Cambridge

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We were asked by one of our site visitors what sort of presents a 16 year old girl could bring back from Cambridge for her friends in Japan. So, here are my suggestions, with a few pictures that I took on a visit to the city. Cambridge is a beautiful and  historic University city and lots of fun to visit, particularly during the summer months, when people come from all over the world on English language courses, so I am sure she will enjoy her stay there.  The above photo is of students sitting outside one of the ancient Cambridge University colleges, with the river Cam flowing by. It was early summer when I visited and I think the students were relaxing between exams. Cambridge is a large city with many shops, from big department stores to small boutiques, so it is a good place to go shopping.  Last time I was there I also noticed a small outdoor market (open at weekends I think) which sold locally produced foods and also small gifts, some of which had been made by the stallholders. It might be worth having a look there.

There are many lawns and meadows beside the river, where you can stroll and enjoy views of the colleges.

In the past I have purchased fine linen tea towels as gifts when traveling abroad, as they are light to carry.

In Britain we make these towels are sold with many designs; cats, flowers, amusing messages, our National flag and pictures of places we have visited. They tend to cost around £3 to £6 each. They can be found in the linens department of the larger stores, or in gift shops. Some tea towels are made from cotton, but the linen ones are the best.

Lavender is grown close to Cambridge, in the nearby county of Norfolk. You can buy lavender products in the Cambridge shops, but many people take a trip to see the lavender fields and buy gifts at the Norfolk Lavender shop in Heacham. They sell little sachets of lavender for about £3, if I remember correctly, as well as many other small gifts, perfumes, soaps etc scented with lavender.

Boating on the river using the traditional 'punts' is a popular pastime. The boats are propelled forwards with a long pole, but it is a hard technique to master. 

The man in the boat here looked a bit wobbly, but he did not fall in - although some people do....

Another good place to look for British gifts is a National Trust gift shop. There is one in Cambridge at 9, King's Parade. They have a good selection of attractive small gifts and are always worth visiting. I like many of their items, which often feature flowers or the countryside in their designs. They sell everything from clothing and foodstuffs to paper goods and china. 

Stationery shops are a good place to have a look for small gifts. You can usually find pretty notelets and also calendars. They often feature views of Britain, flowers or animals.

When I was last in Cambridge I noticed that there were quite a few small shops selling costume jewelry and accessories at very reasonable prices. The shops were full of groups of young people, so I think maybe these shops might be a good choice for gifts for this young lady. 

That's all I can think of for the moment. Has anyone else got any suggestions for gifts to bring back from Britain?