The University’s Botanic Garden is a blissful place to spend time just, well, being. Whether it be appreciating the changing seasons, simply enjoying the absolute tranquility or exploring with your children (who have free entry), this place cannot be beaten.

lots to see and great for wheelchair users

flowers spectacular

I was surprised and delighted by the Botanic Gardens, an oasis of calm at the edge of Cambridge town centre. The range of garden themes is impressive and superbly maintained.

A few of my favourite areas are the lake and rock garden filled with meandering footpaths and sudden dead-ends, the fenland recreation and the relentlessy noisy central fountain where you can picnic. The greenhouses are quaint and packed with exotic plants.

The best bit is it is only £4 to get in - so cheap! Plus the cafe does good sandwiches as well.

The best place if you want to escape from entire world, stay with your own thoughts and not spend even a penny. It is an old pagan saying that every plant is alive, has its own character and the way to affect people. I will not into detail about it, but I can tell there is something what makes you feel calm, relaxed. I go there when I feel emotionally too tired of people and busy life style. For me life stops there. I can look for hours at one tree, watch birds flying around, or bees collecting honey. It is amazing in summer, neverless, beautiful in autunm, when all trees are preparing for winter - still strong, calm, covered in bright coloured leaves seem like standing up before winter saying - look, we are not scared, we are prepared and ready for a challenge...and then, when all leaves die and seems there is no life left, spring comes..and all trees turn green again..

Myself and my partner visited these gardens last summer and they were truly amazing. Especially the water feature in the centre, surrounded by benches where you can sit, relax and admire one of the few hot summer days that we get.

Lovely lovely lovely. I used to come here to “revise” during my student days. It was especially convenient for me as there is a gate on the very road I lived on.

The gardens are free to holders of university cards or £2 to non university members.

In the summer it’s just a beautiful place to sit and read by the fountains or under the trees. In the spring the plants and flowers are gorgeous and abundant and reinforce your faith in the world. There are also great things to see in Winter and Autumn as they organise events and ensure there are interesting things to see throughout the year. This is aided by the pretty impressive glasshouses which accommodate a range of exotic plants including carnivorous ones.

They also had here the plant that only flowers once every 10 years or something and stinks horrendously when it does so. I can tell you, dear qypers that it did indeed stink of rotting flesh. Delish.

The shop is charming and I think run by volunteers and there are little places to buy coffee and sandwiches (or ice creams, weather permitting).

My favourite thing, however, is that some one cycles around the gardens ringing a bell to let patrons know it is closing. What a job.