If you searched for London to Cambridge, you probably want to know the fastest or cheapest way to get there. Here is the straight answer, and then the case for a private driver on the days when the train is not the best choice.
London to Cambridge: train, coach or car?
Train. Direct trains run from London King’s Cross, and the fastest take well under an hour. For one traveller going into the centre of Cambridge, nothing is quicker, and an advance off-peak ticket can be good value. Cambridge station is a walk or short bus ride from the centre, and there are also Cambridge North and Cambridge South stations to check. Use National Rail for times and current fares.
Coach. The coach is usually the cheapest way to go, but it takes longer than the train and depends on the traffic on the M11.
Private driver. The drive is 59 miles and takes about 1 h 30 min without traffic. Our chauffeur picks you up at any address in London and takes you to the college, hotel or restaurant you are visiting, with no station to reach at either end.
| Train | Coach | Private driver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door to door | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | One or two travellers | Tightest budget | Families, groups, luggage |
| Can stop on the way | No | No | Yes |
| Return time | Fixed by the ticket | Fixed by the ticket | Whenever you choose |
When a private driver is the better choice
Cambridge is easy by train, so a car makes sense for a particular reason. Common ones are a group of four or more, luggage on graduation or arrival days, a family with children, a business meeting at a science park outside the centre, or a trip that includes villages and houses around Cambridge that are hard to reach without a car.
You also keep control of timing. Students and parents on a graduation day, for instance, often have a ceremony at a fixed hour and a dinner afterwards; a driver waits and returns when the evening ends.
Cambridge by car on a business trip
For a meeting at a campus or research park, we take you straight to the door and wait, or return at the time you give us. Hourly hire is the way this works, and our chauffeur service page explains it.
A day trip to Cambridge
Cambridge works well as a day trip. A typical day takes in a walk through the colleges, King’s College Chapel, the Backs and a lunch in the centre, with punting if the weather allows. The official Visit Cambridge site lists what is open and what needs a ticket, so check the opening times there before you go.
If you would like to add another stop, Cambridge sits well with a return via Oxford on a longer day, or you can look at our guide to the best day trips from London by car. Neighbouring ideas include Oxford and Windsor.
What a London to Cambridge private driver costs
Our hourly rate outside London, beyond the M25, is £70 an hour in an E-Class, £85 in an S-Class or a V-Class and £105 in a Range Rover. Hourly hire has a four-hour minimum.
For a day in Cambridge, we estimate seven hours (1 h 30 min each way plus four hours in the city): £490 in an E-Class, £595 in an S-Class or V-Class and £735 in a Range Rover. VAT is included and the price is agreed before you book. It is the price of the car, not per person.
A one-way transfer, an overnight stay or a different schedule is quoted on request. The prices page shows the full table.
How to book your Cambridge driver
- Fill in the form below, or use the contact page, with your pick-up address, date, passengers and luggage.
- Tell us whether you need a day return or a one-way transfer, and the time you need to arrive.
- We reply with a fixed price, VAT included, and the car that fits.
- The chauffeur arrives at the time agreed and stays with the car while you are in Cambridge.
Which car for Cambridge?
The E-Class or BMW 5 Series and the S-Class or BMW 7 Series each take up to three passengers. The V-Class or VW Transporter takes up to eight, a Range Rover takes up to four, and a Mercedes Sprinter minibus carries up to 16 and is quoted on request. For a larger group, see coach and minibus hire.
If you are arriving at an airport first, we also cover Stansted, the closest of the London airports to Cambridge, and can quote a transfer straight there.
Cheaper ways to go and what a car adds
If you are travelling alone, book an advance train ticket and do not think twice. Fares to Cambridge are among the lower ones for a trip of this length, and the journey is quick. We would rather say so honestly than quote you for a trip where the train is simply better. Check National Rail for what is on offer on your date.
A private driver is a different product. You pay for the car, not per seat, so the price per person falls as the group grows, and you buy flexibility: leave when you are ready, stop on the way, and come back at the end of the evening rather than at a fixed train time. That can matter if you have a dinner in a college, a late lecture or a family meal that overruns.
Planning your day in Cambridge
Cambridge centre is small and difficult to drive in, with limited parking and many pedestrian streets, so being dropped at the edge of the old centre is a real advantage over driving yourself. Tell us where you are going and we will pick a drop-off point that saves you the longest walk.
If you are visiting a particular college, check its visiting hours first, because many close to visitors during exams or events. The official visitor pages above are the best place to check. If your plans include a punt, book the time in advance in summer, when the river is busy.
Pairing Cambridge with another stop
If the day runs long, a stop at a village or a country house on the way home is possible, but Cambridge is a full day on its own. For a second destination, we usually suggest doing it on a different day. Ask for a quote and we will tell you what fits.
Last updated 20 October 2026.
