September

Bridge the Gap Walk
The chance to visit Univerisity colleges while raising money for charity.
Cherry Hinton Festival
A family fun day, samba music and more.
Cherry Hinton, Cambridge
Stourbridge Fair
Annual Recreation of the ancient fair. Stalls selling cheese, honey, medieval dancing and history talks.
Stourbridge Common, Cambridge
Cambridge Film Festival
This has a children’s films too.
Open Cambridge Weekend
Local residents get a chance to visit properties normally closed to the public.
Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival
See the boats battle in this fun day out.
River Cam, Fen Ditton, Cambridge

October

Cambridge Festival of Ideas From the University of Cambridge.

31st October – Halloween Time to dunk for apples and carve pumpkins.

World Conker Championships Thousands flock to this market town to watch the winner take the Conker Throne. Oundle, Northamptonshire November 5th – Bonfire Night On Midsummer Common each year, lots of fireworks and a big bonfire. It does get very busy. Cambridge Literary Festival In Spring, Summer and Winter. Plenty of child activities.

<h4>December</h4>

Christmas Lights
There are Christmas Switch On the lights events in late November or early December, with a minor celebrity and music to celebrate. This is usually held at Grande Arcade, Market Square and the Grafton Centre.

Visit to Father Christmas
Father Christmas can be visited in various venues, including the Tourist Information Office.

Ice Rink in the City
The North Pole ice rink usually arrive to temporarily set up on Parker’s Piece and stays until January.

Mill Road Winter Fair
The road is taken over with stalls and parade. Cars are banned for the day and it gets quite busy with activities.

King’s College Carols
24th December
Popular carol service, people queue for hours.

Grantchester Barrel Race
Every Boxing Day the village holds a race on the Coton road, with teams rolling barrels. Great fun and a chance to get out after eating a lot at Christmas.

Board the train at Cambridge and travel to Shepreth to see the wildlife park. You can spend all day here, is has a cafe and playground too. See the rabbits and underground nocturnal centre.

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.

Anglesey Abbey. There are yellow maples and red oaks. The Pilgrim’s Lawn is lovely in autumn with a carpet of pastel crocuses beneath the trees. It has a seasonal trail and a dedicated autumn garden.

Wandlebury Park. This huge wild woodland is full of autumn crunchy leaves and open spaces.

Botanic Gardens. This also has a lovely Autumn Garden, huge redwood trees and autumn crocuses, pampas grass and blue asters.

<h5>Best Hot Chocolate Cafes</h5>

Hotel Chocolate – Grand Arcade. Rich and creamy hot chocolate. Aromi – 1 Benet St. Sicilian cafe for Italian style drinks. Often a queue but worth the wait.

Chocolat Chocolat – St Andrews St. Range of chocolate flakes in a bag to make your own lovely drinks. Alternatively try the hot chocolate shots, which are quite rich.

Indigo – 8 St Edwards Passage. Huge mugs of hot chocolate.

Cafe Nero – Burleigh St. My favourite hot chocolate of the chain coffee stores.

Peacocks – 65 Waterside, Ely. Best coffee and a pretty good hot chocolate too.