Townapedia
UK Swavesey
UK Swavesey · Uksignpix, CC BY-SA 3.0
St Michael's Church Longstanton
St Michael's Church Longstanton · Iain99, CC BY-SA 3.0

Swavesey, United Kingdom

Swavesey is a town of 2,463 people in England, United Kingdom.

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Population2,463 GeoNames
RegionEngland
Elevation33 ft 10 m
Time zoneEurope/London
Nearest airportCambridge City Airport (CBG) 10 mi
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Why visit Swavesey

Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 7 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include War Memorial, Swavesey Priory, Mare Fen and Fen Drayton Lakes.

About Swavesey

Swavesey is a village lying on the Prime Meridian of the world in Cambridgeshire, England, with a population of 2,463. The village is situated 9 miles to the north west of Cambridge and 3 miles south east of St Ives.

From the Wikipedia article Swavesey (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do2

Rosegate Farm

Farm and orchard · 0.9 mi

Th-Sa 08:30-13:00

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Bird lookout

Scenic view · 1.4 mi

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Museums and landmarks4

War Memorial

Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi

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Meridian Marker

Monument and historic site

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Swavesey Priory

Monument and historic site

Priory in Swavesey, South Cambridgeshire, England, UK

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Village Lock Up

Monument and historic site · 1.5 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds8

Mare Fen

Park · 0.7 mi

Park in United Kingdom

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Fen Drayton Lakes

Park · 1.4 mi

RSPB nature reserve in the United Kingdom

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Fen Drayton Lakes Nature Reserve

Hiking and trails · 1.1 mi

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Swavesey Memorial Garden

Park

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Carters Way/Priory Avenue central play area

Playground

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Constable's Rood

Park

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Fen Drayton Recreation Ground

Park · 1.4 mi

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Pike & Eel Marina

Marina and boat launch · 1.4 mi

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Restaurants and cafes7

White Horse Inn

Bar and pub

1 Market Street, Swavesey

Mo-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 12:00-22:00

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The Admiral

Bar and pub · 1.4 mi

31 High Street, Over

Mo-Th 16:00-23:30; Fr-Sa 12:00-23:30; Su 12:00-22:30

Open in Google Maps · +44 1954 610837

The Nook

Cafe · Coffee Shop

5 Market Street, Swavesey

Mo-Su 09:30-14:00

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The Three Tuns

Bar and pub · 1.4 mi

High Street, Cambridge

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Teabellies

Cafe · 1.4 mi

Mo,Tu,We,Sa 09:00-15:00; Fr 09:00-17:00; Su 10:00-14:00

Open in Google Maps · +44 7535 343388

Mustard Seed Community Cafe

Cafe · 1.3 mi

Th 10:00-12:00

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Pike and Eel Hotel

Restaurant · 1.5 mi

Overcote Lane, St Ives

Open in Google Maps · +44 1480 463 336

History

Swavesey, forming a historical parish of 3982 acres on the border with Huntingdonshire, lies on a narrow clay ridge rising to 18 metres above sea level at one time surrounded by fenland. The village was of importance during the early Middle Ages as the centre of a large 11th-century estate. A castle was built here in the late 11th or early 12th century, though is believed to have been derelict by 1200. Swavesey served as a port and subsequent market town and was fortified at the end of the 12th century.

An alien priory was founded in Swavesey shortly after the Norman Conquest, possibly replacing a Saxon minster.

From the History section of Swavesey on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

More about Swavesey

Education

The village contains one primary school, Swavesey Primary School, which claims to be the only school in the United Kingdom to lie on the meridian. Swavesey Village College is a secondary school, which opened in 1958. The school provides secondary education for surrounding villages, including Over, Bar Hill, Longstanton, and Fenstanton, and uses a vertical tutor system. As with other village colleges, Swavesey's institution also provides adult education in the evenings and a myriad of extracurricular after-school clubs.

From the Wikipedia article Swavesey, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay1

Churches and places of worship8

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Shopping1

Schools, colleges and libraries4

Healthcare1

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Map of Swavesey

36 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Cambridge City Airport (CBG) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 10 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

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Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.