Cambridge to London Distance
Straight-Line Distance
~49 miles (79 km) measured directly between central Cambridge and central London.
Driving Distance
~58 miles (93 km) via the M11, taking around 1h 15min to 1h 20min.
Train Journey Time
The fastest direct trains take about 50 minutes, with departures roughly every 10 minutes.
Time Zone
Cambridge and London are in the same time zone (GMT/BST), so there is no time difference.
How to Calculate the Distance Between Cambridge and London
The exact distance depends on which parts of each city and which route you use. Check any specific starting point in seconds:
Type Cambridge, or a specific area like the station, in the "From" field.
Type London, or a specific area like King's Cross, in the "To" field.
See the exact straight-line distance and full map for your specific locations.
Train vs Driving: Which Is Faster?
With frequent direct trains under an hour, rail is the easiest way to cover this route city-centre to city-centre:
Train (Recommended)
- ~50 minutes direct, city-centre to city-centre
- Direct services from Cambridge to London King's Cross
- Operated by Great Northern, departing roughly every 10 minutes
Driving
- ~1h 15min to 1h 20min via the M11 in normal traffic
- Useful if you want to stop en route or need a car in London
- Central London parking is limited and expensive
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Cambridge from London?
Cambridge is approximately 49 miles (79 km) from London as the crow flies. By road the distance is closer to 58 miles (93 km), depending on the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Cambridge to London?
Driving takes around 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 20 minutes in normal conditions via the M11. Rush-hour traffic approaching London can add significant time.
How long is the train from Cambridge to London?
The fastest direct trains take about 50 minutes, with most Great Northern services between Cambridge and London King's Cross running close to that time, departing roughly every 10 minutes.
Is there a time difference between Cambridge and London?
No. Both cities are in the UK and use the same time zone (GMT in winter, BST in summer), so there is no time difference between them.
Is Cambridge a good day trip from London?
Yes. With direct trains under an hour and departures roughly every 10 minutes, Cambridge is one of the easiest university-town day trips from London.
Planning Your Cambridge to London Trip
Train Planning
With trains roughly every 10 minutes, there's rarely a need to book far ahead for this route.
Road Trip Planning
Factor in around 1h 15min of driving via the M11, plus extra time for congestion near London.
Day Trip Planning
With under an hour on the train, Cambridge's colleges and river punting are easily doable in a single day.
Shipping & Freight
Businesses use the ~58-mile road distance to estimate delivery timelines between the two cities.
Other Popular UK Distances
Planning more UK travel? Check our UK distance calculator for routes between other British cities.