Mathematical Bridge

It is nothing special, just a normal wooden bridge over the river Cam. You can walk on it from Queens College. Would be good to visit on a sunny day, but don't expect much. Entrance to Queens College is £5, which is quite a lot for just walking on the bridge.

As one of the attractions in Cambridge, its hard to miss this. Accessible as well.

The Mathematical Bridge, elegantly spanning the River Cam at Queens’ College, is a marvel that artfully blends engineering prowess with aesthetic grace. Constructed with mathematical precision, this wooden wonder is a quintessential symbol of Cambridge, much admired by both locals and visitors alike. Despite its seeming complexity, the beauty of the Mathematical Bridge lies in its ingenious simplicity – a testament to the time-honoured principles of geometry and physics. A walk across the bridge is indeed a step into a storied past, rich with tales of student pranks and the collective wisdom of scholars. Overlooking the tranquil river and the verdant Backs, the Mathematical Bridge serves not only as a conduit between the college’s courts but also as a vantage point for some of the most delightful views in Cambridge. Whether at the break of dawn or in the quietude of twilight, the bridge presents a picture of serenity and timeless charm. Indeed, a visit to Cambridge would be incomplete without experiencing the historic allure of the Mathematical Bridge.

Canbrigde,, is an excellent choice for a day trip from London or a two day stay next to London adventure!!! Lively town and a glimpse of the English country side!!! I strongly recommend it ! The bridge now, was actually designed in 1748 by William Etheridge (1709–76), and was built in 1749 by James Essex the Younger (1722–84). It has subsequently been repaired in 1866 and rebuilt to the same design in 1905. The red-brick building seen on the right of the photograph is the riverside building (ca. 1460), the oldest building on the river at Cambridge, containing parts of the President’s Lodge. The arrangement of timbers is a series of tangents that describe the arc of the bridge, with radial members to tie the tangents together and triangulate the structure, making it rigid and self-supporting. This type of structure, technically tangent and radial trussing, is an efficient structural use of timber, and was also used for the timber supporting arches (centring) used for building stone bridges.[6] Analysis of the design shows that the tangent members are almost entirely under compression, while the radial timbers are almost entirely subject to tension with very little bending stress, or to put it another way, the tangent and radial elements elegantly express the forces involved in arched construction.

Pretty little wooden bridge that crosses the river cam... It's of historical significance and spans between queens college.. Worth a visit if you are in Cambridge and want to see sights of interest.. Of course you can also hire a punt to go along the river cam and under the bridge...