To the northwest is Parker's Piece, a large grassed area with footpaths. There are panoramic views of Parker's Piece from Gonville Place.
The distinctive Parkside Pools indoor swimming pool building with a wavy roof was built 1998–99, with support from the United Kingdom National Lottery.[3]
There was little development around Gonville Place until the 19th century.[1] The most important building along it in the early 19th century was the Cambridge Town Gaol. However, by the late 19th century, the construction of large houses with landscaped gardens meant that the street became a fashionable residential area. Some of these houses were replaced during the 1960s and 1970s. The street now forms part of the busy ring road, with the associated traffic problems that brings, especially for the many cyclists in the city.[6][7]
