Huntingdon

Huntingdon sits astride the River Great Ouse in the flat, fertile heart of Cambridgeshire, roughly 15 miles north-west of Cambridge itself. It grew up where the old Roman road of Ermine Street, part of the Great North Road, crossed the river, and that crossing point still shapes the town today: a well-preserved 14th-century bridge carries traffic over the water within sight of the willow-lined Riverside Park. Granted a market charter by King John in 1205, Huntingdon became the county town of the old county of Huntingdonshire, and its Georgian and Tudor-fronted Market Square remains the natural heart of the place.

The town's biggest claim to fame is that Oliver Cromwell was born here in 1599, and its streets still carry the imprint of that history alongside centuries as a coaching stop on the road north. Beyond the historic core, Huntingdon has grown into a practical, well-connected base with easy road and rail links, while the surrounding Ouse Valley offers slow rivers, water meadows and nearby villages that reward a bit of exploring. It is not a chocolate-box tourist town, but for anyone interested in English history, gentle walking and cycling, or simply a quieter alternative to Cambridge, it has plenty to offer.

Top things to do in Huntingdon

Huntingdon rewards a wander on foot, with most of its sights within easy reach of the Market Square. Highlights include:

• The Cromwell Museum — housed in the former Huntingdon Grammar School building on Market Hill, where Cromwell himself was once a pupil, this small but well-regarded museum tells the story of his life and the Civil War through portraits, personal items and interactive displays.
• Huntingdon Town Bridge — a 14th-century stone bridge over the Great Ouse linking Huntingdon to neighbouring Godmanchester, and one of the best-preserved medieval bridges in the country still carrying traffic.
• Riverside Park — a long, undeveloped stretch of the Great Ouse through the town, popular for riverside walks, picnics, cycling and watching the rowers and narrowboats go by.
• All Saints' Church — a largely 15th-century parish church on the Market Square whose font is traditionally said to have been used to baptise Cromwell.
• Hinchingbrooke Country Park — around 170 acres of lakes, meadows and mature woodland on the edge of town, with waymarked walking and cycling trails and good birdwatching.
• Hinchingbrooke House — a historic manor house once owned by the Cromwell family, now part of a local school, which opens its grounds and rooms for guided tours on selected summer Sunday afternoons.
• The Huntingdon Town Trail — a self-guided route linking the timber-framed Falcon Inn, the remains of the Norman motte-and-bailey castle by the river, and other historic corners of the old town.
• Godmanchester — Huntingdon's equally historic neighbour across the bridge, worth combining with a visit for its own riverside walks and ancient street pattern.

Getting to Huntingdon

Huntingdon is well placed just off the A14 and close to the A1, making it an easy drive from Cambridge, Peterborough or the A1(M) corridor. Huntingdon railway station has direct services on the East Coast Main Line and connecting routes, putting London King's Cross within roughly 45-55 minutes and Peterborough and Cambridge within easy reach for day trips. The town is compact enough to explore on foot once you arrive, with the Market Square, riverside and main car parks all within a few minutes' walk of one another.

Best time to visit Huntingdon

Late spring through early autumn is the best window for making the most of the Great Ouse and Hinchingbrooke Country Park, when the riverside paths, water meadows and woodland trails are at their greenest and local events and markets are in full swing. Summer weekends bring guided tours at Hinchingbrooke House and a livelier atmosphere around the Market Square. Autumn brings good walking weather and quieter paths, while winter has its own appeal for those chiefly interested in the town's museums and historic buildings, which stay open year-round regardless of the weather outside.

Where to stay in Huntingdon

Huntingdon has a handful of well-established hotels, including The Huntingdon Marriott Hotel on the edge of town and the George Hotel, a former coaching inn on the High Street with centuries of history behind its Georgian facade. Chain hotels near the A14 suit those breaking a journey or visiting on business, while smaller guesthouses and B&Bs in and around the town offer a more personal base for exploring the Ouse Valley. For a rural stay, the villages surrounding Huntingdon, including Godmanchester and Hartford, offer characterful pubs with rooms and country inns within a short drive.

Food and drink in Huntingdon

The Old Bridge Hotel on the banks of the Great Ouse has long been one of the area's best-regarded places to eat, with a relaxed dining room and terrace looking over the river. In the town centre, The Falcon Inn is a historic half-timbered pub with a good range of ales, while riverside and Market Square cafes provide casual options for a coffee or lunch between sightseeing. Godmanchester, just across the bridge, adds further pub and restaurant choices for anyone happy to extend their walk.