From live music and family trails to vibrant seasonal plantings and hands-on activities, Cambridge University Botanic Garden is inviting you to make the most of summer in the city with a packed programme of events and experiences throughout the season.
Whether you’re enjoying a staycation, planning a family day out, heading to an evening of outdoor music, or simply looking for a chance to discover something new, the Garden offers the perfect setting to slow down, explore, and enjoy the sights, scents and sounds of summer in the heart of Cambridge.
Seasonal highlights
🐝Bee Borders: Buzzing with life and bursting with vibrant blues, purples and pinks to attract bees and other pollinators – a feel-good summer scene that’s a honeypot for both bees and visitors.
🌺Scented Garden: Where fragrant herbs, flowers and aromatic foliage fill the air with scent. It’s the perfect spot to take some time to sit back, relax and enjoy the smells of summer.
🌹Rose Garden: Filled with colour and perfume, the Rose Garden is looking spectacular. Whether its wandering among heritage roses or relaxing surrounded by lavender, the space feels a world away from the busy city beyond the Garden.
🌿Herbaceous Beds: Showcasing bold, dramatic plantings and richly coloured blooms, the beds provide a striking display that evolves throughout the season.
Sounds Green
🎶Live music returns to the Main Lawn this summer, bringing a relaxed programme of performances from local bands. From uplifting brass and vibrant jazz to Balkan rhythms and Brazilian samba, you can settle in for an easy summer evening of music in the heart of the Garden. Perfect for an evening with family or friends, or simply taking time to unwind, these open-air performances invite you to enjoy live music surrounded by the Garden’s beautiful summer displays. Sponsored by Birketts LLP. Find out more here.
Summer fun for families
🔍Professor Filbert’s Plant Heroes: Join a family-friendly trail with Professor Filbert to discover the incredible powers of plants through interactive activities and fun facts. Free with standard admission.
🌱Drop in this summer for a series of hands-on, nature-inspired activities in the Garden Room (Schools’ Garden), 10.30am–1.30pm. Free with standard admission:
🌿Helpful Herbs (23–24 July): Discover herbs and sow seeds to grow at home.
🪴Cool Carnivorous (29–30 July): Get inspired by carnivorous plants and get creative with crafts.
🌷Plant Printing (4–5 August): Make beautiful prints using leaves and petals.
🪳Marvellous Minibeasts (13–14 August): Create insect-inspired crafts inspired by Garden wildlife.
🍃Nature Impressions (20–21 August): Press leaves and petals into clay to create natural textures.
🪄Summer Nature Wand (26–27 August): Make a wand using natural materials and add a touch of summer magic.
🎨Family Saturdays: Add some nature-filled fun to your summer with creative plant and wildlife-inspired craft activities for children aged 3+. Held on the first Saturday of each month (10am–1pm) in the Schools’ Garden, activities are free with standard admission. Booking required.
🥾Welly Walks: Made for little explorers, Welly Walks give pre-school children the chance to explore the Garden through seasonal walks, nature activities and storytelling adventures. Free child ticket required (booking opens one week in advance); standard admission applies for adults.
Summer for adults
🔬Science on Sundays: A free monthly talk series exploring the world of plant science — from nature recovery to the hidden lives of plants. Discover the latest research and ideas from plant science in just 30 minutes.
🌞Summer Tours and Talks: Make the most of summer with free daily tours and talks in the Garden. Discover seasonal highlights on a 60-minute guided tour, or join a short 15-minute Bitesize Talk to learn more about a single plant in the collection.
👣Free tours throughout summer: Join a special tour every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am, as our expert guides lead visitors through the Garden’s seasonal highlights. Tours are free with Garden admission on a first come basis. Sign up at either Garden Ticket Office.
📸International Garden Photographer of the Year competition: A free-to-enter photography competition inviting you to capture the beauty of Cambridge University Botanic Garden through the seasons. Wander the Garden with your camera and record its changing moods — from summer sunshine and stormy skies to frosty mornings, autumn mist and rain on petals.
🎨Short courses: Discover a range of hands-on workshops and courses at the Garden this summer, perfect for developing your plant knowledge, exploring garden history or getting creative. From botanical printing and plant identification to an introduction to botanical Latin, there’s something for everyone
