Travel
From all the UK’s major ports of entry there are rail domestic air, and bus services that can bring you directly to Cambridge or via London. Most international travellers to Cambridge begin their journey in London, approximately 80 km. away, by taking a bus or train from Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton or Stansted airports.
Rail
Information about UK train services is available at the National Rail website. In general, trains are quicker but more expensive than coaches.
From London there are regular train connections stopping in Cambridge departing from Kings Cross and Liverpool Street stations.
Map showing the locations of London and Cambridge
In Cambridge, the Stagecoach Cambridge bus services No’s 1, 3 and 7 run frequently between Cambridge rail station and the city centre. It is also possible to take a taxi from the queue just outside the station (Taxi price from train station to city Centre is ~ 5£).
Bus (i.e. Coach)
There are frequent coach connections from all London regional airports, and London city centre to Cambridge. Long-distance coach services are run by National Express. Stagecoach Cambus runs services in Cambridge and to/from nearby villages and towns. For departure times and locations visit the National Express website. Coach tickets can be bought from the driver. Please note that delays are common because of heavy traffic in and around London.
The Cambridge coach station is close to the city centre and there is an adjacent taxi rank.
Car
Directions on how to get to Robinson College by car from various directions can be found on the College website. Please note that the College has very few parking spaces. If it is essential for you to bring a car please get in touch with the conference manager in advance.
From the continent by train
London can be reached from Paris or Brussels on the Eurostar train which uses the channel tunnel. You will arrive at London St Pancras. Full information on the Seat 61 website.
On arrival in London, cross the road to reach King’s Cross station, and follow the King’s Cross to Cambridge train directions given above.
Air
London Stansted Airport
This is the closest major airport, about 25 miles from Cambridge (50 minutes by bus, 35 by rail). It is well served by airlines flying from European destinations. For flight information try the BAA Stansted website or contact the airlines directly (budget airlines EasyJet and Ryanair operate direct flights to Stansted from many European airports).
From Stansted, Cambridge is within easy reach by rail, coach or taxi. The airport railway station is part of the terminal. The services to Cambridge are operated by Central Trains and operates seven days a week; the first train departing at 05:27 Monday to Friday, 05:21 on Saturday and 10:19 on Sunday. The last direct train to Cambridge departs at 20:20 Monday to Friday, 20:51 on Saturday and 22:19 on Sunday. If you arrive outside these hours, you can take the Liverpool Street train and change at Bishops Stortford for Cambridge (some trains do not stop at Bishops Stortford). This may involve a wait of 30 to 60 minutes in which case it is then better to take the coach (see below). The timetable for trains between Stansted Airport and Cambridge can be found on the National Rail web site.
Bus services to Cambridge run once per hour and take about 50 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from the coach ticket desk in the arrivals area of the terminal or on the coach.
London Heathrow Airport
Many airlines fly to London Heathrow. The easiest way to get to Cambridge is to take a direct coach service. The coach runs at least once per hour, see the National Express web site) and takes at least 2.5 hours to reach Cambridge (often much longer, depending on traffic jams).
A fast train service, the Heathrow Express, connects the airport with London Paddington station. From there use the underground to connect with rail or coach services listed above to reach Cambridge.
The airport is also served by the Piccadilly line of the underground which will take you directly (in about one hour) to Kings Cross station, from which the fast trains to Cambridge depart (see instructions above).
Renting a car to drive to Cambridge is not an attractive option, unless you know that you will need a car later in your visit to the UK and wish to return it to the airport. The only reasonably direct route to Cambridge is along the M25, London’s only orbital motorway, on which there are frequent traffic jams (not only during rush hour). The M25 is a bad place to reacquaint yourself with driving on the left!
London Gatwick Airport
This airport is located to the south of London. A direct train service, Thameslink, connects the airport with Kings Cross station, offering a good view of London from the Thames. There is also a fast train service, the Gatwick Express, to London’s Victoria station. From Victoria station use the underground (Victoria line, northbound) to reach Kings Cross. From Kings Cross there are regularly scheduled express and commuter trains to Cambridge. Alternatively, coach services run directly from Victoria coach station (next to the railway station) to Cambridge.
From Gatwick there is also a direct National Express coach service to Cambridge that takes around 4 hours, but the coaches go round the M25 and are vulnerable to traffic jams and serious delay.
London Luton Airport
Some budget airlines (e.g. EasyJet) use Luton airport, which is about 35 miles from Cambridge. No intercontinental flights operate from Luton. Contact the Luton Airport web site for a list of operating companies. There is no efficient train connection from Luton airport to Cambridge, but there is a National Express coach service that runs once every two hours, departing from just outside the terminal building. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Cambridge.
London City Airport
The City airport is located very close to the centre of London. It serves all major European cities. See the London City Airport web site for details. There is a shuttle bus from the airport that connects with the underground network.
Driving from the continent
There are frequent ferry services between Calais and Dover with Sea France and P&O Stena line, as well as other boat connections from France, Belgium, Holland and Ireland. See more information.