Planning a Trip

Getting There

Trains depart frequently from London's Liverpool Street and King's Cross stations, arriving an hour later. For inquiries, call tel. 0845/748-4950. A one-way ticket costs £19 to £32 ($36-$61).

National Express buses leave hourly from London's Victoria Coach Station for the 2-hour trip to Drummer Street Station in Cambridge. A one-way ticket costs £10 ($19). For schedules and information, call tel. 0870/580-8080.

If you're driving from London, head north on the M11.

Getting Around

The center of Cambridge is made for pedestrians, so park your car at one of the car parks (rates increase as you approach the city center) and stroll the widely dispersed colleges. Follow the courtyards through to the Backs (the college lawns) and walk through to Trinity (where Prince Charles studied) and St. John's colleges, where you'll find the Bridge of Sighs.

Another popular way of getting around is by bicycle. Station Cycles (tel. 01223/307125; www.stationcycles.co.uk) has bikes for rent for £6 ($11) per half-day, £8 ($15) per day, or £16 ($30) per week. A deposit of £50 ($95) is required. Call in advance to reserve a bike; at that time you'll be told the address at which to pick up the bike. Open Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Stagecoach Cambus, 100 Cowley Rd. (tel. 01223/423-578), services the Cambridge area with a network of buses, with fares ranging in price from 65p to £3 ($1.25-$5.70) for a day pass. The local tourist office has bus schedules.

Visitor Information

In back of the guildhall, the Cambridge Tourist Information Centre, Wheeler Street (tel. 01223/464732; www.visitcambridge.org), has a wide range of information, including data on public transportation and sightseeing attractions. Year-round, the office is open Monday to Friday 10am to 5:30pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm; from April to September, the office is also open Sunday 11am to 4pm.

City Sightseeing at Cambridge Railway Station (tel. 01223/457574) operates a tourist reception center for Cambridge and Cambridgeshire. The center, on the concourse of the railway station, sells brochures and maps. Also available is a full range of tourist services, including accommodations booking. Open in summer daily from 8:45am to 7pm (closes at 5pm off season). Guided tours of Cambridge leave the center daily.

Special Events

Cambridge's artistic bent peaks at the end of July during the Cambridge Folk Festival (www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk). Event tickets are generally from £8 to £14 ($15-$27).