Cambridge is a city unlike any other. With its Gothic architecture, picturesque bridges and world-famous colleges, it’s hard to ignore its beauty. However, many of the hidden gems on the River Cam remain tucked away from the typical tourist’s view. The city is home to a plethora of architectural details, each one holding its own story and anecdote. These hidden sights on the River Cam are visible only from the seat of a punt.
Known to few, the land surrounding the River Cam is owned by the University of Cambridge. As a result, many of the city’s most striking details remain hidden from both tourists and locals—unless they are on the river. Punting along the College Backs offers a sublime and truly unique perspective. This experience simply cannot be matched on foot. In this blog, we will explore the hidden details along the river that bring Cambridge’s traditions to life. Alongside this, we will underpin some of the most captivating stories shared on our punting tours.
Where Every Bridge Tells a Story
Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is one of Cambridge’s most iconic landmarks, setting the bar high as the first bridge on our tour and offering a rare view unavailable to the general public. Its original name was the ‘New Bridge’ until Queen Victoria formulated her own name for it. It is claimed that she believed it to resemble Venice’s Bridge of Sighs, prompting the change. Although the resemblance is debatable, no one dared correct the Queen, and the name stuck!
Its name is said to mirror the expressions of students as they cross the bridge on their way to the examination hall, a moment often observed from the punts passing beneath.
The Bridge of Sighs’ fame skyrocketed in 1963 after students punted a 1928 Austin Seven down the river using four tied-together punts. They then hoisted the car under the bridge overnight without detection. Don’t believe us? Here’s the proof: Cambridge News.
The Curious Detail Hidden in Clare Bridge
Built between 1639 and 1640 by Thomas Grumbold and restored in 1969, Clare Bridge is the oldest bridge on the College backs. However, ironically, it is still incomplete. If you look closely enough, one of the 14 stone balls decorating the bridge has a wedge piece missing. Folklaw says Grumbold mismeasured the river, resulting in a very obvious, uneven arch. The college, in response, withheld full payment. The architect definitely removed a section of the stone to balance the shortfall. The whereabouts of this missing slice is still a mystery to all but Grumbold.
Kings Bridge
One of the historically darker bridges along the river, King’s Bridge is known for its dated forms of reconciliation. Built by Francis Braidwood in 1819, this bridge was one of the last locations in England where duels to the death were legally permitted. This reveals a darker side of Cambridge’s history, where certain outdated traditions lingered far longer than one might expect.
College Facades & Hidden Features
A Hidden River Cam Detail: Benedict Spinola’s Head
Some hidden sights on the River Cam have a much bigger backstory. Just outside Las Iguanas on Quayside, a water-spouting gargoyle looms ominously along the riverside. The face is said to depict Benedict Spinola, a 16th-century banker who swindled the college out of property in London. Over 400 years later, in 1989, the makers of Spitting Image created the head as a tongue-in-cheek revenge. This is a detail only visible from the river.
The Doorway You Only Notice from the Water: New Court’s Back Entrance
Along St John’s College stands an incongruous wooden door leading straight to the river’s edge. Originally used for collecting goods transported from the river, rumour has it that nowadays, current university students disguise it as a fire exit in order to trick freshers into running through it during alarm tests.
St John’s New Court Clock Tower
This next detail is easy to miss as you drift along the river: the clock tower that famously has no clock. A long-standing rivalry between Trinity and St John’s decreed that whichever college finished its tower first would earn the right to install a chiming clock. Trinity won by quietly cheating, throwing up a temporary wooden tower first. This left St John’s with a permanent reminder of defeat. The absence is still visible from your punt today.
President’s Lodge
The President’s Lodge is a stately riverside building steeped in history. It also reveals a hidden story if you look closely. Higher up, several windows were bricked over in the 1600s to avoid the infamous window tax. This was a peculiar levy that literally encouraged homeowners to shut out the light, giving rise to the phrase “daylight robbery.”
Insider Tips for Discovering Hidden Gems on the River Cam
To fully appreciate these hidden sights on the River Cam, don’t hesitate to ask your chauffeur to point them out as you glide past. Punting may be leisurely, but it’s important to keep hands and arms inside the punt, especially on busy summer days, when the river can become surprisingly crowded.
For the best experience, early-morning or late-evening trips are quieter and more immersive. These times are ideal for photo opportunities or simply soaking up Cambridge’s historic nature.
Book a guided tour to explore Cambridge’s hidden architecture firsthand and discover a side of the city that few ever see. For an elevated private tour experience, check out our Punting Picnics too!
