River and Commons
Three of Cambridge's central green spaces and the river between them, from Jesus Green to Parker's Piece.
This is the flat, green side of central Cambridge: open grass, a lock on the Cam, a riverside pub and two parks laid out for the town. It suits a long lunch break or a relaxed afternoon, and it is easy on prams and bikes.
The route
Start: Jesus Green
A riverside park north of Jesus College. The lido is one of the few survivors of the open-air pools built in 1920s England, and a beer festival has been held here each May since 2001.
2. Jesus Lock
Built in 1836, the only lock inside the city. A footbridge of around 1892 stands beside it; cyclists are asked to dismount.
A Grade II listed, timber-framed pub with parts from the 1500s, run by Greene King. It has a beer garden over the river.
Common land with a fair chartered by King John in 1211. Cattle returned in 2007, and houseboats line the riverside.
A Victorian park bought by the town corporation in 1886, with flower beds and a garden for Diana, Princess of Wales. Many people cut across it between the centre and the Grafton Centre.
About 25 acres of flat grass. The Cambridge Rules of 1863 that helped shape football's first laws were tied to matches here; a lamp-post at the diagonal paths' meeting is the Reality Checkpoint.
Practical notes
- Victoria Avenue divides Jesus Green from Midsummer Common, which were one piece of land until 1890.
- Large events can limit access to Midsummer Common, so check before you plan a picnic.
- Opening hours for the Fort St George are listed on its page.
- Distance and time are estimates for the straight line between stops, adjusted for street detours.
- Distance: 2.3 km / 1.4 miles (estimate). Time: about 1 hr 25 min (estimate, including stops).
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk
