Cambridge or Stratford-on-Avon?
 

Hi guys, I'm wondering if I should visit cambridge or stratford.

I can only pick one of the two.

Thanks for your help

Depends on your interests!

Stratford is for Shakespeare enthusiasts. It's a lovely old town but attracts hoards of tourists, and the whole place is geared towards Shakespeare stuff - his birthplace, his mum's house etc etc. Plus of course there's the Royal Shakespeare Company and their theatres, so a great place to see a play by some of the finest British actors around.

Whilst Cambridge has its share of tourists, this is a town that's all about the University, and less theme-y as a result. Very picturesque as well.

I would personally pick Cambridge, if only to avoid so many coach parties, but if Shakespeare is at all of interest, then that's got to be your choice. If you aren't fussed about Shakespeare, there's no other reason to go, except to drink in some old pubs.

Cambridge is lovely. Fitzwilliam museum, Botanic Gardens and a tour of one of the colleges and the backs could easily fill a day. Michelin starred dining at Midsummer House if your budget runs to it. Plenty of pubs and cheaper eats if it doesn't. Walk along the river if the weather is good, passing the houseboats, roers out practicing, punters falling in, and one of the longest lidos in the country which is next to the river. Finish with a pint. :-)

rowers. grrrr!

Where will you be visiting from? London?

The two places are apples and oranges. Almost nothing similar except both have a nice river flowing through. What sorts of things interest you?

Unless into the Bard Cambridge is infinitely more interesting for the average visitor than Stratford, though it is a very pleasant regional town as well as Shakespeare mecca.

Cambridge is also a lot closer and cheaper to get to than Stratford.

I dont think I made the most of Cambridge when I visited, but I love Stratford because of the theatre, but more than this because of the surrounds. You have the Cotswolds on the doorstep and besides the Cotswold's villages you have other lovely Warwickshire villages like Henley in Arden and Beaudessert, and Warwick City itself. I am not as familiar with Cambridge's surrounds.

Indeed Warwick Castle is an easy component by train or car of a day trip to Stratford - one of Britain's top old castles and a great one to visit. Just a few miles from Stratford.

To top it all off, the Cambridge library has the original manuscript of Winnie the Pooh.

I'm into scenery and history......leaning towards Cambridge now because I might as well venture to Duxford. Not overly a fan of shakespeare, except the town scenery....but I'll be spending about 2 days in Lacock, so I guess I can skip Stratford.

Cambridge.

Stratford is where the Bard left his wife to live his life and write his stuff. If you want to see Will go to London.

They are completely different in many ways. Personally I don't care for Stratford-upon-Avon at all. It's just crammed full of tour buses, large groups of tourists milling around and getting in the way, and twee "Ye Olde Gifte Shoppe" type places. Cambridge is a much more relaxed and attractive place to visit. Having said that, there are many interesting places in the <i>vicinity</i> of S-on-A as other have noted.

Thanks guys, I've made my decision.

Just wondering, is Lacock better to visit than Glouchester, or vice versa?