Cambridge’s 5 best Instagram spots
Welcome to our photography hot spot guide in Cambridge! Whether it is your first time visiting or if you just want to step up your IG game, we have you covered! Find the most Instagrammable spots in the city with our list of the top IG friendly places in Cambridge! This guide will show you both the well-known places and the hidden gems.
1. King’s College Chapel
Photo: @andreadangelo02
Church spotting might not be everyone's cup of tea, but this one is definitely worth seeing! In the centre of Cambridge you will find the stunning King’s College of Our Lady and St. Nicholas. It is part of the University of Cambridge and one of the greatest and wealthiest colleges in Cambridge, founded by King Henry VI in 1441. The best part of King’s College is the spectacular gothic chapel - a must-visit and an awesome photo spot! It has the world’s largest fan vault. To snap those outstanding IG shots of this masterpiece, head to the front-court to get that perfect angle!
Pro tip! The college lies just beside the beautiful River Cam so don’t forget to check that out while you are there! An afternoon picnic on the banks would complete that picturesque experience but also give you that stunning IG feed!
Photo: @andreadangelo02
2. St. Edward’s Passage
Right in the middle of the city that is visited by over 8 million tourists a year, you will find this quiet and peaceful hidden gem – St. Edwards Passage! As you walk past all the rushing tourists in the street, slide into this Passage and get amazed. Here you can find the beautiful St. Edward King & Martyr Church. If you look carefully, you will notice some aged but well-kept tombstones outside the church – perfect for that cool creepy vibe in your Instagram feed!
Fun fact! Cambridge is the city of churches; in fact, you are never more than 500 metres from a church in the city centre. Cool right!?
Don’t leave yet; the passage has more to offer! Just a few steps further you will find two tiny bookshops. The adorable red storefront of The Haunted Bookshop is definitely worth getting captured. The other photo friendly bookshop is G. David Booksellers. Some even say it is the best bookshop in Cambridge. Go inside and have a look, but remember – no pictures inside.
Photo: @andreadangelo02
3. Christ’s College
A marvellous gate with two huge creatures supporting a coat of arms..? Yes that’s the Great Gate on St. Andrew’s Street; the main entrance to Christ’s College! These mythical creatures are called yales – an animal with head of a goat, body of an antelope, large swivelling horns and elephant tails. Luckily they are quite uncommon in the wild. The oak door right below is dated back to the 16th century. Pretty old, but the Great Gate has recently been restored so it will definitely pop in your feed.
Pro tip! Check out the gorgeous gatehouse, the entrance to the college is free!
Photo: @andreadangelo02
The college’s most notable alumni are poet John Milton, naturalist Charles Darwin, atomic bomb father J. Robert Oppenheimer and Louis Mountbatten – the last Viceroy of the British Indian Empire. Believe it or not, but the college has also educated the actors and comedians – John Oliver and Sacha Baron Cohen. Yes that’s right, Borat studied here! Oh, and don’t forget to visit the Sculpture Garden where you can find an unusual monument! It’s a statue of a 22-year-old Darwin as a student. You can sit next to him on the bench and capture that ideal photo.
4. Mysterious dinky doors
Photo: @andreadangelo02
Last year, fairy-sized gateways started appearing in Cambridge. The incredible miniature doors are so small that most people walk straight past them without noticing. Even most locals have not seen them. The creators behind this wonderful street art project remain a mystery. Nobody knows who they are and where their workshop is, but from their YouTube channel we know it’s a couple – Dinky and Doorky! Behind each door there is a whole new world and each handmade door tells a different extraordinary story. Rumour has it that the doors are able to teleport you to other happier worlds. Can you spot them all? They might be hard to find, but well worth the effort. However, these original pieces of art will definitely add some freshness to your IG game.
Psst! We can help you with the first three ones! Reality Checker on Parker’s Piece, Love from Above opposite St. John's College and Teleport-O-Matic in the Market Square. Now get around and try to find them all, and don’t forget to look down while searching!
Photo: @andreadangelo02
5. Portugal Place
Could Portugal Place be the most Instagram friendly street in town? Well, at least it is the most photographed street. This tiny pretty street is an absolute must see in Cambridge. Portugal Place links Bridge Street and Jesus Green. The charming narrow lane is lined with pot plants and Victorian street lamps and houses with beautiful iron railings and balustrades. All these combined with colourful doors and parked bicycles make Portugal Place very picturesque and perfect for those IG shots.
Pro tip! To complete that scenic experience, take some shots of Portugal Place with a view of St. John’s Chapel at the end of the street.
Photo: @andreadangelo02