Nearest train station: Cambridge
Featured in a poem by Sylvia Plath and paid tribute to in the form of song by prog rock band Pink Floyd, Grantchester Meadows has been a popular wild swimming spot for locals and visitors to Cambridge for a long time.
Situated just south of Cambridge in the village of Grantchester and along the banks of the River Cam, the meadows offer over 2km of wild swimming opportunities along the way. The area is peppered with pubs to frequent along the way, culminating at the Orchard Tea Garden where students and tourists often relax with afternoon tea.
Fans over the years include Lord Byron, who frequently bathed in the area and has a spot just south of the meadows named after him.
The walk along the banks of the Cam south of Cambridge through Grantchester Meadows is flanked by picturesque woodland and is a great spot to see all kinds of wildlife.
How to Get to Grantchester Meadows
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this wild swimming location just outside of Cambridge by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Enter the postcode CB3 9ED into your sat nav, which will take you to the top end of Grantchester Meadows on the Cambridge side. From here, you can follow the path beyond Skaters’ Meadow and south along the River Cam through the meadows where the are plenty of wild swimming opportunities.
The roads in Grantchester are quite narrow and do get congested in the summer, so it may be advised to park in Cambridge proper and walk down. There is a car park near Lammas Land Pool right on the banks of the Cam that is only a few hundred metres north of where the meadows start.
By public transport
The nearest train station is Cambridge, and you can walk through the city westward and then south by Hodson’s Folly to reach the meadows, which takes around 50 minutes.
Another option is to approach Grantchester Meadows from the south via the village of Trumpington. The Busway Trumpington Park-and-Ride will pick you up at Cambridge Station (stop 1) and will drop you off at Trumpington Park & Ride where you can reach the meadows to the north.
By bike
The Grantchester Cycle Path passes the meadows and is largely traffic-free. The ride starts at Cambridge city centre and and follows the River Cam south through Lammas Land and then past Skater’s Meadow before reaching Grantchester. Have a respite at the Orchard Tea Room after your ride and swim!
What else is nearby Grantchester Meadows?
Cambridge has plenty to offer for all types of visitors, from its stunning university buildings to its lovely open spaces such as Christ’s Pieces and Jesus Green. Enjoy a spot of punting along the River Cam, or indeed check out the lido at Jesus Green for a further cool off.