Huntingdon Tourist Information

Huntingdon has been a market town from time immemorial. It is situated beside The Great River Ouse. In 1205 it was given the royal seal by King John, thereby showing it's national importance.

Despite the ravages of the developers in the 1960's Huntingdon has thankfully retained many of it's beautiful old buildings!

The town centre has a vast array of shops from boutiques to supermarkets. There are very nice cafes and restaurants.

There are two beautiful churches All Saints and St. Mary's full of visual and historical interest.

There are are many very good hotels to both stay and dine at.

The history of Huntingdon is very interesting, from ancient times to the present day. Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon. There is a Cromwell museum situated in a building which was first a religious hospice run by Bendictine monks and then a Grammar School. Cromwell was a pupil at this school as was Samuel Pepys. Samuel Pepys lived here too sometimes as a young man.

You can visit the new library and look through all the county records and find out much more!

There are many lovely and interesting places to visit within a comfortable walking distance of Huntingdon. You can walk along the Great River Ouse to the lovely village of Hartford and the 12th century church there.

You can see the Hill ( on the edge of town) where Norman the Conqueror built a wooden castle, now gone. You can walk across the Huntingdon bridge and visit the (intact) 15th century town of Godmanchester.

PortHolme meadow is on the edge of Huntingdon just through the town centre. You can walk across Portholme and down the river and look at the wildlife and boats on the river.

At Huntingdon bus station you can catch buses to many towns and villages, where you can explore these and the surrounding countryside- endlessly fascinating!

It is less than an hour's travel. to Cambridge. There are also buses to cities such as London, Leeds and Liverpool and many other places. By car car you travel along the A14.

If you walk across Mill Common( just across the ring road there is a pedestrian crossing, next to the bus station where people still graze their cattle, you will eventually, after a 10 minute walk arrive at the Huntingdon station where you can catch trains to Peterborough(15 minutes), and London(50 minutes). From these stations of course you are able to link up to destinations all over Britain.

There are now also many bike lanes in Huntingdon.

I certainly recommend a visit to Huntingdon and to St. Ives nearby. (another story)

Description by Angela Mander-Jones