Cherry Hinton Hall

Cherry Hinton Hall is a historic house set in a spacious public park in Cherry Hinton, a district on the southern edge of Cambridge, England. Cambridge City Council owns and manages both the house and its grounds, so the park is open to everyone and is a favourite green space for local residents and visitors alike.

What is Cherry Hinton Hall?

It is a house paired with a landscape park laid out in the middle of the nineteenth century. The residence was built in the 1830s for the surgeon John Okes. The grounds were designed in the then-fashionable landscape style, with broad lawns, mature trees and quiet paths meant to feel like natural scenery. The estate was originally a little larger than it is today, at roughly 14 hectares.

How has the estate changed over time?

For many decades the property stayed in private hands. In 1937 Cambridge City Council acquired it and the park took on a public role. A programme of restoration and renewal followed in 1963, and in 1983 a parterre garden was added, a formal garden with geometric beds. The gardens also hold a collection of perennials, including hardy geraniums and bergenias. Since 2007 the building has been home to Cambridge International School, so the house itself is not a museum to tour, and the park is the real attraction.

What can you do in the park?

The park is above all a place for a relaxed family outing. You will find:

• wide lawns where you can spread out a picnic blanket,
• avenues and paths suited to an easy walk or a jog,
• a children's play area and a paddling pool that is popular in summer,
• a formal garden and perennial borders that plant lovers will enjoy.

Large, well-kept green space so close to the city centre makes it a good place to unwind after a day among the university colleges.

Cambridge Folk Festival

Since 1965 the park has hosted the Cambridge Folk Festival, one of the longest-running and best-regarded folk music festivals in the United Kingdom. It takes place over a long weekend in mid-summer and draws audiences from around the world, with attendance often put at around ten thousand people. For those days the lawns turn into a festival site with stages, tents and stalls. If you are planning a summer trip to Cambridge, check the festival dates in advance, because the park feels completely different then than on an ordinary day.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Cherry Hinton Hall? In the Cherry Hinton district, south of Cambridge city centre.

Who runs the park? Cambridge City Council, which also owns the house and the grounds.

Is it suitable for families with children? Yes. There is a play area and a paddling pool, and the open lawns give children plenty of room to run around.

Can you go inside the building? The house is occupied by a school, so touring the interiors is not the main draw. Focus on the park and the gardens.

When is the folk festival held? In summer, over a long weekend. Exact dates change every year and are announced by the festival organisers.

Is it a good stop during a stay in Cambridge? Yes, especially if you want a calmer place away from the busiest tourist streets, with greenery, history and live summer music.