Day 3: East of England's history & heritage itinerary
Day 3: Bedford - Huntingdon - Buckden - Peterborough
Go to Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Bedford - Huntingdon: 25 miles (39.7 km)
Huntingdon - Buckden: 8 miles (12.5 km)
Buckden - Peterborough: 21½ miles (34.4 km)
Totals for the day: 54½ miles (86.6 km)
Houghton House (Bedford)
This three-story building was built between 1621 and 1651 as a family home featuring magnificent classic architecture with central stone on three sides. The ruin of Houghton House is local landmark and an interesting feature of this tour.
Huntingdon centre
From Bedford travel on to Huntingdon, situated on the banks of the River Ouse. The centre of Huntingdon is now mainly traffic-free, making it a pleasant environment for pedestrians to wander through, admiring some of the 150 properties listed as being of special architectural or historical interest.
Blacked-Out Britain War Museum (Huntingdon)
Although probably Britain's smallest war museum, the Blacked-Out Britain War Museum is packed with artefacts portaying life between 1939 and 1945. From evacuation and rationing to bus tickets and bombs, it's all here. Capture the feel of what life was like for those who kept the home fires burning.
Buckden Towers
Formerly known as Buckden Palace, Buckden Towers was built in the 1200s and served as home and resting place for the Bishops of Lincoln. Many of the original buildings are sill in tact, including the Great Tower, Inner Gatehouse, part of the battlement wall and the Outer Gate.
Peterborough Cathedral
The last stop for day 3 is Peterborough Cathedral. The remarkeable Norman cathedral, with an early English west front, features a perpendicular retrochoir, a 13th century painted nave ceiling and the tomb of Catherine of Aragon. It was also the former burial place of Mary Queen of Scots.