UK CITIES
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Cambridge Viewing: For stunning views of the university buildings and their grandiose lawns, stroll around The Backs (or take a free two-hour tour with a group of Footprints students, who will take you to sites such as King’s College and Trinity Hall). In the summer months, head to the River Cam to picnic on its banks, pass by the Bridge of Sighs and enjoy an afternoon of punting. Doing: Discover arts and antiquities at the Fitzwilliam Museum, venture on a mind-expanding 4.5-billion-year journey through time at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Science and take a foodie tour for a diverse mix of pubs,
delis and fish and chip shops. Leave time for Kettle’s Yard, the university’s modern contemporary art gallery that was the home of former Tate curator, Jim Ede. Staying: Close to a chunk of colleges, The Varsity Hotel & Spa offers 44 contemporary rooms with quirky artworks, a much-lauded steakhouse, a roof terrace with a summer-only cocktail bar, and a cracking riverside location. The Glassworks spa has a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, state-ofthe-art gym, and private rooms for Elemis treatments. www.thevarsityhotel.co.uk
Manchester Viewing: Take to the streets to visit the top-notch art galleries (Manchester Art Gallery and Whitworth Art Gallery are excellent) and stroll around the Northern Quarter between Piccadilly and the Ancoats. Standout attractions include the Victoria Baths, the John Rylands Library, the Gay Village, and The Quays (covering Salford Quays, Trafford Wharf, and Old Trafford).
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Staying: A former textile warehouse in the heart of the Northern Quarter, Cow Hollow tempts with exposed oak beams, marble fireplaces, antique mirrors, bronze chandeliers and bespoke works by local artists. There are also 16 well-furnished rooms,
gourmet breakfast bags, a 24-hour cafe and a cocktail bar for reliably good spirits and wines. ∧
Doing: The city is big on festivals and celebrates everything from literature and science to whisky and beer. There’s also the National Football Museum for football lovers and the Salford Lad’s Club for fans of The Smiths. Shoppers can batter their credit
card on designer offerings on King Street – or get their fix at highend stores such as Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.
www.cowhollow.co.uk