The Complete Guide to University of Cambridge Train Travel

One of the world’s oldest universities, the University of Cambridge was founded in 1290 and is a highly prestigious educational institution. This medieval establishment consists of a central university and 31 college buildings that are spread throughout the city of Cambridge, spanning about 617 hectares.

Cambridge is well-connected by train, with Cambridge station easily accessible from the University. So choosing to arrive by train is a no-brainer – you can sit back and relax as you watch the English countryside roll by as you await your visit to Cambridge University.

In this article, you can look forward to practical information on how to get to the historic University of Cambridge by train, including details on the nearest station, popular routes and student train tickets.

The main station for travelling to the University of Cambridge is Cambridge Station, at about 1.5 km (1 mile) away from the city centre. Cambridge North is located around 3 km (2 miles) from the centre, but is not a convenient option for most of the main University and College buildings.

The easiest way to get to the University of Cambridge from Cambridge station is by walking the 20-minute route to the main buildings. This is a great option, as the campus is quite spread out, and it allows you to take the time to admire the many magnificent buildings. There are also several bus routes you can take from the station to various University sites.

The main train operators serving Cambridge station are CrossCountry, Great Northern, Thameslink and Great Anglia. These companies connect many popular cities to Cambridge station, such as London, Stansted Airport and Birmingham.

Cambridge station features all the usual basic facilities you would expect, such as ticket machines and offices, food & drink options, waiting rooms as well as bike storage, a lost property office and luggage storage.

Here is an in-depth look at the most popular train routes from UK cities to Cambridge University. Please note: Specific times and services are subject to change. Always check the latest information before travelling.

London to the University of Cambridge trains

• Departing station: London Kings Cross, London Liverpool Street or London St Pancras
• Arriving station: Cambridge station
• Earliest departure: 00:28
• Latest departure: 23:58
• Average journey time: 1 hr 10 min
• Approx. distance: 79 km (49 miles)
• Additional travel required: 20-minute walk to main buildings or short bus to relevant buildings.
• Train operators: Great Northern, Thameslink, Greater Anglia
• First Class:  Great Northern offers comfortable, wider seats and tables, along with free Wi-Fi on this route. Thameslink provides quieter carriages and more space on some trains. Greater Anglia features spacious seating with extra legroom, numerous tables, and complimentary refreshments from Monday to Friday.
• Main stops: Can include Finsbury Park, Letchworth Garden City and Royston, depending on operator and route (others also possible).

Birmingham to the University of Cambridge trains

• Departing station: Birmingham New Street
• Arriving station: Cambridge station
• Earliest departure: 05:19
• Latest departure: 23:11
• Average journey time: 2 hr 49 min
• Approx. distance: 142 km (88 miles)
• Additional travel required: 20-minute walk to main buildings or short bus to relevant buildings.
• Train operators: CrossCountry
• First Class: Yes, including bigger and roomier seating, with complimentary food and drink on some routes.
• Main stops: Leicester, Miltown Mowbray, Peterborough (others also possible).

Norwich to the University of Cambridge trains

• Departing station: Norwich station
• Arriving station: Cambridge station
• Earliest departure: 05:33
• Latest departure: 23:05
• Average journey time: 1 hr 17 min
• Approx. distance: 93 km (58 miles)
• Additional travel required: 20-minute walk to main buildings or short bus to relevant buildings.
• Train operators: Greater Anglia
• First Class: Yes, it features roomy seating with extra legroom, plenty of tables, and free refreshments available from Monday to Friday.
• Main stops: Ely, Cambridge North (others also possible).

As a university consistently ranked among the top five in the world, Cambridge is one of the most prestigious and famous educational institutions in the world. Its campus is spread out throughout Cambridge and its surrounding areas, and is made up of 31 autonomous colleges.

The University of Cambridge has made unmatched contributions to the world of academia, with 121 Nobel Prize winners having studied here – more than anywhere else in the world. The list of University of Cambridge alumni is teeming with famous names, including Sir Isaac Newton, Alan Turing, Sylvia Plath, Stephen Hawking and Robert Oppenheimer.

We highly recommend visiting the University of Cambridge if you are a history buff or a fan of magnificent architecture – or, indeed, if you are considering studying here. One of the most iconic symbols of Cambridge is the breathtaking King’s College Chapel, a prime example of late Gothic English architecture. The University also boasts eight museums you can visit, with collections spanning from ancient artefacts to modern art.

For students on the hunt for cheap train tickets to the University of Cambridge, a Student Railcard – the 16–25 Railcard – is essential. It offers discounts of ⅓ on most fares and can be used in conjunction with Off-Peak tickets – cheaper fares for travelling outside busy commuter hours.

Travelling to the University of Cambridge as a group? Opt for GroupSave tickets for discounts on groups of three to nine passengers. Buying Advance tickets for journeys at least 12 weeks away is also an excellent way to get cheap train tickets for students, with savings of 61% on average.

Lastly, opt for Split Tickets where possible. TrainPal takes care of split ticketing for you, combining separate tickets for different legs of the same journey to get the best deal for your trip. If that’s not enough reason to book with TrainPal, we don’t know what is. 

What is the closest train station to the University of Cambridge?

Cambridge station is the closest train station to almost all the university and college buildings of the University of Cambridge, at just a 20-minute walk from the main sites.

Can I get student discounts on train tickets?

Yes, by buying a 16–25 Railcard, you can avail of student discounts on train tickets to the University of Cambridge – this is available for anyone aged between 16 and 25 as well as for mature students. You can buy your Student Railcard on TrainPal for discounts of 33%.

How far is Cambridge University from the train station?

Cambridge University is about 1.5 km (1 mile) from Cambridge station. This can be walked in about 20 minutes, or you can take a bus.

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