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in the county of Cambridgeshire

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About Wicken

Once upon a time, long before the Romans invaded Britain there were over 2,500 square miles of Fens. Now, the last of the great natural fenland in East Anglia is to be found beside the village of Wicken, where in total it covers little more 600 acres of peaty, water-logged ground. Apart from being the last of the fens, it is also England's oldest nature reserve.

Wicken Fen provides a wealth of interest for both experienced and budding naturalists, it is a treasureland of sedges, reeds and many other marsh plants, with many thousands of insects and birds, all of which has been cared for by the National Trust which has maintained the fen since the end of the 19th-century. The draining of the fens can be traced back to the 13th-century and from the surrounding peatland, Wicken stands out like an island. Water levels are kept high by the use of a windpump activating in the reverse for which it was intended-draining the land. Nature trails wander around the reserve and there are hides for watching the birds.

The Fen Cottage and Garden at 5, Lode Lane, Wicken, shows a 'real life' portrayal of what life was like in the area during the 1930's when it was lived in by mother and son, Reggie and Alice Butcher. Made of traditional local materials, this lovely old building has a lean-to kitchen and is surrounded by a delightful cottage-style garden. Interestingly, the Butchers lived at the cottage from 1924 to 1972.

Situated at the end of Lode Lane, the village has scattered houses set around village greens. Spinney Abbey, the home of Henry, the fourth son of Oliver Cromwell is close-by and in Wicken itself there is a lovely old church, a pub and a farm shop.

The open countryside surrounding Wicken is rich and varied, windmills can be seen along with pretty cottages, ancient farmhouses and historic churches. Teeming with wildlife, Wicken makes an ideal place for a lovely family day out, and if you want to enjoy a little more of the area, why not visit Anglesey House at Lode, close to the River Cam.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Wicken

Denny Abbey	(4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction W)	Pictures
Anglesey Abbey	(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Ely Cathedral	(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction N)	Pictures
Newmarket Racecourse	(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Oliver Cromwell's House	(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction N)	Pictures
University Botanic Gardens	(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Wandlebury Country Park	(11.6 miles, 18.6 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Wandlebury Ring	(11.8 miles, 18.9 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Cambridge American Military Cemetery & Memorial	(12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
West Stow Country Park	(14.1 miles, 22.6 km, direction E)	Pictures
Linton Zoo & Gardens	(15.3 miles, 24.6 km, direction S)	Pictures
Brandon Country Park	(15.7 miles, 25.3 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Hengrave Hall	(15.9 miles, 25.6 km, direction E)	Pictures
Imperial War Museum Duxford	(16.7 miles, 26.9 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Houghton Mill	(17.8 miles, 28.7 km, direction W)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Wicken

Ely, a Historic City in the county of Cambridgeshire (6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction N)
The early life of Ely began with a monastry and town situated on an island in the midst of a vast expanse of marshland in the middle of the Fens.
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Newmarket, a Historic Market Town in the county of Suffolk (6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction SE)
You can hardly drive through this handsome town without seeing some reminder that the history of the town
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Fen Ditton, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cambridgeshire (8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction SW)
This pleasant village can be found in the spacious countryside within easy driving distance from Cambridge.
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Mildenhall, in the county of Suffolk (9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction E)
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Cambridge, a Historic City in the county of Cambridgeshire (10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction SW)
Cambridge has an abundance of magnificent buildings, and these together with riverside walks, wonderful museums and quaint old streets, quickly draw the visitor under the spell of this historic and charming City
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Dalham, in the county of Suffolk (11.0 miles, 17.6 km, direction SE)
The village is surrounded by rolling countryside through which there are delightful walks.
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Trumpington, in the county of Cambridgeshire (12.4 miles, 19.9 km, direction SW)
Beautifully situated in a wonderful area, yet close to the M11 is Trumpington.
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Grantchester, a Picturesque Village in the county of Cambridgeshire (12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction SW)
The village of Grantchester, is a picturesque village along the river Cam, often enjoyed by tourists and students who travel to...
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Great Bradley, in the county of Suffolk (12.8 miles, 20.5 km, direction SE)
This is a spacious, well spread out village occupying a rural landscape between the Suffolk town's of Newmarket and Haverhill.
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Welney, in the county of Norfolk (14.6 miles, 23.5 km, direction N)
For many decades now, Welney has been famous for it's Wild Fowl Refuge overlooking the Flood Planes of the Wash.
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Linton, in the county of Cambridgeshire (14.7 miles, 23.7 km, direction S)
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St Ives, a Historic Market Town in the county of Cambridgeshire (15.5 miles, 25.0 km, direction W)
This attractive market town has one of the most highly picturesque river bridges in the country. The bridge dates to the 15th century and is famous for the chapel in its centre bay, it is one of only four medieval bridge chapel's surviving in England.
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Kedington, in the county of Suffolk (17.3 miles, 27.9 km, direction SE)
The Stour Valley footpath leads into Kedington which has several eye catching focal points, including a pretty arched bridge spanning the river and a lovely 18th-century watermill.
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Whepstead, in the county of Suffolk (18.2 miles, 29.2 km, direction SE)
This pleasant place is found amidst the rolling countryside of Suffolk and is but a few short miles from lovely Bury St. Edmunds.
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Bury St Edmunds, a Historic Market Town in the county of Suffolk (18.5 miles, 29.8 km, direction E)
Bury St.Edmunds is laid out in accordance with the old medieval formula of a square for god and a square for man.
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Nearby travel help

Ely Station	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction N)
Waterbeach Station	(5.4 miles, 8.6 km, direction SW)
Cambridge Airport	(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction SW)
M11 Junction 14	(11.2 miles, 18.0 km, direction SW)
M11 Junction 13	(11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction SW)
London Stansted Airport	(29.7 miles, 47.8 km, direction S)
Wicken to London	(58.4 miles, 94.0 km, direction S)

Hotels & Accommodation in Wicken

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Wicken center
Rosery Country House Hotel	(4.6 miles, 7.5 km, direction SE)
Black Horse Motel	(5.1 miles, 8.1 km, direction S)
Nyton Hotel	(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction N)
The Lamb Hotel	(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction N)
Cadogan Hotel	(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction SE)
Bedford Lodge Hotel, Leisure & Restaurant	(6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction SE)
The Rutland Arms Hotel	(6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction SE)
Best Western Heath Court Hotel	(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction SE)
Ashley House	(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction SE)
Best Western Cambridge Quy Mill Hotel	(7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction SW)
All hotels in Wicken