Cambridge's top 10 independent shops

Hello from Cambridge, where I’ll be for the next twenty-four hours, before jetting off to the south of France! I imagine that today will mostly be taken up by last-minute holiday shopping, so while my mind is on the topic, I thought I’d write about some of my favourite boutiques in the centre of town. We’re very lucky to have a huge number of independent shops here, all of which are very refreshing to walk into after hours of browsing chain stores. Keep reading to discover which ten are my current favourites!

ARK

If I’m looking for tasteful presents – or, as the shop proudly proclaims, ‘gifts for interesting people’ – my first port of call is always ARK. The products here aren’t the cheapest, but everything – from their plush toys, to their dainty jewellery, to their quirky homeware items – is excellent quality, and will be sure to put a huge smile on any lucky recipient’s face. This boutique is open seven days a week, but if you can’t make it into town, fear not: they now has a website!

Cambridge Cheese Company

Want to get your hands on a nice hunk of brie? Or maybe Comté is more to your taste? Either way, if you consider yourself a bit of cheeseaholic, head down All Saints Passage to the Cambridge Cheese Company, and treat yourself to some exceptional dairy produce (plus some crackers to go with it!). Not a fan of the stuff? There are plenty of other food items available here – from anchovy paste, to olives, to hot chilli sauce – many of which are winners of the annual Great Taste Awards. On top of this, you’ll also find an impressive selection of fine wines and ales.

Cambridge Gin Laboratory

It isn’t summer in the UK until you’re sipping G&Ts in the blazing heat. The Cambridge Gin Laboratory is, then, the perfect place to go if you’re planning a drinks party, or looking for a thoughtful gift. Not only are there loads of award-winning beverages to choose from here, but also you can even blend your own and get it to taste exactly as you want. Feeling extra fancy? Book yourself a gin tasting experience, and enjoy sampling some exceptional spirits.

Cambridge Satchel Company

Satchels are all the rage in Cambridge, so if you want to fit right in with the locals – or are after a great quality bag that will last a lifetime – this is the boutique for you. With a wide variety of colours and sizes, there’s something here for everyone, and although products aren’t cheap, they’re definitely worth the extra cost.

Chocolat Chocolat

You heard about Chocolat Chocolat in my ‘Where to get ice cream in Cambridge’ article, but frozen treats aren’t the only thing on sale here! Also on offer – in case you couldn’t tell by the name of the shop – is a huge selection of chocolates, from your typical milk drinking chocolate, to more exotic dark chocolate bars with pink peppercorns. This is another great place to buy gifts for loved ones: they even bring out special products in honour of annual occasions like graduation and Christmas.

G. David Bookseller

G. David Bookseller is the sort of place you can easily miss if you don’t know to look for it. Hidden away St. Edward’s Passage, this family-run second hand bookshop is brimming with top-quality tomes, many of which you won’t find anywhere else. Browse their floor-to-ceiling shelves for yourself and see what hidden treasures you stumble across!

Heffers

Keen to stick your nose into even more books? Head to Heffers, where you’ll find all the latest publications, as well as DVDS, board games, and stationery. Don’t forget to venture downstairs: you’ll find even more genres here (including travel guides – my personal favourite!), and may even come across a sale rack. (I’ve bought books for under a pound from this section, so don’t miss it!)

Jemporium Vintage

Now that you’ve got your holiday reading sorted, it’s time to spice up your wardrobe! Cambridge has clothes shops to accommodate everyone’s tastes, but if vintage garbs are your cup of tea, there’s no better place to check out than Jemporium Vintage. Here, you’ll find everything from reworked denim pieces to flashy windbreakers, all sold at reasonable prices, and all one of a kind. Even better: the staff here are absolutely lovely, and are more than happy to help you with fashion advice and styling tips.

Nomads

Alternatively, head to Nomads, a beautiful little boutique on King’s Parade, packed full of gorgeous Fair Trade garments from across the globe. And that’s just the beginning: here you’ll also find pretty jewellery, tasteful homewares, and unique works of arts. Make sure to head downstairs to the basement during your visit: the main part of the shop is located here!

Parade

I’ve talking about buying gifts for friends a number of times in this article, but maybe you want to get yourself a little something: a souvenir to remember your trip by, perhaps? For everything from postcards, to fridge magnets, to those classic Cambridge University hoodies, be sure to check out Parade! This is also a great place to go if you’re looking for cheap guidebooks, not least because they’re available in a whole range of languages. (Alternatively, you could save your pennies, and read my ‘ultimate guide to Cambridge’ article here free of charge!)

Shop till you drop!

So there we have it: my ten favourite independent shops in the university town of Cambridge! For even more top picks – these ones located slightly further from the centre – make sure to have a look at my two articles on the city’s much-loved Mill Road. Thank you, as always, for reading, and happy shopping!

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