Huntingdon

The Great Ouse cuts a lazy path through this market town, past medieval bridges and Georgian terraces that speak of centuries trading grain and wool. Huntingdon feels properly lived-in rather than polished for tourists - a working Cambridgeshire town where Oliver Cromwell once walked the same cobbles you'll find tucked behind the modern pedestrian precinct.

National Trust's Houghton Mill stands just upstream, its 18th-century waterwheel still grinding flour as it has for generations. The mill sits beside Houghton Meadows, where summer evenings bring families to feed ducks and watch narrowboats chug past. It's a lovely spot for a proper walk, especially if you follow the towpath towards the historic Broughton Lock Up - a tiny hexagonal jail that once held miscreants overnight.

The countryside opens up beautifully beyond town. The Thicket offers woodland walks just minutes from the centre, while the River Great Ouse provides gentle canoeing from the Canoe Ramp near the old bridge. Grafham Water lies a short drive west - Cambridgeshire's largest reservoir and a cracking spot for sailing or cycling the perimeter trail.

Getting here couldn't be simpler. The A14 runs just south of town, connecting directly to Cambridge (20 minutes) and the M11. Huntingdon railway station sits on the East Coast Main Line, with London King's Cross just 50 minutes away.

Staying at one of the holiday parks nearby puts you perfectly placed to explore both the Fens and the rolling countryside towards Bedfordshire. Wyton Lakes Holiday Park and Huntingdon Boathaven offer riverside pitches, while Grafham Water Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite gives direct access to the water. The town makes an excellent base for day trips to Cambridge or Ely Cathedral, yet feels refreshingly unhurried compared to those tourist magnets.