Old Mill Avenue Christmas lights

Every December, a residential street in St. Ives transforms into something genuinely special. Old Mill Avenue lights up with what locals will tell you is one of the best Christmas displays in Cambridgeshire - and they're not wrong. We're talking serious effort here: house after house decked out with thousands of bulbs, projections, moving figures, the works. Some homes go full theme-park mode; others take a more restrained approach. Either way, it's the sort of place where you'll see people stopping mid-walk to get photos.

This is a free attraction, which makes it proper value, and it's best visited after dark - ideally between mid-November and early January when the displays are switched on. Allow an hour for a proper wander down the street, longer if you've got kids who want to linger at each house. Parking can be tricky during peak evenings, so consider going mid-week if you can.

Family groups will get the most out of it, particularly those with younger children who still think Christmas lights are basically magic. Photographers should come late evening when the street's quieter. If you're staying at Long Island Lake holiday park just down the road, it's an easy evening trip - close enough that you won't feel you're spending your whole night driving.

It's not a destination in itself, mind you. But if you're in the area over the festive period, it's well worth the detour.