Convenience, Cost‑Saving & Sustainability
Many visitors worry about driving into Cambridge because of congestion, narrow streets, bus gates and expensive parking. Cambridge Park & Ride is designed to solve these problems by locating large car parks on the city’s outskirts and connecting them to the centre via frequent buses. Here are the main reasons to use it.
Free Parking & Affordable Bus Fares
Parking at Cambridge Park & Ride is free for up to 18 hours. Visitors only pay the bus fare to the city centre, which is £4 for a return ticket; up to three children under 16 travel free with each paying adult. There are concessions for seniors and disabled pass holders and group tickets (£9 for up to three people and £13 for up to five people). Staying longer than 18 hours is possible for a modest fee (£10 for 18‑24 hours, £20 for 24‑48 hours and £30 for up to 72 hours).
Regular, Comfortable Buses
Buses run every 10 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays and every 15 minutes on Sundays from sites such as Madingley Road and Trumpington. They are modern vehicles with USB charging ports, air‑chill (air‑conditioning) and zero‑emission electric engines. The buses are low‑floor with dedicated wheelchair spaces, making them accessible for visitors with reduced mobility. There is space for pushchairs and buggies.
Facilities at the Park & Ride Sites
Each site provides toilets, baby‑changing facilities and cycle storage. For example, Madingley Road has 930 car spaces (including 16 parent‑and‑child and 12 disabled bays), cycle lockers, free Wi‑Fi, heated waiting area, vending machines and disabled‑accessible toilets. Trumpington is even larger, offering 1,600 car spaces and 250 bicycle spaces, plus 10 Tesla Superchargers. The waiting areas at both sites provide free Wi‑Fi, indoor heating and baby‑changing facilities. Coach parking is available at Madingley Road for £15 per day, and Trumpington connects to long‑distance coaches to London, Manchester, Paris and airports.
Cost‑Effective & Environmentally Friendly
Driving into central Cambridge can be stressful and expensive. City‑centre car parks charge upwards of £20 per day, and spaces are limited. Using Park & Ride reduces this cost to about £4 per adult and eliminates the stress of navigating narrow medieval streets. It also reduces congestion and emissions: each bus can carry dozens of passengers, and Cambridge’s fleet includes zero‑emission electric buses. According to a travel guide, Park & Ride is an “affordable, convenient and environmentally friendly” choice.
Practical Tips for Visitors
- Choose the closest site – There are five main sites: Babraham Road (south), Madingley Road (west), Milton (north), Newmarket Road (east) and Trumpington (south‑west). Select the one closest to your approach route.
- Avoid the rush – To secure a space on busy days, arrive before 10 am. On Sundays the service is slightly less frequent but still reliable.
- Payment methods – Tickets can be purchased from the driver using cash or contactless payment or through the Stagecoach Bus app.
- Use cycle lockers – Visitors bringing bikes can park them safely in cycle lockers. From sites such as Madingley Road you can cycle into the city along dedicated bike lanes and use the bus on the return journey if tired.