Travelling in the UK

Trains are usually the most convenient way to travel to other parts of Britain. 

• Tickets should be booked in advance and as early as possible to save money. 
• Tickets are generally available 12 weeks before the date of travel.  
• There are various online train booking sites that offer discounted tickets. 
• You can book direct from National Rail. 

If you are aged 16-25 or a mature student, you can apply for a discount railcard which costs £35 for one year and can save you 1/3 off most rail fares across Britain. 

Trains from London to King’s Cross 

• Direct trains can take 50 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes depending on the route. 
• The last train back to Cambridge from King's Cross is at around midnight. 
• The tube is the fastest way to travel in London. 

You can pay for the tube using either: 

• an Oyster card (a plastic smartcard which holds 'pay as you go' credit) 
• a contactless bank card  

Coaches are a lower cost alternative to trains but usually take longer. 

• Coaches leave from Parkside next to Parker’s Piece. 
• Tickets should be booked in advance. 
• National Express coaches run from Cambridge to all different parts of Britain. 

If you’re a full-time student, regardless of your age, the Young Persons Coachcard allows you to save 1/3 on standard fares. 

Lots of students use a bicycle to get around Cambridge. There are a number of places you can buy new or second-hand bikes around the city. 

Considerations when cycling in Cambridge: 

• We drive on the left-hand side of the road in the UK. 
• Be respectful to others and do not cycle in pedestrian areas or on pavements, which is illegal unless they are designated cycle paths. 
• For safety reasons, you will need to wear a helmet. 
• You need lights on your bike as it is a legal requirement at night – white for the front and red for the back. 
• A good lock is advisable as bike theft is common. 
• A bell and mudguards can be useful. 

Further rules for cyclists are outlined in the UK Highway Code. 

If you haven’t cycled before or haven’t been on a bike for a long time, you can visit the Cambridge Cycling Campaign website. 

E-scooters and e-bikes

Hire-by-the-minute e-scooters and e-bikes are available across Cambridge in designated parking bays and can be booked through the Voi app. They are easy to spot owing to their distinctive orange colour. 

To use the e-scooters, you must hold a valid driving licence that permits you to drive in the UK. 

You'll need to verify your licence in the app, set up a payment method and follow UK rules of the road. 

The Voi app provides guidance on these rules. 

Check the requirements for using your licence if issued in another country using the government website.  

The University subsidises the Universal bus service which provides a service to many University sites, including: 

• Addenbrooke’s  
• The city centre  
• Cambridge Railway Station 
• West Cambridge  
• Eddington 

The Cambridge County Council website gives an overview of local bus services more generally, including how to get real time bus location and route information. 

Several taxi services can be booked by phone in Cambridge. 

The two main taxi ranks in the city centre are at: 

• Drummer Street  
• St Andrew’s Street 

There is also a taxi rank at the train station. 

Students are normally not allowed to have a car or other motor vehicle whilst at the University due to the traffic regulations of the city.  

If it is necessary for you to have a vehicle, you must have a University Motor Licence. 

You must have a valid licence and adequate insurance. 

• If you are from within the European Economic Area, you can drive as long as your licence remains valid. 

• If you are from outside the European Economic Area, you can drive for 12 months on your current driving licence or international driving permit: 

  - You can take a test and obtain a British licence once you have been here 6 months. 

  - You must have done so within the 12 months to ensure you can continue to drive legally. 

  - There are some exceptions to this depending on where your licence was issued. 

You can check licence requirements on the government website. 

Cambridge is a relatively small city so many students choose to walk.