King’s College Chapel – Visit during evensong (5:30pm most days) to experience the world-famous choir and architecture without the entrance fee.

The Backs – Rent a punt from the lesser-known Scudamore’s Mill Lane station to avoid the main tourist queues at Silver Street Bridge.

Trinity College – Time your visit for noon to witness the ceremonial striking of the Great Court Clock, referenced in Chariots of Fire.

Cambridge University Botanic Garden – Head to the scented garden on a warm evening when the fragrance is most intoxicating and the crowds have dispersed.

The Fitzwilliam Museum – Explore the often-overlooked medieval manuscript collection on the upper floor where illuminated treasures rival those in the British Library.

Mathematical Bridge – View it first from Silver Street Bridge for photos, then from inside Queens’ College to appreciate its ingenious “tangent and radial” design.

Market Square – Visit on Tuesday mornings when local farmers bring the freshest produce and artisanal foods not found on other days.

Bridge of Sighs – The best view isn’t from the tourist boats but from the little-known public footpath beside Magdalene College.

The Eagle Pub – Sit in the RAF Bar at the back where ceiling graffiti from WWII pilots tells stories more moving than the pub’s famous DNA connection.

Grantchester Meadows – Walk or cycle rather than drive, and pack a picnic to enjoy beside Byron’s Pool where the poet once swam.