A market town on the Great Ouse
Huntingdon sits on the north bank of the River Great Ouse, with Godmanchester facing it across the water. The two towns grew up together around the river crossing, and today each has its own centre, with riverside meadows between them and a ring of villages that look to Huntingdon for shops, services and work.
That is why this directory covers more than the town itself. Brampton, Hartford, the Stukeleys, Alconbury, Buckden, the Hemingfords, Houghton and Wyton and the Offords are all close enough that people cross between them every day for a plumber, a haircut or a Saturday coffee.
The old bridge
The stone bridge linking Huntingdon and Godmanchester is generally dated to around 1332 and is listed at Grade I by Historic England. It still carries traffic, and it is worth crossing on foot to see the pointed cutwaters and the views along the river towards Portholme.
Cromwell's town
Oliver Cromwell was born in Huntingdon in 1599. He was taught at the town's grammar school, as was the diarist Samuel Pepys a generation later. That small medieval building on the Market Square is now the Cromwell Museum, run by an independent trust, and it is the best place to start if you want to understand the town's place in national history.
Next door, All Saints' Church stands on Market Hill at the heart of the centre. Out on Brampton Road, Hinchingbrooke House is another Grade I building with long Cromwell family links, although it is not an everyday visitor attraction.
Market days
Huntingdon's street market runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays on the High Street, with fresh produce, flowers and everyday stalls. Pair it with the independent shops, cafes and pubs around the centre and Chequers Court.
Getting around
Huntingdon station is on the East Coast Main Line and is managed by Great Northern, with Thameslink and Great Northern services towards London King's Cross and through London. Check National Rail for current times before you travel.
Buses connect the town with St Ives and Cambridge, St Neots, Brampton and Buckden, and the A14 and A1 make it an easy base for trades who cover the wider district. Check signage at town car parks for current charges.
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