Suffolk &amp; Cambs


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Cambridgeshire has more than its fair share of cute villages, but Abbots Ripton has got to be in the top 10. This Anglo-Saxon village surrounded by woodland and wonderful walks is next level lovely, with plenty of chocolate box houses and a popular thatched pub at its heart. The best bit? This slice of idyllic country life can be yours to come home to at the end of a day&#8217;s work in London or Cambridge with easy commuter routes via Huntingdon. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="844" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/the-elm-pub-abbots-ripton.jpg" alt="outside of The Elm Pub in Abbots Ripton cambridgeshire " class="wp-image-42150" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/the-elm-pub-abbots-ripton.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/the-elm-pub-abbots-ripton-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/the-elm-pub-abbots-ripton-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/the-elm-pub-abbots-ripton-400x225.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: The Elm Pub in Abbots Ripton</figcaption></figure>



<p>It’s quality over quantity here. <a href="http://It’s quality over quantity here. Axe &amp; Compass is a lively local, with a thatch roof, excellent Sunday roast and garden menu, including yummy pulled pork rolls.">The Elm pub</a> is a really smart and lovely local, with a thatched roof, excellent Sunday roast and a brilliant seasonal menu using produce from the next door estate. The pub now serves breakfast at weekends too and hosts lots of brilliant events such as tasting evenings, live music nights and a whisky club. There are four stylish rooms too so your guests can stay over if you don&#8217;t have space in your new house. </p>



<p>Other must-visit pubs in the area include <a href="https://www.thecrowninnrestaurant.co.uk">The Crown Inn and Restaurant</a> in Broughton – a gastropub and foodie favourite with regular music events and a stunning beer garden. You&#8217;re also only 10 mins from <a href="https://www.johnsonsofoldhurst.co.uk">Johnsons of Old Hurst</a>, an amazing attraction with zoo and farm shop (more on that below) plus a huge steak house restaurant and lovely café with outdoor seating. For a quintessentially English afternoon out, hit nearby <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/houghton-mill/features/tea-room">Houghton Mill tea room</a> for a slice of cake and a cuppa by the river.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1536" height="2048" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/10/422473926_790803019743808_4554337681370102816_n.jpg" alt="Johnsons of Old Hurst Farm Shop Abbots Ripton Cambridgeshire" class="wp-image-42352" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/10/422473926_790803019743808_4554337681370102816_n.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/10/422473926_790803019743808_4554337681370102816_n-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/10/422473926_790803019743808_4554337681370102816_n-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/10/422473926_790803019743808_4554337681370102816_n-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/10/422473926_790803019743808_4554337681370102816_n-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" /></figure>



<p>Ok it’s not a plural situation here – shop rather than shops. Abbots Ripton is home to a charming Village Stores and Post Office that sells all your essentials from potatoes to Pinot Grigio. Much larger Huntingdon is just four miles away and has supermarkets and plenty of shops to browse. Although with the Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.johnsonsofoldhurst.co.uk">Johnsons of Old Hurst</a> farm shop so close by you&#8217;ll probably spend most of your time and money on their gorgeous locally sourced produce and amazing homemade goodies. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Multiple Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.corefactorpilates.co.uk">Core Factor Pilates</a>, Liz holds pilates classes at Abbots Ripton Village Hall and they are just brilliant for both feeling good physically and mentally (Liz is pure joy as a teacher!). Theres also a brilliant independent gym on the outskirts of the village – <a href="https://www.quovadisgym.co.uk">Quo Vadis</a> is full of all the latest sports equipment and has a sauna and protein bar and bistro for a post-workout wind down. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There are all the usual village events at the Village Hall including coffee mornings and Christmas fairs as well as clubs and committees to join. Most village events centre around Lord De Ramsey&#8217;s estate including the Cambridgeshire County Show and <a href="https://komodoevents.com/events/huntingdon-fireworks-2024/#:~:text=Saturday%202nd%20November%202024%20%2D%20Abbots,give%20an%20even%20BIGGER%20bang!&amp;text=Not%20only%20do%20we%20promise,special%20for%20our%20younger%20guests!">Huntingdon Fireworks Night</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1600" height="1067" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/6508ad7b5ce5b98524f57341_Abbots-Ripton-Hall-Gardens-Home.jpg" alt="the gardens at Abbots Ripton Estate " class="wp-image-42155" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/6508ad7b5ce5b98524f57341_Abbots-Ripton-Hall-Gardens-Home.jpg 1600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/6508ad7b5ce5b98524f57341_Abbots-Ripton-Hall-Gardens-Home-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/6508ad7b5ce5b98524f57341_Abbots-Ripton-Hall-Gardens-Home-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/6508ad7b5ce5b98524f57341_Abbots-Ripton-Hall-Gardens-Home-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/09/6508ad7b5ce5b98524f57341_Abbots-Ripton-Hall-Gardens-Home-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: Abbots Ripton Estate </figcaption></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s a stunning stately home in the village (not for sale sorry) but at nearly 6,250 acres it&#8217;s one of the largest private estates in England so might be a bit out of budget anyway! The Elm pub is part of the estate but you can also visit and explore the gorgeous gardens or enjoy a daily walk along the 14 miles of footpaths within the estate. </p>



<p>The estate&#8217;s reservoirs are also let for trout and course fishing. In 2024 the estate launched a brand new camping event called <a href="https://www.arfco.co.uk/whats-on/the-wild-meadows">The Wild Meadows</a>, seven-night camping experience for families to reconnect with nature with a fun party weekend, forest skill lessons, immersive theatre workshops, woodland trails and a dog show. </p>



<p>Back at <a href="https://www.johnsonsofoldhurst.co.uk">Johnsons of Old Hurst</a>, this family attraction has a brilliant zoological gardens with a tropical house full of crocodiles, lions you can feed, a play area and lots of open space to run around in. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>If festivals are your thing you can literally walk out your door and enjoy the music and wellbeing festivals on your doorstep. There&#8217;s also an art gallery and framing service in the village itself called <a href="https://www.lbidigallery.co.uk">L&#8217;Bidi</a>, where you can enjoy exhibitions and buy gorgeous gifts. For more mainstream culture like theatre shows and larger exhibitions both Peterborough and Cambridge have multiple theatres and museums, while Huntingdon has The Commemoration Hall and Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-price">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>Properties don&#8217;t come up for sale that often, but the average sold house price over the last five years comes in at around £700,000.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/11/4003_28212690_IMG_00_0000-1000x666.jpeg" alt="thatched cottage for sale in Abbots Ripton " class="wp-image-42882" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/11/4003_28212690_IMG_00_0000-1000x666.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/11/4003_28212690_IMG_00_0000-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/11/4003_28212690_IMG_00_0000-400x266.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/suffolkcambs/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/11/4003_28212690_IMG_00_0000.jpeg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Snap up this 3-bedroom chocolate box thatched cottage with wraparound garden in the heart of the village <a href="https://www.peterlane.co.uk/properties/sale/huntingdon/huntingdon/abbots-ripton-huntingdon/">for £500,000</a>. </figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>Two local options to choose from – <a href="https://www.daisiesnurseryschool.co.uk">Daisies Montessori Nursery School</a> (Ofsted Good) for ages 2 &#8211; 5 yrs in a purpose built eco-building in the grounds of Abbots Ripton C of E School. In the next village of Kings Ripton there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.theanchornursery.co.uk">The Anchor Day Nursery &amp; Pre-School</a> that takes children from 3 mths and has a handy after-school club that runs for children up to 14 yrs. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>Just one in the village – the lovely <a href="http://www.abbotsripton.cambs.sch.uk/web/">Abbots Ripton C of E Primary School</a> (Ofsted Good). When it&#8217;s time for secondary school children from the village head to St Peters Secondary School or Hinchingbrooke School in Huntingdon, Sawtry Village Academy, The King’s School (The Cathedral School) Peterborough, Kimbolton School or one of the many other independent schools in Cambridge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>A village with its own music festival? Yes please! Every year the <a href="https://www.secretgardenparty.com">Secret Garden Party</a> descends on Abbots Ripton Estate and famous faces such as KT Tunstall, Lily Allen, Florence and the Machine, Jarvis Cocker, Blondie, the Gorilla, Faithless, Dua Lipa and The Libertines have graced the stage. Going forward the festival will be supporting smaller rising artists and bring together independent festivals that need a home. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Nearby Huntingdon, around 4 miles away, has direct trains to London which takes around 48 mins. It’s a 30 min drive to Cambridge and the same to Peterborough in the other direction. </p>



<p><em>Main image: <a href="https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cottages_in_Station_Road,_Abbots_Ripton_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3097033.jpg">Cottages in Station Road</a>, Abbots Ripton</em><strong>&nbsp;</strong><em>by&nbsp;Marathon via Creative Commons </em></p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/">Top 300 Places to Live</a></em>.</p>


Abbots Ripton

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