The Mathematical Bridge is the local nickname for the Wooden Bridge, a footbridge that crosses the River Cam, connecting the buildings of Queens’ College that lie on either side of the river. It lies within the university grounds but can be viewed from the road bridge on Silver Street, a few metres to the south. The bridge has earned its nickname from its unusual design – it is formed of long, straight timber beams which are arranged radially, to create an arcing structure. It was designed by William Etheridge and completed in 1749. The bridge was rebuilt twice, in 1866 and 1905, retaining the original design on each occasion.

Due to its unusual design, the bridge appears to be held above the water almost unnaturally, leading to many myths relating to the bridge. One of the most famous myths is that the bridge is constructed without the use of any bolts, and is held together by design alone. Sadly, this is not true – although the original design used embedded nails which gave the impression that this was the case. The bridge is still widely believed to be the work of Sir Isaac Newton, who discovered the law of gravity. The mathematical design of the bridge contains hallmarks of Newton’s theories – but they can only be in tribute, as Newton died 20 years before the bridge was built.

Cambridge University Library is a vast reference and research facility that houses over seven million books. It is one of the few university buildings that does not belong to a specific college. Whilst most colleges have their own libraries, all students of the university are entitled to use the main University Library, the centre piece of the university’s 114 libraries. There has been a communal library attached to the university since the 15th century, however the current building was opened as recently as 1934. Designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, the industrial style building is reminiscent of London’s Tate Modern, which was designed as a power station by Scott.

The complex is comprised of five different libraries: the main building, the Medical Library, the Betty and Gordon Moore Library, the Central Science Library and the new Squire Law Library. Collectively, the library buildings are one of just six legal deposit libraries in the country. This means that they are legally entitled to receive a free copy of every book published in the UK each year. The library is open to members of the public, although a fee is charged, and some academic credentials must be provided in order to become a full member of the library.

The Backs are areas of parkland found on either side of the River Cam, west of the city centre. The name derives from the fact that each area of parkland is owned by a different college, and they collectively from the backs of colleges that face onto the main university campus. The Backs surround the River Cam as it runs from Silver Street to Magdalene Bridge in the north, passing several of the city’s most prestigious colleges. The river also passes under several bridges that connect college grounds on either side of the river, including the Mathematical Bridge at Queens’ College, and the Bridge of Sighs at St. John’s College.

The Backs have formed naturally due to the layout of the colleges on either side of the river, but have been landscaped extensively throughout history. A modern landscaping plan will replace old or diseased trees along the river, and screen traffic from the nearby Queens Road with new trees. The plan is a rare moment of collective agreement between colleges with a long history of conflict and autonomy. As the parkland is owned by colleges, it cannot be walked through, so the best way to enjoy the area is by hiring a punting boat from either Magdalen or Silver Street bridge, and sailing along the river. You will pass some of Cambridge’s most famous sights, including King’s College Chapel, arguably the city’s most iconic building, which is best viewed from the river.

The Senate House is owned by Cambridge University, and is used to host graduation ceremonies for the University’s various colleges. Built in 1720, it was originally constructed to house meetings of the Senate. All Cambridge Masters graduates are considered to be members of the Senate, which elects the university’s Chancellor and High Steward. Until 1950, the Senate even directly elected two Members of Parliament, before the Cambridge University constituency was abolished.

Senate House sits between King’s College and Gonville & Caius College in the centre of the university campus. As the venue for graduation ceremonies, it has become a focal point of university life, and was the venue for the university’s 800th anniversary celebrations, when a history of the institution was displayed on its frontage. On graduation days, results are famously posted around the outside of the building.

Senate House was designed by Sir James Burrell, and is an example of the neo-classical style of architecture. Originally intended as part of a four-sided complex of buildings, it stands alone as the other buildings were never completed. The house and grounds remain at the centre of student life, and were chosen as the site for protests at rising tuition fees as recently as 2010.

The Cambridge Arts Theatre, on Peas Hill in the old city centre, was founded in 1936 by a trust jointly managed by the city council and university. For many years, the theatre was home to the Cambridge Theatre Company, a renowned touring company which gave actresses Maureen Lipman and Sheila Hancock their first roles in theatre. Nowadays, Cambridge Arts Theatre hosts a range of plays, dance and musical performances, as well as spoken word events hosted by a number of famous faces. The theatre also co-ordinates outdoor recital performances by many of the city’s classical performance groups, including the Endellion String Quartet.

The theatre retains close links with the university, hosting performances from the institution’s Marlowe and Gilbert & Sullivan societies, as well as the famous triennial Cambridge University Greek Play. The annual Christmas pantomime is the theatre’s main attraction, and has become a celebrated local tradition. Cinderella, the pantomime for Christmas 2011, has just finished its run. The theatre is located close to the sights within the city centre, and is close to parking spaces on Peas Hill and local bus services. It has been praised for its excellent facilities for disabled visitors, and contains a box office and bar within the building.

The Corpus Clock can be found in the Library Court at Corpus Christi College. The court is the newest of three at the college, and incorporates a former library building, redeveloped and extended to provide accommodation for students. The clock is Library Court’s centre piece, and was unveiled to the public in 2008 by Professor Stephen Hawking, who is himself a Cambridge University graduate.

The clock is a unique device, a fitting addition to a university campus renowned for invention throughout its history. Fitted with a rippled, 24 carat gold face, the clock displays time through three rings of LEDs, which depict hours, minutes and seconds. The face is topped by a large metal object, which resembles a grasshopper. This is an enlarged clock escarpment, which links the pendulum to the cogs inside the clock. It has been set on top of the clock face to resemble an insect that ‘eats’ time as the clock face rotates. It is even fitted with eyes that blink occasionally.

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Corpus Clock is the fact that it is only accurate once every five minutes. It has been set to randomly slow and accelerate, to give the appearance that the metal insect is indeed eating up time at will. The clock, one of Time Magazine’s greatest inventions of the 21st century, can be viewed within Corpus Christi’s grounds. Ask at the porter’s lodge for admission times and costs.

The Pitt Building is a nice, old construction, that has preserved its architectural value despite being recently renovated. Established in 1833 in honor of William Pitt, the building accommodated the headquarters of Cambridge University Press. Today, the Pitt Building also offers professional meeting and conference rooms.

Hobson’s Conduit is a man made stream that runs through Cambridge’s university campus, and is most noticeable running next to Trumpington Street, in the south of the city centre. Cambridge’s fantastically well preserved centre retains many medieval features among its buildings. Hobson’s Conduit, which flows amongst the ancient college buildings, is another example of a Middle Ages invention that has survived within the city.

Cambridge is located in East Anglia, a peninsula of land north-east of London. East Anglia is a flat, dry area known for its arable farming. The area around Cambridge is called The Fens, and is known for its man made waterways which irrigate farm land across the region. This principle of agriculture was introduced to the growing city as a way of providing clean water for drinking and sanitation, particularly to the colleges at the city’s centre.

The conduit still runs close to Peterhouse and St. Catharine’s Colleges, entering the River Cam close to Silver Street. It was designed to draw water from the Nine Wells spring (now a nature reserve), south of the city. It was funded by five prominent local figures, including Thomas Hobson, who gave the conduit its name. Hobson was a notoriously shrewd local stable owner who also gives his name to the phrase ‘Hobson’s Choice’, as he offered buyers the choice of just one horse from his stable. A monument to Thomas Hobson stands next to the conduit on the corner of Lensfield Road.

Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden lies at the southern edge of the campus, separated from Trumpington Road by Hobson’s Conduit. Comprising 40 acres of gardens, woodland and glasshouses, the Botanic Gardens stretch as far as Station Road, close to the city’s rail station. The University founded a botanic garden in 1762; it moved to its current, much larger site from the city centre in the 19th century. The gardens contain a grass maze and a number of rare and unusual trees. There are over 8000 plant species contained within the gardens, ranging from exotic plants to local fenland grass and plant life.

The garden opens at 10am throughout the year, closing at 4pm in winter, 5pm in February, March and October, and 6pm from April to September. The glasshouse and café close 30 minutes before the gardens. Admission is £4.00 for adults, £3.50 concessions, and free for children under 16 and Cambridge University students. For an outdoor attraction, disabled access is very good, with only a few landscaped areas inaccessible. Wheelchairs, scooters and walking aids are available to hire from Brookside Gate, off Trumpington Road. The gardens have a number of well marked seasonal trails, and also offer guided tours in the summer months.