Barrington is so lovely you might not believe it’s real. The village green is said to be the longest in England and dotted along it are all manner of pretty cottages, ancient buildings and handsome houses. Passing through in the summer you’ll likely see walkers, picnickers, families playing, a game of cricket and the monthly classic car meet at the thatched Royal Oak pub. Bicyclists glide by on their way to conquer Chapel Hill and the local shop bustles with custom. Strap on your walking boots and head north behind the green and you can get up to the woods that wrap around the former chalk quarry (at the time of writing being developed into a nature area and housing) or you can go south for a riverside walk to Shepreth or Foxton. Glorious.
It's about 8 miles south west of Cambridge and is close to the A10, giving easy access to the M11 just beyond Harston, or in the other direction Royston is about 7 miles and has major supermarkets and all the other things you’d expect of a market town. There are mainline railway stations available at Foxton and Shepreth which are 2 miles and 3 miles away respectively, Royston trains to Kings Cross are the quickest.
If you fancy the romantic English village life, but don’t want to be too far from town, Barrington is tough to beat
The enthusiastic cycle commuter can join a cycle way by Foxton railway station and take it all the way to the Addenbrooke’s campus (about 7 miles) and on into the Cambridge city. Imagine how healthy and happy you’d get building that into your daily routine.
As well as the pub and shop the village has a primary school and a large village hall. For day trips Shepreth Wildlife Park is in the next door village and the National Trust’s magnificent Wimpole Estate is 4 miles or so. You can spot birds at RSPB Fowlmere or play golf at Malton. All nearby.
