Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire spans historic university streets and wide fenland skies. Cambridge itself needs little introduction, with its colleges, riverside walks and busy visitor trade, while Ely offers a quieter alternative, its cathedral rising above flat farmland and a modest town centre well suited to a slower pace. Peterborough provides a larger, more workaday base with good transport links, and Huntingdon and St Neots make convenient market-town stops along the Great Ouse.

Further into the fens, Wisbech and neighbouring Wisbech St Mary reflect the region's agricultural character, with wide skies and drainage channels replacing hills. Three Holes and Over are smaller still, useful for those wanting genuine rural quiet, as is Graffham. Cottenham and Fulbourn sit closer to Cambridge, offering village life within easy reach of the city's amenities.

Cambridge accounts for much of the choice, from long-standing names like The Gonville Hotel close to the city centre to smaller guesthouses such as Worth House and Cambridge Bed & Breakfast tucked into residential streets within walking distance of the colleges and river. Term-time and graduation weeks push prices up and rooms get scarce, so booking ahead in the city matters more than elsewhere in the county.

Ely offers a quieter alternative, with places like The Old Hall Ely and Alington House giving easy access to the cathedral and riverside without city traffic, while Wisbech's options, including The White Lion Hotel, suit those exploring the Fens or the north of the county.

Beyond the towns, converted farm buildings and country houses such as Crafts Hill Barn and Labbadax House provide a more rural base, useful if you're touring rather than settling in one place. Peacocks Tearoom and Fine B&B and Autumn House show the range runs from characterful small stays to straightforward comfortable rooms.

Cambridge dominates the county's roster of things to do, and rightly so: punting along the Backs with Scholars Punting Cambridge or seeing the colleges from an open-top bus with City Sightseeing gives a first taste, while the flatter fenland beyond rewards a slower pace. Ely's cathedral city makes a natural add-on, small enough to explore in an afternoon.

Further out, Peterborough and Huntingdon bring a different mix of days out, from riverside boat trips with Houghton Boats to activity centres like Adventure Nene and Huntfun Cambridge for families wanting something more physical. Smaller, quirkier finds turn up too, such as Witcham Equestrian Centre or the Highland Cow Cottage.

Indoor options such as Rumble Live Action Gaming and The Jazzy Jewelz Studio suit wet days or a change of pace, and market towns like Deeping, home to The Ark Market Deeping, add another layer worth building a visit around.

Cambridgeshire's dining scene splits neatly between the university city and its flatter, quieter surroundings. Cambridge itself carries the greatest concentration, with places like Pint Shop, Smokeworks and B. Tap Baron sitting alongside newer arrivals such as Five Guys JV Ltd and Yeahman Chicken N Tings, giving a mix of long-standing pub kitchens and quick, informal eating. Ely offers a smaller but distinct set of options, including Market Kitchen Ely Ltd, well suited to a stop near the cathedral.

Peterborough adds further choice for those exploring the county's northern reaches, while smaller towns and villages fill in the gaps with traditional pubs and independent cafés. Whether you want a proper sit-down meal, a riverside pint or something quick like Amelie Restaurants or Douce, the range across the county means it's worth checking what a particular town does well before booking.

Cambridgeshire's flat, big-skied fenland makes for some of the quietest camping in the east of England, and the county's 65 sites reflect its farming landscape more than its university city. Around Ely and Stretham you're camping close to the cathedral and the River Great Ouse, while sites near Cottenham and Over put you within easy reach of Cambridge without paying city prices.

Many of the smaller pitches are Certificated Locations on working farms, such as Greendyke Farm, Fen End Farm and Gayton Farm, offering a handful of pitches rather than crowded fields. Further north towards March and Wisbech, the fens open out properly, with places like Cuckoo Fen Campsite and Hawthorne Farm Wisbech giving a genuine sense of that flat, watery landscape.

For something more comfortable, glamping options such as Lodeside Glamping and Big Skies Camping and Glamping add fixed structures to the mix. Choosing between them often comes down to how central you want to be - Cambridge and its villages for city access, or the fen towns further out for space and stillness.

Self-catering options in Cambridgeshire tend to favour the flatter, rural fringes rather than the city centres, and the Peterborough area is a good example, with converted farm buildings offering a base for exploring the Nene Valley and surrounding countryside. Croft Farm sums up the pattern well, its Barn, Farmhouse and Granary all sharing the same site but giving guests a choice of layout and size.

Jack's Cottage and Pasque Cottage add further variety for those wanting a smaller, more independent stay. Most properties here suit couples or families looking for a quiet, self-contained break with easy access to Peterborough itself and the villages beyond, rather than a town-centre location.