Kerry Lambourne is a third year Animal Behavious Bsc(Hons) student. Here she reveals the secrets of Cambridge's hidden gems:

Cambridge has a lot of history behind its development and many pleasant sites to see and explore. There are more than enough places to discover suited to every taste. Here are a few things you can do when you get here and continue to do throughout your university experience.

Visit the Free Museums

Fitzwilliam, Archaeology, The Polar Institute and David Attenborough building.

Head down to Fairs, festivals and events

Join in with as many of Cambridge's diverse events as you can and get a real local's view of the city. Experience the annual Beer Festival, Strawberry Fair, Mill Road Christmas market, oh, and don't forget the world famous Cambridge Folk Festival which happens in Cherry Hinton every year! 

Volunteer opportunities

Sign up to the Student Union Volunteer Service and start meeting and working alongside people or animals. Helping organisations is a great way to get integrated into the Cambridge community, it adds to your CV and gets you using your time effectively. The volunteer service also has friendly staff available to help find you the ideal role to suit you.

Students' Union events

Freshers’ Fair is a must go to when you move to Cambridge, it is held in the Kelsey Kerridge sports hall opposite Parkers Piece, see your SU calendar for events and dates. The Student Union have ongoing events such as; Chill Out Tuesdays, Mid-Week Mash Up, Thursday night live, PropBox & Deleted Scenes.

Green spaces

There are so many beautiful green spaces dotted around Cambridge, if you like nature or just quiet spaces, discover the green areas. The Cemetery is located next to university, great for getting out the busy city life and finding peace. The River Cam has regular water sports going on including the Active Anglia Outdoor Activity Programme’s canoe sessions. Parkers Piece is located close to university and is great for exercise and walking on. Jesus Green, Midsummer Common, Coleridge, Neumann are just some of the many places you can visit for your nature fix.

Cafes

Mill Road and other streets are full of cafes to grab a bite to eat and watch the world go by. Search for Hot Numbers on the corner of Gwydir Street, they hold an art nights on Tuesday evenings where a jazz band performs.

Pubs

There are loads of great pubs in Cambridge, some host live bands and entertain with jazz musicians, acoustic live bands and comedy nights. Check out The Eagle, The Grain & Hop Store or The Blue Moon for a real local venue.

Buskers

 If you like musicians, there are usually some in the streets by the Grand Arcade. On sunny days it is great to walk though for a listen and treat yourself to a picnic in a green space.

Visit the local stores

Meet the crafts makers and visit the unique shops, Cambridge is filled with quaint stores and restaurants. Head to the Market Square to meet the market stall holders and wander through looking at an array of individual and handcrafted items.

Club nights

There are clubs in Cambridge to suit different music tastes and atmospheres. If you like chart music, the SU work in partnership with Revolution and run Mid Week Mash Up on a Wednesday evening. Other clubs include; Fez, Kuma, LolaLo’s, Balare and Whetherspoons. The AMT music society run semi-regular underground music nights of D&B, Neurofunk and Jungle at the Academy through Deleted Scenes.

I hope this has helped you peek into the variety of activities available to you at university. It is natural to feel daunted, but remember to release your excitement and go out to experience the world of culture in Cambridge.