Cambridge · Student city guide
Two universities, centuries-old colleges, punts on the Cam and more bikes than you've ever seen. This is how Cambridge actually works for students: where to live, what it costs and where to go out.
2
universities: Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin
£150–£210
a week for a room in a shared house
£1
bus fares for under-25s with a free Tiger Pass
50 min
by fast train to London King's Cross
Last checked: November 2026
Colleges to Mill Road
Cambridge is small, flat and built for bikes. The University of Cambridge's 31 colleges are spread across the centre, while Anglia Ruskin's campus is on East Road by Mill Road. Here's how the student map fits together.
Get a bike: it's the fastest way around town, and almost everyone cycles. If you're under 25 and live in Cambridgeshire, a free Tiger Pass gets you £1 bus fares too.
1
King's College Chapel, Trinity, St John's and the Market Square, the heart of historic Cambridge.
2
Lawns behind the colleges, punts on the river and the famous bridges.
3
A big green, the Grafton shopping centre and Anglia Ruskin's main campus.
4
Cambridge's most diverse street, with cheap eats, independent shops and student houses.
5
A walk or cycle along the river to orchard tea gardens and wild swimming spots.
“According to WhichMuseum, there are seven free museums in Cambridge.”
Lili Kibble, Unifresher writer · Read: the top 10 free things to do in Cambridge →
Universities
Where you study shapes where you'll live. Most University of Cambridge students live in their college for their whole degree, while Anglia Ruskin students tend to rent around Mill Road, Romsey and the city centre.
31 colleges · City centre
One of the world's oldest universities. Every student belongs to a college, which usually provides accommodation for most or all of your degree.
East Road campus
A modern, career-focused university with its Cambridge campus on East Road, strong in health, the creative arts, business and music.
Choosing between them? Read our University of Cambridge vs ARU guide →
Neighbourhoods
Six areas cover most of Cambridge's private student housing. Cambridge is one of the most expensive cities in the UK to rent in, so the pound signs show how areas compare with each other.
££ · Lively and diverse
01
Terraced houses off Cambridge's most diverse street, full of cheap eats, pubs and independent shops. A short walk or cycle to ARU and town.
Best for: ARU students and anyone who wants character
££–£££ · Central
02
Streets around Parker's Piece, between ARU and the centre, close to everything.
Best for: ARU students who want to walk to lectures
££ · Calm
03
Quieter streets north of the river, with riverside walks and an easy cycle into town.
Best for: students who want somewhere quieter
£££ · Leafy
04
Leafy streets west of the river, close to the Backs and the Sidgwick Site.
Best for: Cambridge postgrads living out
£££ · City living
05
Purpose-built student flats near the station and the Grafton, often with bills included.
Best for: first-years at ARU
£–££ · Better value
06
Cheaper houses in north Cambridge, a 15 to 20-minute cycle into town.
Best for: students keeping rent down
Want more detail? Our guide compares the best student accommodation in Cambridge, from halls to private flats.
The best Cambridge accommodationNot sure where to live?
Tell us where you're studying, what matters most and your budget. University of Cambridge students usually live in college, so their results are for anyone living out, like postgrads.
1. Where are you studying?
2. What matters most?
3. What's your budget?
A shared house near cheap eats and pubs, a short cycle to your college and lectures.
Find a letting agentWhere to book
Compare Cambridge's letting agents and accommodation options, or work out which university is right for you.
Shared houses · Cambridge
The student letting agents worth knowing in Cambridge, and what to check before you sign.
Read the guide →
Accommodation · Cambridge
Our guide to the best student accommodation in Cambridge, from halls to private flats.
Read the guide →
Choosing
How the two universities compare on courses, student life and costs.
Compare them →
Not sure yet?
The pros, cons and costs of each, so you know what to look for.
Compare your options →
Money
Cambridge is one of the most expensive places to rent in the UK. University of Cambridge college rooms are often cheaper than renting privately. Pick a lifestyle to see what a typical month looks like if you rent.
Shared house in Romsey or Petersfield, a weekly night out and the odd takeaway.
Rent
£750
Bills
£90
Food shop
£175
Bike and buses
£20
Going out
£100
Phone and everything else
£70
About £14,460 a year
£1,205 a month
Estimates to help you plan, not quotes. Cambridge rents vary a lot by street, so check what's included before you sign anything.
Where a typical £1,205 month goes
■ Rent · 62%
■ Food · 15%
■ Going out · 8%
■ Bills · 7%
■ Everything else · 6%
■ Bike and buses · 2%
Money tips
1
Get a bike, and a good lock
Cycling is the cheapest and quickest way around. Bike theft is common, so use a strong D-lock and register your bike.
2
Apply for a Tiger Pass if you're under 25
It's free for Cambridgeshire residents and gets you £1 bus fares on participating services. Otherwise, singles are capped at £3.
3
Do the free stuff
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Kettle's Yard, the Museum of Zoology, the Backs and Grantchester Meadows are all free.
4
Eat on Mill Road
The best-value food in Cambridge, from Persian and Lebanese to Korean and Indian.
5
Make the most of college
University of Cambridge college bars, formals and libraries are often much cheaper than going out in town.
“Revs is a go-to for a classy yet fun night out.”
Rachel Brooks, Unifresher writer · Read: the ten best nightclubs in Cambridge →
Going out
Cambridge has a small club scene but a big college social life. Pick a scene to see where students go.
Talk like a Cantab
Cambridge has its own language, mostly from the University. Guess what each one means, then tap to check.
Supervision
A small-group teaching session with an academic, usually two or three students.
"I've got a supervision at 9."
Formal
A candlelit dinner in college hall, often with gowns.
"Are you coming to formal on Friday?"
Bop
A college party, usually themed.
"What are you wearing to the bop?"
Bedder
A college housekeeper who cleans your room.
"My bedder comes on Tuesdays."
Gyp room
A small shared kitchen in college.
"Toast's in the gyp room."
Pidge
Your pigeonhole, where college post arrives.
"Check your pidge, there's a parcel."
May Week
A week of balls and parties after exams, which confusingly happens in June.
"Got your May Week tickets yet?"
The Other Place
Oxford. Cambridge students don't like to say its name.
"We beat the Other Place in the Boat Race."
Written by Cambridge students
Our student writers pick their favourite places so you don't have to work it out alone.
Fresh from our writers
New guides, reviews and things to do in Cambridge, written by students who live there.
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Partner with usJust arrived?
Eight small jobs that make your first term in Cambridge much easier. Most take ten minutes.
✓
Register with a GP
Sign up near your term-time address before freshers' flu hits. Your uni will point you to a local practice.
✓
Sort your bike and travel
Get a bike with lights and a strong lock. If you're under 25, apply for a free Tiger Pass for £1 bus fares.
✓
Get a 16–25 Railcard
A third off most rail fares, so it pays for itself after a couple of trips home.
✓
Find your Students' Union
Go to the Freshers' Fair and join a society or two. It's the easiest way to meet people outside your flat.
✓
Save campus security's number
Every university has a 24-hour security line. Put it in your phone now.
✓
Check your contents insurance
Bikes, phones and laptops do get stolen in student areas. Find out whether your halls or house already include cover.
✓
Learn your route home
Use bike lights after dark, stick to well-lit routes, and take care cycling across commons and by the river at night.
✓
Sort a TV Licence if you need one
You need one to watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer, even on a laptop or phone.
Useful links
University accommodation, travel and the admin every student needs to sort.
FAQs
Is Cambridge a good city for students?
For most people, yes. It's beautiful, safe, flat and easy to cycle, with world-class universities and London 50 minutes away. The nightlife is small, and private rent is among the highest in the UK.
Where do Cambridge students live?
University of Cambridge students usually live in their college for most or all of their degree. Anglia Ruskin students often rent around Mill Road, Romsey and Petersfield, or in purpose-built flats in the centre.
How much is student rent in Cambridge?
A room in a shared house often costs about £150–£210 a week in 2026/27, usually with bills on top. College rooms at the University of Cambridge are often cheaper than renting privately.
Is Cambridge safe for students?
Cambridge is generally seen as a safe city. Bike theft is the most common problem, so always lock your bike properly. Take the usual care at night and use lights when cycling.
How do students get around Cambridge?
Mostly by bike and on foot. Under-25s living in Cambridgeshire can get £1 bus fares with a free Tiger Pass, and other singles are capped at £3. Fast trains reach London King's Cross in about 50 minutes.
What is Cambridge famous for?
Its university and colleges, King's College Chapel, punting on the Cam, the Mathematical Bridge, the discovery of DNA's structure and the Boat Race.
Pitch a guide or join our team of student writers. We're always looking for people at the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin.
Write for UnifresherRankings, halls, costs and student life at each university in Cambridge.
