The school is one of only two of its kind
A village green is a prized part of any village, acting as a meeting point and a place for children to play. But in one Cambridgeshire village, their green is rather something to behold, as it is one of the longest in Europe.
It’s far from being just a long stretch of grass, as Barrington’s green has a zip wire, a BMX trail, a climbing zone, playground swings, a climbing net, a slide and a rocking horse. It’s also a designated conservation area, proving its importance both locally and for visitors.
Barrington’s pretty streets are dotted with charming thatched cottages, giving it that chocolate box feeling. One of those thatched buildings is the local primary school, which is one of two remaining thatched schools in England. Barrington Church of England Primary School opened in 1838.
The school’s website states that “history and tradition are a large part of what makes our school special”. The school had previously maintained an Ofsted rating of ‘good’, since 2012, with the report describing pupils as “confident, kind and happy”. But their most recent report carried out in June 2026 rated the school as ‘needing attention’ five out of seven areas. However, the report did say that “pupils recall their learning with great confidence”.
Barrington has only one pub, which overlooks the village green. And according to the parish council, it’s the last standing out of seven pubs that used to be here during the Victorian era. It is easy to see why this one has stayed so popular over the years. It has an average of 4.5 / 5 from 706 Google reviews.
A recent Google reviewer said: “Outstanding Sunday roast. Probably the best roast out I have ever had. Nice wine, great service and a yummy pudding. I would 100% come back here again.”
You can get from Cambridge to Barrington in around 25 minutes by car, making it an ideal rural escape from the busier city. It has everything you need for a family day out, including plenty of options on the village green to keep children entertained. For those taking public transport, the 75 bus takes you from outside Downing College in Cambridge to Slid Lane, Barrington, in just 32 minutes.
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