How to travel from Plymouth to Cambridge, United Kingdom

The distance between Plymouth and Cambridge is around 426km (265 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 4h 35m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Plymouth to Cambridge by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out CambridgePlymouth if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Cambridge.

  • Duration4h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £125($150)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
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plane
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train
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Newquay then fly from Newquay (NQY) to London Gatwick (LGW) then take the train to Cambridge.

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £195($230)
Operated by

Multiple operators

💰 Cheapest
3
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Exeter Honiton Road then Heathrow Airport London T23 and then to Cambridge Parkside.

  • Duration6h 45m
  • Departs4 times a day
  • Typical cost
    £29($34)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Cambridge.

  • Duration4h 40m
  • Distance426km (265 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Plymouth and Cambridge

There are several options for getting from Plymouth to Cambridge by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £29 ($34) and will take around 6h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 4h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £125 ($150).

The distance between Plymouth and Cambridge is around 426km (265 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 360km (224 miles)

It takes around 4h 35m to get from Plymouth and Cambridge by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 40m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Plymouth to Cambridge is to take the train which takes around 4h 35m and will set you back approx £125 ($150).

The cheapest way to travel between Plymouth and Cambridge, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £29 ($34) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Plymouth and Cambridge. It typically takes around 4h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Plymouth to Cambridge. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington and Farringdon Without. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 4h 35m.

Great Western Railway, Thameslink and CrossCountry run train services between Plymouth and Cambridge. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Plymouth and Cambridge. It typically takes around 6h 45m and departs 4 times a day.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Plymouth to Cambridge. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Exeter Honiton Road and Heathrow Airport London T23. These services run 4 times a day and will take a minimum of 6h 45m.

Megabus UK and National Express run regular bus services between Plymouth and Cambridge. Buses run 4 times a day and take around 6h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Plymouth to Cambridge. We recommend that you take the train to Newquay then fly from Newquay (NQY) to London Gatwick (LGW) then take the train to Cambridge. instead which will take 5h 15m.

The closest major airport to Cambridge is Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) which is approximately 4km (2 miles) from Cambridge. London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) and London Luton Airport (LTN) (LTN) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Plymouth and Cambridge. The distance is around 426km (265 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 40m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Plymouth to Cambridge is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 35m and will usually cost around £125 ($150).

How do I get from Plymouth to Cambridge

Compare travel optionsbetween Plymouth and Cambridge

Transport options from Plymouth to Cambridge
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
4h 35m
£125($150)
hourly461km (286 miles)
Train via Cheltenham Spa6h 35m
£185($220)
6 times a week567km (352 miles)
Train and Plane
5h 15m
£195($230)
twice daily587km (365 miles)
Bus
6h 45m
£29($34)
4 times a day479km (298 miles)
Drive
4h 40m
£49($58)
on demand426km (265 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Plymouth and Cambridge

Train operators

Airlines

Airports near Cambridge

The following major airports near Cambridge offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
4km (2 miles) from Cambridge
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
36km (23 miles) from Cambridge
LTN
London Luton Airport (LTN)
International Airport
Distance
50km (31 miles) from Cambridge