Swavesey · Cambridgeshire
Village history, open skies and a little time outdoors
Get to know the place around the White Horse: Market Street's history, Fen Drayton Lakes and the connections between Cambridge, St Ives and the surrounding villages.
Start with Market Street
Our address sits within a village shaped by water and trade.
Swavesey lies at the edge of the River Great Ouse's fen landscape. A thirteenth-century river port and market occupied present-day Market Street; the docks were filled in during the nineteenth century. The village design guide brings this history together with the streets and green spaces of today.
The White Horse Inn's Grade II-listed building is part of that streetscape. Read the pub's story, then use the village guide to give a wander around Market Street more context.
The White Horse's building and next chapterRead the Swavesey Village Design Guide (PDF)Nature nearby
Make room for Fen Drayton Lakes
Water, meadows and wildlife give a day out a different pace.
RSPB Fen Drayton Lakes grew from a former sand and gravel quarry beside riverside meadows. The reserve now brings together lakes, wetland, grassland and woodland. Choose a route from the RSPB's trail map and leave time to stop and look.
National Cycle Route 51 runs through the reserve. The RSPB lists cycle racks near the Guided Busway stop, making cycling another way to plan an outing. Fen Drayton Lakes is a request stop on the Busway; tell the driver if you want to get off there.
Before you set off
Check the RSPB's current trail map, access information, parking arrangements and dog guidance. Pick a route that suits your group and the conditions, and check the return journey as well as the way out.
Connect the day without guessing the journey
Use the official route map and current timetables to make a plan that suits your starting point.
Cambridge, St Ives and Longstanton
The Guided Busway network links Swavesey with St Ives, Longstanton park & ride and Cambridge. The official network map shows the stops, while the routes page links to operator timetables. Choose the service that fits your journey and check current updates before travelling.
For the pub, plan the route from the Swavesey stop to Market Street. For the nature reserve, use the RSPB's own arrival instructions. They are separate destinations.
Official Busway maps and timetablesFrom Over and the surrounding villages
If you are starting in Over, Longstanton, Willingham, Bar Hill or Fenstanton, use your own starting address to plan the journey. Enter 1 Market Street, Swavesey, CB24 4QG for the White Horse, rather than searching for a pub name alone.
For a walk or cycle, check the whole route and any current path closures. Allow for weather, your group's pace and the return trip. Ask the team about pub parking and cycle storage before you set out.
Our address, map and practical informationMake a pub stop part of your day
Nepalese cooking and a village welcome on Market Street.
A plate of momo, a curry or a familiar pub favourite gives you something to look forward to after exploring Swavesey. Browse the food, check the kitchen hours and plan the journey to Market Street before setting out.
Ask the team about outdoor seating, children, dogs, parking and physical access before you visit.