Directions

Getting to the Computer Laboratory:

By car

Please look at the PDF map and directions for getting to the William Gates Building by car.

On foot or by bicycle

The William Gates Building is 2 km (1.3 miles) west of the City Centre, along Madingley Road, towards the American Cemetery.

For a map of directions from the City Centre you can view the Googlemap Cycle and footpath route from City Centre to JJ Thomson Avenue.

From the City Centre:

• Go west on Garret Hostel Lane
• Cross Queen's Road into Burrell's Walk (past the University Library)
• Cross Grange Road into Adams Road
• Continue at the top onto the Coton cyclepath
• Turn right into Clerk Maxwell Road
• Turn left beside the Centre for Applied Photonics and Electronics to the William Gates Building.

The official university map should help you to trace this route. A map of the area surrounding the William Gates Building shows the final part of this route.

Tip: For routes from anywhere in Cambridge, consult the Cambridge Cycling Campaign online journey planner.

By local bus

There are two regular bus services from the City Centre to the William Gates Building, and a third to the nearby Park and Ride Site, 10 minutes' walk away:

• Citi 4
  The Citi 4 bus runs between Kings Hedges/Arbury Park and Cambourne, via the City Centre and the West Cambridge Site. University Card holders are entitled to reduced fares between the City Centre and the West Cambridge Site.
• Uni 4
  The Uni 4 bus runs between the Madingley Road Park and Ride Site and Addenbrooke's Hospital via the West Cambridge Site and the City Centre. There are reduced bus fares on the Uni 4 bus service for University Card holders.
  The Uni 4 and Citi 4 buses stop on the West Cambridge Site itself. In the City Centre they stop on Silver Street (on the west side of Silver Street Bridge) and Trumpington Street (near the Fitzwilliam Museum, and near Pembroke Street).
  Returning from West Cambridge, their route in the City Centre diverges after the Silver Street stop: Citi 4 runs along Pembroke Street and Downing Street to a stop outside John Lewis, whereas the Uni 4 follows the Trumpington Street route.
  For Citi and Uni bus timetable details, visit the Stagecoach website.
• Madingley Road Park and Ride
  This Park and Ride service runs every 10 minutes between Newmarket Road and Madingley Road, via the City Centre.
  Make sure that you catch the bus travelling in the right direction, to Madingley Road. If in doubt, ask the bus driver.
  The bus stop in the City Centre is Stop D2 in Drummer Street.
  The bus terminates at the Madingley Road Park and Ride Site which is approximately 10 minutes' walk from the William Gates Building.
  For further route and timetable information, visit the County Council website.

For more information about all three bus services, see the links from the Bus Services page maintained by the Estate Management and Building Service.

Anyone planning to make three or more journeys in a day on Stagecoach buses will find it cheaper to purchase a Dayrider ticket, which can be used on any Stagecoach route within the city.

By national bus

All national bus services currently stop in Parkside, by Parker's Piece. From here you will need either to take a taxi or walk to Emmanuel Street and catch a Citi 4 local bus from Bay E.

Tip: If your bus (e.g., the X5 from Oxford, or coach from Stansted or Heathrow airport) stops at the Madingley Road Park and Ride Site, which is only 800 m west of the Computer Laboratory, then getting off there is far faster and more convenient than going to the City Centre followed by the 3 km back out.

By taxi

The Computer Laboratory has been on the West Cambridge for only a few years, and not all taxi drivers are aware of who or where we are. We suggest therefore that you ask for "the Computer Laboratory building near the Vet School off Madingley Road".

We are also next to the Cavendish Laboratory.

You might find it useful to have a copy of the surrounding area of the William Gates Building map with you for guidance.

By train

Cambridge train station is located one mile south-east of the City Centre.

There is a frequent train service between Cambridge and London:

• London King's Cross station (45 - 60 minutes journey)
• London Liverpool Street station (60 - 90 minutes journey).

The fast trains leave roughly every half hour between 6.00 am and midnight. For more information, visit the National Rail Enquiries website.

Getting from the station to the Computer Laboratory

Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from the railway station to the West Cambridge Site, and if this is your first trip, we recommend getting a taxi.

However, should you want directions:

• EITHER: Take any bus to the City Centre (nos. 1, 3, 7) from the station to St Andrew's Street.
  Then take a Citi 4 bus from Bay E in nearby Emmanuel Street. Bus runs every 20 minutes.
  For this option, a Dayrider ticket from the station will save you money and can be used on any Stagecoach service in Cambridge all day.
• OR: Walk from the station up Station Road, then right and left into Bateman Street and thence to Trumpington Road (15 minute walk), and get the Uni 4 bus from outside the Leys School. Bus runs every 20 minutes. Monday to Friday only.
• OR: As above, but continue to the stop outside Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street (25 minute walk) and get either the Uni 4 or Citi 4 bus from the bus stop in front of it. Buses run every 10 minutes.

By plane

The nearest and most convenient airport is London Stansted (STN), followed by London Luton (LTN), London City (LCY), and London Heathrow (LHR).

From Stansted Airport

• By coach: Coaches run fairly regularly from Stansted to Cambridge. Visit the National Express website for details.
  The journey is approximately 60 minutes and you arrive at Parkside, by Parker's Piece. From here you will need either to take a taxi or walk to Emmanuel Street and catch a Citi 4 local bus from Bay E.
• By train (see National Rail Enquiries for more information):
  Trains run hourly between Stansted and Cambridge with a journey time of about 40 minutes.
  Enquire about buses or trains at the airport.

See instructions elsewhere on this page for getting to the Computer Laboratory from Cambridge station by taxi or bus.

From Luton Airport

For information on how to get to and from Luton Airport by train, road or coach, visit the To and from the airport pages of the Luton Airport website.

From London City Airport

For information on how to get to and from London City Airport by train, road or coach, visit the Getting to and from the airport pages of the London City Airport website.

From Heathrow Airport

• By coach:
  There is a fairly frequent coach to Cambridge which leaves from Heathrow Central Bus Station; some coaches also call at Terminals 4 and 5. Enquire at the airport for stops and bus times, or check the National Express website.
  The journey is a little over two hours and you arrive at Parkside, by Parker's Piece. From here you will need either to take a taxi or walk to Emmanuel Street and catch a Citi 4 local bus from Bay E.
• By train (see National Rail Enquiries for more information):
  Either:
  • Take the Underground (Piccadilly Line) to King's Cross station (about 45 minutes) and take a train to Cambridge station.
    OR:
  • Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington (15 minutes) and then the Underground (Circle Line or Hammersmith & City Line) to King's Cross (another 15 minutes), and take a train to Cambridge station.

See instructions elsewhere on this page for getting to the Computer Laboratory from Cambridge station by taxi or bus.

From Gatwick Airport

• By coach: You are advised to go by train, as coaches between Gatwick and Cambridge can take up to 4 hours.
• By train (see National Rail Enquiries for more information):
  Take the train from Gatwick to London St Pancras (formerly the Thameslink service, but now operated by First Capital Connect) and take a direct train from King's Cross to Cambridge (St Pancras and King's Cross stations are adjacent).
  Alternatively, you can take the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria station and take the Victoria Underground line to King's Cross station for a direct train to Cambridge.

See instructions elsewhere on this page for getting to the Computer Laboratory from Cambridge station by taxi or bus.

Tip: Coming from north-western Europe, the Eurostar service to London St Pancras International followed by a train from King's Cross, which is adjacent, is often more convenient than flying.

More travel information

The nearby (1 km away) Isaac Newton Institute provides even more detailed travel information about getting to West Cambridge.