Cambridge (UK)

City and administrative headquarters of Cambridgeshire, eastern England, on the River Cam, 80 km/50 mi north of London; population (2001) 117,700. It is the seat of Cambridge University (founded in the 13th century). Industries include the manufacture of computers and electronic products, scientific instruments, and paper, printing, publishing, financial services, and insurance, as well as technological, medical, and telecommunications research. Tourism is also an important industry; there are about 4.1 million visitors each year.

Features
Apart from those of Cambridge University, fine buildings include St Benet's church, with a Saxon tower (c. 1000), the oldest building in Cambridge; the Holy Sepulchre or Round Church (c. 1130, restored in 1841), the oldest of four round churches in England; and the Guildhall (1939). The Fitzwilliam Museum (1816) houses a fine art collection. The Backs is an ancient strip of land between the backs of the colleges and the Cam.

Colleges
University colleges include Peterhouse, founded in 1284, the oldest college; King's College (1441); Queens' College (1448); Jesus College (1496); St John's College (1511); and Trinity College (1546), the largest college. Emmanuel College chapel was built by Christopher Wren in 1666. The newest college, Robinson, was founded in 1977. The university library (built 1931–34) is a copyright library, and is entitled to a copy of every book published in the UK. Cambridge is also home to part of Anglia Polytechnic University.