My husband and I will be in the Cambridge area for a couple of days and are looking for several good day trips - maybe some place about 2 hours away. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated - thank you.

Ely would be the obvious one.Apart from London, of course.

OK - You are in Cambridge for 2 days and want "several good day trips"? Have you been to Cambridge before? If not, Cambridge itself is worth at least a full day. Then if you want ONE other place to visit, Ely would be good, or maybe Norwich. My number 1 choice would be York.

But you don't say what kinds of things you like - so it is sort of hard to recommend anywhere.

Obrienwv,

My husband and I spent the summer in Cambridge this year and in 2003. I have to agree with JanisJ, I can't imagine why you would want to take any day trips if you only have a few days. There is so much to see.

The Tourist Office in centre city has a brochure that lists 12 things to do outside of Cambridge. (Even has maps, prices, directions.) It has suggestions for all family types and ages. We did a few of the nearby castles. I think I still have one if you want me to get more specific.

One of my (many) favorite things in Cambridge is The Orchird. A nice quiet, step back in time for the perfect tea.

What do you like?
There are some beautiful parks. Walks around Cambridge. Punting. Take a guided tour. Or play "dodge the student on a bike with no ideas of the rules of the road".

Norwich is a beautiful city... but the train journey takes about 15 years. At least you will be travelling backwards in time!

Could you get to the Norfolk Broads? Charter a boat?

Or the Cambridgeshire Waterways are very nice. Start at St Ives. You wont get far in 2 days but you will get a chance to see some coutrysid and meet some people on the waterways.

Check tourist info for special events... like outdoor Shakespear, outdoor concerts and the like. There' usually a lot going on in the Summer months. Not so much in the Winter.

In Cambridge go for a beer in the pub called "The Cambridge Blue"

Keep an eye on this page too

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...find_event.htm

StephCar, for tea you mention "The Orchird." Is that a typo for Orchid or for Orchard? Is it the same as The Orchard Tea Garden i on Mill Way in Grantchester?

Bill in Connecticut

ion1122--good lord--what a typo. Yep, I meant the Orchard in Grantchester. We always walk there though via access through the Trumpington bike path.

I am currently working on a trip report for Cambridge. We just spent 4 weeks there and even though this was our 3rd summer there I still found many new things to discover.

My new favorite day trip from Cambridge is Bury St. Edmunds.

Newmarket

A half-hour or so by bus from Cambridge is RAF Duxford, where there is a wonderful aircraft museum operated by the Imperial War Museum. If it ever flew in RAF livery, there's likely one there (and a few with the Luftwaffe cross, too).

http://duxford.iwm.org.uk

Another vote for Ely, Bury St. Edmonds, and Norwich. Also suggest Sandringham with a stop at nearby Castle Rising, Castle Acre or Great Yarmouth.

One more for Ely and Bury St. Edmunds.

Newmarket is worth a look. Take a look at the gallops when the horses are taken for a walk each morning.

There are great "STUDS" which own of the great horses. It's hard to get a good glimpse of the Studs but sometimes you can.

Newmarket is quite nice to visit too. It's a nice morning visit.

Blackduff

I used to live in Grantchester and suggest a walk from Cambridge across Grantchester meadows to the village. There are 4 pubs, the orchid and the river to enjoy. You could punt on the Cam, explore Cambridge itself, and if really stuck, then visit Ely. Clare in Suffolk is also very pleasant and so is Southwold on the coast.

Just posting a link to my Cambridge trip report for future reference. There are a few day trips I suggested in it.

http://tinyurl.com/kag6j

Just a few miles outside Cambridge is the American Cemetary. It's similar to the huge cemetary in Normandy, France only smaller. We visited the cemetary a few years ago on a sunny fall day. It was a beautiful site and a moving experience to see all those Americans who gave their life for our county.

If you're an airplane or WWII buff at all, I second the recommendation to visit the Duxford Air museum. According to DH, the Duxford museum was incredible. (DH is the airplane person, not me!) They do have a great section in the museum representing the American Air Force from WWII.

Good luck,

Marla