Cambridgeshire Travel Guide - Towns and villages

Buckden is a historic village south of Huntingdon, just off the busy A1. Buckden was once the home of Catherine of Aragon -though I doubt she appreciated it, as she was a virtual prisoner on the orders of her estranged husband, Henry VIII.
Buckden, Cambridgeshire, England

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One of the most popular and endearing historic towns in England, Cambridge owes its prominence as a tourist destination to the medieval university buildings that take up so much of the town centre. The wonderful architecture of the medieval colleges give a fascinating glimpse into life long ago, and the rich history of the colleges makes for enjoyable exploring. And when you're done exploring the university, try your hand at punting on the River Cam.
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England

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A small, quiet village on the River Great Ouse, near the border of Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The village suffers from the urban sprawl of St. Neots, across the county border, but maintains its own sense of identity and long history. The main point of interest is the 15th-century church of St Mary, which boasts a 12th-century font made of Purbeck marble.
Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire, England

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Elsworth is a village in south Cambridgeshire, about 9 miles from Cambridge. Elsworth was inhabited at least as early as the 10th century and is listed in the Domesday Book. The parish church of Holy Trinity dates to the 14th century and is built on the site of an earlier 11th-century church belonging to Ramsey Abbey. The highlight of the church is a series of Perpendicular choir stalls with beautifully carved linenfold panelling and poppyhead bench ends. of thatched cottages and farmhouses grouped around a brook. The church looks out over a small brook that runs through the centre of the village, past a lovely collection of thatched cottages.
Elsworth, Cambridgeshire, England

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The name 'Ely' tells a lot about the history of this small, pretty town. The name comes from the Saxon for 'eel Island', a reference to the large number of eels caught here in the marshes that covered most of the landscape before the Fens were drained in the 17th and 18th centuries. At the heart of Ely is the fabulous medieval cathedral, famous for its wooden-framed lantern tower, a marvel of medieval architecture.
Ely, Cambridgeshire, England

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Grantchester lies on the edge of urban Cambridge but still manages to retain the charm of a village. At the heart of the village is the vicarage that was home to poet Rupert Brooke when he attended King's College, Thatched cottages add to the traditional feel of old Grantchester.
Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, England

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Huntingdon is an attractive market town, famed as the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell. There is a small museum opposite the medieval parish church where Cromwell was baptised. There was a Roman villa here, and a Saxon town grew up here on the River Great Ouse as early as the 6th century. For centuries Huntingdon was the county town of Huntingdonshire, but the county disappeared as a distinct entity during political reform in 1974 (Huntingdonshire lives on as an administrative district). The poet William Cowper lived in Huntingdon, and a plaque marks his unpretentious house.
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England

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Kimbolton dates to the Roman period, and the manor was held by King Harold at the time of the Norman Conquest. The powerful de Bohun family built a castle at Kimbolton and the de Bohuns rebuilt St Andrews church in the 13th century. Kimbolton is famous for its link to Katherine of Aragon, who died at the castle in 1536 after four unhappy years in captivity.
Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, England

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The history of Peterborough goes back at least 6,000 years. The Romans founded a town they called Durobrivae and established a thriving pottery industry here. Around 656 AD a monastery was established. Destroyed twice - once by invading Danes and again by fire - the current cathedral of Peterborough was built in 1118. The architecture is superb, making Peterborough cathedral one of the most striking Norman buildings in England.
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England

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The town of Ramsey owes its existence to the foundation here of Ramsey Abbey, which was established on an island in the middle of marshland around AD 969. Ramsey Abbey grew to become one of the most important and powerful medieval monasteries in England. During the medieval period, a weekly market was established at Ramsey, and an annual three day fair on the feast day of St Benedict.
Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, England

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Heritage Highlight: Ramsey Abbey Gatehouse
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