Punting upstream to Granchester from central Cambridge to take tea on the banks of the Cam is a rite of passage for local students and tourists alike. The Orchard Garden trades on the olde-worlde
escapism immortalised by Rupert Brooke in his lines dedicated to this slice of quintessential England (‘… is there honey still for tea?’), and the place hasn’t changed much since his time – apart
from the queues. Stand in line outside the little hut, pick up an enormous scone with jam and a pot of tea, nab one of the deckchairs dotted throughout the crowded orchard and relax before floating
back downstream. Punts (with chauffeurs if necessary) can be hired from Cambridge, motorists will find parking in a nearby community-run field, while walkers can follow the riverside path there and
back. Check limited opening hours in winter.