punting. Punts are unique to Oxford and Cambridge; they're narrow flat-bottomed boats propelled by a long pole wielded by a 'punter' standing on the back. Here's a tip from experience: spend the extra money to have a chauffeured punt. It's a lot harder than it looks, and much amusement is gained by locals watching tourists try to navigate their boats. There are many punt companies in Cambridge; I recommend the ones next to the Granta Pub in Newnham. You can even buy drinks in the pub and take them with you on your trip. You generally have the option of a tour of 'The Backs' or you can head down to Granchester, a lovely small village, much adored by Lord Byron and Rupert Brooke.

There are many other things to do in and near Cambridge; there's a Tourist Information Centre in the Marketplace which will have more information. The University website also has some things of interest: Try here and here first.