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Each fare is the lowest adult economy ticket fare found by our customers on Trainline. Fares booked further in advance than the dates displayed may be cheaper. Prices are updated daily, subject to change and indicative of price last update. Limited availability. Discount cards and coach journeys excluded, prices exclusive of booking fee.

London to Cambridge by train

It takes an average of 1h 17m to travel from London to Cambridge by train, over a distance of around 49 miles (79 km). There are normally 325 trains per day travelling from London to Cambridge and tickets for this journey start from £8 when you book in advance.

First train

04:02

Last train

00:32

Departure station

London

Arrival station

Cambridge

Journey time

From 48m

Distance

49 miles (79 km)

Frequency

325 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Price

From £8

Train operators

Great Northern, Greater Anglia, Thameslink

Travelling from London to Cambridge by train

Planning a day out and need more information on how to get from London to Cambridge by train? You’ve come to the right place!

The train to Cambridge from London usually takes around 1h 18m, but can take just 47m on the fastest services, with around 304 trains running on this popular route each day. Trains are direct on this route, so once you’ve boarded your train, you can sit back, relax and stay connected with free WiFi available on most services.

You'll be travelling with either Thameslink, Greater Anglia or Great Northern, depending on the station you’re departing from. Thameslink services usually depart from London St Pancras International station, Greater Anglia trains leave from London Liverpool Street and Great Northern from London Kings Cross station.

London to Cambridge train tickets

Want to snap up the cheapest fares from London to Cambridge? Book an Off-Peak train – tickets tend to be cheaper when you travel Off-Peak compared to taking the train at Peak times. To save even more, get yourself a Railcard and save up to 1/3 on eligible journeys for a whole year. 

Ready to book? Start your search for cheap train tickets from London to Cambridge in our Journey Planner at the top of the page. If want to learn more about the journey first, keep reading for timetables, tips on finding cheaper fares and FAQs including first and last train times.

Journey details

Want to know more about your journey from London to Cambridge? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How long does the train from London to Cambridge take?

The average journey time by train between London and Cambridge is 1 hour and 17 minutes, with around 325 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.

What's the fastest journey time between London and Cambridge by train?

The fastest journey time by train from London to Cambridge is 48 minutes.

How much does the train from London to Cambridge cost?

Train ticket prices from London to Cambridge can start from as little as £8 when you book in advance. The cost of tickets can vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book and are usually more expensive if you book on the day.

Is there a direct train from London to Cambridge?

Yes, it is possible to travel from London to Cambridge without having to change trains. There are 325 direct trains from London to Cambridge each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.

What time does the first train from London to Cambridge leave?

The first train from London to Cambridge leaves at 04:02. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.

What time does the last train from London to Cambridge leave?

The last train from London to Cambridge leaves at 00:32. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.

What's the distance between London and Cambridge by train?

Trains travelling from London to Cambridge cover a distance of around 49 miles (79 km) during the journey.

Looking for more information?

If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Cambridge to London. If you’re looking for other options, you can also catch the bus from London to Cambridge.

Cheap train tickets from London to Cambridge

Train tickets from London to Cambridge start at £8 one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, we’ll help you find the cheapest tickets.

Book in advance

Look out for Advance tickets – they usually come out up to 12 weeks before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. If you’re here a tad early, sign up for our Advance ticket alert today to get notified when your tickets are released.

Consider a Season Ticket

If you catch this train more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly and weekly options available, find out if a season ticket for London to Cambridge is right for you.

Use your Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel a few times or more in a year. Find out how you can save with a National Railcard here.

Split your tickets

Download our app to find split tickets — courtesy of SplitSave, our handy feature which 'splits' your train tickets where possible to find you a better deal. Learn more about the clever tech behind split tickets, and how to spot SplitSave discounts in our app.

For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.

Advance adult single fare. Excludes booking fee. Prices seen by Trainline customers in the last 30 days. Availability limited.

Tips and tricks from our Trainline team

We love helping our customers find inspiration for their next train journey. Discover some travel stories written based on our employees' experiences.

Day trip from London to Cambridge for under £20

With some simple tricks, you can visit the historic town of Cambridge and the iconic King’s College on a day trip from London for less than £20 return. This is how we did it.

The train is the best way to get to Cambridge from London. It's fast and the main station is very close to most the main attractions. Since we had a tight budget, we decided to save money by avoiding the trains leaving from King's Cross station and take one of the trains operated by Greater Anglia departing from London Liverpool Street station. These trains are a bit slower (an average of 25 minutes longer) but the savings are considerable. A return ticket will cost you around £14 from London Liverpool Street instead of an average of £35 from King’s Cross station. In order to see as much of Cambridge in half a day, we left London on the 8:28 am train.

What we did in Cambridge:

Once we arrived at Cambridge train station, we followed the signs towards the city centre. After 15 mins of walking, we reached the popular Regent Street which is full of restaurants and shops.

After visiting Regent Street, we visited King's College, dedicated to the King Henry VI. Entry to the college costs £3 per person and includes admission to the Chapel of the King, one of the best examples of English Gothic architecture. Because we visited Cambridge on a weekday, after our visit to King's College we headed over to the Wren Library at Trinity College, an enchanting library open for free to the public only from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 14:00. Inside we found some rare manuscripts and an early edition of the works from Sir Isaac Newton.

For lunch, we headed to the market square where we tried some tasty food from several of the outdoor stands that offer ready meals and sandwiches for all budgets.

After lunch, we took a walk along the beautiful river Cam and then went on a half-hour trip on one of the traditional punting boats which run throughout the day, even on most weekdays depending on the season and weather.

Cambridge wasn't too busy visiting on a weekday, however if you are in Cambridge on the weekend, there would most likely be a lot more tourists around. Cambridge is definitely a great destination to get out of London for the day, and if you've got time, take the train from London Liverpool Street to save some money.

**Prices and information correct at time of publishing.

About Federica

Federica, a Trainline employee, chose to share her experience of the journey between London and Cambridge.

† Average savings on advance fares booked at least one week before day of travel vs Anytime fares purchased on day of travel. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.

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