Kimbolton can be explored through a range of interests: the north and south arcades of the Church of St Andrew, the medieval motte-and-bailey castle at Castle Hill, the history of Kimbolton Castle, and the Statute Fair in September. There is also the River Kym corridor and the Kimbolton Hills walking route. When planning your visit, it makes a difference whether you focus on a fixed event date, historical themes or a walk; be sure to check the relevant dates, especially for the Fair and castle visits.

Church, Motte-and-Bailey Castle and Castle History

The Church of St Andrew has north and south arcades dating from the 13th century. Castle Hill is a well-preserved medieval motte-and-bailey castle. Each offers a different historical perspective: a specific architectural feature of a church on the one hand, and the context of a medieval motte-and-bailey castle on the other.

Kimbolton Castle is associated with Katharine of Aragon. After her arrival in May 1534, she spent the final months of her life there. This story focuses on a specific period in Katharine’s life, setting it apart from the medieval architectural features. If you enjoy discovering historic places through biographies, it offers another way to explore Kimbolton’s history.

Statute Fair: A September Date

The Statute Fair still takes place annually on an evening in September on the High Street. If you want to experience the Fair, you can plan your trip around that specific evening; check the date before travelling. Modern attractions include dodgems, a funhouse, inflatables, waltzers and fairground games. Individual attractions may change. Unlike the historical themes, the Fair is a time-specific reason to travel: to visit it, let the appropriate September date determine your travel dates.

Countryside and Walking Time

The landscape of the River Kym corridor around Kimbolton is of high quality. One specific walking option is the Kimbolton Hills route: it is graded Red/Advanced and takes 60–75 minutes. When planning your day, take both the grade and the stated duration into account; path conditions and hazards may vary. This helps you fit the route’s time commitment into your travel plans without inferring local conditions from the stated duration.

Planning Your Visit and Getting There

Visitors arriving by car can park on the grounds of Kimbolton Castle; arrangements may change. St Neots is the nearest railway station for travel to Kimbolton Castle. If you are travelling by train, check connections in advance and plan your onward journey from there.

Kimbolton Castle is open for public visits on two days a year: the first Sunday in March and the first Sunday in October. The planned visit includes all State Rooms, including the Queen’s Room, where Katharine of Aragon died. Before travelling, check whether these dates and access to the rooms are currently available.

Plan your accommodation around the reason for your visit that matters most to you.

Discover more destinations: Fulbourn, Milton, Isleham, Holme, Melbourn, Wisbech, Girton, Linton

For the wider travel overview: Cambridgeshire.