London to Cambridge Train Ticket Cost 2026
Advance from £8. Greater Anglia and Thameslink combined. ~55m King's Cross via Thameslink.
A London to Cambridge train costs from £8 on a Thameslink advance single, £24 off-peak, £45 on a fully flexible anytime single. The fastest direct journey takes 55m.
Indicative single fares, last reviewed June 2026. Advance "from" prices are early-booking floors that change with demand and how far ahead you book. Full breakdown and saving tips below.
London to Cambridge is served by two operators: Greater Anglia from Liverpool Street (1h15m) and Thameslink from King's Cross / Brighton (~55m fastest non-stop). Greater Anglia is the historic operator; Thameslink offers the faster journey via the Cambridge cross-country line and is the typical choice for time-sensitive travel.
Cambridge is heavily commuter-focused (King's Cross-Cambridge daily season is around £6,000 annually) so advance fares are not the dominant economics here. For leisure travel, Thameslink advance from £8 is exceptional value.
London to Cambridge Train Prices
| Ticket Type | Single | Return | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thameslink Advance Single | from £8 | 2x singles | King's Cross, 55m |
| Greater Anglia Advance Single | from £10 | 2x singles | Liverpool Street, 1h15m |
| Off-Peak Single | £24 | £34 | After 09:30 weekdays |
| Anytime Single | £45 | £82 | Peak fare |
Indicative single fares based on operator-published prices, last reviewed June 2026. Advance "from" fares are the cheapest early-booking floors and move with demand and how far ahead you book, so the live price is often higher. Always check the live price on National Rail or the operator's own site before booking.
Operator Comparison
| Operator | Route | Duration | Services | Advance From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thameslink | King's Cross to Cambridge | 55m | every 30m | from £8 |
| Greater Anglia | Liverpool Street to Cambridge | 1h 15m | every 30m | from £10 |
Saving Tips for London to Cambridge
- Thameslink via King's Cross is faster than Greater Anglia via Liverpool Street - and often cheaper. Use Thameslink unless you specifically need Liverpool Street.
- Off-peak return at £34 is the standard day-tripper fare - exceptional value.
- If you commute 4+ days a week, an annual season at around £6,000 saves vs daily; flexi season (8 in 28) works for 2-3 day hybrid pattern.
- 16-25 Railcard takes one-third off off-peak - £24 becomes £15.85.
Best Days to Travel
Train vs Driving vs Coach
Driving: 65 miles, £15-20 fuel, plus £15-22 Cambridge parking (or Park and Ride at £4). Coach: National Express from £8, 2h. Train wins on speed; coach matches advance fare on cost.