Cambridge Market Square

The heart of Cambridge unfolds around Market Square, a sprawling plaza where life in the city happens. Tourists and locals swirl between market stalls, cafes, and the hulking facade of Great St Mary's Church, which dominates the east side. The square itself is free to wander, though the real draw changes depending on the day - Saturday mornings bring a proper farmers' market with local produce and flowers, while weekday afternoons tend toward the quieter side.

It's worth an hour minimum, longer if you fancy lunch at one of the surrounding cafes or want to climb the church tower for views across the colleges and the Backs. The tower costs a couple of quid and involves narrow stairs, but the 360-degree vantage point justifies it. History types will appreciate the medieval layout - the buildings around the square have stood for centuries, even if most have been rebuilt.

For families with young children, the square works as a base rather than a destination in itself. Kids get restless without something specific to do, though market days help. If you're camping at Cherry Hinton or one of the other sites nearby - all within three miles - Market Square is the obvious starting point for a Cambridge day. Pop in, grab coffee, let the children burn energy, then head to the colleges or the Backs where there's room to breathe. It's less a tourist tick-box and more the genuine centre of a working university city. Come for the atmosphere, not the spectacle.