Summer Fun in Cambridge
Best Ice Creams in Town
Aromi - 1 Benet St, Cambridge. Huge rich Italian ice creams.
Jack’s Gelato - 6 Benet St, Cambridge. Pretty high up in the best ice cream stakes. Fantastic flavours rotating six a day, such as Chelsea Bun, Earl Grey or Roasted Rice.
Chocolat Chocolat - 21 St Andrews St, Cambridge. Chocolate ice cream heaven.
Verrecchia Ice Cream - 187 Cherry Hinton Rd, Benets Cafe - King’s Parade, Cambridge. 120 flavours using their own recipes.
Caffe Sicilia - Regent St, Cambridge. Sorbets and ice creams which are really lovely.
Thornton’s - 20 Petty Cury, Cambridge. This has some great creamy ice creams, complete with fudge chocolate stick and toppings.
Millworks - Newnham Road, Cambridge. Best for a sit down ice cream sundae, which has maltesers, doughnuts, cream, brownie and marshmallow. Phew!
Outdoor Swims and Playgrounds
There are free paddling pools and Splashpads in Cambridge. There are splash pads set up in local spots in the city that are great for splashing about and enjoying the water. Lamas Land, Coleridge, Cherry Hinton and other outdoor pools are open for an afternoon of swimming and cold drinks. Jesus Green Lido is not free but is a fantastic pool, very long, next to a playground, the river, tennis courts and a skateboard ramp so plenty to do!
Parks and Playgrounds a very handy list from the Council. Also events such as Jazz in the Parks.
A walk or cycle following the ancient source of water to Nine Wells and beyond to Great Shelford.
You can walk along it to hospital. Follow the Addenbrookes to Great Shelford Art Trail. Start at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and follow the Genome Stripes. It is the code for the BRCA2 gene which produces protein to help repair human DNA. Four types of tree are planted along the route to represent the colours of the four genome bases. Yew (green), Rowan (blue), Crab Apple (yellow) and Cherry (red).
See Nine Wells at the start, past Addenbrookes and the new developments, and find the double helix. At Great Shelford, there is a good Chinese Restaurant, the Forum House. The Bar and Compass is a nice country pub. You can take the train or cycle back.
Rainy Days
Ideas! Museums, cinema, indoor play, swims, theatre, libraries. Find out more...
Toddler Groups
Find a baby or toddler group, try music or yoga. Find out more...
Family Days Out
Animals, activity centres and countryside. Find out more...
Walks
Rivers and woods. Find out more...
Would you like to find out more? NEW 2nd Edition Book!
If you like the website, then buy the E book. It is a great guide to Cambridge for families, whether living in the area or just visiting. Packed with useful information, maps and ideas. It is £2.99 and downloadable as a PDF.
If you prefer paperback, this is available on Amazon.
A Typical Summer’s Day in Cambridge with the Kids
Have a picnic afterwards on the green. Bring a blanket, sandwiches and watch the skateboarders or people practising tightrope walking between the trees. There is a small kiosk to buy ice creams. If you fancy a stroll to the nearby Botanic Gardens this has shady trees and a fountain.
If you need to find afternoon shade, visit the cool of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Pick up a big map for children from the reception. Find the Egyptian hieroglyphs and marvel at the vaulted ceilings. You can bring buggies into all of the galleries. There is a nice cafe here too.
The City Council Young People’s Service runs half term and summer events which are free for kids. It’s worth downloading their PlayDaze summer programme when it comes out. You could finish up the day with a dance session or craft activity!
Summer Day Out in Nature
To eat try Teacake on Meldreth Road, Shepreth, a very charming thatched cottage. Alternatively, visit Wicken Fen for animals and plants in the wild. It has a children’s trail, a visitor centre and a boardwalk suitable for pushchairs. There are more than 9000 species and a herd of Highland cattle and Konik ponies.
You can cycle or walk and in summer there are many butterflies and dragonflies, as well as children’s activities. You can have boat ride too. Nearby stop off points to eat include the Peacocks Tearoom in Ely.
Summer Days if it is Raining
Discover summer adventure on your doorstep This summer, pack more into your holidays and join museums and venues in Cambridge and beyond for family activities, events and trails. Taking place across the region, Summer at the Museums brings you everything from storytelling and play-based activities for younger children, to hands-on happenings for all ages. Whether it’s something to do on a rainy day, an outing close to home, or a bit of creative fun, there are lots of events and activities to chose from – many of which are free. FREE What’s On guide will be out soon on the Museum website. Providing day-by-day listings and details about what’s happening and where, you can download your own from this website, or pick up a copy at this year’s Big Weekend or from any of our participating venues.
Summer Reading Challenge takes place every year during the summer holidays. You can sign up at your local library, then read six library books of your choice to complete the Challenge. There are exclusive rewards to collect along the way, and it’s free to take part. The Summer Reading Challenge website helps you keep track of your reading all year round. Your local library also has many summer activities for kids.
The newly renovated art house is open and holds many family activities. It is a beautiful and unique collection, housed in an unassuming corner of Cambridge. The house has a very calm, simple feel to it. It is a good stop off after walking the river from Jesus Green towards the city.
Swimming lessons, martial arts, indoor badminton, dance or soccer skills have all got children’s programmes over the summer months. Kelsey Kerridge and Parkside Pool are the biggest and most central, however there are local sports centres. Great for getting the kids active and healthy.
Would you like to find out more?
If you like the website, then buy the book! It is a full colour, indepth guide to Cambridge for families, whether living in the area or just visiting. Packed with useful information, maps and ideas.
Teenagers – how not to be bored during the summer
Volunteer! Why not volunteer or get paid work in the summer holidays? It can a useful way of meeting new people, trying something new or testing a career choice. Try the National Do It volunteer website - you can search by postcode and interest here... Or see the Youthoria local website for 11-19 year olds for jobs advice...
Major Events in June and July
MAY
May 25-26th Duxford Air Festival
JUNE
June 1st Strawberry Fair (Cambridge)
June 2nd Cambridgeshire County Show (Wimpole Hall)
June 5th Sawston Fete (Spicers Field, 1pm)
June 8th Arbury Carnival
June 8-9th Cambridge Town and Country Show (Parkers Piece)
June 9th Open Farm Sunday (Knapwell, Hilton, etc)
June 22-24th Tudor Midsummer (Kentwell Hall)
June 26-27th Royal Norfolk Show (near Norwich)
June 28-30th Foodies Festival (Parkers Piece)
JULY
July 7th Aquafest (Ely)
July 6th Buckden Village Festival
July 7-14th Shelford Festival & Feast
July 5-7th The Big Weekend (Parker’s Piece)
July 13-14TH Flying Legends – Duxford Air Show (advance tickets only)
July 13-27th Cambridge Summer Music Festival
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Sep 7th Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival (River Cam, Ditton Meadows, Fen Ditton)
Sep 21-22 Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show
Sep 22nd Chariots of Fire Race (Cambridge)
Holiday Clubs
Arts, Science, Sports and Fun
Arty Crafts Workshop Playscheme www.artycrafts.co.uk The Scout Centre, Chedworth Street, Cambridge CB3 9JF Tel: 07980 146382 tom@artycrafts.co.uk
Cambridge Kids club @ Queen Edith’s Queen Edith County Primary School, Godwin Way, Cambridge, Cambs, CB1 8QP Tel: 07960 412716 www.cambridgekidsclub.com An after-school and school holiday club set in Queen Edith’s Primary School and St Luke’s.
Super Camps Perse Preparatory School, Trumpington Road, Cambridge www.supercamps.co.uk Tel: 01235 832222, info@supercamps.co..uk The Multi-Activity course at The Perse Prep School. Ages 4-14.
Universities’ Holiday Playscheme Contacts during term time Playscheme Co-ordinator: 01223 764186 Playscheme Deputy Co-ordinator: 01223 330766 email: playscheme@admin.cam.ac.uk https://www.childcare.admin.cam.ac.uk You need to register for the playscheme on an annual basis. For children of the Universities staff and students, but members of the public are eligible to register if spaces are available.
Firetech Camps These are programming focused day sessions. Try Coding Games with Java, Python, Mobile App Design and Minecraft, for 9-14 years. www.firetechcamp.com