Cambridgeshire is a county in the east of England landlocked by the counties of Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Suffolk, Rutland, Norfolk and Northamptonshire. This part of England may not possess any coastal attractions however there is a broad range of other local tourist attractions which make this an incredible place in which to take a vacation. Below I explain why tourists should think about a trip to this most beautiful part of the United Kingdom.
The English county of Cambridgeshire features breathtaking countryside, outstanding cathedrals, prestigious stately homes, exciting waterways, busy market towns and the fascinating city of Cambridge. The city of Cambridge is a tremendously popular Cambridgeshire tourist attraction which is very suitable for a vacation, or weekend city break, at any time of the year.
Visitor attractions in the intensely photogenic university town include The Fitzwilliam Museum, The Folk Museum, The Backs, The Round Church, The Orchard Tea Garden and Denny Abbey, however most tourists travel to Cambridge to look at the sights belonging to some of the thirty one colleges such as Cambridge University Botanic Garden and King’s College & King’s College Chapel. It can take a great deal of time to visit all of the colleges but the best buildings to wander around are those of Corpus Christi, St John’s College, Magdalene College and Trinity College.
The Fens
The Cambridgeshire Fenlands are an extremely marshy district almost at the level of the sea. There have been numerous attempts at draining the land some dating as far back as the Romans. It wasn’t until the sixteen hundreds that sustained efforts were made. Sadly these attempts failed and it wasn’t until the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries that they eventually gained some success and the land was turned over to agriculture.
Today the fascinating landscape of fresh and salt water marshes provide the perfect environment for leisure and wildlife. Cambridgeshire features some of the county’s least crowded waterways, ideal for vacations on a narrow boat.
If you wish to learn more about the interesting Fens then you will discover that the towns of March, Whittlesey, Chatteris and Wisbech are home to a superb local museum.
The Historic Market Towns
Across the county are situated beautiful small market towns, which, way back in the past were islands. March grew up as a port during Tudor Times and has a fascinating history. Other island communities included Littleport, Chatteris, Whittlesey and Ramsey. The market towns feature superb architecture spanning a few centuries such as Whittlesey’s 17th century Butter Cross. Several pleasant hours can be passed looking at the many independent businesses, stalls and shops.
Other Attractions In Cambridgeshire
The list of local attractions is endless. Heritage railways include the Nene Valley Railway and the Wisbech and March Bramley Line and there a handful of interesting buildings worth visiting including Great Gransden Post Mill, Down Field Windmill, Houghton Mill and Lode Watermill.
Located across the county is a selection of religious buildings of historical importance such as the abbeys of Spinney, Ramsey, Denny and Anglesey, Peterborough Cathedral and Ely Cathedral as well as Duxford Chapel and the Old Vicarage at Grantchester. The list of castles, stately homes and historic houses is simply so huge that there is insufficient space to include it here, it is the same with the list of museums & art galleries.
If you are currently planning a vacation in Cambridgeshire and are booking Cambridge hotel accommodation please take a look at our comprehensive bed & breakfast in Cambridge