Travelling to Churchill College, Cambridge
This page gives information on how to reach the Conference venue – as the event is taking place between the end of the Olympics and the beginning of the Para-Olympics it is possible that there may be some slight changes to public transport arrangements which will be advertised nearer the time. Also please be aware that Public Transport timings are sometimes revised in the UK every May so check near to the date of travel.Click here to download a pdf file with all the travel information on this site, including weblinks.
The nearest airports to Cambridge are:–
London Stansted (STN) 50km (30mi) south of Cambridge
London Luton (LTN) 65km (40mi) south-west of Cambridge
Norwich International (NWI) 100km (65mi) north-east of Cambridge
Although Cambridge has its own airport, there are no commercial scheduled services.
London Heathrow (LHR)
See here for more details. There is the option of train or coach – trains are quicker but the coach means that you do not have to change in central London. The web site gives the details.
London Gatwick (LGW)
See here for more details. There is the option of train or coach – trains are quicker but the coach means that you do not have to change in central London. The web site gives the details.
London Stansted (STN)
See here for more details. There is the option of train or coach. There is little difference in travel time but the coach terminates near the city centre which is a better option than the train for reaching Churchill College.
London Luton (LTN)
See here for more details. The bus is the best option from Luton Airport. There are scheduled flights to Luton from most European countries. Routes here.
London City (LCY)
This is not the best choice for getting to Cambridge. Docklands Light Railway trains run from London City Airport to Bank Underground station in central London. Change here and take the Underground to London Kings Cross railway station traveling on the Northern Line northbound. You will then be able to travel by train to Cambridge from Kings Cross.
Norwich (NWI) – scheduled flights from Amsterdam, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester (Sun–Fri), Guernsey (Sat only), Jersey (Wed & Sat only)
London Stansted (STN) 50km (30mi) south of Cambridge
London Luton (LTN) 65km (40mi) south-west of Cambridge
Norwich International (NWI) 100km (65mi) north-east of Cambridge
Although Cambridge has its own airport, there are no commercial scheduled services.
London Heathrow (LHR)
See here for more details. There is the option of train or coach – trains are quicker but the coach means that you do not have to change in central London. The web site gives the details.
London Gatwick (LGW)
See here for more details. There is the option of train or coach – trains are quicker but the coach means that you do not have to change in central London. The web site gives the details.
London Stansted (STN)
See here for more details. There is the option of train or coach. There is little difference in travel time but the coach terminates near the city centre which is a better option than the train for reaching Churchill College.
London Luton (LTN)
See here for more details. The bus is the best option from Luton Airport. There are scheduled flights to Luton from most European countries. Routes here.
London City (LCY)
This is not the best choice for getting to Cambridge. Docklands Light Railway trains run from London City Airport to Bank Underground station in central London. Change here and take the Underground to London Kings Cross railway station traveling on the Northern Line northbound. You will then be able to travel by train to Cambridge from Kings Cross.
Norwich (NWI) – scheduled flights from Amsterdam, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester (Sun–Fri), Guernsey (Sat only), Jersey (Wed & Sat only)
View Larger Map
Bus services to Cambridge from the major airports
Stansted STN
National Express 727/797, every two hours
Luton LTN
National Express Service 787 to Cambridge, 10 times a day
Heathrow LHR
National Express Service 787 via Luton Airport
National Express Service 727 to Stansted Airport and change
LHR bus & coach map is here
Gatwick LGW
Bus not recommended. Use the Gatwick Express train service to London.
The central bus station in Cambridge is strung out along Drummer Street, Parker Street and Parkside.
There is a taxi rank on St. Andrew's Street opposite Lion Yard, and possibly also on Parkside.
If people arrive by bus and can't find a taxi the best company to call would be Panther Taxis - 01223 715 715
Stansted STN
National Express 727/797, every two hours
Luton LTN
National Express Service 787 to Cambridge, 10 times a day
Heathrow LHR
National Express Service 787 via Luton Airport
National Express Service 727 to Stansted Airport and change
LHR bus & coach map is here
Gatwick LGW
Bus not recommended. Use the Gatwick Express train service to London.
The central bus station in Cambridge is strung out along Drummer Street, Parker Street and Parkside.
There is a taxi rank on St. Andrew's Street opposite Lion Yard, and possibly also on Parkside.
If people arrive by bus and can't find a taxi the best company to call would be Panther Taxis - 01223 715 715
See this link for more details. Please note the comment about width restriction if accessing from Huntingdon Road. A ‘large’ car can access but nothing bigger.
For SatNav purposes, the postcode of the College is CB3 0DS (that's a zero)
NB If you plan to drive via central London, be aware of the Congestion Charge.
If you are travelling from Gatwick Airport via the M25 then you will need to pay a Toll of £1.50 to cross the River Thames at Dartford.
To plan your route try AA Route Planner or the Googlemaps route planner.
Churchill College (accommodation) is shown on this map
For SatNav purposes, the postcode of the College is CB3 0DS (that's a zero)
NB If you plan to drive via central London, be aware of the Congestion Charge.
If you are travelling from Gatwick Airport via the M25 then you will need to pay a Toll of £1.50 to cross the River Thames at Dartford.
To plan your route try AA Route Planner or the Googlemaps route planner.
Churchill College (accommodation) is shown on this map
View Larger Map
If you travel by ferry and you are driving then follow the By car instructions. If you are travelling as a foot passenger then you will need to travel to Cambridge by train.
At Harwich the train connects with the Stena Line ferry and you will need to change at Ipswich for Cambridge.
There is no logical route by public transport to Cambridge from the port of Hull.
If travelling by ferry to a port on the south east coast of England (Dover, Folkestone, etc) then you may want to consider catching the Eurostar from Calais but only a limited number of trains stop at Calais.
At Harwich the train connects with the Stena Line ferry and you will need to change at Ipswich for Cambridge.
There is no logical route by public transport to Cambridge from the port of Hull.
If travelling by ferry to a port on the south east coast of England (Dover, Folkestone, etc) then you may want to consider catching the Eurostar from Calais but only a limited number of trains stop at Calais.
See here for more details. Please note the UK train ticketing system is notoriously complicated. It is usually cheaper to buy your tickets up to 6pm on the day before you travel. Fares are generally more expensive if you travel before 09:30. You get the best fares by booking up to three months in advance. You can buy your tickets online, at the station ticket counter, or from the ticket machines on the main concourse. If you book online you will need to collect your tickets from the ticket machine using the same credit card you used to book your tickets online.
On arrival in Cambridge, it is a 15-minute walk to the town centre, or you can catch a taxi outside the station for around £5 to the city centre or around £8 to Churchill College. There is also a bus that runs about every 10 minutes to the City Centre.
National Rail Network
There are frequent direct trains to Cambridge from London
• from King's Cross via Royston, Hitchin, Stevenage, Finsbury Park, etc.
• from Liverpool Street via Audley End, Bishop's Stortford, Harlow Town, etc.
(but note that many services stop at only a few of the intermediate stations).
Direct trains are also available from: Birmingham, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newmarket, Nottingham, Norwich, Peterborough and Sheffield.
There are other train connections via Peterborough.
There is a direct rail link from London Stansted Airport (35 minutes)
National Rail Enquiries for Cambridge station
A variety of Network Rail maps are available here
You can book tickets in advance (cheaper!) via thetrainline.com but note that some cheaper tickets may be restricted to off-peak periods or even a particular train time. You can also include any London Transport Tube journey.
Eurostar
If you plan to arrive via Eurostar, the terminus at London St Pancras is next door to London Kings Cross, with services to Cambridge.
London Underground (The Tube)
If you plan to spend some time in London you may find it worthwhile to purchase an Oyster card – a top up, pay-as-you-go travel card.
More information on travelling in London is available on Transport For London's web site.
On arrival in Cambridge, it is a 15-minute walk to the town centre, or you can catch a taxi outside the station for around £5 to the city centre or around £8 to Churchill College. There is also a bus that runs about every 10 minutes to the City Centre.
National Rail Network
There are frequent direct trains to Cambridge from London
• from King's Cross via Royston, Hitchin, Stevenage, Finsbury Park, etc.
• from Liverpool Street via Audley End, Bishop's Stortford, Harlow Town, etc.
(but note that many services stop at only a few of the intermediate stations).
Direct trains are also available from: Birmingham, Bury St Edmunds, Ely, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newmarket, Nottingham, Norwich, Peterborough and Sheffield.
There are other train connections via Peterborough.
There is a direct rail link from London Stansted Airport (35 minutes)
National Rail Enquiries for Cambridge station
A variety of Network Rail maps are available here
You can book tickets in advance (cheaper!) via thetrainline.com but note that some cheaper tickets may be restricted to off-peak periods or even a particular train time. You can also include any London Transport Tube journey.
Eurostar
If you plan to arrive via Eurostar, the terminus at London St Pancras is next door to London Kings Cross, with services to Cambridge.
London Underground (The Tube)
If you plan to spend some time in London you may find it worthwhile to purchase an Oyster card – a top up, pay-as-you-go travel card.
More information on travelling in London is available on Transport For London's web site.
We recommend entry via Madingley Road along Storey's Way to avoid narrow access via the longer Huntingdon Road - Storey's Way route.
See Open Streetmap
The car park is at the end of Churchill Road beyond Sheppard Flats. There is also parking along Churchill Road.
A detailed plan of the site can be downloaded from here.
If you are arriving by train, or coach from Stanstead, we recommend taking a short taxi ride to the College.
There is a taxi rank opposite the train station entrance with a plentiful supply of taxis, so no need to book.
The central bus station is strung out along Drummer Street, Parker Street and Parkside.
There is a taxi rank on St. Andrew's Street opposite Lion Yard, and possibly also on Parkside.
If people arrive by bus and can't find a taxi the best company to call would be Panther Taxis - 01223 715 715
See Open Streetmap
The car park is at the end of Churchill Road beyond Sheppard Flats. There is also parking along Churchill Road.
A detailed plan of the site can be downloaded from here.
If you are arriving by train, or coach from Stanstead, we recommend taking a short taxi ride to the College.
There is a taxi rank opposite the train station entrance with a plentiful supply of taxis, so no need to book.
The central bus station is strung out along Drummer Street, Parker Street and Parkside.
There is a taxi rank on St. Andrew's Street opposite Lion Yard, and possibly also on Parkside.
If people arrive by bus and can't find a taxi the best company to call would be Panther Taxis - 01223 715 715