- Must visit
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Major university museum with classical sculptures, paintings, antiquities, and decorative arts. Strong choice for a broad first visit.
Cheapest price
£82
Average price
£84
Fastest journey
2 h 30 m
Average duration
2 h 34 m
Trains per day
6
Distance
134 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Derby to Cambridge is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Derby to Cambridge will cost around £84 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £82.
To travel from Derby to Cambridge you need to make at least one change.
W70784+
G00808
C21663+
G00806
C04347+
G00684+
P66838
G66494+
C04350+
P66849
C21667+
G00841
C21663+
G00806
C21667+
G00841
W70784+
G00808
C04344+
P66833+
G00682
G66494+
C04350+
P66849Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Derby to Cambridge among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £12. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 2h 24m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £12, and a train costs an average of £19.
Distance: 134 km
| Train | Most popular Coach |
|---|---|
£38 Average Price | £19 Average Price Cheapest |
2h 54m Average total duration Fastest 2h 24m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 14m Average total duration 3h 44m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
The table below shows live departures for Derby to Cambridge trains for today, Wednesday 19 August. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 16:08 Derby | 2h43 | 18:51 Cambridge | 0 changesdirect | |
| Thursday 20 August | |||||
C21667+ G00841 | 8:32 Derby station (DBY) | 2h31 | 11:03 Cambridge station (CBG) | 1 change | |
G00682+ C04344+ P66833 | 9:00 Derby station (DBY) | 2h39 | 11:39 Cambridge North (CMB) | 2 changes | |
C21663+ G00806 | 9:32 Derby station (DBY) | 2h30 | 12:02 Cambridge station (CBG) | 1 change | |
G00684+ C04347+ P66838 | 9:58 Derby station (DBY) | 2h41 | 12:39 Cambridge North (CMB) | 2 changes | |
W70784+ G00808 | 10:32 Derby station (DBY) | 2h31 | 13:03 Cambridge station (CBG) | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Derby to Cambridge run on average 6 times per day, taking around 2h 24m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £19 but you can travel from only £14 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 04:25, the last at 22:14. The fastest train covers the 134 km distance in 2h 30m.
Distance 134 km |
Average train duration 2h 24m |
Cheapest ticket price £19 |
Trains per day 6 |
Fastest train 2h 30m |
First train 4:25 |
Last train 22:14 |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Fri |
Best time to book 56 days |
Discover the best of Cambridge — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Cambridge trip today.
Major university museum with classical sculptures, paintings, antiquities, and decorative arts. Strong choice for a broad first visit.
Contemporary art gallery in a former chapel, showing changing exhibitions by modern and international artists near the city centre.
Museum of Earth sciences with dinosaur skeletons, fossils, and minerals. Compact, family-friendly, and useful for a rainy day.
Riverside green linking college backs and open meadows. Ideal for walking, punting views, and classic Cambridge photographs.
Lively square and shopping area with the market, historic streets, and buskers. A practical starting point for exploring the old centre.
Historic lane of colleges, chapels, and gateways. A rewarding walk for architecture, student atmosphere, and easy access to central sights.
A Cambridge creation: a rich dessert of vanilla ice cream, raspberry sauce, whipped cream and meringue, long associated with Cambridge college dining.
A traditional Cambridgeshire farm dish of braised beef or mutton with onions and root vegetables, reflecting the county’s rural cooking heritage.
An old East Anglian fruit preserve made from windfall apples slowly cooked to a dark, tangy spread, once common in Cambridgeshire households.
Refined British tasting menus in an elegant, intimate setting just outside the city centre.
Long-running riverside restaurant known for modern European cooking and views over the Cam in a smart but relaxed room.
Popular city-centre pub serving cask ales and hearty British food in a lively, historic atmosphere.
Cambridge is pricier than many UK cities. Hotels and dining are above average, but walking and buses help keep transport costs manageable.
Service may be included in restaurants; otherwise tip around 10% for good service. Taxis are often rounded up or tipped 10%. Cafés usually do not expect tips.
Official public transport app
Cambridge station -> Cambridge City Centre
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Derby to Cambridge by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Cambridge, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Derby to Cambridge trains use the Derby to Cambridge station pair, with some services arriving at Cambridge North. Use this guide to compare Derby and Cambridge train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Derby is 1 km from Derby city centre. Public transport options include:
Derby has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Derby.
ATMs are available at Derby.
Ticket office support is available at Derby.
Available at Derby: Parking, WC.
Available at Derby: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Derby: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category A step free station. This station has step free access. There are lifts to all platforms. There is a subway to platforms 2,3,4 and 5. Platforms 6 and 7 are accessed by lift only. This station has tactile paving at the edges of all platforms and at the foot and top of stairwells, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Peartree is 2 km from Derby city centre. Public transport options include:
Peartree has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Hotel and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Peartree.
Available at Peartree: Parking.
Available at Peartree: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Peartree: Staff help available: No, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Category B. Step free access to both platforms via ramps. These ramps have a very steep gradient. This station doesn't have tactile paving at the edge of the platforms, Accessible taxis: Taxi number displayed on IUP, Ramp for train access: No, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Cambridge is 1 km from Cambridge city centre. Public transport options include:
Cambridge has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Car Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Cambridge.
Wi-Fi is available at Cambridge. ATMs are available at Cambridge.
Ticket office support is available at Cambridge.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Cambridge: Parking, WC.
Available at Cambridge: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Cambridge: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible taxis: Details of nearest taxis are shown on station information poster, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Cambridge North is 3 km from Cambridge city centre. Public transport options include:
Cambridge North has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Cambridge North.
Wi-Fi is available at Cambridge North.
Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from information point, Helpline Contact: 0800 028 2878.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Cambridge North: Parking, WC.
Available at Cambridge North: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Cambridge North: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible taxis: Details of the nearest taxi will be supplied by station staff, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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