After suffering from a tummy bug for a few days, on Sunday I was crawling the walls to get out of the house to get some fresh air…and of course to eat some gluten free cake. My family were watching Granchester, the tv series when I skyped them on Sunday morning so it seemed fitting that my little tiki tour took me to exploring Grantchester in Cambridgeshire and eating cake at The Orchard Tea Gardens (it’s only a 30 minute from my house…the joys of not living in London!).
This wasn’t my first time to this cute little village…it’s maybe my fourth time now…the first time my family were over from New Zealand and we walked from Cambridge…along the river…through fields of cows…climbed over fences…all to visit the Orchard Tea Gardens which are a Cambridge institution.
Finally feeling in the mood for some gluten free cake…the Orchard Tea Gardens delivered with two options, a gluten free carrot cake and a strange looking flat slice that I saw recently at the Shuttleworth Collection (obviously these cakes are bought in rather than made on site)…there aren’t any gluten free scones just so you know. The gluten free carrot was light and fluffy and went down a treat.
Sitting under the trees basking in the sunlight was just what the doctor ordered…if Mother Nature could have turned up the heat a little, this kiwi would have been a satisfied customer. After scoffing the cake, I popped down to the back field and admired the river which during the summer months is filled with people punting…it’s a lovely spot for a picnic!
My sister told me that I needed to visit the church in Grantchester which is used in the tv series and basically right across the road for The Orchard Tea Gardens…you can’t miss it…it’s called The Church of St Andrew & St Mary Grantchester in case you do!
The church welcomes all visitors and has a nice little sign up inside about the show so you will know you’ve found the right church in Grantchester…
…the filming takes place around the church yard which is super cute…
…and obviously inside…
…my family were watching the episode where someone fell or possibly got pushed off the church roof…it was all clear on Sunday, I checked!
Now if you’re thirsty or you having a moaning man with you…don’t fret…there are numerous pub options in Grantchester…and they’re all within a few steps of one another…
…drop him off to the creche for a pint…
…and continue exploring Grantchester!
I do adore spring time in England with all the blossoms…
…I feel like England is slowly coming back to life after months in hibernation…
…until you realise you have a belly that rivals the size of Santas and you start to panic about summer!
There are a number of cute little thatched cottages in Grantchester that looked pretty as a picture…
…seriously the white picket fence made me want to knock on the front door and evict whomever lived there so I could take over their picture perfect house…
…I WANT THAT HOUSE!
Grantchester is definitely one of those villages that you could photograph for hours…
…there’s something new around every corner…
…from cute doors…
…to delightful mint dreams with magnolia trees!
Travel Tips for Grantchester
- There are a limited number of car parks at The Orchard Tea Gardens where parking costs £3 for 2 hours – you get some of this money back with a purchase at the gardens.
- There can be an hour wait at times at the Tea Gardens to be served during peak times…it was empty last weekend. People are shocked to learn that it’s self service as well!
- There is limited parking within the village – during the summer months they open up a field
- The village is small and narrow and becomes extremely clogged up with traffic – go early
- There is no cash machine so make sure you take cash with you.
- You can walk from Cambridge – it takes about an hour or so, wear comfortable shoes!
So have you visited Grantchester before or are you a fan of the tv series – let me know what you think of this little village?
xx
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