# Day Trip to Cambridge from London: King's, The Backs and Punting 48 minutes by train from King's Cross: King's Chapel, the college gardens on foot and by punt, lunch at the pub where DNA was announced and a free museum. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/england/cambridge/itineraries/kings-the-backs-and-punting · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 08:45 · Salida: 45 min by train (direct train from King's Cross · from the station, 20 min on foot or the U bus) - 10:00 · King's College and its chapel (timed ticket bought online · 1h) - 5 min on foot - 11:15 · The Backs and the Mathematical Bridge, on foot (from Silver Street to Garret Hostel Lane · free) - 5 min on foot - 12:30 · The Eagle (the DNA pub · kitchen open all day · Sundays too) · The Eagle, €€ - 6 min on foot - 14:00 · Punting on the River Cam and The Backs (chauffeured from Mill Lane or Quayside · book in summer) · Scudamore's Punting Company - 6 min on foot - 15:30 · Fitzwilliam Museum (free · opens at 12:00 on Sundays · closed Mondays) - 17:30 · Vuelta: 45 min by train (direct train to King's Cross · you arrive around 18:30) Cambridge is 48 minutes by train from King's Cross and is a small, flat city, so it makes a full day without rushing. This plan follows the order that works best: King's Chapel in the morning, when it is least crowded; the college gardens on foot; a historic pub for lunch; the river by punt in the afternoon and, if there is time, a free museum before the train. ## The day, hour by hour 8:45 · Train from King's Cross. Direct Great Northern services take about 48 minutes. Cambridge station is a 20-minute walk from the centre; the U bus gets you closer. 10:00 · King's College Chapel. The stone fan vaulting and the stained glass, and the college lawn running down to the river. Buy a timed ticket: it is cheaper in advance. 11:15 · The Backs on foot. From Silver Street bridge, with the Mathematical Bridge at Queens', north along Queen's Road to Garret Hostel Lane. Free, and with the best views of the colleges from outside. 12:30 · Lunch at The Eagle. The seventeenth-century pub where Crick and Watson announced the DNA double helix in 1953, two minutes from King's. Pub food all afternoon; book at weekends. 14:00 · Punting along The Backs. With a chauffeur, about 45 minutes from Mill Lane or Quayside, passing behind the colleges and under their bridges. In summer and at weekends, book. 15:30 · Fitzwilliam Museum. Antiquities, painting and ceramics, free, on Trumpington Street. Open Tuesday to Sunday; on Sundays, from 12:00. Next door, Fitzbillies for a Chelsea bun. 17:30 · Back. To the station on foot or by U bus. At King's Cross around 18:30. ## With children or in good weather With small children, swap the museum for the Botanic Garden: free for under-17s, with room to run around and on the way to the station. In good weather and if you feel like walking, replace the museum with a walk across the meadows to Grantchester, a flat hour, and tea at The Orchard. ## Cómo llegar ### Without a car Direct Great Northern train from London King's Cross, about 48 minutes; there are also trains from Liverpool Street, which are slower. In Cambridge, on foot and by U bus. ### By car About 100 km along the M11, between an hour and a half and two hours. The centre barely admits cars: use the park-and-ride car parks. ## Consejos ### Buy King's for the first slot At ten o'clock the chapel is quiet. ### Book the punt in summer On fine weekends the time slots sell out. ### On Mondays, a different afternoon plan The Fitzwilliam is closed: do the Botanic Garden or Grantchester. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take to get from London to Cambridge? About 48 minutes on a direct train from King's Cross; by car, an hour and a half or more. ### Do you need to book the punt? In summer and at weekends it is advisable; the rest of the year there is usually room. ### Is everything open on Sunday? Yes, but the Fitzwilliam opens at 12:00; King's has its time slots on its website. ### Oxford or Cambridge for a day? Cambridge if you want river and greenery; Oxford if you want more colleges and museums.