It’s no surprise that Cambridge is a major influence on the surrounding county around it, and it should be, given that it has one of the most prestigious universities and all the culture and history that it reflects. However, there’s a lot of amount to sink your teeth into throughout the remainder of Cambridgeshire.
It’s difficult to imagine right now that some of the towns to the eastern part region of this county once were islands, surrounded by floodplains.
It’s fascinating to learn how the whole of the nation was changed in the 17th century, when the lands, which were often lower than sea-level, were washed away which created industrial and financial wealth.
Cambridgeshire was also the home of Oliver Cromwell who ruled the country , not monarchy in the role of Protector of the Commonwealth in the 1600s . He was one of UK history’s most influential and controversial people.
Let’s look at what are the best locations to go throughout Cambridgeshire:
1. Cambridge
The University of Cambridge has a international reputation for excellence and, with its foundation in 1209, it is the second-oldest university in England.
The various colleges of the university like Kings’, Queens’, Trinity and St Catherine’s are integral to the city. They are adorned with beautiful buildings from different eras.
The river’s “Backs”, where several colleges are reliant on the River Cam is one of the many essential things to do. If you have the some time to spare, would be the stunning Fitzwilliam Museum, with a Henry Moore sculpture in its grounds, as well as a treasure trove of paintings that date back to paintings from the Dutch, English, Flemish, French and Italian Schools.
Rubens is especially well represented having 14 works.
2. Ely
It’s interesting to consider the awe-inspiring scene Ely might have seen during the middle ages A stunning cathedral tucked away in the marshes , on an isolated chalk hill.
This magnificent monument is able to take your breath. It commands the landscape for what appears like miles. The design is a mix with Romanesque and Gothic architecture in the style that is admired for its octagonal structure, which is equally stunning from the from the outside as it is in the inside and gaze upwards from beneath.
Olive Cromwell lived in Ely between 1636 and 1747. His half-timbered home in St Mary’s Vicarage will tell you about his period in Ely and the fascinating background of the Fens.
3. Huntingdon
The town is as adorable as they come, yet is also rich in history and will delight the antiquarian within us all. Huntingdon was granted its charter by the King John at the beginning of the 13th century.
Take through the “Historic Trail” around the central area to view the medieval bridge across the River Ouse and coaching houses in the 17th century in the 1700s, when Huntingdon was a major component of England’s horse-drawn transportation network.
The main reason people go to Huntingdon is due to Oliver Cromwell, who was born in the town in 1599, and later became the town’s MP. You can get a better understanding of this controversial figure by visiting the Cromwell Museum, which has an exquisite venue inside the medieval school house where the 17th century diarist Samuel Pepys also attended.
4. St Ives
From the Middle Ages to the present day St Ives thrived because of the opportunities for trade provided by the River Great Ouse and thanks to its connections via road to London. In the 1830s, there were 64 pubs operating in the town.
There is still a sense of the old bustle at the market on Fridays and Mondays, which take up the majority of the town’s central area.
St Ives Bridge, constructed in the early 1400s, is one of the four bridges within the County that have a chapel. In the 1500s, the previous to the dissolution of the St Ives abbey was permitted to stay in the abbey.
There is an Old Riverport by the bridge is also the place to embark for a guided cruise along the river, and also to view the lush natural beauty of the water meadows of the Ouse Valley.
5. March
The most notable thing about this town’s market is Church of St Wendreda.
It’s specifically the interior that you must see, that has a 14th century double hammerbeam roof that has images of 120 angels , carved within the wooden. The Fens to the northwestern part of the county March was at one time an island, until the marshes around it were drained and allowed the town to grow during the 1600s.
The River Nene, now very beautiful, was made navigable and was utilized for trading coal and grains The town was given its own market.
It’s still in poor condition and is traded in the front of the town hall on Wednesdays and on Saturdays.
6. Wisbech
Further downstream along the Nene is Cambridgeshire’s second biggest town.
As March Wisbech’s fortunes have changed after the Fens were depleted, as within a short time it was transformed into a vital in-between port that shipped products from the Fens the new land.
The Nene Quay and the North and South Brinks are a stunning evidence of this time and is one of Cambridgeshire most pleasant man-made sites.
On both sides on either side of Nene is a row of 18th and 17th century warehouses and tall homes which have now a formal appearance, but were bustling prior to the arrival of railways. The beautiful Museum Square is the Wisbech & Fenland Museum situated in an attractive townhouse. It was opened in 1847.
7. Peterborough
A flourishing city located on the border of Fens and well-known for its business and manufacturing, Peterborough is often neglected by visitors.
There’s plenty to learn if you give it a go, along with the bonus of the dining and shopping of a city centre.
The most well-known monument can be seen in the Cathedral, that is notable because it is one of one of a few early-Gothic 12th-century churches that have remained largely unaltered when it was built in the first place. The lovers of medieval architecture could be able to forget all about time within this structure.
Bronze Age discoveries are made in the vicinity of Peterborough every day And, to the to the east of the city’s centre, Flag Fen is a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age site cleverly presented as museum.
8. Ramsey
Despite its small size The town of Ramsey is home to 60 listed buildings in its historic center, which has been designated as a conservation zone.
The branching point off of to the High Street is Great Whyte and the most intriguing aspect about it is the fact that there are large dock warehouses on the top, but there’s no evidence of any river.
This is since the High Lode River channelled under Great Whyte in the 1850s and that’s the reason behind the distinctive length of the street.
Highly rated Ramsey Rural Museum sheds light on the beginnings of farming in the Fens. It is a reclaimed Fens and is located in gorgeous farm buildings dating to the 1600.
9. Duxford
In the southern part of Cambridgeshire is a village that is known for its airfield.
in the Second World War RAF Duxford was a major location in the Battle of Britain and then for the United States Air Force.
Since the 70s, it has been transformed into an attraction for tourists and houses a huge collection of antique aircrafts in which is Duxford’s Imperial War Museum Duxford. There are 200 aircrafts and various other military vehicles within seven buildings.
It is possible to stop to eat lunch at any of three bars that are located in the village, and then head out and explore St John’s Church, which features Gothic paintings and walls that have been covered with graffiti from the past.
10. St Neots
A lot of visitors arrive in St Neots in an unconventional way, via barge along the River Great Ouse, which is one of the longest rivers that flows across the eastern part of England and then emptying into North Sea.
The riverbanks may be the most pleasant area of town since there is a park along the river in which you can observe the river-going traffic swaying through the summer.
There’s nothing like a fun local museum that is unique, and the one located that is located in St Neots ticks this box as it is housed in the town’s old magistrates’ court.
This attraction will recount fascinating stories about people who lived within the city, such as The Eynesbury Giant , who lived in St Neots in the 1800s.
