Our Cambridge Travel Guide includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for one of the most famous university cities in the world. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Cambridge!
Plan your visit to Cambridge
Located 55 miles north of London is the city of Cambridge. Home to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious universities this ancient seat of learning, and historic city, is smaller and more compact than Oxford.
Spend the day exploring some of its 31 architecturally stunning colleges and famous museums, or take to the river for a spot of punting.
Read on for Cambridge travel tips and advice to help you plan your visit.
What you will find in this complete Cambridge Travel Guide
- Plan your visit to Cambridge
- 🏆 Top 3 tours in Cambridge
- Cambridge travel guide – Visiting Cambridge FAQ's
- Attractions and things to do in Cambridge
- Accommodation in Cambridge
- Tickets, tours & attractions in Cambridge
- Where to eat in Cambridge
- Books to read before visiting Cambridge
- Enjoy your visit to Cambridge!
🏆 Top 3 tours in Cambridge
Cambridge travel guide – Visiting Cambridge FAQ’s
Map of Cambridge
When is the best time of year to visit Cambridge?
Cambridge is one of England’s most beautiful cities and a fantastic destination, no matter what time of year you plan to visit.
During the summer, Cambridge is the perfect destination to try punting. Look at the river and enjoy views of the bridges and university buildings as you meander.
Cambridge is one of the UK’s driest cities, so with luck, you should have a pleasant and dry day whatever time of year you choose to visit.
The Cambridge Folk Festival, the biggest folk festival in Europe, is held annually from June to July.
How many days do you need in Cambridge?
Cambridge’s main sights and attractions can be seen in a day, making it the perfect day trip from London.
What is the best way to explore Cambridge?
The city’s main attractions and sights are within easy walking distance, making Cambridge a great destination for exploring on foot.
To make the most of your visit, we recommend joining a guided walking tour (I recommend taking a tour which includes access to King’s College Chapel)
Which city should I visit – Oxford or Cambridge?
Both cities have their unique charms and are worth a visit.
Cambridge is a smaller city than Oxford. There is less to do and see but it is a beautiful and easy city to explore in a day.
Oxford is the larger city and has lots of things to see and do so could easily fill 2 days if you wish to explore all its colleges and museums. It is also the perfect destination to visit if you are considering a road trip to the Cotswolds.
If you are a Harry Potter fan head to Oxford where you will find several film locations used in a number of the movies.
Read more about visiting Oxford in my Oxford Travel Guide.
As I have mentioned, both cities are doable for day trips from London by train. If you only have one day and want to see both cities take this Oxford & Cambridge Day Tour from London.
What is the best way to travel to Cambridge from London?
By train from London
For timetables and tickets we recommend the trainline. Take the train to Cambridge for the day or incorporate it into your UK train travel itinerary.
Tip – If this is your first time catching a train in the UK read our complete guide to UK train travel ebook which includes all the information you need to know to make travelling around the UK by rail a relaxing and stress-free experience.
- Distance from London: 55 miles
- Time taken by train: 50 minutes to 1 hour 50, depending on the route
- London St Pancras International to Cambridge is the quickest route.
By car from London
Cambridge is 55 miles from London and takes over an hour and 30 minutes to reach by car. Unless you are planning to visit from London and head to other destinations in the UK, we recommend taking the train!
If you do plan to drive to Cambridge, parking is expensive, so we recommend using the Park and Ride scheme. There are five locations around the city where you can park your car and catch a bus.
🚙 Considering a road trip around Scotland? Not sure if you’re up to driving in the UK? We recommend using a Tripiamo guide to familiarise yourself with it before your journey. Previous UK Travel Planning users have said this has made them feel much more comfortable getting behind the wheel. Find out more in our guide to renting a car in the UK 🚗
Take a tour from London to Cambridge
We recommend these day tours to Cambridge from Get Your Guide.
- City and University Tour including King’s College – Visit the iconic landmarks of Cambridge University and enter the famous King’s College Chapel. Enjoy a walking tour with a Cambridge University student and see the world behind the institution’s closed doors.
- Exclusive Chauffeur: London to Cambridge and Woburn Abbey – Enjoy the luxury and comfort of your own private chauffeur whisking you out of London to beautiful Cambridge and Woburn Abbey. Discover the beauty of the English countryside on this exclusive private tour.
Attractions and things to do in Cambridge
One Day in Cambridge Itinerary (coming soon) with information about the best things to do in Cambridge and an itinerary for your day, including visiting the Fitzwilliam Museum, going for a punt on the River Cam, exploring Cambridge’s Colleges (each an architectural marvel) such as St John’s King’s College and much more!
Accommodation in Cambridge
We have stayed in Cambridge twice over the past few years to spend additional time exploring this beautiful English city. As we were travelling by train, we chose the Centennial Hotel located near the train station (which gave us the option of catching the bus to the centre or a 20-minute walk)
Centennial Hotel
Located near Cambridge Railway Station and opposite the University Botanic Gardens, the recently refurbished Centennial Hotel is a budget-friendly option with historic charm.
This comfortable hotel is conveniently located a 15-minute walk from the University Colleges and city centre hotspots and is on bus routes.
Additional accommodation options in Cambridge
- Gonville Hotel >> 4 star | 5-minute walk from the historic centre | 2 restaurants
- Westminster College >> Centrally located | Free WiFi | Private parking
- Hotel du Vin Cambridge >> Grade II Listed | 5-minute walk from city centre | French bistro
- University Arms, Cambridge >> Central location | 192 rooms & suites | Parker’s Tavern
- ibis Cambridge Central Station >> 24-hour front desk | On-site coffee shop | Near attractions
🏨 Find more special stays in our Accommodation Guide for England.
Tickets, tours & attractions in Cambridge
There are numerous walking tours (and punting tours) available in Cambridge.
- University Punting and Walking Tour – Discover the beauty of Cambridge on a combined 90-minute walking tour and 50-minute punting cruise along the River Cam.
- Guided Walking Tour of Historic Cambridge – Take a two hour guided tour of historic Cambridge with an accredited Cambridge Green Badge guide. The fun and family-friendly tour will show you the city’s stunning buildings and tell you about its many famous names.
- Cambridge University Guided Walking Tour with a Graduate – Get an insight into life at one of the world’s most elite universities on a 1.5-hour historical walking tour of Cambridge University with a graduate guide. Visit some of the most famous colleges, such as Clare College and Trinity College.
Where to eat in Cambridge
Two recommendations (you can find more in our itinerary planners), but we had a fabulous Sunday roast at the Cambridge Chophouse. And a visit to Cambridge is not complete without a drink and a meal at the Eagle Pub! (see below why this historic pub is a must!)
Books to read before visiting Cambridge
Cambridge is proud of its literary heritage and connections with famous authors who have studied or taught at one of its colleges. We recommend reading some of their works to fully appreciate and enjoy your visit to Cambridge.
These include
- William Wordsworth
- Sylvia Plath
- Ted Hughes
- E.M.Forster
- A.A.Milne
- Zadie Smith
- Sebastian Faulks
- Stephen Fry
- Salman Rushdie
- Margaret Drabble
- Joanne Harris
- Nick Hornby
Enjoy your visit to Cambridge!
You will find more inspiration and ideas to help plan your travels around England in these travel guides:
Looking for more inspiration for your travels in England? Check out my England Travel Planning Guide which has lots of ideas, tips and resources to plan your itinerary.