Cambridgeshire sits in the heart of East England. It’s a county full of history, beautiful views, and lively towns. From the famous colleges of Cambridge to peaceful riverside walks, there’s a mix of old and new at every turn.
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve
Wicken Fen is one of England’s oldest nature reserves. Its boardwalks wind over marshland, past tall reeds and wildflowers. You might spot rare birds, dragonflies, or grazing Konik ponies.
The visitor centre shares the story of the fens and their wildlife. This spot is popular for walks and family picnics, especially in spring and summer.
St Ives and the River Great Ouse
St Ives is a picture-perfect market town, known for its 15th-century bridge chapel set above the river. The River Great Ouse runs through the middle, lined with pubs and tearooms.
The Saturday market draws locals and visitors with food, crafts, and antiques. Walk or cycle a riverside path, or just sit and watch swans glide past.
Grantchester: Pastoral Charm Close to Cambridge
Nestled just outside Cambridge, Grantchester has a sleepy, timeless quality. Ancient willow trees lean over lazy bends of the River Cam, while grassy paths lead walkers to secret picnic spots and sweeping views. The village’s pubs have served poets, academics, and curious visitors alike.
Grantchester’s setting inspired Rupert Brooke and other writers, making it a fixture in English poetry. Visit today, and you’ll find the mix of gentle countryside and lively conversation still draws people back, summer after summer.
The Marshy Fens of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is home to The Fens, unique low-lying wetlands covering 600 square miles, that offer habitats for wading birds, otters, amphibians and rare plants.
Rare birds like bitterns, marsh harriers, and bearded tits thrive in the reedbeds. Otters and water voles slip along quiet backwaters.
Once providing barley and wheat for people (and lush grasses for cattle and sheep), today it’s a fertile agricultural hub, where the drained arable land now provides most of England’s organic food.
The Cambridgeshire fens are some of the flattest lands in England. Fields stretch for miles with barely a hill in sight. The horizon here runs straight and clear, giving sunrises and sunsets a bold, open feel.
This flatness came after centuries of drainage, when marshes were turned into farmland. Water channels cut through the landscape, keeping it dry and fertile.
Thick layers of peat cover much of the fenland. These soils are dark and rich, perfect for growing crops but also a record of the area’s deep past.
How to Protect The Fens
- Never drop litter (take it home with you).
- Don’t disturb birds or wildlife. Follow the Countryside Code.
- Support local organic veg boxes (where food is grown here).
- Choose peat-free compost (keep fresh compost away from pets as it contains mould – read more on pet-friendly gardens).
Towns like Ely, Whittlesey, and March grew up on patches of high ground in the fens. Ely Cathedral, the “Ship of the Fens,” towers above the flat fields, a beacon for miles around.
Cambridge: An Ancient University City
Sitting on the River Cam, Cambridge is a city steeped in historic architecture (the university alone boasts a college dating from 1209, a Gothic chapel in King’s College and the enchanting Bridge of Sighs at St John’s College.
Around half of the residents here ride a bicycle, at least once a week (not just students with capes!)
Cambridge University (the second oldest on earth) is home to 31 colleges. The 33 acres of land at Jesus College is home to water voles, muntjac deer and sparrowhawks.
Queens’ College is home to the Mathematical Bridge, an amazing piece of engineering in that it’s curved (yet built from straight planks of wood!) It’s also home to the beautiful Bridge of Signs.
Past graduates are Bill Oddie, Sir David Attenborough, Alan Turing (the Enigma codebreaker who saved millions of lives by shortening the Second World War) and A A Milne (who wrote Winnie-the-Pooh).
The River Cam flows gently through the heart of Cambridge. Punting — gliding along the river in a flat-bottomed boat — is a classic way to see college backs and gardens.
The annual boat race with Oxford has been held since 1856 (bar the two World Wars). It covers a 4.2 mile section on the River Thames (in 1912, both boats sank as they filled with water during poor weather).
The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race stands as one of England’s oldest and most famous sporting events. Since its start in 1829, the race covers a 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of the Thames between Putney and Mortlake in London.
Each team is called a ‘crew’ and made up of eight rowers with a coxswain (or cox). The cox steers the boat and sets the race plan. Crew members go through tough trials and training for months to win a seat in the boat.
The race has had its share of drama and surprises. There have been dead heats (in 1877), sunken boats, even races rerun after clashes.
In 1912, both boats sank as they filled with water during poor weather. One former rower was Hugh Laurie, in the race when his team (Cambridge) lost, after clashing oars!
