Buckden Towers

The Towers, Buckden, Huntingdon, Cambs.
PE19 5TA

(01480) 810344

Parts of this estate are over 900 years old, formerly the home (Palace!) of the Bishops of Lincoln. Possibly most infamous for being one of the "prisons" of Catherine of Aragon until she was moved to Kimbolton Castle. Buckden Towers is now a Claretian Missionary but is open to the Public most days

Cromwell Museum

Grammar School Walk, Huntingdon Town Centre.

(01480) 375830

The Cromwell Museum is dedicated to the life of Oliver Cromwell and is the remaining fragment of a medieval monastic hospital dedicated to St John the Baptist, and dates from the late 12th century. Converted for use as the town's grammar school in the 16th century it remained in use as a school until the 1940's and being the place the Oliver Cromwell went to school an ideal choice to be one of his memorials!.

Elton Hall

Estate Office, Elton, Peterborough, Cambs. PE8 6SH

(01832) 280468

A classic English County House, Elton Hall has been the home to the Proby family for the last 350 years. Elton Hall is open to the Public and displays paintings by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Constable and other fine artists. The huge Library with over 12,000 books, including one of Henry VIII's prayer books. Excellent gardens, including restored Rose Garden, Knot and Sunken Gardens and an Arboretum and Orangery.

Grafham Water Exhibition Centre

1 mile west of A1 from Buckden roundabout

(01480) 812154

There are at least two halves to Grafham Water, here on the Northern Shore the visitor will find the exhibition centre with a small display showing how the reservoir was built, a useful gift shop and perhaps best of all a super place for a snack when you have had a good walk around some of the reservoir. ( I love the "All-Day- Breakfast") You can also hire bikes from here (See Activities)

Grafham Water Nature Reserve

c/o The Fishing Lodge, Grafham Water, West Perry, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE29 0BX

(01480) 812660

The other side of Grafham brings you to the Nature Reserve, the Sailing Centre and the Fishing Centre (Great shop for Fisherpeople). Huge car park and Ice Creams in summer. There is a snack bar and tea rooms on the top floor of the Fishing Lodge which is open to the Public.

Hamerton Zoological Park

Hamerton, Near Sawtry, Cambs. PE28 5RE

(01832) 293362

This is a splendid private zoo open to the public. Hamerton Zoological Park is a really nice place to visit, the refreshments are a bit rustic at the moment but you can get a decent cup of tea. If you are really hungry then take a picnic and top it up when your there. You can have your picnic in the grounds. There is a children's play area so you actually may get a chance to drink your tea in peace. The birds and animals are really well kept and you can get right up close (Great for pictures) Mind the Owl when you come in, some of the animals are loose but not the Lions and Tigers!

Hinchingbrooke Country Park

2km west of Huntingdon, 1km from Brampton. Frequent bus service from Huntingdon Town Centre to Hinchingbrooke Country Park/Hospital

(01480) 451568

There's something for everyone at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, ranging from walks and orienteering, to picnics and barbecues. There's 170 acres of woodland, meadows, riverbanks and lakes, open every day. With hard surfaced paths, ideal for buggies and wheelchairs, catering at peak times (weekends and school holidays), and toilets including disabled facilities, all the family will be able to enjoy what the park has to offer. With lots of countryside activities and iron age farm open days, along with the opportunity to get involved with practical conservation work, why not come and visit?

Hinchingbrooke House

The Lettings Office, Hinchingbrooke School, Brampton Road, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE29 3BN

(01480) 375678

Once the home of at least four generations of Cromwell, right up to the Lord Protector himself - Oliver Cromwell, and then the Montagu's, Earls of Sandwich, including the one who invented the "sandwich", they resided at Hinchingbrooke House right up to the 1960's. The house is now part of Hinchingbrooke School, whilst the grounds contain everything from an Arts and Theatre Complex, a Country Park, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and the Regional Police Headquarters. Contact the School to find out when Hinchingbrooke House may be open to the public

Holme Fen Nature Reserve

Wildlife Trust for Cambridgeshire, The Manor House, Broad Street, Cambourne, Cambridge CB3 6DH

(01954) 713513

Holme Fen is situated south of Peterborough, around 5km north-west of Woodwalton Fen and on the south-western shore of the former Whittlesey Mere. The Fen occupies a crescent shaped site approximately 2.5km long by 1.5km wide and has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Geological Conservation Review Site (GCR).

Houghton Water Mill

The National Trust, Houghton, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE28 2AZ

(01480) 301494

A large timber-built watermill on an island in the Great Ouse, with intact machinery which is still operational. An art gallery exhibits work by local artists Major repair and decoration project recently completed. New interactive display; regular milling. Sun & BH Mons: flour for sale. Houghton Water Mill is a National Trust Property.

Island Hall

Post Street, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE29 2BA

(020) 7491 3724

An 18th Century house of architectural importance and with fine panelled rooms. Island Hall is open from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm on Sundays from June to early September.

Kimbolton Castle

Kimbolton School, Kimbolton, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE28 0AE

(01480) 860505

Kimbolton Castle, originally a medieval castle, underwent many changes before the Great Rebuilding by Vanbrugh, Hawksmoor and Adam, as the country house of the Dukes of Manchester.  The Kimbolton Castle's most famous resident was Katherine of Aragon, who died here in 1536, and small sections of the Tudor house have survived.  Although the Castle now belongs to Kimbolton School, visitors can still see the impressive range of State Rooms, with an outstanding set of murals by Pellegrini.  Kimbolton Castle is set in extensive, wooded grounds, with pleasant walks. Contact the School to find out when the House may be open to the public

Nene Valley Railway

Off southbound carriageway of A1 at Stibbington - North of Peterborough.

(01480) 784444

The Nene Valley Railway is a standard gauge preserved railway which runs for seven and a half miles between Yarwell Junction and Peterborough in Cambridgeshire. Its headquarters are based at Wansford beside the A1, the old Great North Road, and are easily accessible from a large part of the country. Visit us and travel the 15 mile round trip through the delightful Nene Park. We run regular services throughout the year. Whether you are an avid steam enthusiast or just seeking a good day out for all the family Nene Valley Railway has something for you.

Norris Museum

The Broadway, West end of St Ives Town Centre, beside the river and near the parish church.

(01480) 497314

Norris Museum is the Museum of Huntingdonshire. It tells the story of this historic county from the earliest times to the present day. The Norris Museum was founded by Herbert Norris, a St. Ivian who left his lifetime's collection of Huntingdonshire relics to the town when he died in 1931

Paxton Nature Reserve

Little Paxton village, near St Neots. Signposted off the A1.

(01480) 406795

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve is open to the public all day, every day.  A detailed map in the car park shows the trails and public footpaths around the reserve.  Leaflets and maps are available from the Visitor Centre. The new centre is almost double the size of the original built in 1989 and enables volunteers to extend an even bigger welcome to the thousands of people who visit Paxton Pits every year. 

Ramsey Rural Museum

Wood Lane, Ramsey, Cambs.

(01487) 814304

Ramsey Rural Museum is a set of 18th century farm buildings around which are displayed many different examples of farming equipment from many different ages. There is also a house that has been reconstructed to demonstrate how people would have lived in the Agricultural Revolution. Ramsey Rural Museum is set on open countryside with parking and easy disabled access.

The Manor

Hemingford Grey, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE28 9BN

(01480) 463134

Built in the 1130s,  much of the original house remains virtually intact in spite of various changes over nine hundred years. This moated house is surrounded by four acres of garden renowned for its collection of over 200 old roses and a collection of irises. The garden is open daily from 10am to 6pm (dusk in winter). No appointment is needed. £2 adults, 50p children. The House is open throughout the year but strictly by appointment.

The Raptor Foundation

The Heath, St. Ives Road, Woodhurst, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE28 3BT

(01487) 741140

Currently providing a home to some 350 birds of prey ranging from Barn and Tawny Owls to Kestrels and a Goshawk  the Raptor Foundation is operated by a group of volunteers, under the Directorship of Liz McQuillan, who freely devote their spare time to looking after injured and unwanted birds of prey.

Wood Green Animal Shelter

King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Cambs. PE29 2LJ

(01480) 830014

In 1981 land was bought in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, and in 1983 what is now the Headquarters for Wood Green Animal shelters was built. In 1987 HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the Godmanchester site known as the Margaret Young Home For Animals also called Kings Bush Farm. The Shelter at Godmanchester is home to a variety of animals such dogs cats and other domestic pets. The charity takes in around 8,000 animals a year and has set national standards in animal welfare. Large Car Park, Pet Shop and loads of parking space.

Woodwalton Fen Nature Reserve

Wildlife Trust for Cambridgeshire, The Manor House, Broad Street, Cambourne, Cambridge CB3 6DH

Woodwalton Fen is one of Britain's oldest nature reserves and occupies a substantial site of 208ha north-east of Huntingdon. The site features a mosaic of habitats that are interlaced with stretches of tranquil waterway and footpaths. It soon becomes clear to see why RAMSAR celebrated Woodwalton as as a 'particularly good example of a near natural wetland, which is characteristic of the bio geographical region'.