Cambridge Day Trip Itinerary

Cambridge is a beautiful, historic city that is also a super easy day trip from London. If you’re looking to visit Cambridge University and explore this gorgeous city, here are some places I recommend adding to your itinerary.

Getting the train to Cambridge from London

Cambridge is a quick train journey from London, usually just over an hour. Trains leave throughout the day from St. Pancras or King’s Cross.

Visiting Cambridge University as a tourist

When you arrive, you’ll likely be eager to explore the beautiful campus of Cambridge University. It’s very walkable and I highly recommend wandering to take in all the ornate architecture. However, because it is a working university, many of the buildings are closed to the public or require tickets to visit.

I booked tickets for King’s College Chapel, which also includes entry to the surrounding gardens and the bridge to cross the River Cam (the tickets are a bit cheaper if you book online for a weekday). The Chapel is famous for its spectacular stained glass and the self-guided tour meant I could take my time admiring all the little details.

After the tour, walk through the gardens to the river, where you’ll spot some of Cambridge’s iconic punting boats. You can book these boats to get a scenic tour of the city from the river, but it’s also just fun to see them as you stroll and explore.

Where to eat in Cambridge

I grabbed lunch at Fitzbillies, a local bakery with multiple locations. If the weather’s good enough, they have a great selection of takeaway picnics, with sandwiches, pastries, and even afternoon tea for you to enjoy in one of Cambridge’s many green spaces. I sat in Jesus Green and had a lovely view of the river while I ate my lunch.

The Fitzwilliam Museum

A large portion of my day was spent wandering The Fitzwilliam Museum, a massive gallery of art and artifacts. It’s worth a visit for the dramatic architecture alone, but I was particularly interested in their collection of Impressionist paintings and Classical sculptures.

The University also has eight other museums and a botanical garden if art isn’t your thing.

The Charming Streets of Cambridge

I finished my visit to Cambridge with a wander through the quaint streets of shops and restaurants in the city center. There are plenty of unique independent businesses, including some very lovely bookshops.

This was a very quick day trip that I took a few years ago, so there’s definitely a lot I didn’t get the chance to see. Let me know if there are any places I missed that I should keep in mind for future visits!