American media company Forbes has named Cambridge one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Forbes describes Cambridge as having, “tight streets, a famous university and glimpses of parks, commons and courtyards.” The magazine praises Cambridge for having a unique mixture of old and modern buildings.

According to the report, Cambridge’s best features include the River Cam, King’s College Chapel, and the University’s Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

The list of most beautiful cities was created after consulting numerous experts, including specialists in the fields of urban planning, architecture, and sustainable development. Other cities named to the list include: Tokyo, Paris, Vancouver, Sydney, Florence, Venice, Cape Town, San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and London.

Emma Thornton, head of tourism and city centre management of Cambridge, told Varsity that she was “not surprised” to see Cambridge on the list.

Thornton explained, “One of the things that sets Cambridge apart from other cities is its diversity. It’s rich in heritage, has many open, green spaces and also has great retail on offer. To incorporate all these things in a compact city centre is exceptional.”

She added, “Cambridge offers a cultural mix; it has the complete package and caters for everyone.”

Tourism is a major industry for Cambridge, with around 4.6 million people visiting the city every year. As an industry, tourism generates around £351 million for the local economy each year, and employs about 6,500 people.

Students at the University echoed Thornton’s comments. Nathan Bookbinder-Ryan, a Philosophy student from Queens’, agreed that Cambridge’s diversity sets it apart from other cities.

According to him, "The extraordinary thing about Cambridge is the blend of the traditional Tudor and medieval buildings with the modern ones. I mean, you can sit in Café Nero and look at King’s College Chapel, which took 100 years to build. That’s pretty special.”

Holly Lovering, a Geography student from Girton agreed: “It’s worrying how used to the city you become. But, every so often something catches your eye and you just think, ‘wow’.”