Cambridge - Off the Beaten Track - Visit 09.11.23

Published: 12/11/2023

This was a fabulous day out which took us to parts of Cambridge most of us hadn’t visited before.  Away from the busy city centre, we experienced a sense of peace, tranquillity and space in the places we visited, whilst also viewing a variety of artwork, sculpture and architecture. Luckily, we had a lovely sunny day for the outside parts of our visits.   

Cambridge Central Eco Mosque 

This is Europe's first eco-friendly mosque built to cater for 6,000 plus Muslims around Cambridge.  It is sympathetic to the surrounding area in terms of its design so that it blends in with the local community.  It is set back from the road and there are no minarets calling Muslims to prayer throughout the day as this would impact on the area. 

It was opened in 2019 having been designed for the 21st Century so as to minimise its carbon footprint.  Our guide explained how the mosque was heated and ventilated using green energy. Rainwater is collected for use in flushing toilets and the garden.  We certainly felt warm and comfortable during our time there and were impressed by design features that contributed to a welcoming atmosphere.  We ate our own packed lunch in the Mosque cafe which, again, was welcoming to visitors.  The mosque wants to encourage links with other cultures and religions.  Visitors are welcome, particularly to the gardens at the front which are open to all and Mosque tours can be booked.

Murray Edwards College  

In the afternoon, we were taken by coach for a tour of the Women’s Art Collection at Murray Edwards College. The building is modern with a welcoming curved entrance containing a stunning display of pot plants. We were given a brief introductory talk where we learnt the origins of the College. The name is a combination of its first President, Dame Rosemary Murray and the Edwards family who made a large donation to the College.  The aim of the College is to provide support to women students with entrepreneurial ambitions.The Women's Art Collection features a collection of modern and contemporary art. 

Following the talk, we visited a number of rooms containing contemporary artwork and then outside to take a closer look at some sculptures. Most outdoor spaces contained more stunning pot plants.  The tour included a corridor next to an outside water feature and seating area (see photo).  Ideal for the Women and Water exhibition displaying the works of 17 women artists during the 20^th century to the present day.  The Women’s Art Collection is open to members of the public and is free to visit. For more information  click here

Churchill College

After a short walk, we reached our final destination.  Contained in the grounds of Churchill College is a display of sculptures - map available online or from the Porter’s Lodge. For visiting information,  click here.    We enjoyed walking around the spacious gardens and matching the description to the actual sculpture!   Then back home after a wonderful day out – all for £30pp.