Cambridge Day Trip - One-Day Itinerary (+ Map & Tips)

Within the exquisite buildings of Cambridge, centuries of history and achievement have shaped the world in countless ways. Explore the best this university city has to offer on our Cambridge day trip itinerary.

Of all the beautiful places in Britain, few charm the camera more than Cambridge.

Exquisite late-Gothic architecture with medieval stained-glass windows, tower over cobbled streets and immaculate lawns.

Beautiful gardens line the river as punters zigzag between glorious green banks backed by historic colleges.

Founded in 1209 after students fled Oxford to escape rioting townspeople, Cambridge hasn’t looked back.

After spending a lot of time in the city, we’ve put together our ideal Cambridge day trip itinerary, which is a great way to experience the city if you’re planning an England trip.

It covers the key sights, some excellent free attractions, and the best cultural experiences.

FOUR THINGS YOU REALLY SHOULD DO IN CAMBRIDGE

Mark and I recently went back to Cambridge and refined this itinerary to cover what we think are the highlights in the city. We’ve paced the day to make it achievable as a day trip, leaving off several attractions that are better saved for a second trip or a weekend stay.

Here are the things we think you really shouldn’t miss.

1. KING’S COLLEGE CHAPEL

The remarkable fan-vaulted ceiling and towering stained-glass windows of King’s College Chapel is the number one highlight in Cambridge.

You can visit during the day by getting tickets online or from the ticket office on King’s Parade. But the best way to see it is by going to Evensong which is completely free and a wonderful experience in Cambridge.

2. PUNTING

You can no longer walk the backs of the colleges along the River Cam. The only way to admire the colleges and see the backs properly is on a punting tour. It also allows you to learn about the city from informative guides.

In this itinerary, we suggest a punting tour in the late afternoon when you’ll probably welcome a chance to sit down after spending all day on your feet.

3. WREN LIBRARY

Designed by Christopher Wren, the Wren Library is part of Trinity College. It’s a beautiful building, but the main reason to go is for the interesting artefacts including an annotated copy of Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica and the first edition of Winnie the Pooh.

The Wren Library is free to enter but it’s only open between 12 pm and 2 pm.

4. WALK AROUND THE FREE COLLEGES

While larger colleges (like Trinity, King’s and St Johns) draw the crowds, there are several smaller colleges we highly recommend visiting.

They are peaceful spaces with beautiful gardens, interesting architecture, fewer visitors and they are free to enter. Our favourites are Peterhouse College, Emmanuel College, Pembroke College and Downing College.

MAP / CAMBRIDGE DAY TRIP ITINERARY

Below is a map of our suggested Cambridge Day Trip itinerary including the major attractions, train and bus stations; cafes and restaurants.

Cambridge is a small city, so you’ll notice we retrace our steps a bit in this itinerary. This is the best way to see as much as possible while factoring in opening times.

ARRIVE

Cambridge is very accessible, particularly from London, making it a great day trip destination. Here’s how to get to Cambridge.

TRAIN

Cambridge has a good mainline train station which is particularly convenient and quick from London. Regular services run from London King’s Cross (50 minutes), St Pancras, and Liverpool Street Stations.

Note – The train station is a 25-minute walk from the centre of town. There’s a taxi rank just outside the station.

BUS

The bus is slower but cheaper. National Express Coaches run from London Victoria Coach Station taking 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach Cambridge. The bus station is in the centre of town.

DRIVE

There are numerous car parks in the city centre, although parking for the entire day can be costly. There are five Park & Ride locations on the edge of the city. Parking is free but it’s £3.50 return for the shuttle bus into town.

ORGANISED TOUR

To take the hassle away from using public transport and get the benefit of a guide showing you the city. This day trip includes pick-up and drop-off in central London.

COFFEE & BREAKFAST

If you want to start your day with a coffee, we recommend heading to Regent Street which is on the walk in from the station. There are some great options for coffee and breakfast:

• Old Bicycle Shop – An interesting brunch menu in a cool space. However, they don’t open until 10 am.
• Bould Brother’s Coffee – One of the best coffees in Cambridge with quirky furnishings and a few seats outside.
• Novi Kitchen & Bar – Great brunch menu with bottomless drinks. However, they are also not open until 10 am.

DOWNING COLLEGE

While many visitors only head to the big colleges, there are some excellent smaller free colleges to explore. Several are on Regent Street.

First up, Downing College is set on 20 acres of gardens with interesting buildings such as the Maitland Robinson Library which looks like a Greek Temple.

It’s free to stroll around and have a look through the gardens, although visitors cannot enter any buildings. You can, however, check out the Heong Gallery which has regular modern and contemporary art exhibitions.

EMMANUEL COLLEGE

Emmanuel College is just across the road from Downing. A beautiful quad is surrounded by a cobblestone path and overlooked by an imposing clock tower.

Around the back of the quad there are more beautiful gardens centred around a large pond with various sculptures dotted about. The grounds are open from 9 am to 6 pm and it’s free to enter.

A little further up Regent’s Street is Christ’s College with its colourful facade and interiors. It’s worth a quick poke around as you pass by.

ST JOHN’S COLLEGE

Next, we suggest you head over to St John’s College. Spread across both banks of the River Cam it is the most picturesque of the Cambridge Colleges. It costs £15 to enter and it includes a map with walking route which directs you past the main attractions.

St John’s Chapel with its black and white marble floor and soaring stained glass windows, was inspired by Saint Chappelle in Paris. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted.

The Bridge of Sighs is one of the best photo opportunities in Cambridge as punters push their way under the stone-covered bridge.

Finally, the grand buildings of the college are glorious. A mix of limestone and faded red brick they surrounded cute cobbled courtyards and sweeping green lawns.

The last time Paul and I visited, it was possible to visit the library which is one of the most atmospheric in Cambridge. Unfortunately, the library is now only open at on various days for theme exhibitions. Check the St John website for dates.

WREN LIBRARY

Next door is Trinity College, one of the wealthiest and oldest in Cambridge. You can only visit it on pre-booked guided tours (£5). If you are a quick tourist you might have time to join the 11.30am tour, otherwise we suggest you save it for another visit.

You should however be sure to visit the Wren Library. Although it is part of Trinity College, entrance is separate and you can visit without joining the tour. It’s free to enter and it has some wonderful artefacts as we mentioned above.

Access to the library is via the backs; there is no access from the main college. Follow the walking route on the map above for directions.

The Wren Library is only open from 12 pm to 2 pm Monday to Friday and from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturdays outside term times. Check the opening times on the Trinity College website.

LUNCH & KING’S PARADE

After the Wren Library, you’ll probably be ready for lunch. Head back towards King’s Parade which has a few good lunch options, plus some other sites you can easily tick off while in the area.

Corpus Clock – The Corpus Clock is a fascinating timepiece packed with quirky features. There’s a Chronophage (time eater), blue LED lights to indicate the time and a very unusual chime. There are a few tricks to the clock which take place on 4 days throughout the year.

Bread & Meat – Just around the corner from the Corpus Clock on Bene’t Street, Bread and Meat has some of the tastiest sandwiches we’ve ever tried.

Jack’s Gelato – A few doors down from Bread & Meat, grab a dessert on the go at Jack’s Gelato. They do different flavours every day, each with their own unique flair.

Great St Mary’s Tower – Back on King’s Parade, Great St Mary’s Church Tower provides a view of Cambridge from above. Entry is £7. There are 123 steps to the top and we only think it’s worth it if you have some spare time.

KING’S COLLEGE

After lunch, it’s time to explore King’s College Chapel. You need to book a specific time slot in advance on the King’s College website, or from the ticket office on King’s Parade.

It’s £16 if you book on the same day, or £15 a day in advance (£17/£16 on weekends). If you are following this itinerary, we suggest booking for around 2.30 pm to 3 pm.

KING’S COLLEGE CHAPEL

The college has a number of striking buildings and a picturesque setting on the banks of the River Cam. But the highlight is the chapel which is not to be missed. It contains the world’s largest fan-vaulted ceiling, glorious stained-glass windows and a painting by Rubens.

There is information in the chapel about the various stages of construction and the history of the Kings who were responsible for the building you see today.

KING’S COLLEGE EVENSONG

Rather than visit in the afternoon consider going to Evensong. The 45-minute service is held most evenings in term time and begins at 5:30 pm.

It is a great way to experience this magical building as its walls reverberate to the soaring voices of the King’s College choir. It’s completely free. Check the schedule on the Evensong website.  

There are also regular free music recitals and organ concerts which you can find on the King’s College website.

PEMBROKE COLLEGE

Next up, Pembroke College is one of our favourites in Cambridge. It doesn’t have big attractions and none of the buildings are open to visitors, except for the chapel. But, it’s beautiful.

The Ivy Court is a perfectly formed quad with cobbled walkways leading off to explore the rest of the college with several other green spaces, dotted with sculptures.

The buildings and gardens in the New Court are worth checking out.

Pembroke is open from 9 am to 5 pm and it’s free to enter.

PETERHOUSE COLLEGE

Peterhouse is the oldest college in Cambridge. There’s not as much to see, but it’s just next door to Pembroke, so it’s worth popping in to take a look at the lovely courtyard with its colourful window boxes.

PUNTING

By now it should be late afternoon (or mid-afternoon if you plan on going to Evensong) and you’re probably looking for a good sit down. A punting tour along the River Cam is a great way to start winding down your Cambridge day trip and give your feet a rest.

You may have lovely afternoon light, depending on the day, and the views of the colleges from the river are wonderful.

After visiting Peterhouse, walk around the corner to Mill Lane Punting Station and hire a guide to take you down the river. There’s no need to book in advance, and you’ll see uniformed guides on the street to sell you a tour.

You can hire a punt and do it yourself, but it’s much more relaxing to sit back and let someone else do it for you. The guides also give an informative history of Cambridge as you float past the colleges. Tours usually last 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Mathematical Bridge – Punting is also a great way to see the Mathematical Bridge, a historic wooden footbridge over the river.

EVENING

After Evensong or Punting, you’ll be ready to start winding down your day in Cambridge. Here are a few suggestions from us.

Drinks // One of the best places to watch the sun go down is the Varsity Hotel. Their long cocktail list includes all the old favourites and the rooftop terrace delivers lovely views.

Dinner // Enjoy a classic British steakhouse with unusual cuts of meat at Cambridge Chop House. This is a meat lover’s destination, but they have some solid vegan options as well.

Cocktails // Try the innovative cocktails prepared with passion at Hidden Rooms, a moody cocktail lounge located in the basement of a grade II listed building.

WHERE TO STAY IN CAMBRIDGE

If you’re tempted to stay more than one day in Cambridge because there’s more you want to do, or if those rooftop cocktails got the better of you, live the true university experience and stay in a dorm room.

If you’d prefer a more traditional hotel, here are some suggestions for our pick of where to stay.

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BEST TIME TO VISIT CAMBRIDGE

The best time to visit Cambridge is June and October when the weather might be decent and it’s term time so Evensong will be on. However, with students still in attendance, some colleges may be closed for events, so check the college websites.

July and August are also good months to visit Cambridge as the colleges are open and there are no students around. However, as this is outside term time, Evensong will not be on.

Colleges are often closed in April and May for exams.

CAMBRIDGE TERM DATES

TERM	TERM START	TERM FINISH
Michaelmas	8 Oct 2024	6 Dec 2024
Lent	21 Jan 2025	21 Mar 2025
Easter	29 Apr 2025	20 Jun 2025

PLAN YOUR TRIP WITH OUR ENGLAND GUIDES

• Read our list of the essential places you need to visit in England.
• Our train itinerary of England over 10 days visits popular places and rural gems.
• Looking for the best neighbourhoods in London, read our guide about where to stay in London.
• Use our London itinerary to see the best of the city on easy to follow walking routes.
• Take a day trip to Brighton from London to enjoy the typical English seaside.
• Book a relaxing break in Cornwall with our guide to the top areas, beaches and attractions.
• See the best of Oxford on a day trip.