Whether you’re on a tight budget or not, if you’re thinking of traveling to Cambridge, England any time soon, you may want to read this Cambridge travel guide before you go.
I am living in Cambridge, UK as I write this and have been here for over a year; I leave in a month and a half for my first solo trip. That’s why I thought of making this my first post.
What better place to start than the beautiful city you currently live in?
This guide is geared more towards backpackers than holidaymakers, but Cambridge isn’t cheap. However, if you know where to look and go, you can have a great time visiting the museums, botanical gardens, universities and colleges, and much more!
How to get to Cambridge
Getting to Cambridge depends on where you come from and your budget.
stansted airport
If you fly, Stansted Airport is the closest airport to Cambridge. There is a direct train that is very easy to find and runs regularly to Cambridge. Trains take between 30 and 40 minutes and the price ranges from £9.50 to £12.50 depending on what time of day you go. There is also a bus option which I will explain in the next section.
bus and coach
There are buses to Cambridge from Birmingham, London, Milton Keynes, Oxford and Stansted Airport. You need to decide what is the best form of transportation for you, but using the buses will be your cheapest option.
All buses arrive and depart from the Drummer Street and Emmanuel Street bus stops, which are next to each other and located in the center of the city. For all prices and times, the best place to go is the National Express website, which you can find here.
Train
Cambridge has a very good train service and is easy to find. With many connections to London, Stansted Airport and East Anglia, using trains is definitely the fastest option if you’re in a hurry. There are three main railway lines;
Cross Country – This is a direct link between Stansted Airport and Birmingham, this is the fastest line for anyone traveling from Birmingham or Stansted or anywhere in between.
National Express East Anglia: This train runs to London Liverpool Street. They also have trains that run in the Ely/Norwich direction.
First Capital Express: trains to London Kings Cross (can also be spelled London Kings X), also trains to Ely and Kings Lynn. To be honest I never paid much attention to which train line I was using and I have used the trains in Cambridge a lot! I tend to use the National Rail website to check live schedules and prices before I go.
Local transportation
If you need to use a bus to get around Cambridge, Stage Coach is your best option. You can get a day pass for £3.30 which is valid for the whole day and can be used as many times as you need on all Cambridge Stagecoach buses. The nozzles work every 10 – 20 minutes.
Accommodation
Staying in Cambridge can be expensive, the cheapest place I know is the YHA, it’s a hostel and has great reviews. Prices are around £20 per night. If you want a hotel, they can be anywhere from £75 a night up to the £400 mark, ouch! So if you’re a backpacker on a budget, staying at the YHA Cambridge Hostel is by far your best bet. It is only a 5-minute walk from the train station and a 15-minute walk from the city center.
Food and drink
There are plenty of places in Cambridge for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with plenty of places to buy snacks, but it’s not cheap, except to pay at least £5 for a good meal. Visit this website for a great guide to the cheapest places to eat in Cambridge, England.
things to do/see
This section could be quite long as there are many things to do, from visiting museums, galleries, universities and colleges to partying in some of the clubs. I must admit that the nightlife in Cambridge is not the best, but most people visit Cambridge for the attractions rather than the party.
museums
The Fitzwilliam Museum – Free
If art and antiques are your thing, then the Fitz Museum is for you.
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences – Free
This is the Cambridge University Geology Museum.
Cambridge University Museum of Archeology and Anthropology – Free
self explanatory!
Whipple Museum – Free
the history of science
County Folk Museum – Free
For lovers of folklore
Museum of Classical Archeology – Free
Another CU Museum.
Scott Polar Museum – Free
History of science in Antarctic exploration
Zoology Museum – Closed until 2016
galleries
Kettle Yard – Free
One of the best art galleries in Cambridge.
New Hall Art Collection – Free
Near the Fitz Museum
Pubs and Clubs
There are many beautiful pubs and some clubs in Cambridge if you fancy a bit of nightlife.
Fez Club
Probably the most popular club for students, usually £3-£5 entry.
The fountain
This is a pub by day and turns into a club by night, it’s one of the most popular places in Cambridge, and depending on what you’re into, this might be the best place to do it. I must say it’s my favorite place to go on a decent night.
king street race
My favorite pub, not for everyone but it has a great atmosphere!
The Regal This is the cheapest place in Cambridge for a drink, always free to enter and located on Regent Street.
For more information on Cambridge’s best pubs and clubs, check out the VisitCambridge website.
Punching
Most paddling places charge around £14.00 for adults and £7 for children. Here are some of the most popular places to go sailing in Cambridge.
The Cambridge Punting Company: Guided punting tours along the rear of historic Cambridge University. Cambridge Chauffeur Punts – See the famous bridges and colleges along the River Cam.
Let’s Go Punting: Private & Shared Chauffeured River Tours from Cambridge.
Scudamores Punting: The university backs the punt.
Botanical Gardens
Cambridge Botanic Gardens, opened in 1846, houses plants from around the world within 40 acres of gardens and greenhouses! It costs £4.50 for entry.
historical walks
If you are interested in the history of Cambridge and its walks I would recommend this website, it has detailed maps and lots of information!