The Perfect Day Trip to Cambridge from London (Itinerary + Tips)
Cambridge, a charming university town just an hour from London, is the perfect destination for a day trip. If you have time, take a day trip to Cambridge from London or any other place you’re visiting.
Cambridge has something for everyone, from beautiful buildings to world-class museums and galleries to quiet green spaces.
In this post, I’ve compiled an itinerary to help you make the most of your day in Cambridge. From visiting historical colleges to punting on the River Cam, I’ve got you covered with tips and recommendations to ensure that your day trip is unforgettable.
So sit back and read on to discover how to plan the perfect day trip to Cambridge from London!
How to get from London to Cambridge
Day trip from London to Cambridge: St. Pancras station, London
Day Trip from London to Cambridge by Train
Cambridge is about 100 km (or 64 miles) north of London. It’s a great day trip from London, and you can get there by train, bus, or car.
For this trip, we decided to take a train, which is the fastest way to get from London to Cambridge. Trains leave from either London’s Kings Cross or Liverpool Street train stations and take about 45 minutes to get to Cambridge train station.
Great Northern Rail runs the majority of trains that go from London to Cambridge. You can get your train ticket from Trainline, and it is my favourite UK train service. It is a one-stop platform for train and coach travel in the UK and Europe.
It sells train tickets and railcards and provides free access to real-time train times and information about train stations through its website and a mobile app that works on both iOS and Android.
Return tickets cost either £19.50 (a super off-peak ticket on the weekend) or £28.60 (an off-peak ticket during the week). We went during a bank holiday at the end of May, and despite our last-minute planning, we got a great deal.
PRO TIP: Don’t worry about booking in advance; the prices are standard for this kind of trip in the UK. Just ensure you get a super off-peak ticket to save you some money.
Day Trip from London to Cambridge by Bus
National Express offers regular bus service between London and Cambridge. Buses run all day, starting in the morning and going until just before midnight. The trip on the bus takes about 2 hours. Taking the bus can be cheaper, especially for a day trip.
We found some very cheap tickets, but we opted for the train because it was faster and we wanted to get the best of our time in the city as we just did a day trip.
We were fortunate to travel by bus and train, though. A rail replacement bus between Royston and Cambridge was available when we travelled. This was because of the bank holiday and the rail strikes. So it was a great experience, and the trip wasn’t delayed.
Day Trip from London to Cambridge by Car
Driving from London to Cambridge is also an option for those who prefer the flexibility and convenience of having their own car. The distance between the two cities is about 97 kilometres or 60 miles.
How long it takes to get there by car depends on the traffic and the route you choose. I suggest making plans ahead because parking in Cambridge may be difficult to find and expensive.
Itinerary for a Day Trip to Cambridge
Take a stroll through the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden.
Just a 10-minute walk from Cambridge’s main train and bus station and not too far from the city centre are forty acres of beautiful gardens with plants from all over the world.
Visiting the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden is a unique way to learn about plants, get experts’ advice, and appreciate nature’s beauty. Whether you like plants or art or want a peaceful place to relax, this garden is sure to captivate your senses and leave you with lasting memories.
We didn’t stick around for too long, though, as we had a few places and things to see on our itinerary. Children don’t have to pay for tickets, but adults do at the cost of £8.
I would suggest it as the ideal location to visit and sit without worrying about breaking any rules or, worse yet, getting asked to leave for failing to observe what is allowed and prohibited. More on this later in this post.
Explore the Fitzwilliam Museum
Cambridge is a city that can be explored on foot. After roaming the Cambridge Botanical Garden, as you head towards the centre, don’t forget to explore and admire the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Amazing collections and a long history can be found at the Fitzwilliam Museum. It serves as the University of Cambridge’s art and antiquities museum.
All visitors can get into the museum for free, making it a good place for art lovers, students, and tourists alike. Unfortunately, we had already visited so many UK and European museums that we had to skip seeing this one inside.
We gazed from the outside before leaving to wander around Cambridge. For more details on how to visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, you can click here to read more about how to make free reservations to visit the museum.
Climb the Tower at Great St Mary’s
After admiring and exploring the Fitzwilliam Museum, don’t miss out on climbing the Great St. Mary’s Tower. Great Saint Mary’s Church is the official university church. It is close to the market square in the city’s centre and not far from the Fitzwilliam Museum.
With its panoramic view and exciting history, the Tower at Great St. Mary’s is a captivating place to visit. You can get a 360-degree view by ascending the tower’s 123 steps. Yes! 123 steps sound daunting, but it is worth it. We have climbed more steps than this in Paris (the Arc de Triomphe’s 284 steps). So this was easy for us this time.
From this spot, you can look out over Cambridge and its beautiful surroundings and be amazed! The tower is a great place to see the city’s beautiful architecture, including the famous Cambridge colleges, historic landmarks, and charming city views.
More info on Great St Mary’s Hours & what is included in the entry ticket
Walk around Cambridge Market Square
Another way we made the most of our day trip to Cambridge was by walking around the lovely Cambridge Market Square. Located on the east side of the Great St. Mary’s Church. So it’s best to go to the market right after climbing down from the tower; trust me, you’ll need some energy.
Cambridge Market Square is a famous old market in Cambridge. It has been an important part of the city since the Middle Ages when stalls were set up there to sell goods. It is a must-see place because of how lively it is, how many things it has to offer, and how it is connected to the area.
I would highly recommend it if you’re travelling, especially if it’s your first time in Cambridge. You can learn about the city’s past, get to know the locals, and find out about a variety of goods and crafts by exploring the market. You can also grab a quick bite to eat or go to any of the restaurants for lunch. There are a lot of them in this area.
Visit a college (or a few of them)
Cambridge is home to the famous University of Cambridge, and its beautiful colleges are a must-see. Most of them are open to the public. They charge a small fee to visit, but most are worth it.
Pick one or two from the list of great colleges to learn more about their interesting histories and beautiful buildings. Trinity College, King’s College, and St. John’s College are well-known. Another option would be going on a guided walking tour around the colleges.
Go Punting on the River Cam
People often say that punting on the River Cam in Cambridge is a must-do for first-time visitors. I agree after experiencing it. It is a unique and beautiful experience that lets you see Cambridge’s beautiful sights and colleges from the water.
I enjoyed punting, mainly since we chose to do it as our last activity on our day trip. So here’s why I would highly recommend you add this to your day trip to Cambridge:
Punting Options
Cambridge has two punting tours: the lower Cam and the upper Cam. Most punting is done on the lower part of the River Cam. Both options offer a similar experience, but the scenery and routes may vary. This is what our punting guide told us.
See the Most Scenic Views of Cambridge
When you go punting, you can see Cambridge from a different angle. Floating down the river, you can admire the colleges’ stunning architecture, picturesque bridges, and green riverbanks. It’s a peaceful way to enjoy the beauty of the city.
Duration and Cost
Punting trips in Cambridge usually last about an hour. This length lets you enjoy the experience without wasting time. As for the price, it depends on which punting company you choose and what other services they offer. We took a shared punt and paid £50 for both of us, which was reduced from £70.
I would recommend checking with the punting companies directly or on their websites for the most up-to-date pricing information. We booked through Scudamore’s, which I recommend.
PRO TIP: Don’t book in advance! Just go before the sun sets. If you visit in late spring or early June and book directly, you will be able to negotiate the price, and it will be less crowded.
Tips for Visiting Cambridge
If you’re planning a day trip to Cambridge from London or from elsewhere, there are many tips and resources to help you make the most of your visit, including opening hours, ticket prices, discounts, and more. Here are some ways that made the most of our day enjoyable, and I hope you will also find them useful:
Advice on navigating crowds and lines at popular attractions
Since Cambridge is a small city, Regent Street and the city centre are likely to be crowded. It’s not overly crowded, though, unlike, say, London. It’s mostly students and a few tourists. Which makes it a great day trip destination escape from London.
PRO TIP: When touring some of the top colleges, be on the lookout for signs of what is permitted and prohibited because some colleges have strict rules that you may not like.
What to bring on a day trip to Cambridge
Don’t bring too much with you on this special trip. Ensure you have the basics: a good camera or phone to capture the beauty of the city, a power bank, comfortable shoes for walking around, and a sense of wonder to enjoy the magic of Cambridge.
Recommendations for places to eat or drink in Cambridge
There are many places to eat and drink in Cambridge. Since we hadn’t eaten breakfast before leaving, the first thing we did when we arrived was eat one to give us the energy to start exploring. We ate at Greggs, which was right outside the train station. Usually, you’d be disappointed in London, but Greggs Cambridge was surprisingly good and cheap.
After we walked around the city centre, we took a short break to refuel. We ate a quick bite at Cambridge Market Square and then went to Smokeworks for a pint. You could also think about eating lunch at the Anchor.
Going Back to London
By 7 p.m., we had finished our last activity of the day and were on our way back to London along the same route, changing to a bus and train in Royston.
A day trip from London to Cambridge is a great way to get away from the busy city. This old town has much to see and do, thanks to its beautiful buildings, world-famous universities, and charming streets. Cambridge has something for everyone, from punting on the Cam to visiting museums.
I hope my itinerary and tips will help you make the most of your visit and make memories. So the next time you’re looking for somewhere to visit for a day trip from London, make Cambridge your top pick!
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Happy Exploring!
Jane xx
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THINGS TO DO IN CAMBRIDGE
