Cambridgeshire is a county in the east midlands part of England landlocked by the counties of Northamptonshire, Rutland, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire and Bedfordshire. Cambridgeshire might not have a coastline but there is a diverse range of places to visit which make this an amazing place to take a vacation. In the article below I explain why tourists should consider a trip to this most beautiful part of the British Isles.
The English county of Cambridgeshire has exciting waterways, prestigious stately homes, breathtaking countryside, outstanding cathedrals, busy market towns and the fascinating city of Cambridge. The city of Cambridge is a highly popular Cambridgeshire attraction which is highly suitable for vacations throughout the year.
Attractions in this intensely photogenic university town include The Backs, The Folk Museum, The Round Church, The Fitzwilliam Museum, The Orchard Tea Garden and Denny Abbey, but the majority of tourists arrive in Cambridge to look at the sights associated with some of the thirty one colleges such as King’s College & King’s College Chapel and Cambridge University Botanic Garden. It can take a very long time to take in all of the university colleges however the finest buildings to meander around are those belonging to Corpus Christi, Magdalene College, Trinity College and St John’s College.
The Cambridgeshire Fens
The Cambridgeshire Fenlands are an extremely marshy district almost at the level of the sea. There have been many attempts at draining the ground some dating back to the Romans. It wasn’t until the 17th Century that sustained efforts were made. Sadly these attempts were a failure and it wasn’t until the Eighteenth Century that the land was drained successfully and the land was turned over to farming.
In modern times the intriguing landscape of fresh and salt water marshes provide an excellent environment for leisure and wildlife. Cambridgeshire features some of the least congested waterways in the British Isles, ideal for narrow boat vacations.
If you want to discover more about the fascinating Fenlands then you will find that the towns of March, Whittlesey, Wisbech and Chatteris are home to an excellent local museum.
The Historic Market Towns
Across the district are sited picturesque little market towns, which, long ago were virtually islands. March grew up as a port in the Tudor era and has a fascinating history. Other island communities included Whittlesey, Chatteris, Littleport and Ramsey. These market towns feature quaint architecture spanning several centuries such as Whittlesey’s 17th century Butter Cross. Many hours can be pleasantly passed searching the many shops, stalls and independent businesses.
Other Tourist Attractions In Cambridgeshire
The list of local visitor attractions is huge. Heritage railways include the Wisbech and March Bramley Line and the Nene Valley Railway and there a handful of fascinating buildings to visit including Lode Watermill, Houghton Mill, Great Gransden Post Mill and Down Field Windmill.
The county has a small selection of historic religious buildings such as the abbeys of Denny, Anglesey, Spinney and Ramsey, Ely Cathedral and Peterborough Cathedral as well as Duxford Chapel and the Old Vicarage at Grantchester. The list of castles, stately homes and historic houses is simply so large that there is insufficient space to add it here, it is the same with the list of museums and art galleries.
If you are currently thinking about a Cambridgeshire vacation and are booking hotel accommodation in Cambridge please take a look at our comprehensive bed & breakfast accommodation in Cambridge