For those who will come to Cambridge, here is a brief description of the way
to cambridge. Let's start with Heathrow airport. There are 4 terminals. If you
arrive at Terminal 4, go to Bus Stop 18 where Cambridge Coach Service coaches
wait for you. If you arrive at Terminal 1,2, or 3, head for Central Bus
Station in which Stop 9 is the one for Cambridge Coach Service. Everything is
very well sign-posted in Heathrow airport so it requires a lot of efforts to
get lost ! There is a coach hourly - they are sometimes late, or should i
say "often" ? - and the service operates from very early morning till late
night so you are unlikely to miss it. The one-way fare will be around 10
pounds which can also be paid by credit cards - you get a ticket from a
driver directly when you get on board so don't look around for a ticket
office. Also you can find the exact time table at the bus stop. I'm more or
less sure that coaches leave Central Bus Station every hour, that is, e.g.
9:00, 10:00, etc.
If you arrive at Gatwick, the bus stops are Coach Stop 8 for SOuth Terminal
and Coach Stop 3 in Lower Forecourt for North Terminal. Gatwick airport is an
hour further away from Heathrow. It takes about 2 hrs from Heathrow to
Cambridge in normal conditions on which way coaches drop at the charming
Stansted Airport, Bay 18. Stansted is just 45 minutes away from Cambridge.
Cambridge Coach Service is the only airport coach operator for Cambridge and
is better than using rail services via London unless you have something to do
in London before coming to Cambridge - Actually there is a rail service from
Stansted to Cambridge but it doesn't make much difference from coach service
timewise and Cambridge rail station is bit off city centre which has a funny
historical(?) reason.
So, then, where does the coach arrive at Cambridge ? It arrives at Drummer
Street bus station in the city centre. It is a small bus station as Cambridge
is a small town. You can see taxis across the road. For the new comers, it
will be tricky to use buses - Cambus, eg. - so using taxi is advisable. For
most parts of Cambridge, it will cost less than 5 pounds and there is hardly
anyone paying tips to taxi drivers so why should you ? Taxi fare includes
handling your luggages so don't be much moved by the taxi driver kindly
taking care of your luggages to the extent that you give tips - but, of
course, don't forget to say "thank you". ^_________________^ And, though it's
a really minor point, be careful when you pronounce "Darwin" and "Downing"
colleges about which i've seen much confusion, causing to arrving at the
wrong one.
well, i guess this must be all. Whoever you are, hope you have a nice journey
all the way to Cambridge.
Kern
PS: There is no student discounts for the journey between Cambridge and
Gatwick or Heathrow. I think you can get one for Stansted, though.