London cambridge by train
Cambridge is full of commuters who prefer the quiet pace of life here, rather than to live in the big smoke! They suffer the daily struggle to work by train in silence and I got to know many when I had a temporary job as a train station car park attendant and it brought home to me the sheer diversity of people that make up this towns population.
Well Cambridge is indeed well served with transport links to London. My choice is the train these days as I live relatively close to the train station. It will whisk you to the centre of London in an hour, albeit in a less romantic fashion than times past.
Coaches to cambridge
I used to be a regular coach user in my student days when returning regularly for weekends. I do however have bad memories of the lengthy struggle it was to get to the centre of London. Basically it takes an hour to reach the outskirts and then another hour to get to London Victoria station. That does sound hellish, although I might be exaggerating somewhat. Thankfully things have changed now. The last lord mayor of London introduced a tax on taking your car into the centre, which I am sure has worked in the coaches favour - as it was often that part of the journey that was the cause of nail biting suspense. Coaches are certainly more comfortable than they used to be -all have the convenience of a toilet at the back now. The big plus in taking the coach to London is the price. A cheap day return costs only 12 pounds, an open period return 20 pounds and 50 pence and if you know the date of your return journey, this goes down to 18 pounds. If you book on-line and are flexible on times you can get a ticket for as little as 1 pound. The coach leaves from Parker’s piece, in the heart of the city, and opposite the police and fire stations. Waiting in the either the rain or wind can be painful as there are only the most measly of shelter for protection. The English have a thing about suffering in the cold, it does seem so simple to build shelters that don’t at the very least allow the wind to nibble at your ankles! Cambridge has never had an adequate coach station. Until quite recently you had to catch the coach a bit further up the rd, towards the city centre, from a hellish dimly lit row of inadequate shelters, next to the public lavatories.
Trumpington Park and Ride
The coach also makes stops at the Trumpington Park and Ride situated at the south of the City, on the left as you enter the city from the M11 motorway from London. At least there is a decent bus shelter there, somewhere warm to sit and have a coffee. Arriving to Cambridge by bus is a much more uplifting experience than arriving by train. Just off the motorway the bus passes through Trumpington, a small village - really a suburb of Cambridge - but a village at heart, with some nice old buildings and pubs hiding just off the high street. The high street turns into trumpington street, a long and tree lined rd where the largest houses in Cambridge reside. Arriving in spring through to summer with the trees laden with green is a truly pleasant sight. Trumpington street, narrows a way along and you pass on the right, the Botanical gardens - I discuss them in my “Things to do” page - and on the left a small field where often cows will be grazing, well at least that’s what I think they are! Then a bit further on, also on the left you pass the Leys school with its impressive playing fields. Then before you know it you have hit the windey city streets and pass by some of the best residential architecture the city has to offer. At that point you are at the most outer point of the city centre and not far from the final dropping off point of Parker’s piece.
Getting to Cambridge
Deciding how to get to Cambridge and how to leave is really just a matter of preference. As I said I used to take the coach in my student days and ever fearful of getting on the wrong coach, did once find myself blissfully reading the daily newspaper to raise my head after half an hour to find I was actually going in the complete wrong direction. I had asked the driver to reassure myself before boarding but obviously that failed. luckily I was able to get off at the nearest petrol station call a taxi and get to the airport on time. National express the coach company kindly refunded my wasted journey in full and paid for the taxi too. Now that’s customer service!
The coach to London makes several stops before finally arriving to Victoria station. If you are visiting the centre of London I would recommend getting off the coach at a stop called The Embankment, from there you are only 5 min walk to Trafalgar square. Victoria station the best stop if you want as a first port of call, the Tate gallery or to venture further west to Kings rd and sloane square part of the city.
The train is obviously the quickest way to get to and from Cambridge. There have been many changes over recent years and now a truly fast, regular and quite reliable service is provided. When travelling on the weekends always check with the station before purchasing a ticket, as there is often track work that results in delays, cancellations and even re-routing. It is the price that sets the train apart from the coach and cannot be called cheap. If you are just visiting London for the day, a one day Capital Card is the best option, as this will include the use of public transport within, if I remember correctly, at least zone one of the city of London and for the whole day. If you intend to be nipping on and off London buses all day it actually is cost effective. As an advisory note I should warn against catching a train back to Cambridge between 4 and 7 in the evening -the rush hour, this will be a hellish journey spent mainly standing and squashed to exploding point!
Cambridge by train
Cambridge railway station building is actually a good looking station building, unpretentious and functional but with just enough charm. Regrettably you now cannot access the platform without a ticket - so no more emotional platform farewells! Its location within the City offers quick and easy access to most parts of Cambridge. Surrounded on both sides by industrial building parks, it does not offer the visitor the smartest of first impression of the city. The reason the station was built where it is, far from the hub of the City centre and its colleges, is due to a University decision that the prostitutes coming up from London and hanging around the station would cause students a reason for distraction if it were built in the heart of the city! There are ambitious plans for a complete refurbishment of the area but as it stands, on leaving the station building one is confronted by a mish-mash of building in various state of repair and an enormous park of entangled and aging bikes that just seem to get closer to the a living nightmare every day that passes. I will talk about this more in the bicycle page! Catching the bus is pretty straightforward and most areas of the city can be accessed from the bus stops you will find just in front of the station building. The bus ride to town is an easy 5 min ride. That is of course if you want to go straight to the heart of the city. For only an extra 15 minutes effort I would recommend going on foot. Take station rd that stretches out before you on leaving the station, past large and statuesque buildings on your right - most of which are language schools - and turn right at the end of the rd at the memorial to fallen soldiers in the first world war. You cannot miss it, a large statue in the centre of the rd, and actually pointing in the direction you need to take.
Train station to the city
I would recommend taking a slightly longer route to town and one that takes you through the most vibrant part of Cambridge and where you can find just about every feast for the eyes. So, on leaving the station turn right, past the neat rows of taxis, even give them a smile, as you will not now be needing their services. You should find that steady streams of locals are also taking this path, both on foot and by bike, so follow them, through the car park and towards an enormous painted red footbridge. This bridge, somewhat of an incongruous eyesore, was built to lessen congestion on Mill rd, a bridge that simply was no designed for both bikes and car species to co-habit. Once under the bridge a small path will reveal itself so follow that to a bend in a narrow house lined street called Devonshire rd. Turn right into this street and take it to its end. You will pass the Devonshire arms, a pub you might like to visit if you like reggae music; at the back they have a small dance floor. It most certainly is an alternative pub. If having followed my instructions well you should by now be in the heart of Mill rd, with a bridge to your right. I talk about this area in greater depth on my things to see page but suffice to say by taking a left into this rd it will lead you to the city centre bus station without having to deviate further. If you do take this way all sorts of side street goodies await and you will have taken a good look at life in the most bustling of Cambridge districts.