Travel to Cambridge

Travel to Robinson College, Cambridge

Heathrow Airport

We are arranging two free shuttle buses from Heathrow Airport, at 12:30 and 20:00. Welcome Board: The Fifth Annual World Collegiate WEICHI Championship. If you wish to take one of the shuttle buses, please let us know your flight details, including terminal details and arrival time.

The following information is for those who do not wish to use the shuttle bus.

Heathrow has Terminals at three different locations. Terminals 1,2 and 3 are in the centre of the airport; Terminal 4 is on the southern edge and Terminal 5 in on the western edge.

There are two separate railway systems serving Heathrow. The London Underground (also known as the Tube) is the metro service; there are separate stations at each of the terminal locations. The mainline train service also serves each of the terminal locations.

The recommended way to get to Cambridge is by using the underground service. Look for the London Transport logo. The service is frequent (approximately every 5 minutes) and goes through central London. Take the tube to “King’s Cross St Pancras” Station, this takes about 65 minutes. Beware: as a metro service, there are no toilet facilities.

Leave the underground and follow signs to “King’s Cross” station (look for the National Rail logo). At King’s Cross look for a train to Cambridge or to King’s Lynn (all trains to King’s Lynn stop at Cambridge). There are 2/3 trains each hour, taking about an hour.

It is possible to use the mainline train service from Heathrow (“fast train to London”); this runs every 15 minutes. This takes you to London Paddington, from where you will need to change on to the underground to get to King’s Cross. At King’s Cross you take a mainline train (see above). This method is about 10 minutes faster than the Tube, but is considerably more awkward and also more expensive.

It is also possible to get from Heathrow to Cambridge by coach. The coach picks up at each terminal. Coaches to Cambridge take between 3 and 3 1/2 hours and are approximately hourly. More details at the National Express Web-site.

Shuttle buses will return to Heathrow, leaving Cambridge at 07:00 and 12:00 on 15 July.

London Gatwick

London Gatwick is served by mainline train services. The railway station is close to the exit from the Airport.

There is an hourly service which runs directly to Cambridge (on weekdays it generally departs at xx.46), taking just under 2 hours.

Alternatively, you can take the xx:06 train from Gatwick (destination Bedford) (the “Thameslink service”) and change at King's Cross/St.Pancras. At King's Cross/St Pancras you will arrive at the Thameslink platforms; you will need to leave this part of the station and walk to King's Cross mainline station (about 100 metres) from where you take a train to Cambridge (journey time again just under 2 hours)

Do NOT take a train simply going to London (Victoria) unless you wish to experince the joys of the London Underground system. You may find people trying to sell you "fast train to London" tickets (the "Gatwick Express"); ignore them.

You can do the journey by coach but this is not recommended; the journey takes 4 - 5 hours, and often involves a change of coach.

London Stansted

This is the most convenient airport for Cambridge. Go to the train station at the exit from the airport, and take a train to Cambridge or Birmingham (2 trains an hour); all trains to Birmingham stop at Cambridge. Do NOT take the “Stansted Express” to London. Journey time about 30 minutes.

London Luton

There is no simple train service from Luton to Cambridge. Coaches run every 2 hours and take 1 hour 40 minutes; see the National Express Web-site

Eurostar

The Eurostar train service runs through the Channel Tunnel from Paris or Brussels to London St Pancras. From here it is a 50 metre walk to King’s Cross Station.

From Cambridge Station to Robinson College

From Cambridge Station (not Cambridge North) take busway route U directly to Robinson College. A Taxi will costs around £8.