Here are photos of nearby attractions.

 

Houghton Mill

This watermill on a tributary of the River Ouse in Cambridgeshire is now owned by the National Trust.

It is a working 18th-century watermill, which is the last working watermill on the Great Ouse. It is beautifully set upon an island in the river.

There are hands-on exhibits for all the family, and stone-ground four is often available to buy.

Within the area, there are walking, cycling and horse-riding opportunities.

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Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve

Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve, near Ely, is the National Trust's oldest nature reserve, and contains the last 0.1% of fenland left in Britain.

It is home to wild ponies, otters and rare butterflies, and offers wildlife trials and hides.

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Cambridge Colleges

The University of Cambridge is rich in history, and is one of the world's oldest universities and leading academic centres.

There are 31 Colleges in Cambridge. Each College is an independent institution with its own property and income.

King's College is one of the handful of colleges to be next to the river Cam. The river is very popular with tourists, mainly for the traditional Cambridge activity of punting.  

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Ely Cathedral

Ely Cathedral (in full, The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely) is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, and the seat of the Bishop of Ely. It is known locally as "the ship of the Fens", because of its prominent shape that towers above the surrounding flat and watery landscape.

Work on the present Cathedral began in the 11th century under the leadership of Abbot Simeon, and the monastic church became a cathedral in 1109 with the Diocese of Ely being carved out of the Diocese of Lincoln.

It is a magnificent building, particularly for what is a relatively small town.

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Ickworth House, park and gardens

This is a Georgian Italianate palace, set in an idyllic English landscape, near Bury St Edmunds.

Ickworth's huge central Rotunda, flanked by two massive wings, dominates this eccentric house built by the equally eccentric 4th Earl of Bristol, who dreamed of creating an Italianate palace within an English landscape.

It houses important collections of paintings (including work by Velázquez and Titian) and fine family portraits (several by Gainsborough), as well as Huguenot and ambassadorial silver and Regency furniture.

The fabulous State Rooms were only used by the family on special occasions, and are as pristine and awe-inspiring today as they were when originally created. Today, the West Wing contains visitor, conference, banqueting and wedding facilities, while the East Wing is now The Ickworth Hotel.

Wooded Pleasure Grounds provide a shady and delightful contrast to the formality of the Italianate Garden. Beyond there are 729 hectares (1,800 acres) of idyllic parkland, including a vineyard and dense woodland offering miles of walks. For the more adventurous, a family cycle route, 'trim trail' and challenging play area offer opportunities to burn off some more energy.

There are many special events and activities throughout the year.

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Wicken Windmill

Wicken Corn Mill is one of the finest surviving windmills, and probably the only working 12-sided smock (wooden tower) mill in the world.

The Wicken Windmill Preservation Group (of amateur millwrights and supporters) bought the mill in 1987 in order to restore it to working condition.

Through donations and grants (and lots of hard work) the mill now grinds flour.

The mill is open to the public the first weekend of every month, and on other occasions when the sails are turning. Entry is free, but donations are always welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

King's College Chapel, Cambridge

King's College Chapel is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, and is a splendid example of late Gothic (Perpendicular) architecture.

It was started in 1446 by Henry VI (1421-71) and took over a century to build. It has the largest fan vault ceiling in the world and some of the finest medieval stained glass. 

The Chapel is also the venue for the Christmas Eve service, A Festival of Nine Lessons, which is broadcast to millions around the world.

The Chapel plays a central role in College life. It was originally built as a place of daily worship for the College scholars, and today the choir still sing evensong during term time.

From January to mid-February 2009 the organ underwent repairs. Three of the largest pipes in the south-west corner of the organ were collapsing under their own weight, and a few pipes inside the organ needed repairing.

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The River Cam

The River Cam is a tributary of the River Great Ouse. The two rivers join to the south of Ely at Pope's Corner. The Great Ouse connects the Cam to England's canal system (via the Middle Level Navigations and the River Nene) and to the North Sea at King's Lynn. The total distance from Cambridge to the sea is about 40 miles (64 km).

Punting is the most popular form of boating on the stretch of the river between Jesus Lock and Grantchester. Several of the colleges own punts, and they can also be hired from various companies, either with or without a person to operate them (a "punt chauffeur").

Canoeing and kayaking, both recreational and competitive, are popular at all times of year, especially on the section above the Mill Pond towards Grantchester. Both Cambridge Canoe Club (on Sheep's Green) and Cambridge University Canoe Club (just upstream from Newnham) are based here.

River cruises are available. For example, the Riverboat Georgina offers a four-hour round trip starting and finishing in Cambridge. The trip goes about halfway to Ely and back, with the turning point between the Cam Sailing Club and Bottisham Lock (near Waterbeach).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wimpole Hall

The 1012ha ( 2500 acre) Wimpole Estate, situated eight  miles south west of Cambridge, offers visitors the chance  to visit a house built mainly built in the 18th Century,  landscaped park, gardens and Home Farm.

First built in 1643, and much altered by subsequent owners, Wimpole has developed into the largest country house in Cambridgeshire.

Wimpole's owners employed noted architects of their day to make alterations to the Hall. Evidence of the work of all of these architects can be seen today. Examples include the Bathhouse, Book Room and the striking Yellow Drawing Room.

Mrs. Elsie Bambridge was the last owner of Wimpole, who bequeathed her estate to the National Trust in 1976. Bought in 1938 Wimpole Hall was devoid of any furniture or paintings and Mrs Bambridge spent her life trying to return some of them.

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