What are the "Cambridge Backs"

If you stroll along the River Cam in the heart of Cambridge, you’ll discover one of England’s most enchanting landscapes.

This peaceful stretch of riverside meadow lies behind several of the University of Cambridge’s most famous colleges, which is how it got its name: the backs of the colleges.

The Backs run from Magdalene College in the north to Queen’s College in the south, passing behind a series of grand and historic colleges including St John’s, Trinity, Clare, King’s, and Queen’s.

Here, the elegance of Cambridge’s architecture meets the calm of nature: ancient trees, softly flowing water, and bright green lawns where swans glide by.

It is one of the few places in the world where you can stand on a riverbank and see centuries of history reflected in the same view from medieval stone bridges to the golden towers of King’s College Chapel.

The most magical way to experience The Backs is by punting gliding along the Cam in a flat-bottomed boat.

As you drift under famous bridges like the Bridge of Sighs and Clare Bridge, you pass scenes that look almost unchanged since Tudor and Victorian times.