Other green spaces

See all these parks, playgrounds, recreation grounds, commons and gardens on our map of parks and playgrounds.

Find public transport and driving directions to these locations on Transport Direct.

The Backs

The Cambridge Backs is a stretch of reclaimed land, which runs along the back of the riverside colleges alongside the river Cam. The name "The Backs" refers to the backs of the colleges. Several famous bridges cross the river including the Mathematical Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs.

It provides stunning views throughout the year, and is covered with a blanket of daffodils and crocuses during the spring.

The Backs is a Grade 1 Historic Park. St John's College consulted English landscape architect Lancelot ("Capability") Brown who laid out a "wilderness" on the college side of Queen's Road which still exists today.

Castle Hill

Although there are no ruins to be seen on Castle Hill, this grassy mound is of great importance in the history of Cambridge. This was the site of the Roman town of Duroliponte, originally an Iron Age hill fort.

It is worth climbing to the top of the Castle Mound as it offers an expansive view over the roof tops of the town and surrounding countryside. On a clear day it is possible to see Ely Cathedral to the north.

Cambridge University botanic garden

This tranquil 40 acre (16 hectares) garden offers year round interest to visitors. The garden has a collection of over 10,000 labeled plant species in beautifully landscaped settings, including rock garden, lake, glasshouses, winter garden, woodland walk, and nine national collections.

For more information see the garden's website.

Christ's College fellows' garden

This beautiful garden has been described as one of the glories of Cambridge. The college is situated in the busiest part of the city, and to step through the gates of Christ’s is to enter an alternative world of stillness and tranquility.

For more information on the garden see the college's website.

Clare College gardens

A fine example of a 20th Century English garden, it was redesigned in 1947 by Neville Willmer, after the devastation of the war years. The garden still retains some of its earlier features, old yews and chestnuts, a fine riverside specimen of swamp cypress, a gnarled judas tree, and an old stonewall which together with two apple trees, once formed part of an old kitchen garden.

For more information see the college's website.

Emmanuel College gardens

Emmanuel was founded in 1584 on the site of a Dominican friary. Its gardens are some of the finest within any Cambridge college. Of particular interest is the fellows’ garden that contains some very fine trees including, a massive copper beech, a 200-year oriental plane, and a small oak which was planted in 1984 by the Queen to celebrate the four-hundredth anniversary of the college.

For more information see the college's website.

Grantchester Meadows

These renowned meadows to the south of the city can be reached by walking across Lammas Land by the river Cam, via the unexpected riverside nature reserve in Newnham Croft known as Paradise, along a residential road called Grantchester Meadows which takes us to the river meadows and the footpath to Grantchester.

Mill Road cemetery

Like many urban cemeteries, this 15 acre site is now recognised as a valuable historical resource, containing the biography of a whole community. Built in 1848, on what was then the edge of the town, it is now listed by English Heritage

Pembroke college garden

A beautiful garden with several courts and an orchard containing a small duck pond. For more information see the college's website.

Peterhouse garden

Peterhouse is very lucky to have wonderful and private gardens - in fact, probably the largest on-site gardens of any college.

The deer park is the wilder of the two, somewhat resembling a well-kept meadow. The scholars' garden has a more clipped and trim lawn, with bright flower beds and trees surrounding it, and in summer plays host to croquet.

For more information see the college's website.

Thank you to Ian Kitching for some of the historical background.