A well-maintained green is a source of pride for many villagers across the UK. However, only those living in the tree-lined streets of Barrington, Cambridgeshire can lay claim to the longest village green in Europe.
Far from merely being a long stretch of grass, Barrington village green has a zip wire, a BMX trail, a climbing zone, playground swings, a climbing net, a slide and a rocking horse. It is also a designated conservation area, cementing its importance both locally and for visitors.
Of course, many of the pretty houses surrounding the green are topped with thatched roofs – a regular sight in this village, which also has one of just two remaining thatched schools in the entire country. Barrington Church of England Primary School opened in 1838.
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The school’s website states that “history and tradition are a large part of what makes our school special”. It has an Ofsted rating of ‘good’, which it has maintained since 2012. This report described pupils as “confident, kind and happy.”
Barrington’s only pub overlooks the village green. According to the parish council’s website, The Royal Oak is the last standing out of seven pubs in the village during the Victorian era.
It is easy to see why this one has stayed popular over the years. It has an average of 4.4 / 5 from 524 Google reviews. A recent Google reviewer said: “The service was friendly, polite and attentive but we weren’t pestered.
“Most of us had the roast beef which was excellent and the wine was very good – clearly thoughtfully selected rather than just what they could get a good margin on. There was a good selection of drinks at the bar, a decent kids’ menu and the pub was dog friendly.”
Just a 25-minute drive from Cambridge, the village of Barrington has everything you need for a family day out, including plenty of options on the village green to keep children entertained. For those opting for public transport, the 75 bus takes you from outside Downing College in Cambridge to Slid Lane, Barrington, in just 32 minutes.