If you are visiting the CCDC by air the following notes may be helpful.
However, please contact the CCDC who will be able to provide up to
date information on the best method of transfer from any of the following
airports to Cambridge. Please email
or phone +44 1223-336408.
London Stansted International Airport
Stansted Airport is 25 miles south of Cambridge close to the M11 motorway and with direct train, bus and taxi services to Cambridge. Stansted has many flights to and from UK destinations and continental Europe but there are no direct connections to the USA or to other intercontinental destinations. However, routings to Stansted via European hubs such as Frankfurt International Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport may prove convenient if you wish to avoid Heathrow or Gatwick.
London Heathrow International Airport
London's main airport is 78 miles from Cambridge using the M25 and M11 motorways. It is about 18 miles west of central London. There is a direct bus service to Cambridge (allow 2 to 2.5 hours) from Heathrow central bus station adjacent to Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Alternatively, you can take the London Underground or Heathrow Express into central London and transfer to London Kings Cross station for fast (50 minutes) trains to Cambridge operated every 30 minutes during most of the day by West Anglia Great Northern Railways. Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport and has direct services to and from a vast number of intercontinental, European and UK destinations. However, some specific international destinations, particularly in the USA, are only serviced via Gatwick.
London Gatwick International Airport
Gatwick is London's second airport, 30 miles south of London and about 85 miles from Cambridge using the M23, M25 and M11 motorways. Drive east on the M25 towards the Dartford (Thames) river crossing and follow the M25 to the M11 intersection. [Driving west from Gatwick on the M25 (London orbital motorway) is not recommended since it passes Heathrow and other congested sections of the road.] There is a direct bus service from Gatwick to Cambridge which also picks up at Heathrow (allow at least 3 hours for the journey). Alternatively, you can take the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria and transfer via the London Underground or taxi to London Kings Cross station for fast (50 minute) trains to Cambridge operated every 30 minutes during most of the day by West Anglia Great Northern Railways. Gatwick has excellent connections to European and UK destinations, and some specific international destinations, particularly in the USA, are only serviced via Gatwick.
London Luton International Airport
Luton airport is about 35 miles southwest of Cambridge but is not served by a direct motorway connection. There are direct bus services from Luton to Cambridge (allow about 1 hour). Luton has a range of direct connections to and from UK and European destinations, but has no intercontinental flights.
London City Airport
Situated in the old East London docklands area, London City is 55 miles south of Cambridge close to the origin of the M11 motorway to Cambridge. No direct bus service yet exists, and trains to central London and then to Cambridge from London Kings Cross station (50 minutes) are the best public transport option. London City Airport services a number of European destinations as listed on their web pages.
