Best Day Trips from Cambridge

Easy escapes from Cambridge include historic towns, royal estates, and countryside villages. Most destinations reachable by train or bus. We reviewed 5 options ranging from £35 to £40. Best for: those with extra time, countryside lovers, royal history enthusiasts.

Most day trips in Cambridge cost £25-£85 per person. Difficulty ranges from easy to moderate. Group sizes are typically max 20. Book online in advance for the best prices.

Ely Cathedral & Oliver Cromwell's House

This guided day trip takes you 16 miles northeast to Ely, a cathedral city dominated by its 11th-century Norman cathedral.

Price: £35 | Duration: 6 hours | Difficulty: easy

Best for: architecture enthusiasts and English Civil War history fans

• Norman cathedral with the distinctive Octagon Tower visible for miles across the Fens
• Oliver Cromwell's House with original period rooms and Civil War artifacts
• Expert guided commentary on both religious and political history

Full details and booking info

---

Anglesey Abbey & Gardens

Anglesey Abbey sits 6 miles northeast of Cambridge as one of the National Trust's finest gardens.

Price: £42 | Duration: 5 hours | Difficulty: easy

Best for: garden enthusiasts and National Trust members

• 98 acres of landscaped gardens with winter walk featuring year-round greenery
• Herbaceous borders with seasonal blooms from spring through autumn
• Orchard with contemporary sculpture collection integrated into the landscape

Full details and booking info

---

Imperial War Museum Duxford

Duxford is a former RAF station 9 miles south of Cambridge now home to the Imperial War Museum's aircraft collection.

Price: £45 | Duration: 5 hours | Difficulty: easy

Best for: aviation enthusiasts and families with children

• 200+ military aircraft spanning World War One to Cold War era on display
• Restored Concorde supersonic jet available for walk-around viewing
• Original RAF wartime control tower and Operations Building with interactive displays

Full details and booking info

---

Audley End House & Gardens

Audley End House stands 14 miles south of Cambridge as one of England's largest Jacobean mansions, built in 1603 for Lord Chancellor Thomas Howard.

Price: £55 | Duration: 7 hours | Difficulty: moderate

Best for: those interested in English country house history

• Jacobean palace built 1603 for Lord Chancellor Thomas Howard with imposing stone facade
• State rooms displaying original furniture, paintings, and decorative arts from three centuries
• Capability Brown-designed parkland with woodland walks and open vistas across 98 acres

Full details and booking info

---

Wimpole Estate & Home Farm

Wimpole Estate lies 12 miles south of Cambridge as a working farm and National Trust property combining Georgian mansion with operational rare breeds livestock.

Price: £40 | Duration: 6 hours | Difficulty: easy

Best for: families and those wanting countryside experience

• Working rare breeds farm with cattle, sheep, poultry visible from viewing areas
• Georgian mansion with period rooms spanning 18th and 19th-century domestic life
• Gothic folly tower offering views across the Cambridgeshire countryside

Full details and booking info

Best season: Tours run year-round, but April to June for mild weather, blooming gardens, and fewer tourists than summer, plus colleges remain open for most of the term is most comfortable for outdoor day trips.

Cancellation: Most operators offer free cancellation 24 hours before departure; non-refundable within 24 hours.

Watch out: Assuming all colleges are open to tourists - many close during exams and events

Compare prices across multiple platforms before booking. GetYourGuide, Viator, and direct operator websites often have different rates.