Day trip from London to Cambridge
Fast trains from King’s Cross take about 50 minutes. The centre is small and flat, so this is an easy-going day.
- Length: 1 day
- Pace: relaxed
- Rough cost: £55–£120 pp
- Best for: A slower day with a punt and a chapel
The plan
Chapels and punts Cambridge city centre and the Backs
- 09:15–10:05 Train: London King’s Cross → Cambridge
Fast services take about 50 minutes.
- 10:20–11:20 King’s College ChapelBook aheadIndoors
Fan vaulting and Rubens’ Adoration of the Magi. Opening varies with services.
- 11:30–12:15 Punting on the BacksBook ahead
Chauffeured punts take about 45 minutes past the college lawns. Self-hire is cheaper but harder.
- 12:20–13:20 Lunch around Market Square
Daily outdoor market with street food.
- 13:25–14:00 Great St Mary’s towerIndoors
123 steps for the best view over King’s and the market.
- 14:15–14:45 Mathematical Bridge view
See it from Silver Street bridge — it belongs to Queens’ College.
- 14:55–16:30 Fitzwilliam MuseumIndoors
Free. Antiquities, Old Masters and Impressionists.
- 16:50–17:40 Train: Cambridge → London King’s Cross
Rough cost
Per person. Off-peak day return train, King’s College Chapel, a shared chauffeured punt, lunch.
Prices checked November 2026 against official and widely published 2026 rates; they change, so confirm before you pay.
Book ahead
- King’s College Chapel — Tickets online; the chapel closes to visitors for services and events.
- Punt tour — Weekends in summer fill up; morning trips are calmer.
If it rains
- Instead of Punting on the Backs: Kettle’s Yard (free) or the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (free)
Good to know
- Cambridge is a cycling town — watch for bikes when stepping off the pavement.
- Touts sell punt trips on the street; agree the price and length before you get in.
Book it
- Tickets and tours in Cambridge (GetYourGuide)
- Hotels in London (Booking.com)
- UK train times and fares (Trainline)
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