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Major city · 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.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (crowds), late Dec–Jan (short days, closures)
Airports
STN · LHR · LGW · LTN
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

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.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Cambridge, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • Street or quick mealSandwich or lunch deal£5–8 (≈ US$7–11)
  • BeerPint of beer£5–7 (≈ US$7–10)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, 3 km in the centre£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)
  • Metro or bus rideBus single in the city£2–3 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Museum or sight ticketCollege entry (where charged)£5–15 (≈ US$7–20)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel or B&B, a night, per room£130 (≈ US$180)
  • High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel or B&B, a night, per room£260 (≈ US$350)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £160 (≈ US$250)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

University of Cambridge collegesKing's College ChapelPunting on the River CamThe BacksFitzwilliam Museum
Airports
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)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Cambridge: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C

1°C

11 rd

Feb

8°C

1°C

9 rd

Mar

11°C

3°C

10 rd

Apr

14°C

4°C

9 rd

May

18°C

7°C

9 rd

Jun

21°C

10°C

9 rd

Jul

23°C

12°C

9 rd

Aug

23°C

12°C

9 rd

Sep

20°C

10°C

9 rd

Oct

15°C

7°C

10 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

11 rd

Dec

7°C

2°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting 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 & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Ely

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Direct train from Cambridge, about 15–20 min

Cathedral and riverside; half a day is enough.

Duxford

go

Door to door: About 45–60 min

Bus or bike via National Cycle Network Route 11; about 9 miles south

Imperial War Museum airfield; allow 3–4 hours.

Peterborough

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Direct train, about 50 min

Cathedral is the draw; the station is a walk from the centre.

Huntingdon

caution

Door to door: About 45–60 min

The Busway B or C, or train

Small town; combine with the Busway ride for its own sake.

St Neots

skip

Door to door: About 50–70 min

Stagecoach 905 bus or train

Riverside town, little to justify the trip unless passing.

Fowlmere

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

Bike or car via the A10 and local lanes

RSPB reserve; needs your own transport.

Ramsey

skip

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus or car, about 25 miles north

Fen town with an abbey gatehouse; awkward without a car.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

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.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–75 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
Mid
£75–130 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
High
£130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, mid-range hotel or B&B1 × 1 night × £130£130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £85£170
Park and Ride return into the centre2 × £3£6
Punt, shared, about 45 min2 × £20£40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£37
Trip total≈ £202 per person per day, bed included£403≈ US$550

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Cambridge excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Sandwich or lunch deal£5–8 (≈ US$7–11)
Pint of beer£5–7 (≈ US$7–10)
Punt, shared, about 45 min£18–25 (≈ US$25–35)
College entry (where charged)£5–15 (≈ US$7–20)
Bus single in the city£2–3 (≈ US$3–4)
Taxi, 3 km in the centre£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

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.
  • 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.

Emergency numbers

Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
999
Emergency from any phone (EU-wide)
112
NHS non-urgent advice
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CambridgeCambridge

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Emergency (police, fire, ambulance)999
  • Emergency from any phone112
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies in Cambridge; the US embassy and most others are in London. For urgent consular help, contact your embassy in London (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • 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 (≈ US$4)

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?

Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants if no service charge is added; not expected in pubs. Emergency numbers are UK-wide.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cambridge. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds), late Dec–Jan (short days, closures) · month by month →
  2. 4 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for STN: last train and coach times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Market Square and the colleges, the Backs and the river, Mill Road, the station and CB1.
  3. Place pages with verified entry rules and cutoffs (King's College Chapel, Fitzwilliam Museum, the colleges that charge) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Punting operator comparison with agreed price bands and duration, so the page can say what a fair fare looks like.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources