20 Attractions to Explore Near Buckden Towers

Brampton Wood SSSI is a 133-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Cambridgeshire, owned and managed by The Wildlife Trusts for Beds, Cambs & Northants as a nature reserve. You can spend many hours roaming the trails and verdant spaces here at Brampton Reserve. One of the peaceful area which offers a natural living in the centre of woods.

A beautiful and small lake which was created in 1965 to provide people with drinking water and was immediately colonized by wildlife. The nature reserve surrounds the western side of the reservoir and contains ancient and plantation woodlands, grasslands, and wetland habitats such as reedbeds, willow, and open water. It is also one of the prime bird-watching sites in the county, with rarer visitors such as osprey and the occasional Slavonian grebe and so more.

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve is a rich area of wildlife habitats in the heart of the Ouse Valley covering 78 hectares of lovely lakes, riverside, meadow, reedbed, scrub, grassland and woodland. It offers a great learning experience for visiting education and community groups as well as families - including a chance to get up close to local wildlife on the surrounding nature reserve throughout the year.

Hinchingbrooke House is an English stately home in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, now part of Hinchingbrooke School. This Tudor country house built around an early 13th-century nunnery. Located in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire it has now a stunning wedding and events venue. With its historical features and exclusive use of the extensive grounds and rooms it is the perfect place for all of life’s celebrations.

The Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, England, is a museum containing collections exploring the life of Oliver Cromwell and to a lesser extent his son Richard Cromwell. It can offer fun and engaging learning experiences for all ages, satisfying many different areas of interest.

St Neots Museum is a friendly local museum Housed in a former police station and court building, telling the story of a busy market town on the River Ouse, from prehistoric times to the present day. It is also home to the original goal cells where prisoners were detained and local history including the story of the railroad that reshaped the town in 1851 and local domestic life as it’s changed over the ages.

The Riverside Miniature Railway (RMR) is situated in Riverside Park, in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Founded by Ivan Hewlett, the railway is run on a not-for-profit, community basis. One of the iconic attractions in this area and you can spend a good time there.

A majestic Norman castle which was the final resting place of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s divorced and banished Spanish Queen, Kimbolton Castle sits amidst wooded grounds close to the small town of Kimbolton. All that remains of the Norman castle is a low mound, surrounded by a ditch and covered with trees, which can be seen by looking up the hill from the Duchess Walk. It was one of the main attractions in this area and is famous among the tourists.

Houghton Mill is the last surviving mill on the River Great Ouse able to produce stone ground flour from a water-powered wheel. The present building was probably built in the 17th century, and was extended in the 19th century. In the 1930s, the mill was decommissioned. Local residents bought the building and it was given to the National Trust.

The Manor is a house in the village of Hemingford Grey, Cambridgeshire. It was built in the 1130s and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in this area. The house is surrounded by four acres of garden and is renowned for its collection of over 200 old roses and a collection of irises.

The Norris Museum tells the stories of Huntingdonshire from 160 million years ago to the present day. It collects and displays the history of Huntingdonshire from the earliest times to the present day. The collections range from the fossilized bones of the giant reptiles that lived here in the time of the dinosaurs 160 million years ago through remains from the Stone Age and the Roman period up to more recent history.

Hamerton Zoo Park is an animal park set in 25 acres of beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. The zoo has a conservation sanctuary that has a collection of nearly 100 different species including rare/endangered animals and birds. One of the iconic attraction where you can spend some nice time in the middle of nature and wildlife.

The Great Fen is a vast fenland landscape between Peterborough and Huntingdon. It is one of the largest restoration projects in the country, and aims to create a 3,700 hectare wetland and aims to connect Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve.

Mowsbury Hill is a 2.8 hectare Local Nature Reserve and Scheduled Monument in north Bedford. It is owned and managed by Bedford Borough Council with the assistance of the Friends of Putnoe Wood and Mowsbury Hillfort.

Willington Dovecote is the most famous thing in Willington. It was listed by the former Department of Environment in July 1964 as Grade I, of exceptional interest. The cote and adjoining stable block are thought to have been built with stone from Newnham Priory. A signature on the stone above the fireplace in the stables reads "John Bunyan", but its authenticity has not been proven. They have a fascinating history and are well worth a visit.

RSPB The Lodge nature reserve and gardens is one of the best places in the county to visit wildlife friendly gardens in attractive natural landscapes. Gardeners will enjoy the beautiful gardens around The Lodge, which are the UK headquarters of the Royal Society for the Protections of Birds. The reserve sits on the Greensand Ridge, overlooking the River Ivel valley and includes areas of broadleaved and coniferous woodland.

The Shuttleworth is an aeronautical and automotive museum located at the Old Warden Aerodrome, Old Warden in Bedfordshire. It is one of the most prestigious in the world due to the variety of old and well-preserved aircraft. The Shuttleworth Collection puts an emphasis on restoring as many aircraft as possible to flying conditions, in line with the founder's original intention.

Bedford Park is a Grade Two listed English Heritage Victorian park in the north of Bedford. Created in 1888 it is the largest urban park in Bedford and contains a lake, multiple play areas, and sports facilities. The park has many mature trees and shrubs, as well as herbaceous borders and naturalized bulb borders. One of the beautiful locations where you can spend some good times.

Holme Fen is a thriving nature reserve across 657 acres of landscape. Holme Fen is also an island, although not the kind of island you might expect. It's one of the few tiny areas of surviving wild fen to exist among hundreds of square miles of arable fields.

Priory Country Park is a green space made up of lakes, meadows, and woodland which is in part enclosed within a bend in the River Great Ouse. There are habitats from meadows to reed beds, quiet walks for all, fishing, boating, play areas, and bird hides. This beautiful green area is set in a 360-acre ground and it attracts a lot of people.