“Really? But Royston is so small - there's not a lot there?” That’s what someone said to me when I told them I was going on a day trip to Royston (spoiler: they were so wrong). The town sits just south of Cambridge and makes for one of the most unique, unforgettable days out you can do by train.
Bursting with personality and independent charm, Royston has a friendly, welcoming, community spirit and its compact, walkable centre is full of independent shops run by people who genuinely care about what they do.
Whether you’re looking for handmade gifts, delicious artisan food, creative workshops or simply a place where shop owners greet you like a regular, Royston makes a refreshing change from the usual routine.
I took a day trip to find out what makes Royston so special, meet the local business owners, and put together my must-visit recommendations.
Why visit Royston by train?
Travelling to Royston with Great Northern is simple and direct. Trains to Royston depart regularly from London King’s Cross, and the journey is quick enough that you can decide to go on a spontaneous day trip, or plan your adventure in advance. Once you arrive, the town centre is an easy 10-minute walk from the railway station, and everything in the town is walkable.
Royston rewards the curious. Every business on this list has an amazing story behind it, and the people running them really care about their town, their customers, and each other. If you’re craving a day trip that feels personal rather than predictable and will leave you already wanting to go back, Royston is well worth a visit.
Independent shopping and small businesses in Royston
Glazed Creations
Kelly took a break from corporate life to open the pottery studio she’d always dreamed of. Glazed Creations is the ideal spot for anyone wanting to slow down and make something personal and is great for families, groups of friends, and she caters mindfully to people with additional needs.
The studio also runs grown-up glazing nights where you can bring a bottle and enjoy a relaxed, chatty evening. Kelly says the studio is “part of people’s memories”, with one family coming in every year to make their bespoke Christmas gifts together. Kelly’s take on Royston sums it up well: “There’s a lot to do in Royston if you just look for it.”
3 Baldock Street
Tel: 07957 530929
Kelly’s Kitchen
Just around the corner you’ll find another Kelly following her passion. This one swapped marketing for baking, and now runs a family-owned cake shop where everything is made fresh daily. The menu changes every week, packed with bold, creative flavours like carrot cake blondies and pink lemonade cupcakes. Her husband’s pastel de natas have even built their own fan base.
“We’re proper foodies so we really focus on flavour,” she says, and it definitely shows. The coffee is locally roasted, the brownies are gorgeously gooey, and it’s exactly the kind of local gem you hope to stumble upon in a town like this. Kelly also makes award-winning celebration cakes, specialising in buttercream or ganache-covered wedding cakes.
7a Lower King Street, Royston
Tel: 07818 038795
Bow Books
Paul has spent six decades in books and publishing, yet opening Bow Books might be his proudest chapter. “I couldn’t bear that this town didn’t have a bookshop,” he says, so he opened one himself.
It’s a two-floor haven of new releases, classic works, and a super-speedy ordering service if there’s a particular title you want to get your hands on. Paul is right when he says “it has real charm, like a home library”, and it has that comforting, lived-in warmth that only an independent bookshop can offer. If you’ve always wanted to find a space where time doesn’t matter and you can get lost in your favourite story (or discover a new one), then Bow Books is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Paul is passionate about collaborating within the community, too. Bow Books hosts special events with other local businesses, like The Honest Fig who is providing artisan cheese for an upcoming evening with author and cheesemonger Ned Palmer. Paul plans to stay open “another 30 years”, and honestly, I believe him.
6 Angel Pavement
Tel: 01763 793279
Revolution Records
Married couple Rob and Sinead left London tech life to build the record store Rob dreamed of as a teenager. Revolution Records is a curated mix of new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and merch, and it has grown into a proper community hub.
“Our USP is personal service,” says Sinead, and the customers definitely agree. Their visitors are a mix of locals and people travelling in from further afield, with a strong female customer base. The stock reflects that, offering a broad range that feels inclusive rather than gatekeeper-ish. It’s the kind of shop that makes you want to stay a while, flick through the sleeves, and chat music with people who really care.
7 Melbourn Street, Royston
Tel: 01763 793115
The Honest Fig
Linda spent 26 years in the construction industry before taking a leap and opening her own cheese shop. She started with a stall at Royston Market, then opened The Honest Fig inside The Corn Exchange.
Her cheeses are sourced by Neal’s Yard, and she also loves taking recommendations from customers. Everything is handmade and natural, from an aromatic 12-month-matured Truffle Manchego to a decadently creamy organic Welsh Perl Las. Linda also specialises in grazing boards, with all the extras you could want to accompany your artisan cheese, like olives, wine, grapes and toasted almonds.
It’s a warm, personal business where you can tell straight away that Linda loves what she does.This is reflected in the way she collaborates with other small businesses in Royston, like ‘cheese and winyl’ nights at Revolution Records and Mother’s Day hampers with the local florist.
The Corn Exchange, Royston
Tel: 07951 238786
No. 3 Royston
Laura’s yarn boutique has been part of the town for a decade. She has seen knitting and crocheting explode in popularity, with customers making toys, baby blankets and handmade gifts from the yarn that she sells. Laura also runs workshops, hosts a craft fair, and emphasises how good crafting can be for wellbeing. She stocks yarn in every colour of the rainbow, along with cross-stitch patterns, accessories, wool, and craft supplies.
“I’ve never been happier or more content than I am running a creative business in a town like this,” she says. One of her most touching projects was a knitted ice cream van yarn bomb in memory of Royston’s beloved ice-cream man, which she later gifted to his widow. It tells you everything you need to know about the heart and soul of this shop.
3 Melbourn Street, Royston
Tel: 01763 249670
Pamper Mi Mi
Stacey built her business from a single treatment room into a calming wellness space inside the old bank building. Her salon offers organic facials, holistic therapies, massages, nails, brows, and even a sauna.
“Life’s too short, you need to do something you love,” she says, and that ethos shapes the whole place. It’s friendly, welcoming, and ideal if you want to make your Royston day trip a proper self-care day. As soon as you meet her, you’ll realise that Stacey is a real girl’s girl, and you’ll leave feeling like you’ve been friends for decades.
2-3 Fish Hill, Royston
Tel: 01763 299000
Kooky Nohmad
Emma’s flexible, light-filled space is the town’s go-to for coffee, brunch or a quiet day working away from home. It feels relaxed and easy, and has become a natural meeting point for locals. Whether you’re stopping in for a catch-up or breaking up your shopping route with good food and a comfy seat, it’s one of the best spots for people-watching and soaking up the community vibe.
42 High Street, Royston
Tel: 01763 258965