Cambridge, famous for many things including its university and summer days spent punting on the River Cam, is a city located in Cambridgeshire county in the east of England. After taking advantage of what the city has to offer you may want to take a day trip to further explore the historical, cultural, and natural beauty of the countryside and its surroundings with these suggestions below. With a hire car in Cambridge you’ll have the option to go wherever you choose in your own time, opening a world of possibilities for exploration.
1. Ely
- Distance from Cambridge: 17 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 40 minutes
- Suggested route: Head north toward Ely using the A10 from Cambridge
- Great for: Families, friends
Take a day out and make your way to one of the most important cathedral cities in the UK, Ely. This city boasts one of the largest and most beautiful cathedrals in the country. It’s also renowned for being the home of Oliver Cromwell in the seventeenth century. Pop into the Ely Museum, located in the old gaol, and learn about the history of the city.
Why not spend some time relaxing on the banks of the River Great Ouse? Sit at one of the restaurants or cafes or book yourself onto a boat trip to see the waterfront from the river.
SIXT’s top tip: If time is on your side, stop in at the National Trust’s Wicken Fen Nature Reserve. Stretch your limbs along the Broadwalk route! Challenge yourself to a slight trail through the Fens, keeping a lookout for the resident Highland cows and wild ponies.
2. Thetford Forest
- Distance from Cambridge: 23 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 40 minutes
- Suggested route: Take the A14 on to the A11 which will take you to the forest
- Great for: Families, friends, outdoor lovers
Get out and about in the fresh air and stretch your legs with a visit to Thetford Forest. Criss-crossed with hiking trails and biking paths that wind their way through the forest, this pine forest is a great place to embrace nature. If you would prefer to be above the ground, there is a Go Ape option. Enjoy a tour through the forest canopy.
This forest is famous for being one of the largest of its kind in the country, covering nearly 18,000 hectares it was originally planted between the World Wars as a source of timber, this is now a beautiful location for people to get outdoors.
SIXT’s top tip: After spending some time in the forest why not drop into the market town of Thetford. Here you can wander around Market Place. Walk up Thetford Castle Hill to explore the ancient remains of the castle.
3. Audley End House and Gardens
- Distance from Cambridge: 20 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 35 minutes
- Suggested route: Take the M11 from Cambridge to the A1301 towards Audley End
- Great for: Families, friends, outdoor lovers
Why not allow yourself to step back in time with a visit to Audley End, an English Heritage property that boasts a Jacobean manor house, surrounded by gardens by the British landscape architect, Capability Brown.
Just half an hour away from Cambridge, there is something here for all the family. You can take a tour of the working stables and get to meet the horses and grooms or pop into the Victorian kitchens where, at certain times of the year, there is a live display of people working as they would have done in the late 1800s.
SIXT’s top tip: If you have time after exploring the house and gardens why not take your kids over to the Audley End Miniature Railway? This small steam train takes a 1.5-mile trip through private woodland. It’s filled with all sorts of enchanting things for children to see.
4. Bury St Edmunds
- Distance from Cambridge: 28 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 45 minutes
- Suggested route: Hop on the A14 to Newmarket Road/A1303
- Great for: Families, friends
Bury St Edmunds is another beautiful, picturesque market town to add to your exploration list. Located in Suffolk, this ancient cathedral city was once the home of St Edmund, an original patron saint of England, and boasts the beautiful St Edmundsbury Cathedral as well as the ruins of the Abbey.
For foodies, you’ll be pleased to know that the town is renowned in Suffolk for having a selection of award-winning eateries including gastropubs and cafes. Once you’ve explored the town with its impressive architecture and medieval streets be sure to pop in and have a meal somewhere.
SIXT’s top tip: While in Bury St Edmunds, why not take the time to visit Lavenham, a village just over 20 minutes away from Bury. This charming medieval village, one of the ‘wool towns’ in Suffolk is full of opportunities to explore, including a fifteenth-century church and rows of Tudor half-timbered buildings.
5. Norwich
- Distance from Cambridge: 63.4 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 1 hour 30 minutes
- Suggested route: Take the A14 onto the A11 towards Norwich
- Great for: Families, friends
A great day trip from Cambridge is to visit Norwich, the capital city of Norfolk County. With a range of options to choose from you won’t be at a loss as to what to do. Wander from the Cathedral Quarter through to the Castle and Marketplace. Don’t miss out on a stroll down the Norwich Lanes! Filled with quirky buildings and charming history, browse shops that have been there for centuries. Independent coffee shops and clothes boutiques welcome you inside. You could also take a boat trip on the River Wensum that runs through the centre of Norwich.
SIXT’s top tip: While in Norwich you could take the time to pop into The Broads National Park. Explore on foot or by bike, looking out for the birds and animals that live on The Broads. Another option to travel would be to take a boat trip along one of the many waterways.
6. Cromer
- Distance from Cambridge: 85 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 2 hours
- Suggested route: Take the A10 from Cambridge to the A1122/Bexwell Road
- Great for: Families, friends, outdoor lovers
While in eastern England don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore the Norfolk coast and a great place to start is the seaside town of Cromer. With its traditional Victorian pier, complete with a pavilion, and miles of sandy beach this is a beautiful spot to visit at any time of year.
If the weather doesn’t allow for beach activities, wander up a path to the town perched high on the cliffs above and pop into one of the museums where you can learn about the history of the town in the Cromer Museum or explore the Church of St Peter & St Paul where you can climb the tower to take in the view.
SIXT’s top tip: If you have time after exploring Cromer, take a drive along the coast to the National Trust’s Blakeney National Nature Reserve, just half an hour’s drive, where you will be awed by beautiful coastal views and watch the seals basking on the beaches.
7. Sandringham Royal Parklands
- Distance from Cambridge: 52 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 1 hour 30 minutes
- Suggested route: Follow the A10 to the B1440
- Great for: Families, friends, outdoor lovers
If you fancy a day out in the woodlands surrounding the Royal Estate of Sandringham why not make your way to Sandringham Royal Parklands? This forest parkland area sprawls around 600 acres. It has two marked walking trails as well as plenty of unmarked trails for you to explore. The Royal Parklands are open all year round. You can venture there no matter the time of year and enjoy the beauty of the English countryside. Be sure to keep your eyes open for the birds and animals that make their homes amongst the trees.
SIXT’s top tip: If you have time while at Sandringham you could take a trip to the coast to see Hunstanton Cliffs. These spectacular cliffs with their horizontal stripes are formed from layers of red rock and chalk. If you are really lucky you may be able to find some fossils among the rock formations.
8. Imperial War Museum, Duxford
- Distance from Cambridge: 10 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 30 minutes
- Suggested route: Take the M10 to the A505
- Great for: Families, friends
While you are in Cambridge you should take the opportunity to visit the Imperial War Museum. It’s in the nearby village of Duxford. With its impressive collection of aircraft from the First World War until the present day, you can lose yourself in the history of flight. Permanent collections include an exhibition of the Battle of Britain. Explore the hangars where historical aircraft are being lovingly restored so they can take to the skies.
Visitors can even reserve a place on one of the vintage aircraft and experience the thrill of being airborne in a piece of history.
SIXT’s top tip: If you have the time on the way, stop in and have a look around the village of Grantchester which is located on the Cam. This quintessential English village boasts the medieval Grantchester Church as well as a row of picturesque thatched cottages.
9. Burghley Park
- Distance from Cambridge: 47 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around an hour
- Suggested route: Take the A14 to the A1(M) and follow this north towards Peterborough
- Great for: Families, friends, outdoor lovers
For a day out that includes both physical activities as well as a historical and cultural experience you could take the time out to walk around Burghley Park and then pop into the village of Stamford. The park, which was designed by Capability Brown, is open all year round and features several walking routes that give you picture-perfect views of Burghley House. The manor house is nestled in the grounds – open to visitors in the spring, summer, and autumn months.
SIXT’s top tip: Once you have satisfied your desire for fresh air and exercise you could stop in at Stamford which is just next door to Burghley. This town, with its pretty limestone houses, can be explored using the Town Trail which will take you around the winding cobblestone streets and into the market squares.
10. Framlingham Castle
- Distance from Cambridge: 62.2 miles
- Travel time from Cambridge: Around 1 hour 25 minutes
- Suggested route: Follow the A14 to the A1120 and B1119
- Great for: Families, friends, outdoor lovers
Why not seize the opportunity to spend some time exploring history with a visit to Framlingham Castle? Originally built in the twelfth century, the walls are 10.5 metres high. Enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside and Framlingham Mere. Here you can also visit the Workhouse the only surviving building within the castle walls, which provided work for poorer families of the village.
There are also walking trails through the grounds of the castle and to the mere, allowing you to enjoy some of the countryside surrounding this Norman castle.
SIXT’s top tip: Once you have explored the Castle you should take some time to wander through the ancient market village of Framlingham, visiting St Michael’s Church and stopping off for a refreshment at one of the cafes or restaurants in the village.
