Planning a 1 day Cambridge itinerary in 2024? Cambridge is an incredibly historic city with interesting museums, picturesque streets, charming boat rides and plenty of great restaurants! Spending one day in Cambridge is the perfect day trip from London and an easy getaway to a cosy walkable city. Let’s plan your Cambridge 1 day itinerary!
Cambridge is located just north of London in the United Kingdom and is well-known for it’s reputable University of Cambridge. Browsing around the buildings that date back to 1209 is one of the best things to do in Cambridge on a day trip or more.
The streets of the city are incredibly beautiful with both mainstream and local shops spread out throughout the wandering lanes. The iconic Kings College and River Cam are the most popular spots in the city and definitely worth a visit during any Cambridge itinerary.
Although the city is small, there’s honestly too much to see with 1 day in Cambridge but it’s the perfect day trip from London or nearby cities. One day is also enough time to experience the main highlights!
In this guide, we’ll show you how to plan your 1 day Cambridge itinerary with the best things to do, how to get around and a few food recommendations. There’s also some activities that cost money and you can also book in advance.
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Quick Tips for a 1 Day Cambridge Itinerary
- Currency – Pound Sterling GBP (compare your own currency here)
- Cuisine – British with a variety of cuisines (Chips, pies, Indian, Chinese & pizza)
- Apps – GoogleMaps, Uber, Booking.com & Hostelworld
- Where to stay – YHA Cambridge – Book your stay here!
- Power Voltage – Plug G, 240V
Activities to book in advance: Cambridge Punting Tour & Cambridge University Tour!
Best time to visit Cambridge
Cambridge is a year-round destination that experiences all four seasons. However, we recommend visiting Cambridge between April and October when the days are longer and there’s more chance of warmer weather.
July and August are the busiest months to visit Cambridge due to the summer holidays, although it’s usually the best weather. Christmas is also a great time to visit for festive decorations around the city! We visited in September and the UK had a mini 30°C heatwave!
Also check for bank holiday weekends, as these days can get very busy with most of the country off of work.
Visiting more of the UK? We have itineraries to London, York, Bristol, Edinburgh, Brighton, the Scottish Highlands and hiking in Snowdonia!
How to get to Cambridge
Cambridge is located in Eastern England very close to the capital city, London! There are excellent transport links into the city and we highly recommend getting the train from London. Find more tips for travelling in London in our travel guide.
- By train: Trains to Cambridge take you to Cambridge train station which is only a 20-minute walk to the city centre.
- By bus: Check out Megabus, National Express and FlixBus for journeys around the UK. Although they’re not as fast as trains, they’re usually a lot cheaper!
- By vehicle: Cambridge has free parking overnight, but you’ll likely have to pay for parking unless you park somewhere residential. Park at Queen Anne Terrace Car Park or use the Park & Ride.
- By flight: London Stansted is the best international airport to arrive at for a trip to Cambridge.
The best way to get to Cambridge from London is by train! Head to London King’s Cross station to get a direct train to Cambridge in less than 1 hour. There are also other trains from around the city, but it’s best to catch the underground or bus to King’s Cross. We have a travel guide on how to spend 4 incredible days in London!
How to get better prices for trains in the UK? Book your train tickets in advance! Advance singles save so much money compared to a normal off-peak return. Also if you’re from the UK, check if a Railcard is worth it and you’ll save 1/3 of your fare!
1 Day Cambridge Itinerary: Best Things To Do
Now we’re going to share the best things to do in Cambridge during a one day itinerary. Feel free to mix these activities around depending on the weather.
We’re writing this Cambridge itinerary starting from the train station which is only 20-25 minutes from the city centre.
See the Corpus Clock
As you walk into the city from the train station, you’ll pass by a variety of cafes, restaurants and shops before seeing the most unique clock in Cambridge.
The Corpus Clock is a large golden clock with a grasshopper sitting on top. There are no hands or digital numbers, but the time is shown with swirling LED lights. The grasshopper opens its mouth every 30 seconds and it’s also known as the time eater.
The Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking revealed the fascinating clock to the public in 2008 and now it’s a popular place to take a photo in Cambridge!
Visit the Eagle
Right around the corner from the Corpus Clock is the famous Eagle Pub. We noticed a few Guided Historic Walking Tours around this area of Cambridge, as there’s a lot of history to learn!
As well as being one of the oldest pubs in Cambridge, The Eagle Pub was the place where Francis Crick and James Watson announced their discovery of DNA (double helix structure DNA).
They were both researchers and scientists at Cambridge University. It’s one of the best scientific discoveries of the 20th century and they won a Nobel Prize in 1962.
Honestly, if you didn’t research what to do on your 1 day Cambridge itinerary, you would easily walk passed this Greene King pub. Although there is a sign to celebrate and remember the day the scientists discovered the ‘Secret of Life’.
Go on a Punting Tour
As you’re getting started with learning about Cambridge, it’s time to explore the beautiful River Cam and take a boat trip!
Once you head to the waterfront, you’ll notice lots of companies offering punting tours. You can book online in advance to guarantee a spot or find a boat when you arrive.
A punting tour is one of the best ways to see the famous colleges of Cambridge and your guide will tell you interesting facts as you float past. We recommend joining a shared Punting Tour instead of hiring your own, as it looks so hard! Our guide told us a lot of people fall in.
The boats used for punting are long and wooden with flat bottoms! The punter uses a pole to push the boat along in the river and it’s a work of art! Cambridge is the most popular place in the UK to go punting!
Visit Wren Library
Next on your Cambridge 1 day itinerary, visit the Wren Library (part of Trinity College). The Wren Library is notable for its extremely invaluable books such as Isaac Newton’s text and the first manuscript of Winnie the Pooh. It’s also home to the oldest manuscript of Shakespeare’s plays.
The library has very short opening hours usually around lunch from 12 pm to 2 pm. It has been closed for 3 years from 2020 until late 2023, but it’s finally open to visitors as of September 2023.
As a big fan of Winnie the Pooh, it was incredible to see A.A. Milnes’s early work from 1926 and it’s actually the only piece that you’re not allowed to photograph. Milne was also a student at Trinity College (Cambridge University).
The library is also free to enter! A lot of monuments and buildings cost money to enter in Cambridge.
Also check out our 1 Day York Itinerary: Best Things To Do!
Grab lunch in Cambridge
There are many great places to eat in Cambridge! We recommend grabbing a bite from the local market in the centre of the city or taking a short walk to Urban Butterfly or The Tipsy Vegan.
At Cambridge Market Square, you can find Africfood, noodles, falafel and juices! This 1 day Cambridge itinerary is pretty packed, so you’ll want to take some time to rest before starting your afternoon!
Climb to Great St Mary’s Tower
Right next to the market is an Anglican church named Great St Mary’s. Visiting the church is a beautiful experience, but the main reason to visit is to see scenic views of Cambridge from the University Church Tower.
There are 123 steps leading to the top with a viewing platform. The church is free to enter and it’s £6 to climb the tower. Check the website for updates.
Explore Cambridge University
Cambridge University is one of the best and oldest universities in the world, ranking amongst well-known schools such as Oxford, Harvard and Stanford. It was established back in 1209 after Oxford University.
There isn’t just one building at Cambridge University, in fact, they’re spread out all over the city. The historic beauty of the buildings and colleges is one of the main reasons visitors come to Cambridge on a day trip from London.
What are the colleges at Cambridge University?
Cambridge is a ‘collegiate university‘ made up of 31 colleges with different subjects, facilities and funding. When applying to the university, a student chooses a college to be accepted and that’s the college they will study with, live and also eat!
Some colleges also have different admittance rules such as Wolfson, Hughes Hall and St.Edmund’s only accept students over the age of 21. Newnham and Murray Edwards only accept female students, and Kings College used to only admit boys from Eton College until 1865.
The best way to learn more about the colleges and history of the university is on a Cambridge University Walking Tour! The most popular colleges to visit are Kings College, Trinity College, Queens College and Pembroke College.
Visit Kings College if you only have 1 day in Cambridge
After your morning punting tour, you will have seen King’s College Chapel and the grounds surrounding it. The chapel is one of the oldest surviving buildings at the university and it has an incredibly unique ceiling.
The fan vault ceiling in the chapel took 3 years to create and it’s the reason why the chapel is so popular along with its well-known choir. Tickets are around £13 to enter.
King’s College Bridge is also one of the most photogenic spots on your Cambridge 1 day itinerary.
Eat a famous Chelsea bun
Head over to Fitzbilies Cafe during your Cambridge day trip to try one of their famous Chelsea Buns. This lovely artisan bakery creates the most syrupy and soft Chelsea buns we’ve ever tried! Fitzbillies have been going since 1920 and you can find two of them in Cambridge city.
We also recommend Jack’s Gelato for their amazing ice creams! They had three vegan flavours when we visited, including dark chocolate!
Wander the beautiful streets of Cambridge
Amongst all of the history during your Cambridge 1 day itinerary, Cambridge is still a city with mainstream shops and beautiful cobbled streets. Our favourite streets in Cambridge are:
- Rose Crescent
- Trinity Lane
- Green Street
- Portugal Place
- Orchard Street
Cambridge is full of photogenic streets as the city dates back so far. There’s also cute bunting along some of the streets in the summer months.
If you like the sound of Cambridge, spend 3 days exploring Edinburgh, Scotland!
Visit the Round Church
Close to Portugal Street is the Round Church built in 1130. There are only four Round Churches in the UK and Cambridge is home to one of them. The architecture inside is remarkable and a great place to visit if you’re a fan of medieval times. There’s a small fee to enter.
See the views at Castle Mound
Located on the west side of River Cam, Castle Mound is another great place in Cambridge to see panoramic views of the city. The best part is, it’s free!
It only takes 1 minute to reach the top of the mound and you can see faint remains of Cambridge Castle that was built around 1068.
The best time to visit is at sunset, but on a 1 day Cambridge itinerary, there may not be a sunset while you are visiting.
Visit the Fitzwilliam Museum
There are numerous museums in Cambridge, too many to visit with 1 day in Cambridge! However, if you’d like to visit one, we recommend the Fitzwilliam Museum.
It’s a free museum to enter and it’s filled with Egyptian, Greek and Roman history along with huge oil paintings from all over the world. The building itself is pretty impressive and you can easily get lost in the maze of artefacts!
Find the Old Bicycle Shop
The Old Bicycle Shop is another place to visit on your one day in Cambridge and it’s also on the way back to the train station.
It’s actually now a restaurant serving delicious food, but its name comes from its past. The Old Bicycle Shop used to be named Howes Cycles and it’s been said that Charles Darwin bought a bicycle from here back in the 19th century.
You can really see the transition from the retro bike shop it used to be!
Explore the Botanical Garden
As you get closer to Cambridge train station you’ll notice a huge park called Cambridge University Botanic Garden. If you have time left on your 1 day Cambridge itinerary, visit the gardens for a lovely stroll.
The garden is filled with beautifully unique plant species and you can visit all year round, although summer is when the flowers are most colourful!
We ran out of time during our Cambridge itinerary because there’s so much to cover, but it was on our list! Now it’s on our list for our next Cambridge day trip from London!
Stem & Glory is a great option if you’re looking for dinner in Cambridge.
Alternative ideas for a Cambridge 1 day itinerary
Although we’ve created a jam-packed Cambridge one day itinerary, there’s always going to be more things to do in the city! Here’s a few more ideas if you have more than one day in Cambridge or some extra time!
- Polar Museum
- Walk over the Mathematical Bridge
- University of Zoology
- Relax on the Jesus Green – a beautiful park near the river!
- Visit more colleges at Cambridge University
- Kettle’s Yard – an art Gallery!
Where to stay in Cambridge
The best area to stay in Cambridge is in the Cambridge City Centre! Cambridge is small, so anywhere within a 20-30 minute walk is a good place to stay.
YHA Cambridge £-££ – One of the most budget-friendly places to stay in Cambridge, near the train station – Find YHA on Booking.com here!
Gonville Hotel ££-£££ – This high-quality hotel is in the centre of Cambridge – Book Gonville Hotel here on Booking.com!
University Arms, Autograph Collection ££-£££ – Another luxury hotel in the heart of Cambridge – Book here on Booking.com!
Best Restaurants in Cambridge
There are some incredible places to eat around Cambridge, here’s a few of our recommendations:
- Stem & Glory ££ – are a well-presented plant-based restaurant near the train station in Cambridge!
- Tipsy Vegan ££ – The perfect place for lunch after Punting or for evening drinks.
- Fitzbillies £ – Famous Chelsea buns! yes, there’s a vegan option!
- Urban Butterfly £-££ – A delicious vegan cafe in Cambride!
- Africfood £ – At the local market in Cambridge!
How to get around Cambridge
Cambridge is a walkable city, so it’s easy to get around! There are multiple bus routes and even two train stations if you are staying overnight in the city. A Punting Tour is another great way to spend 1 day in Cambridge browsing some of the best sights from the water!
What to do in Cambridge at night
- Go on a Ghost Punting Tour
- Visit Cambridge Observatory (October to March)
- Relax, drink and dine at The Tipsy Vegan restaurant
- Have a cocktail at the Hidden Rooms
- Head to a pub!
How many days in Cambridge
Cambridge is a small city and it’s definitely possible to spend 1 day in Cambridge seeing the main highlights and learning about the history of the city. We recommend spending at least one day in the city, as an afternoon or half a day would be too rushed.
It’s also a great idea to spend a weekend in Cambridge as there’s enough activities to keep you busy! Most of the colleges cost money to enter, so bear that in mind when creating your Cambridge day trip.
If you’re staying more than 1 day in Cambridge, consider taking day trips to other cities in the UK such as a visit to Norfolk, Peterborough and Northampton.
What to pack for a 1 day in Cambridge
Here’s a few travel essentials that we bring on our trips, especially in the UK!
- A reusable water bottle – a must when travelling anywhere!
- Wireless earbuds – the best for long journeys in the UK.
- Comfortable day backpack – this one has so many compartments for organising!
- Portable power bank – charge your phone on the go.
- A compact umbrella – another must-have when visiting the UK.
- A raincoat – for the unpredictable UK weather.
- Packing cubes – if you’re staying more than one day in Cambridge, these are so helpful.
- A padlock – for any lockers.
Planning a 1 Day Cambridge Itinerary
Here are some helpful links to plan your Cambridge one day itinerary:
- Check for any public holidays on your date of visit (Find out when the public holidays are)!
- Book your train tickets in advance on Trainline!
- If you’re taking the train, double-check for train strikes!
- Get Travel Insurance – Find out more here!
- Book your accommodation on Hostelworld here or on Booking.com here!
- Where to stay in Cambridge: YHA Cambridge – Book your stay here!
More guides in the United Kingdom:
- The Best 1 Day York Itinerary: Things To Do
- Edinburgh Itinerary: The Best 3 days in Edinburgh
- 1 day Highlands Road Trip from Edinburgh
- How to Climb Snowdon in Wales
- Top 20 Vegan Restaurants in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Brighton Itinerary: Weekend Itinerary
- Browse more English or Scottish posts!
Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing is a flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your trip anywhere in the world.
That’s the end of our The Best 1 Day Cambridge Itinerary: Things To Do (2024)! Enjoy your one day in Cambridge and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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