Best Attractions in Newnham
Planning a trip to Newnham? Discover the best attractions in Newnham with history, expert tips, and routes. Free on web or the Evendo app.
The best attractions in Newnham
- Top rated
- Closest to the centre
- Price level: low to high
- Time to spend: shortest first
- A–Z
18 attractions
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Shopping Centre4.2★12,265 reviews
Grand Arcade
Nestled in the heart of Cambridge on St Andrew's Street, Grand Arcade is a premier shopping centre blending modern retail elegance with the city's historic charm. Spanning two sky-lit floors, it houses around 60 stores from high-street favourites to premium brands, alongside diverse dining options like Italian at Carluccio's, brasserie fare at John Lewis, and casual burgers. Surrounded by Cambridge's iconic landmarks, it offers easy access via car park, cycle facilities, and public transport, making it a convenient hub for shoppers and visitors alike.
Time to spend 1–3 hrs
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Tourist attraction4.7★1,768 reviews
University Museum Of Zoology
Located in the David Attenborough Building on Downing Place, the University Museum of Zoology in Cambridge offers a fascinating journey through the diversity of animal life. Visitors explore extensive collections featuring iconic specimens like a 21-meter fin whale, a giant ground sloth, and one of the UK's most complete Dodo skeletons. The museum blends scientific research with public education, showcasing evolutionary stories, extinction events, and pioneering explorations in natural history.
Tue–Sat 10:00–16:30 · Sun 12:00–16:30Time to spend 1–3 hrs
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Shopping Centre4.2★2,133 reviews
Lion Yard
Nestled in the vibrant heart of Cambridge, Lion Yard Shopping Centre offers a dynamic retail haven with a diverse array of stores, from high-street favorites to budget-friendly gems. Spanning multiple levels connected by escalators and walkways, it buzzes with shoppers amid modern architecture and convenient facilities like restrooms and nearby parking. Ideal for a leisurely browse or targeted purchases, it's a key stop in the city's pedestrian-friendly core, blending everyday essentials with fashion, sports gear, and accessories in a compact, accessible space.
Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Tourist attraction4.7★1,177 reviews
Kettle's Yard
Kettle's Yard in Cambridge is a unique blend of a historic house and a modern art gallery, showcasing a remarkable collection of 20th-century artworks alongside contemporary exhibitions. Originally the home of art curator Jim Ede, it offers visitors a tranquil, lived-in atmosphere where art, furniture, and natural objects coexist. The venue also includes a café, shop, and creative spaces for workshops, open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
Tue–Sun 11:00–17:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2 hrs
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Park and Garden4.5★1,029 reviews
Lammas Land
Lammas Land is a cherished riverside park in Cambridge, historically a common grazing area linked to the ancient Lammas Day harvest traditions. Nestled along the River Cam, it offers open green spaces, a playground, and scenic views, reflecting centuries of local agricultural and community heritage within a peaceful urban setting.
Daily 10:00–22:00Time to spend 1–3 hrs
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Boat Hire Service4.5★508 reviews
Granta Moorings
Granta Moorings offers an exceptional punting and canoeing experience on the picturesque River Cam in Cambridge. Located at Newnham Mill Pond, it provides the best access point to the iconic College Backs and tranquil waters. Choose from guided chauffeured punts or self-rental options, perfect for relaxing or exploring independently. With knowledgeable university student guides, excellent service, and a dog-friendly atmosphere, it’s a top choice for immersing yourself in Cambridge’s historic riverside charm.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
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Pub4.2★480 reviews
The Red Bull Newnham
A long-established neighbourhood pub on Barton Road beside the River Cam, The Red Bull Newnham mixes a relaxed pub interior, seasonal ales and a pizza-forward kitchen with riverside seating for warm months. Popular with families, students and locals, it offers quiz nights, changing guest beers and an informal atmosphere framed by classic British pub fittings and a sunny outdoor terrace.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
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Craft shop4.5★190 reviews
All Saints Garden Art & Craft Market
A compact, leafy Saturday market tucked into All Saints Garden just off Trinity Street, showcasing handcrafted jewellery, ceramics, prints, textiles and small sculpture by local makers. Laid out beneath mature trees and churchyard lawn, the market runs on Saturdays with sheltered stalls and a relaxed pace—ideal for browsing original gifts, meeting makers and enjoying a quieter pocket of central Cambridge close to college architecture.
Sat 10:00–17:00Price level $Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Takeaway4.9★90 reviews
Empire Grill
Empire Grill on Newnham Road in Cambridge is a beloved late-night takeaway spot known for its generous portions and consistently high-quality burgers. Open evenings from 5 PM to midnight, it serves as a reliable go-to for locals craving hearty, satisfying fast food with a friendly vibe and welcoming owners.
Tue–Sun 17:00–24:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
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Tourist attraction4.6★77 reviews
Museum of Classical Archaeology
Located within the University of Cambridge's Faculty of Classics, the Museum of Classical Archaeology showcases over 450 plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. This unique collection offers a detailed glimpse into classical art, emphasizing educational and scholarly exploration in a quiet, contemplative setting. Open Tuesday to Friday and Saturdays during term time, the museum provides free admission to visitors interested in the ancient world.
Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Cambridge Working Mens Club
A long-established social club on East Road serving Cambridge locals with live music nights, club socials and a friendly bar atmosphere. Housed in a modest brick-front building near the city centre, the club is known for themed evenings — from Motown and soul nights to pool and quiz nights — and a calendar of community-focused events that attract students, locals and regulars alike.
Price level $Time to spend 1–3 hrs
The Rush
The Rush is a serene natural stream and part of Sheep's Green local nature reserve in Cambridge, offering peaceful riverside walks, lush green meadows, and a restored watercourse flowing from the River Cam. This hidden gem provides a refreshing escape near the city centre, ideal for picnics, nature observation, and quiet relaxation amid vibrant wildlife and scenic waterways.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1–3 hrs
Hodson's Folly
Hodson's Folly is a charming small classical stone summerhouse located in Coe Fen, Cambridge. Built in 1887 by John Hodson, a butler at Pembroke College, it served as a riverside shelter to watch over his daughter swimming in the River Cam. Nestled near the bridge between Sheep's Green and Coe Fen, this quaint folly offers a peaceful glimpse into Victorian-era leisure and local heritage within a tranquil natural setting.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 0.5–2 hrs
St Mark's Church
St Mark's Church in Newnham, Cambridge, is a welcoming Anglican parish church with roots dating back to 1871. Situated on Barton Road, it serves as a spiritual and community hub with historic architecture, regular worship services, and a vibrant parish life. The church offers spaces for worship, weddings, and community events, reflecting its ongoing role in nurturing faith and fellowship in the Newnham area.
Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Newnham Croft Social and Sports Club
A long-established community social club on Hardwick Street in Newnham, Cambridge, offering a programme of live music, quiz nights, pool/snooker and local events in an inexpensive, friendly setting. Housed in an early 20th-century institute-style building, it serves as a neighbourhood hub for regular clubs, evening entertainment and private hires for parties and community groups.
Price level $Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
Sheep's Green
Sheep's Green is a 16.9-hectare Local Nature Reserve in Cambridge, known for its tranquil riverside meadows, rich biodiversity, and historic grazing grounds. Divided by the River Cam, it offers scenic walking paths, veteran willow trees, and a unique outdoor swimming pool fed by the river. The reserve is a peaceful green escape close to the city centre, featuring abundant wildlife like herons, kingfishers, and water voles, alongside traditional cattle grazing that maintains its ecological diversity.
Time to spend 1–3 hrs
Paradise Local Nature Reserve
Paradise Local Nature Reserve is a tranquil wet woodland and marshland oasis on the west bank of the River Cam in Cambridge. Known for its diverse habitats including willow and alder trees, marshes, and open water, it supports rare species like the musk beetle and historic plants such as butterbur, documented since the 1600s. Accessible year-round via boardwalks, it offers peaceful riverside walks, rich wildlife, and a vital green corridor between the city and countryside.
Open 24 hoursTime to spend 1–3 hrs
Newnham House
Newnham House, part of Newnham College in Cambridge, offers a tranquil blend of historic Queen Anne architecture and modern student accommodation. Nestled on Newnham Road, it features elegant gardens, comfortable single study-bedrooms, and communal facilities, providing a peaceful academic retreat just minutes from Cambridge city centre.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
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Newnham, Cambridge blends riverside walks, college gardens, village pubs and Grantchester Meadows with quiet streets near the historic city centre.
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