Our house in Cambridge has a nice backyard with almost 50 different plants and flowers, something I haven’t been responsible for, as we rent the property. But apparently the landlord and I share the same interest, as I’m a big fan of plants and flowers as well.
It won’t surprise me at all if they have partly gained their inspiration from the nearby Cambridge University Botanic Garden in the centre of the city. Not that we have such a garden as this massive and wonderful crowd puller, but what they do have in common are the different plants and flowers that adapts to the different seasons. They’re in bloom all year.
Apart from our lovely garden where you can sit nice and enjoy the silent, we love to visit this beautiful garden a lot, as it’s a great place to discover and learn more about the Flora and Fauna.
The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a green oase in the city of Cambridge and offers space for no less than 8,000 species of plants, including some national plant collections. In addition to plants and flowers and the sustainable way of gardening, there are also a lot of animals in the garden, such as various birds, insects, fishes and even grass snakes.
The garden was founded by John Stevens Barlow, a professor of botany (1825 – 1861) and has been around since 1846. Since then, the garden has expanded enormously, but still contains a huge collection of trees, including a large number of exotic ones. It’s also a garden that has inspired students to develop revolutionary theories and ideas such as Charles Darwin.
In the last 20 years a lot has changed in the Botanic Garden. In addition to the beautiful laboratory that was built in 2011, there is a suitable, new entrance for visitors and a well maintained school garden where weekly educational programs take place.
The Botanic Garden is a great place to visit with children. As the gardens are changing every season, there is always something new to discover.
To make your visit with children even more fun you can ask for the ‘Find Me, Garden Wildlife‘, a little book that allows you to find all different animals and insects in the Botanic Garden.
In addition, the Botanic Garden regularly organizes events throughout the year. For example this Summer Holiday, where you can join Nature Yoga for kids or the Prehistorical Plants Trail.
If you live in Cambridge, an annual pass is a perfect purchase, for £30 you can visit the garden (including the events) all year long. But even if you’re only in Cambridge for a day or two, a single ticket of £6 is more than worth it as well.
Attraction Information
Venue Type
Indoor & Outdoor
Suitable for ages
Young Children (2-8), Older Children (9-12), Adults
Facilities
Parking available nearby – shop – café – toilets – suitable for wheel- & push chairs – event space – educational rooms – library – laboratory – picknick area – events
Address & Contact
1 Brookside
Cambridge CB2 1JE UK
For more information about Cambridge University Botanic Garden, click here
T: 01223 336265
Opening times
Mon till Sun 10am till 6pm
Pricing
Adult £6
Concession £5,50 (over 65s and students with a recognised ID)
Children 0 – 16 Free