Locals will proudly tell you that Cottenham High Street is the longest High Street in the area/country/world. It’s probably best not to Google this, as evidence suggests that the best Cottenham High Street can actually claim is to be the longest High Street in Cottenham. But don’t get caught up in the data, because as village High Streets go it is very long (over a mile) and therefore full of all the things you need for a happy village life. At the time of writing you can shop in the Co-op, Premier Express or the Post Office, there’s a butcher, baker, grocer, two GP surgeries, a dental surgery, library and community centre. For a night out there are a few restaurants including a Chinese takeaway and a regular-award-winning Indian Restaurant, plus four pubs to crawl round, and usefully a pharmacy to get headache tablets from the morning after. There’s even a builders’ merchant.
For a night out there are a few restaurants including a Chinese takeaway and a regular-award-winning Indian Restaurant, plus four pubs to crawl round, and usefully a pharmacy to get headache tablets from the morning after
The old centre of the village has a very distinct and appealing Victorian character, which is unusual for the area. This apparently follows a series of fires in the mid-1800s that destroyed many of the village’s older cottages and houses and the prosperity that came to the area at that time when the fens were permanently drained and the land became exploitable with the local inclosures act.
For those with children you can walk to Cottenham Primary School and Cottenham Village College, both of which are Ofsted rated as good. Sports facilities at the college, including a gym, tennis courts and 3G pitch are available to the community and there is a large recreation ground giving home to various sports clubs plus further tennis courts, a bowls green and social club. The village also has its own point-to-point horse racing course.
Cambridge is easily accessible with cycle paths to Histon and on to the city and a regular Citi 8 bus service. The A14 provides access to the M11 & A1 commuter roads. The north city boundary is less than 4 miles from the village and Cambridge North railway station is about 5 miles. Cambridge Research Park is just outside the village.
If you’re fond of a bit of countryside you can head out on various footpaths and lesser used droves around the village, including the riverside Lovers’ Walk that heads east from the village to the Great Ouse and all the way to Ely if you’ve got the time.
