History and hi-tech co-exist in the city of Cambridge

What they said about Cambridge "Cambridge is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Britain . . . with its magnificent historic buildings, its elegant bridges, manicured lawns and open parks along the River Cam." University of Kent website. "Against my will, in the course of my travels, the belief that everything worth knowing was known at Cambridge gradually wore off." Writer and philosopher Bertrand Russell.

Population 108,900.

Local politics Cambridge city council is Liberal Democrat controlled.

MP Liberal Democrat energy spokesman David Howarth is MP for Cambridge.

Local authority The council's comprehensive performance assessment gave it an "excellent" rating.

Job prospects The city council, with 1,200 staff, needs planners and environmental health officers. The county council, with its HQ in the city, employs 13,000 staff and has shortages of children's social workers, planners and engineers.

Health service The two-star Cambridge University hospitals NHS foundation trust, which includes Addenbrooke's hospital, employs 6,000 staff, was in the second wave of foundation trusts two years ago, and has vacancies for nurses, secretaries (medical and administrative), occupational therapists, midwives, ward assistants, and physiotherapists. Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire strategic health authority has its HQ in Cambridge.

Central government The Insolvency Service and Valuation Office Agency both have offices in the city.

Environment/regeneration Cambridge is known as Silicon Fen after the computer software giant Microsoft made its European HQ there. Architects of the Pompidou Centre and the Millennium Dome are behind an £820m redevelopment due to start this summer on a site by the station.

Voluntary There are 183 international, 1,142 local and 156 national charities in the city, with a total income of £276m. There are 7,224 trustees in the city.

Commuter links M11 to London (80 minutes); A14 to Peterborough (60 minutes) or Felixstowe (90 minutes). Trains to London King's Cross (55 minutes).

Property prices Two-bed flat: £120k £500k (luxury riverside apartment); three-bed semi: £165k-£400k; four-bed detached: £285k-£500k-plus.