Attractions and Places To See around Whittlesey - Top 20

Whittlesey is surrounded by diverse natural features. You can visit Lattersey Nature Reserve, a former quarry now a haven for fenland wildlife with a boardwalk. The River Nene and Manor Fields offer pleasant open spaces for walks and boating. Further north, the Nene Washes is an RSPB Nature Reserve, excellent for birdwatching, including wildfowl and birds of prey. The expansive Fenland landscape itself provides numerous public footpaths and cycle routes to enjoy the 'Big' skies and sunsets.

Yes, Whittlesey boasts several significant historical landmarks. Don't miss St Mary's Church, with its impressive 15th-century spire, and St Andrew's Church, showcasing 13th and 14th-century Gothic architecture. In the Market Place, you'll find The Butter Cross, a distinctive late 17th-century open market house. Unique to the Fenland, some sections of Whittlesey's Historic Mud Walls are Grade II listed, offering a glimpse into traditional building methods. You can also learn more about the town's heritage at the Whittlesey Museum.

Families will find plenty to do, especially around Nene Park. Ferry Meadows Visitor Centre is a great starting point, offering a gift shop and farm shop, and is popular for walking, cycling, and picnics. At Gunwade Lake within Ferry Meadows, you can try kayaking, open water swimming, or fishing. The Peterborough Rowing Lake Path is also a wide, shared path suitable for family walks and cycles.

There are many options for walking and cycling. The Shanks Millennium Bridge Over the River Nene provides an off-road link for cyclists, horse riders, and pedestrians with beautiful river views. You can also explore the paths around Gunwade Lake and the Peterborough Rowing Lake Path, both popular for scenic routes. For more detailed routes, you can find various cycling and running trails around Whittlesey, including those along the River Nene, by exploring the Cycling around Whittlesey and Running Trails around Whittlesey guides.

Holme Posts are a unique historical landmark. These posts were originally buried in 1848 to measure the land subsidence after Whittlesey Mere, a large peat lake, was drained. As the peat dried and shrank, the land level dropped. The tops of the posts, once level with the ground, are now around 4 meters above it, marking what is generally accepted as the lowest land point in Great Britain at 2.75 meters below sea level.

Whittlesey is famous for its annual Straw Bear Festival. This vibrant event is a revival of a traditional Plough Monday custom, bringing the town to life with music, dancing, and a parade featuring a person dressed as a straw bear. It's a unique cultural experience that showcases the town's rich heritage.

The area around Whittlesey has significant archaeological interest. Evidence of thriving local settlements dates back as far as 1000 BCE. Nearby, the Must Farm quarry is home to a Bronze Age settlement, often referred to as 'Britain's Pompeii' due to its remarkably preserved condition. Flag Fen, another important Bronze Age archaeological park, is also located between Whittlesey and Peterborough.

Visitors frequently praise the opportunities for outdoor activities and the natural beauty. Many enjoy the vast spaces for walking, cycling, or simply relaxing with a picnic, especially around Ferry Meadows Visitor Centre. The scenic views over the River Nene from the Shanks Millennium Bridge are also highly appreciated, as are the well-maintained paths for running and cycling around Gunwade Lake.

Yes, there are mountain biking opportunities in the wider area. You can explore various MTB trails around Whittlesey, with routes ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. For detailed routes and distances, refer to the MTB Trails around Whittlesey guide.

The historic town centre of Whittlesey is an interesting maze of streets featuring well-preserved architecture spanning several centuries. You can find timber-framed houses with thatched roofs, and the area around the Market Place, with its distinctive Butter Cross, includes historic buildings, some dating back to the Georgian era. Don't forget the unique Historic Mud Walls, a traditional building method of the Fenland.

The nature reserves around Whittlesey are rich in wildlife. At Lattersey Nature Reserve, you might spot water voles and various bird species. The Nene Washes, an RSPB Nature Reserve, is particularly known for its wildfowl and offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching, including birds of prey such as Marsh Harriers, Hen Harriers, and Peregrines.