How to get to Cambridge from London

Want to get all the info on how to get to Cambridge from London?  You’re in the right place.  I’m a Cambridge local who’s been regularly traveling to and from London for years, and still travel this route today.

In this guide I’ll cover the various public transport options to get to Cambridge from London, including by bus, train and coach, plus more.  I’ll also include some of my top tips if you’re getting the train to Cambridge from London.

Visiting Cambridge from London is a popular option, with historic Cambridge making a fab day out.  If you’re looking for the cheapest, fastest and best ways to get to Cambridge from London, I’ve got you covered.  So, let’s jump straight in to all the details you need to know to get to Cambridge from London.

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How to get to Cambridge from London

Cambridge makes a great day trip from London, or stay all weekend to enjoy more of its historic charm. 

If you’re looking for help with how to plan your time in London, check out my London in two days itinerary.

Thankfully its very east to get from London to Cambridge.  If you travel without a car, you can take a train or a coach, or book a Cambridge tour from London.  You can also drive to Cambridge from London as they are so close to each other.

Read all the details below to find out which option is best for you.

Cambridge by train from London

Getting to Cambridge by train from London is a very convenient way to travel.  I take the train from London to Cambridge regularly and find the express service from London Kings Cross efficient. 

Given how frequently trains run and the existence of both fast and cheap options, travelling to Cambridge from London by train is the best way to make the journey.   

London to Cambridge train departure stations

Direct trains from London to Cambridge leave from:

• Kings Cross
• Liverpool Street
• London St Pancras

Cheapest trains to Cambridge from London

To get the cheapest train to Cambridge from London, get a ticket for a train that leaves from Liverpool Street.  This route is run by Greater Anglia and you can get a return ticket off peak from as little as £16 for an advance return (bought as two advance singles). 

As well as leaving from Liverpool Street station, another way to get cheap tickets is to book in advance. Schedules and tickets are typically released by train operators 12 weeks in advance.

If you regularly travel with the same person, invest in a Two Together Railcard which you can use to save a third on train tickets when you travel together in the UK.

Pro tip: if you’re travelling in a group of three more, you can purchase a group ticket, which gives you a massive third off the total price if you travel at off peak times.

Best train from London to Cambridge

The best train from London to Cambridge is the Kings Cross train.  Trains are frequent and the fast service, which doesn’t stop, only takes 50 minutes.  Although it costs more than the Liverpool Street trains, I often prefer to pay the extra for the convenience of a quicker journey.

Cambridge from London train times

There are lots of trains from London to Cambridge throughout the day.  The direct Kings Cross trains usually leave twice an hour, as do the Liverpool Street trains.  St Pancras trains are less regular.

First and last trains

The first trains from London to Cambridge usually leave at around 5am.

Trains to Cambridge from London do not run all night.  However, there are late departures from London, so you can often find a train to go to Cambridge from London as late as 1am.  Check the timetables for up-to-date times. 

My experience of the later trains is that they get very busy at weekends, so arrive ten minutes early if you want to get a chance of a seat.

Return trains from Cambridge to London

For return trains from Cambridge to London, there are frequent services which run until just before midnight.  The fast Cambridge train to London Kings Cross stops running at 11.10pm.  Trains after this are slower services which stop on the way.

The last direct Cambridge to London Liverpool Street train leaves at 10.50pm.

Cambridge from London train journey time

• Liverpool Street trains take between 1 hour and 10 minutes and up to 1 hour and 50 minutes.
• Kings Cross direct trains to Cambridge take 50 minutes (there are other Kings Cross trains which take longer as they stop on the way).
• St Pancras trains take from 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Cambridge train tickets from London

To purchase train tickets from London to Cambridge, visit thetrainline.com.

Cambridge train stations

Consider whereabouts in Cambridge you’ll be going as there are two train stations in Cambridge.  The main train station is simply called Cambridge.  Although this is the main station it’s still a 20-minute walk to the city centre and key things to do in Cambridge.

If you don’t want to walk, or aren’t able to, there are plenty of buses that make the route.  As you leave the station, cross over the road to the left of the station to find them.  The current bus ticket price into Cambridge is from £1.80.

Uber also operates in Cambridge and there is a taxi rank just to the right as you exit the station. Ubers can’t use the taxi rank, so you’ll need to choose a different pick up point. If you’re unsure on whether to tip your driver, check out my guide on tipping in the UK, including a handy tip calculator.

Cambridge Station is surrounded by some great places to eat and drink.  Check out the Venetian Café for a delicious hot chocolate and Italian food in a relaxed atmosphere.   

The other station is called Cambridge North and is much quieter and less busy than the main Cambridge station.  So, you might want to use it for your return train from Cambridge to London.

How to get to Cambridge from London by bus or coach

There are no direct buses to Cambridge from London but you can make the journey by coach.  There are two main operators for the coach route, FlixBus and National Express. 

I’ve used both companies to make the journey and found them to be similar in comfort but FlixBus is typically cheaper. 

FlixBus coaches leave London from Stratford or Finchley Road, North Greenwich or Victoria in London.  Journey time is from one to three hours, depending on the route and time of travel.

National Express coaches to Cambridge from London mostly depart from London Victoria and London Stratford as well as Golders Green and London Paddington.  Journey time is similar to the FlixBus journey time but tickets are more expensive. 

Purchase tickets for National Express and FlixBus coaches at busbud.

One way tickets cost from £6 on Flix bus.  Buy in advance to get the best price.

The last return FlixBus coach from Cambridge to London leaves at 10pm (9.40pm on Saturdays) but not from the city centre.  You’ll need to get to Trumpington Park and Ride to get this service.

National Express coaches leave throughout most of the night but require a change of coach at Stansted Airport.

How to get to Cambridge from London by car

If you prefer to have the convenience of driving yourself, you can hire a car and drive from London to Cambridge.  Discover Cars are a popular car rental site where you can compare prices across local and national providers.  Check their highly rated customer reviews on Trustpilot.

London to Cambridge distance

The distance from London to Cambridge is 61 miles or 98 kilometres.  This is based on a starting point of Trafalgar Square in London.

Journey time from London to Cambridge by car depends on the traffic but allow between one and a half to two hours.  Most of the journey is along the M11, one of the main motorways in England.  

Parking in Cambridge can be difficult and is notoriously expensive.  

My top tips for parking are:

Park at one of the five Park and Ride sites around Cambridge and take the bus in from there.  The Park and Ride at Trumpington is most convenient if you’re driving via the M11. 

A return ticket on the Park and Ride bus costs from only £3.50 and allows you to park all day, which is a bargain in Cambridge. 

Alternatively, you can try to find a space at Queen Anne Terrace multi-storey car park or Castle Hill car park.  They are both at opposite ends of the city and take 15 minutes to walk to the city centre from either.

Castle Hill car park is the better option if you’re planning on punting in Cambridge, as it’s only a few minutes’ walk downhill to where the boats leave from, next to Magdalene College (pronounced moard-lynn).

Pro tip: after 6pm you can park at Queen Anne Terrace car park or Castle Hill car park for free. 

Cambridge day trips from London

If you prefer to go on an organised tour, and who doesn’t like letting someone else do all the organising once in a while, there are lots of London to Cambridge day trips to enjoy. 

Here is the most highly rated Cambridge day trip from London. On this trip you’ll be taken by coach to Cambridge and be greeted by a local guide to show you the highlights of Cambridge. You’ll also get to enter the St Mary’s church tower and have free time to explore at your own pace.

Top Cambridge tour from London

Getting around Cambridge by taxi

Once you’re in Cambridge, you can enjoy spending the day visiting some of Cambridge’s many museums and colleges by foot.  There are some great walks in Cambridge. 

However, if you’ve got luggage or are staying outside the centre you might need to use a taxi.

The two main taxi firms I use in Cambridge are:

• Panther Taxi – phone 01223 715715

• A1 Cabco – phone 01223 313131

Uber operates in Cambridge, as does Bolt.  I’ve used both plenty of times to get to and from Cambridge station and there’s not much to choose between them.  They all cost roughly the same.    

FAQs

How far is Cambridge from London?

Cambridge is 61 miles from London.  It takes around one and a half hours to make the journey by car or a direct train takes 50 minutes.

What station in London goes to Cambridge?

The two main stations in London where trains to Cambridge go from are Liverpool Street and Kings Cross.  There are also less frequent trains which go from London St Pancras to Cambridge.

What is the easiest way to get to Cambridge from London?

The easiest way to get to Cambridge from London is to take the fast train from Kings Cross.  There are typically two departures an hour and journey time is only 50 minutes.  This is quicker than driving and saves you having to try to find somewhere to park in Cambridge.

Is Cambridge a day trip from London?

Yes, Cambridge is day trip from London.  You get to the city in under an hour from London and there are historic colleges, pretty streets and beautiful green spaces to explore.  Not to mention the iconic Cambridge activity of gliding down the River Cam on a punt.

How long does it take to get from London to Cambridge by train?

The fastest train from London to Cambridge takes 50 minutes (well, 48 actually according to the schedule but every time I’ve taken it its been more like 50 minutes). There are also slower trains which take anywhere up to an hour and a half.

What is the main station in Cambridge called?

The main station in Cambridge is called Cambridge.  There is another station to the North of the city, called Cambridge North and a Cambridge South station is also in development.

Wrap up: how to get from London to Cambridge

I hope this article has helped you with your travel plans, so you can enjoy a day trip to Cambridge from London, or a longer visit.

I’ve used the Cambridge to London train and London to Cambridge train many times and found it to be a frequent, fast and useful service.  I’ve also travelled by coach from from Cambridge to London and in reverse.  The main advantage of coach travel for this route is if you can get a cheap ticket. 

Whatever transport you choose, don’t forget to book punting whilst on a day trip from London to Cambridge, it’s one of the best things you can do in the city.