Travel to Cambridge

Travel to Cambridge

Cambridge is a unique university city which has attracted students for nearly 800 years and is one of the most scenic cities in England. The River Cam runs its course through the city centre and this is a popular spot for punting, one of the numerous tourist attractions which draw thousands of tourists to Cambridge every year.

Transportation to Cambridge

The small regional Cambridge City Airport has good connections to several UK destinations. London Stansted International Airport is located 25 miles south of Cambridge. It serves many major domestic and European cities and offers excellent passenger facilities. Regular trains and buses, departing directly from the airport, provide connections to Cambridge in less than one hour. Trains from around the UK arrive at Cambridge Station, located in Station Road. The city is also served by a nationwide coach network, departing from the bus and coach station in Drummer Street.

Within Cambridge itself, walking and cycling is easy as the city is small and compact. A number of bus services also operate in and around the city. Open-top double-decker guided bus tours run at regular intervals throughout the day in the city centre.

What to see

There are plenty of attractions to entertain visitors to Cambridge, including several historical colleges, churches and gardens. For a good overview of the city, head for Castle Hill, close to Cambridges Magdalene College and the River Cam. St Edwards Church is an impressive structure featuring a mixture of styles. It was dedicated to Edward the Confessor, King of England, until his death in 1066. Corpus Christi College, founded in 1352, features the oldest surviving college courtyard in all of Cambridge. Audley End House and Gardens, owned by English Heritage, is home to attractions such as a variety of paintings, landscaped gardens, ponds, a formal parterre garden, a quaint stretch of the River Cam and an historic bridge.

Daytrips

St Ives, not far from central Cambridge, is a dynamic market town and is an ideal place for walking along the scenic riverbanks. Another charming village, Grantchester, is full of thatched cottages and meadows with wild flowers next to the peaceful Granta River. Newmarket, home of British flat racing, has many attractions such as the National Horseracing Museum, which exhibits the history of horse racing in the United Kingdom and houses various interesting exhibits and displays, a gallery area and a racehorse simulator.

Activities and leisure

One of the most popular outdoor pastimes in Cambridge is surely punting on the River Cam. This involves slowly gliding along the river in gondola-like boats, manoeuvring with long, wooden poles. Not as easy as it looks. There are also several golf courses in the Cambridge area, offering excellent facilities and spectacular views.

Safety issues

Cambridge is generally a safe city for visitors. The large student population can sometimes get a bit rowdy at the weekends, but no major incidents have been reported. Visitors should keep an eye on their personal belongings at all times.