Nurseries in Cambridge
Cambridge is a major university city with strong demand for childcare, driven by families working in education, technology, healthcare and the science parks. Popular areas such as Chesterton, Trumpington and Cherry Hinton have high occupancy levels. The city offers excellent green spaces, museums, libraries and good transport links via the M11 and A14.
Parents in Cambridge typically pay £96 per day for childcare, which is significantly 27% higher than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £96
- Comparison
- +27% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 4,940 places
Nurseries near you in Cambridge
Frequently Asked Questions
Most private nurseries in Cambridge accept children from around 3 months old. School nurseries usually offer places from age 3, with some accepting eligible 2 year olds.
Across England all 3 and 4 year olds receive 15 funded hours per week with many working families eligible for up to 30 hours. Some 2 year olds also qualify based on household circumstances, and eligible working parents of children from 9 months old may access funded childcare. Tax Free Childcare provides a 20 percent government top up to help with nursery costs.
Cambridge has some of the highest nursery fees in the region, typically £85–£150 per day, especially near the Science Park, biomedical campus and city centre.
All nurseries in Cambridge are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding administered by Cambridgeshire County Council.
Ask about wait-list times, outdoor space, parking for drop-off, how funded hours are delivered, and any additional fees for meals or consumables.
Applying for funding
Cambridge is covered by Cambridgeshire County Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Cambridgeshire County Council website
