The climate in Cambridge is on a par with the rest of the United Kingdom. Because it is situated in the sheltered region of Eastern England, Cambridge enjoys significantly less rainfall than the rest of the country. Winters tend to be quite cold and they're often wet but the whole area experiences less snowfall than the rest of England. Summers are dry and temperatures range between 65 and 73F (18 to 23C).

Transport in Cambridge is simple and easy, provided you don't drive a car. The best way to get around Cambridge is by bicycle. Bicycles can be hired at any number of the cycle hire shops in central Cambridge. The town is cycle friendly with over 80 miles (130km) of dedicated cycle routes, lanes and roads. Maps of the cycle routes can be acquired at the Cambridge visitor's information centre or on the Cambridge City Council's Website. Park and ride options are available along most major routes into Cambridge. There are also a number of local buses ready to transport visitors around the city.

Bus routes go in and around town as well as from central Cambridge to the outlying towns and village. The city sightseeing hop-on-hop-off bus is a great way to take in all the attractions on your way around town. Free transportation is available during business hours from Monday to Saturday on the city centre shuttle bus. The free shuttle can be used from Market Square, Corpus Christi College, Fair Street, Jesus Lane and Trinity Street. Buses tend to leave each station at 15 minute intervals.

Further transport options for visitors to Cambridge include taxis and cars, however these are not recommended. There are a number of taxi companies in Cambridge and rates per kilometre are dictated by the city council. Taxi ranks are located on St Andrew's Street and on Drummer Street during the day while night-time taxi can be found on Sidney Street and at Market Square. Travelling around Cambridge by taxi or car is made cumbersome, and expensive, by the multitude of one-way streets, no car roads and cycle-only areas in the city.

In an effort to provide a relaxing, car-free atmosphere around the city, the Cambridge City Council has declared a number of pedestrian zones. Visitors to Cambridge can explore the city without having to worry about traffic, parking or the noise and air pollution created by cars. The pedestrian zones effectively limit car and cycle access to the centre of Cambridge during business hours.

Two novel and exciting ways to get around Cambridge are punting and 'shopmobility'. Shopmobility is an initiative instituted by a number of shopping centres giving shoppers access to wheelchairs, scooters and Segways. The shopmobility programme is in effect at the Bus Station on Drummer Street, the Grand Arcade and the Grafton Centre. Punting is an age-old tradition in Cambridge and offers visitors the perfect way to view the historical and scenic colleges around the city. Visitors can hire a punt and chauffer from the Quayside, Silver Street or the back of Trinity College.

Cambridge is not a typical destination for people travelling with kids. There are a few things to do with kids in Cambridge, but many of them are more suitable for older children. Cambridge has a number of swimming pools including Jesus Green Pool and Cottenham Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool. Kids may also enjoy the slides, air cannons and climbing surfaces at the Funky Fun House or the indoor softplay centre at Whale of a Time. Other options include bowling at Tenpin Plymouth or taking part in a treasure hunt with Huntfun Cambridge Treasure Hunts. Museums in Cambridge that kids might enjoy include the Imperial War Museum or the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences. At the War Museum kids can learn about aircrafts and military vehicles or if you're lucky you might even be able to catch one of the seasonal air shows held by the museum. The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences has a range of interactive displays specifically aimed at kids and it has a great number of dinosaur related themes and activities for kids visiting the museum.

English is the official language, though visitors will be astonished by the variety of regional accents.

The currency is the pound (GBP), which is divided into 100 pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards should check with their credit card companies in advance. Foreign currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change and large hotels, however better exchange rates are likely to be found at banks. Travellers cheques are accepted in all areas frequented by tourists; they are best taken in Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges.

Visitors to Cambridge will soon discover that the city is a shoppers dream destination. With a fantastic selection of boutiques and small shops as well as all the usual high street stores shopping in Cambridge has something on offer for all types. The trick with shopping in Cambridge is knowing where to start. Visitors to the city can choose to spend the day on a High Street shopping spree or visit shopping centres, department stores and markets throughout the city. The high street has a range of bookshops, boutiques, chain stores and independent shops to choose from. While many of the shopping centres, such as Grand Arcade, Beehive Centre, Christs Lane Centre, Grafton Shopping Centre and Lion Yard Shopping Centre offer multiple floors of fashion, food, home and beauty as well as technology and gadget shops. Shoppers wishing to find all they need under one roof should try one of the many department stores in Cambridge. Four of the most popular department stores in the city include BHS, Debenhams, John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, which has two branches in Cambridge. The craft markets in Cambridge offer a more rustic shopping experience. Visitors can peruse the arts and crafts on sale at the All Saints Garden Art and Craft Market every Saturday on Trinity Street, or for jewellery, ceramics and textile art head to the Cambridge Arts and Crafts Market, also held on Saturdays at Fisher Hall. For a market with more spice and cuisine items, as well as flowers, music and arts and crafts visitors to Cambridge should try the Cambridge Market on Market Square, which is open from Monday to Saturday.

Local time in the United Kingdom is GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).