Harwich — Cambridge Instead Of London

Why Cambridge Wins

From Harwich in Essex, central London is around two hours and Cambridge around 90 minutes, but the difference is larger than the 30 minutes suggests. London on a cruise day means four hours of driving, congestion charge zones and crowds. Cambridge means a compact university city you can see properly in four hours: Kings College Chapel with its fan vaulted ceiling, the Backs where the colleges meet the river, Trinity and St Johns, the Bridge of Sighs, and punting on the Cam which is the experience people actually remember. Add lunch in the market square and the day is complete without ever feeling rushed.

The Other Two Options

Colchester is 30 minutes from Harwich and was the first Roman capital of Britain, with a Norman castle built on the vaults of a Roman temple, Roman walls and the oldest recorded town charter in England. It suits a short call well. Constable Country in the Dedham Vale is 25 minutes away, the landscape John Constable painted, including Flatford Mill which still stands and looks close to the painting. That is a gentle countryside half day with flat walking, good for older guests. All three options keep you well inside 90 minutes of the ship, which is why we rarely recommend the London run from this port unless the call exceeds eleven hours.