Summary
Where the Roman road Ermine Street intersects with the third-longest river in England, Huntingdon is a quaint town featuring a Market Square that dates back to the 1100s.
Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon in 1599, and Market Square is home to one of England’s finest museums dedicated to the Lord Protector, situated within a 12th-century hospital where Cromwell was later educated.
The Historic Town Trail presents a variety of charming landmarks to discover, including half-timbered pubs and the remnants of Huntingdon Castle.
Visitors can return to the River Great Ouse to relax in Riverside Park, enjoy canoeing, or explore attractive locations downstream such as Houghton Mill and the Medieval chapel bridge in nearby St Ives.
Let us delve into the top attractions in Huntingdon:
1. Houghton Mill
This historic mill, operated by the National Trust, is nestled in the picturesque landscape along the River Great Ouse, situated east of Huntingdon.
Houghton Mill’s origins trace back to the 10th century, although the current structure dates from the 1600s, with significant expansions occurring 200 years later.
The mill ceased flour production in the 1930s, subsequently being donated to the National Trust and serving as a youth hostel for most of the 20th century.
Recent installations of new millstones in 1999 allow for stoneground flour production, which is utilized in baking at the Houghton Mill Tearoom.
From Huntingdon, visitors may traverse alongside the Great Ouse to reach the mill, and from that point, a winding trail leads to St Ives.
Houghton Mill also offers canoe rentals, enabling paddling along the Houghton Trout Stream to Hemingford Lock, or undertaking a two-hour round trip to St Ives.
2. Cromwell Museum
This museum dedicated to the Lord Protector is housed in part of the grammar school where he received his early education.
Originally adapted from the 12th-century Medieval Hospital of St John, visitors can admire the preserved Romanesque architecture in the bricked-up portal featuring archivolts and a row of five windows above.
The museum boasts the foremost collection of artifacts from the Protectorate era in the UK, including contemporary portraits of Cromwell and his family, along with coins and portrait medals.
Visitors can also explore an engaging exhibit of personal effects such as his powder flask and the hat worn during the dissolution of the Long Parliament in 1653. Noteworthy documents, including the Humble Petition & Advice of 1657, are also on display, alongside Cromwell’s personal apothecary cabinet and a Florentine Cabinet given to him by the Duke of Tuscany.
3. Hinchingbrooke Country Park
Just a short walk from Huntingdon train station leads visitors into a scenic area enveloped by open countryside.
Hinchingbrooke Country Park, spanning 170 acres along the Alconbury Brook, features lakes, expansive meadows, and mature oak woodlands.
Despite the abundance of natural beauty, the park maintains hard-surface paths suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
During the summer months, visitors can enjoy designated barbecue stands or bring their own picnics, while the café offers homemade cakes, savory snacks, and ice cream.
The park is home to all three species of British woodpecker, and with patience by the water, one might spot a kingfisher or an otter.
4. Historic Town Trail
“Huntingdon First” offers a downloadable leaflet on its website outlining a circular trail showcasing over 40 notable attractions around the town.
The trail commences at Market Square, in front of the stately Georgian Town Hall (built in 1745) and the historical Falcon Inn.
Dating back to the 16th century, the Falcon Inn is the oldest pub in the area and is believed to have served as a refuge for Cromwell during the Civil War.
Cromwell House on the High Street is a 19th-century structure built on the site of the original house where Cromwell was born in 1599. The Market Inn, which features half-timbering, is nestled within a quaint network of historic passages, while the southeastern end of the high street boasts the old County and Borough Gaol, formerly used for debtors and criminals.
Castle Hills along the Great Ouse represent the remains of Huntingdon’s Norman castle, erected in 1068 and subsequently demolished following a siege in 1174 during the Great Revolt.
5. The Manor, Hemingford Grey
Located a few miles downstream along the River Great Ouse lies one of the oldest continuously inhabited residences in the UK. The Manor dates back to 1130, and while garden access is complimentary throughout the year, arrangements are necessary to view the interior, with tours available daily during the month of May.
For a significant portion of the 20th century, the residence was home to children’s author Lucy M. Boston, who penned the Green Knowe series here.
The estate remains largely unchanged since her death in 1990. For those familiar with Lucy M. Boston’s work, The Manor emanates echoes of Green Knowe, alongside exquisite patchworks created by Lucy herself.
Furthermore, she designed the gardens, which are surrounded by a moat and adorned with whimsical topiary, award-winning irises, heritage roses, and herbaceous borders.
6. All Saints’ Church
All Saints’ Church, a prominent structure on the north side of Market Square, is a Perpendicular Gothic edifice dating from the early 16th century.
This remarkable building showcases impressive external features, including original stonework on the battlements, expansive window tracery, sculpted niches, and crocketed pinnacles.
The interior underwent restoration by the distinguished architect Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century, adding an oak roof and choir stalls in the nave (while the chancel’s magnificent ceiling dates back to around 1500). However, a remnant from the Medieval era can be found in the 12th-century font, characterized by a polygonal bowl and stem.
This font is believed to have originally belonged to the old Church of St John and would have been utilized for Oliver Cromwell’s baptism.
7. Riverside Park
A lengthy stretch of the River Great Ouse in Huntingdon remains undeveloped, providing a picturesque locale for strolls, cycling, wildlife observation, and summer concerts by the river.
Alternatively, one could simply relax and observe the narrowboats gently drifting by on a pleasant afternoon.
The park meanders for two kilometers down to Hartford Church and features a boathouse for canoeing, alongside Purvis Marine, which offers larger boat rentals by the hour or day.
At the northern terminus lies a grand view of the 19th-century Riverside Mill, which has served various purposes, including an oil cake factory, wartime military clothing depot, and hosiery factory, before its conversion into residential apartments.
8. Grafham Water
Located a few miles southwest of Huntingdon, Grafham Water is the eighth largest reservoir in England.
Spanning nearly 2,000 acres, this reservoir was constructed in 1965, with water sourced from the River Great Ouse.
From its inception, Grafham Water has been a sanctuary for wildlife, featuring a reserve along its western shore comprising 400-year-old ancient woodlands.
During the winter months, countless coots, tufted ducks, and great crested grebes grace the lake, making it an excellent site for walking or cycling.
Before visiting, take a moment to explore the Grafham Water Centre’s website, as it organizes a variety of “Pay and Play” paddlesport hire days throughout the summer, allowing visitors to spontaneously rent kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards for 30 or 60 minutes without prior arrangement.
9. Norris Museum
This complimentary museum, open year-round, is located nearby in St Ives and chronicles 160 million years of Huntingdonshire history.
Set against a historic riverside backdrop, the Norris Museum was founded in 1933 following the donation of an extensive collection of Huntingdonshire artifacts by antiquarian Herbert Norris.
The museum has recently undergone a £1.5 million renovation and expansion completed in 2017. The galleries now showcase a wealth of historic artifacts from an impressive collection of nearly 33,000 items, complemented by interactive displays and engaging information boards designed to captivate younger audiences.
Among the many wonders are Jurassic fossils, a mammoth tusk, Roman pottery, and Bronze Age tools and weapons.
In addition, visitors will discover Huntingdonshire-specific artwork, textiles, tools, furniture, and photographs, alongside the opportunity to step into Herbert Norris’ former study.
10. Buckden Towers
A significant landmark in the area is this fortified manor house from the 12th century, located in the village of Buckden, originally constructed for the Bishops of Lincoln.
The building initially featured a wooden structure, which was reconstructed in brick during the 1470s.
A substantial portion of the complex was demolished by order of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1632, but the inner gatehouse, great tower, and portions of the inner battlemented wall remain intact, all protected by an outer gate and wall.
Buckden Towers is currently owned by a Roman Catholic order, the Claretians; while the interior is not accessible to the public, visitors are welcome to stroll around the grounds and observe the former moat and the ornately designed knot garden in the courtyard.
Adjacent to the walls is an orchard and an open pasture where sheep graze.
11. Johnsons of Old Hurst
At first glance, Johnsons of Old Hurst appears to be a well-stocked farm shop, featuring its own bakery, butcher, and counters for fresh produce, cheese, delicatessen items, and specialty foods.
In addition to the onsite steak house and tearoom, Johnsons provides numerous attractions for families.
The farm houses various animals, including ostriches, cattle, fish, ducks, parrots, goats, donkeys, and an array of fish.
Uniquely, the farm also has crocodiles, which serve a practical purpose as they aid in waste disposal from the butcher’s shop.
Moreover, visitors can enjoy a leisurely woodland walk for some post-lunch fresh air, while a playground is available for children.
12. St Ives Bridge
A must-see attraction in St Ives is the 15th-century bridge that spans the River Great Ouse.
This structure is one of only four in the country to feature a chapel.
Visitors can access the chapel by obtaining a key from the Norris Museum or the town hall.
The chapel is notable for its crypt, which is situated merely two meters above the waterline.
It underwent restoration in 1930 after centuries of diverse functions, including operating as a doctor’s surgery, pub, and even a brothel during the 18th century when St Ives served as an essential stop on the droving route to London.
From the riverbank, it is evident that the bridge boasts two round arches on the south side, contrasting with the Gothic pointed arches elsewhere, reflecting alterations made during the Civil War in 1645 when a drawbridge was established for defense.
13. Hamerton Zoo Park
This animal park, located a bit farther away, is a must-visit for families traveling with children.
Hamerton Zoo Park specializes in a diverse array of primates, cats, and birds, featuring more than 100 species, many of which are rare or endangered.
Visitors can encounter various lemurs, including black-and-white ruffed, collared, and ring-tailed types among the primate species. The park is home to big cats such as cheetahs and both Malayan and white Bengal tigers, along with other unique mammals such as giant anteaters, Chilean pudus, Damara zebras, and marsupials, including Bennett’s wallabies, Parma wallabies, long-nosed potoroos, and black pademelons.
Children have the opportunity to feed domestic animals like donkeys and goats, while the “Express Railroad Train” provides transport from the donkey paddocks to the lion enclosures during school holidays and weekends.
14. Winwick Barn Alpacas
A unique animal experience awaits at this working farm where Huacaya Alpacas are raised for their wool.
Approximately 70 alpacas reside in the fields, and while Winwick Barn operates as a private farm, a two-hour Alpaca walking experience is available through their website.
This experience allows adults and children over the age of six to lead these gentle creatures around the expansive paddocks, engaging with their babies (crias) and gaining insights into their behavior, diet, and unique personalities.
15. Holt Island Nature Reserve
A visit to St Ives would not be complete without crossing the footbridge to this tranquil island in the Great Ouse.
Open during the summer months, the island serves as a nature reserve located on a site that was a thriving osier bed until the 20th century.
Visitors can wander among the willows that were once harvested for basket weaving.
Following the abandonment of the osier beds post-World War II, the island has transformed into a vibrant habitat for foxes and various bird species, including kingfishers, reed warblers, sedge warblers, dunnocks, and blackcaps.
The area is populated with plants such as comfrey, yellow flag iris, and purple loosestrife, while nettles support caterpillars that transform into red admirals, peacocks, and tortoiseshell butterflies throughout the summer.
