It’s been named one of Britain’s poshest villages

A picturesque Cambridgeshire village with a 500-year-old pub has been named one of Britain’s poshest. Hemingford Abbots was included in a list published by the Telegraph.

The tiny village is just a few miles to the east of nearby Huntingdon and sits against the banks of the River Great Ouse. The stunning village is perhaps best known for its thatched cottages, wildflower meadows, historic pub and large playing fields.

It was the county’s only entry in the Telegraph’s listing of posh villages, which they compiled having reviewed house prices, community assets, the location and whether it has classic village features including a green, duck pond and thatched cottages.

The Telegraph wrote of Hemingford Abbots: “This small, historic village three miles east of Huntingdon traces its roots to Roman times. It sits proudly in a conservation area on the banks of the Great Ouse where the annual Hemingford Regatta, the oldest village rowing regatta in the UK, is held in July, featuring races and riverside picnics.

“There’s a 500-year-old pub (Axe and Compass), a village hall and a sports pavilion with cricket teams, tennis and bowls. The children’s novelist, Lucy M Boston, based her beloved ‘Green Knowe’ books on a 12th-century manor house in the village.”

The village shares numerous facilities with bordering Hemingford Grey, including a shop, post-office, primary school and sports pitches. It is also well-connected with its walks, containing routes that can take people through St Ives, Godmanchester Nature Reserve, Houghton Mill and its beautiful wildflower meadows.

At the heart of the village is the Axe and Compass pub, which dates back to the 15th century. It is the only one of its kind in the village. providing a lovely country pub atmosphere with a garden that’s perfect for a relaxing day out.

The pub has continued to survive into 2026 against the backdrop of challenges towards pubs nationally. It remains incredibly popular with a 3.9 rating out of five from more than 400 reviews on Tripadvisor.

But the area’s key selling point is its thatched cottages and enormous houses in large gardens, which helps the village earn its posh factor. The Telegraph state the average house price in Hemingford Abbots as being £1.037m, although Rightmove lists it at even higher and £1.7m.