Day Trips From Cambridge United Kingdom

Hours can be spent exploring Cambridge, from the streets to the river to the numerous stretches of green, but the surrounding area also has a great deal to offer. Cambridgeshire itself is a relatively small county, sharing borders with Bedfordshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire and Norfolk, among others. Here are six of the best options.

1. Ely

Architectural Landmark

The High Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

You don’t need to stay in Cambridge to get a hands-on history lesson. A small neighbouring city, the centrepiece of Ely is a cathedral which has been standing for over 1,000 years. Ely is located in a region called the Fens and it’s rich in scenery and long nature walks. You can also visit Oliver Cromwell’s house. Ely can be reached either by train or car, just 14mi (22.5km) from Cambridge.

2. Sutton Hoo

Historical Landmark, Architectural Landmark

Long before Romans and Tudors, the Anglo Saxons ruled Britain, and Sutton Hoo is one of the best preserved examples of their culture. It features several burial mounds, including a ship burial, which can be visited alongside a visitors centre where many of the artefacts are now kept. Sutton Hoo is in Woolbridge, around 90 minutes east of Cambridge by car.

3. Woburn Safari Park

Zoo

Deer in Woburn Safari Park Bedfordshire England UK forest Centre Parcs. Picture taken from a public footpath.

Turns out you don’t have to go to Africa for a worthwhile safari experience. Woburn is the biggest ex-situ conservation park in Europe, and allows visitors to drive a route featuring lions, rhinos, tigers, bison, bears, zebra, monkeys and more. The on-foot portion of the park also offers close encounters with many more animals and plenty of educational material. Woburn is just under an hour southeast of Cambridge by car.

5. Thetford Forest

Natural Feature

Female mountain biker on the ?Red? trail in Thetford Forest on the Norfolk-Suffolk border

While you have to travel further north to see a lot of the famous English countryside, Cambridge is a close neighbour to the largest pine forest in the country. Thetford Forest is a 47,000-acre (19,020-hectare) forest planted during WWI to create a new timer supply. Now, it boasts some of the best walks, mountain bike routes and even a Go Ape canopy walk. Thetford Forest is 45 minutes from Cambridge by car.

6. Norfolk Coast

Natural Feature

Cambridge is by no means a coastal city, but the beach isn’t as far as you might think. Norfolk county offers miles of idyllic coastline, dotted with tourist-friendly towns like Great Yarmouth, Hunstanton and Holkham. If you’re a surfer, Cromer is also well worth a visit. The Norfolk coast can be reached from Cambridge in under two hours.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

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