Let’s be honest; there’s a lot of doom and gloom in the world at the moment. Great start to a blog, right? Sorry! But unfortunately, it’s true. As property agents, we pride ourselves on our upbeat approach to our industry and life in general, but that can test all of us occasionally. Interest rates, politics, cost of living, war…the list goes on. Sometimes we find ourselves shouting ‘stop, no more’. Everyone deserves a break.
So, when it came to writing our next blog, it was tough. As a close team, we often brainstorm ideas and know exactly what we are looking for. We want our blogs to be informative and educational, occasionally a bit of fun – obviously, humour is a matter of taste (we try, guys!) – but where are all the upbeat stories at the moment? What is there to talk about that will bring joy and escapism to our audience? Good questions.
But in true ‘us’ form, we know there is always joy to be found amid the madness. We felt absolutely no pressure whatsoever to deliver. Lies, lies, lies. Joking aside, we stumbled across something that put a big smile on our faces, and it was definitely worthy of its own blog. It also proves positive news is always there if you search hard enough.
Let’s Get to the Point…
We recently came across the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards 2022, which was a fascinating read. Thousands of readers voted for their no.1 places, hotels, spas, etc., worldwide. After almost two years of being tied to our hometowns (and, for many of us, our actual homes), 2022 became the year for travel. People were suddenly desperate to embrace their newfound freedom and escape their towns and cities. This year has been about exploring and appreciating the beauty around us. Bucket lists were revisited, and new ones were written. Travel became popular again, but this time in a big way. It’s not until you have freedom taken away from you that you realise how important it is; spreading our wings is what opens our minds to new experiences and keeps us feeling alive. Welcome back to the good times we have all missed.
Now you are probably wondering why these awards got us so excited. Maybe it all seems a bit random. Well, you would be wrong! You will never guess what was voted ‘Best City in the UK’? Yep, our very own hometown of Cambridge! CN Traveller revealed the top 10 urban destinations that scored the highest marks regarding nightlife, restaurants and friendliness. Cambridge came top, beating some other amazing cities, including Oxford, Bath and even London. Come and see for yourself The best cities in the UK: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards | CN Traveller
But what is so special about Cambridge?
We live here and work here, so we consider this a ridiculous question; Yes, we are biased. But for those who don’t know Cambridge and are considering it a place to call home, what can we tell you? It’s hard to know where to start…
Cambridge is beautiful. Everywhere you turn, there is something unique to see – the architecture, the green open spaces, the river – if you are looking for a city that’s easy on the eye, you won’t be disappointed. Around every corner is a piece of history ready to be explored and a new story ready to be shared. Not only can you find your way around by car or foot, but Cambridge is also famous for its most popular sightseeing mode of transport – its punts! Punting is the best way to view the city, especially the renowned colleges. With the River Cam passing through the heart of Cambridge’s University campus, anyone looking to sightsee by water will get the opportunity to do so with a tour guide (full of local knowledge) and maybe even a punnet of strawberries and a glass of bubbles. It’s tradition, so we insist. During your tour, you will drift under willows and bridges while embracing the beauty around you. At the risk of sounding slightly pretentious, punting is the quintessential summer pastime.
Little known fact time…shamelessly ‘borrowed from Historic-uk.com’ (thanks, guys!). Cambridge is one of the few cities (maybe the only one, but don’t quote us on that) that has named its own river! The town was built on the banks of the river Granta and was originally called ‘Granta Brygg’. However, much later, when the town became ‘Cambridge’, it was decided that the river must be known as the Cam. And so it did! At this point, it seems rude not to mention the fantastic Granta pub, situated on the quietest and most beautiful stretch of the river. Now you know the story behind the name! Every day is a school day, folks. If you are living or visiting Cambridge and are looking for decent pub food, a couple of drinks and a good atmosphere, this should sit top of your list.
So, it deserved the award? Absolutely!
As well as history and beautiful surroundings, what else does Cambridge have to offer? Simple. It offers everything. Job opportunities here are endless, especially for those working in the technology and life sciences industries, not to mention the under-an-hour commute into London for those working further afield. Cambridge also offers fantastic shopping, loads for families to see and do, and a crazy number of impressive restaurants and bars (in fact, it was recently voted a Purple Flag award for safe nightlife Purple Flag — Cambridge BID).
But our favourite thing about Cambridge is this. Although it offers everything a thriving city should, it doesn’t feel like a city. Yes, it’s vibrant and modern, but it’s also calm, safe, and (have we mentioned it already?) beautiful. We love it here, and we can see exactly why it won the award for Best City in the UK as voted for by the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards 2022.