A Literary Tour of Cambridge

No visit to Cambridge would be complete without a tour around some of the world-renowned colleges. While the colleges are worth visiting for their history and architecture alone, most colleges have literary connections and it is worth looking up any favourite authors and literary figures before visiting to see which college they attended. Some examples includes William Wordsworth at St John’s, Isaac Newton and Bertrand Russell at Trinity, Charles Darwin at Christ’s, and Salman Rushdie at King’s. Some colleges require a small admission fee, but many are free to enter. Life at Cambridge University had a great effect on many literary figures and shaped the work they were to produce, so seeing the colleges where they studied is fascinating.

One of the best ways to experience literature in the beautiful surroundings of Cambridge is to attend the Cambridge Literary Festival. The festival is held annually in both the spring and autumn, at various locations around the University. Speakers include authors, television personalities, journalists, politicians, and academics, who all speak on various themes in the wider area of the literature world.