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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Cambridge
Give Cambridge one full day plus a night: colleges and the Backs on foot, then a half-day for the Fitzwilliam or a punt. Two nights if you add Ely or Duxford.
Cambridge is a compact university city about 50 miles north of London, with most sights inside a 20-minute walk. The colleges, the river Cam and the market square are the core; the city also works as a base for Ely, Duxford and the flat fen countryside. Trains from London King's Cross take 40–45 minutes, so it is easy as a day trip but better with one night.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowds), late Dec–Jan (short days, closures)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £45–75 excl. bed · Mid £75–130 excl. bed · High £130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Emergency (police, fire, ambulance) 999 · Emergency from any phone 112 · NHS non-urgent 111 · Police non-urgent 101
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | £3–4.50 |
| Pub main course | £12–18 |
| Sandwich or lunch deal | £5–8 |
| Pint of beer | £5–7 |
| Punt, shared, about 45 min | £18–25 |
| College entry (where charged) | £5–15 |
| Bus single in the city | £2–3 |
| Taxi, 3 km (1.9 mi) in the centreTaxi, 1.9 mi (3 km) in the centre | £8–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- STN · London Stansted
- Closest airport, about 30 miles; train to Cambridge takes roughly 35 min
- LHR · London Heathrow
- Direct National Express coaches; rail via London with a change
- LGW · London Gatwick
- Direct Thameslink trains, at least twice hourly through the day
- LTN · London Luton
- Direct National Express coach route 788
Typical fares
- Stansted Airport → Cambridge by train
- about 35 min
- London King's Cross → Cambridge, non-stop
- 40–45 min
- Park and Ride return into the centre
- from £3
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable and largely traffic-free; most sights sit within 20 minutes on foot. Buses (Citi and the Busway) link the rail stations, Park and Ride sites and the centre. Bikes are the local default: hire from a shop or use the app-based e-bikes within the set zone. Driving into the centre is restricted and parking is limited — use a Park and Ride.
See and do
Known for
- University of Cambridge colleges
- King's College Chapel
- Punting on the River Cam
- The Backs
- Fitzwilliam Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ely | Direct train from Cambridge, about 15–20 min | About 45 min |
| Duxford | Bus or bike via National Cycle Network Route 11; about 9 miles south | About 45–60 min |
| Peterborough | Direct train, about 50 min | About 1 h 15 min |
| Huntingdon | The Busway B or C, or train | About 45–60 min |
| St Neots | Stagecoach 905 bus or train | About 50–70 min |
| Fowlmere | Bike or car via the A10 and local lanes | About 40 min |
Sleep
- City centre (Market Square / Corn Exchange)
- Walk to most colleges and the river; highest prices, book early.
- Mill Road
- Independent cafés and food, 10–15 min walk south of the centre; cheaper rooms.
- Station area (CB1)
- Best for early trains and Stansted/London links; 20–25 min walk or a short bus to the colleges.
- Chesterton / Cambridge North
- Quieter, good for the Science Park and the Busway; 25–30 min walk to the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Please | Please |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Shared pavements: cyclists use some footways, so keep left and listen for bells.
- Punting prices are negotiable and vary by operator and season: agree the price and duration before you board.
- Some colleges charge entry and close to visitors during exams and graduation (roughly May–Jun): check each college's site.
- Park and Ride buses stop in the evening; check the last departure before you leave the car.
- Summer weekends and graduation season fill hotels: book weeks ahead.
Cambridge is a low-risk city for visitors. Watch for bikes on shared pavements, keep bags zipped in the market crowds, and agree punting prices before boarding.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Cambridge yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- University of Cambridge colleges
- King's College Chapel
- Punting on the River Cam
- The Backs
- Fitzwilliam Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Cambridge (official tourism): www.visitcambridge.org/
- Cambridge City Council: www.cambridge.gov.uk/
- National Rail: www.nationalrail.co.uk/
- Cambridge Park and Ride: cambridgeparkandride.info/pricing.shtml
- University of Cambridge: www.cam.ac.uk/
- Wikivoyage: Cambridge, revision 5332962 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5332962
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Cambridge
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)999
- Emergency from any phone112
- NHS non-urgent111
- Police non-urgent101
No embassies in Cambridge; the US embassy and most others are in London. For urgent consular help, contact your embassy in London (check).
Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants if no service charge is added; not expected in pubs. Emergency numbers are UK-wide.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/cambridge). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.