Priory Plaza

The Plaza sits right in the heart of St. Neots, a proper focal point where locals gather and the town actually feels like it has a centre. It's the sort of place that anchors a market town - a public space that gets used, rather than one of those sterile modern squares that feel abandoned by afternoon.

What you've got here is a decent open area surrounded by the usual mix of shops and cafes, with enough seating to actually stop and watch the world go by. There's a market square feel to it, though calling it a plaza rather than just the town square probably says something about ambitions. It works well enough as a focal point if you're spending a day in St. Neots itself.

For families, it's handy - gives kids somewhere safe to move about while you grab a coffee. Historians might find the bones of the old priory interesting, though there's not masses to see on the ground. It's more about understanding where you are than gawping at dramatic ruins.

If you're camping at St. Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site just up the road, the Plaza is worth a wander on your first evening. Grab dinner, get your bearings, watch the light fade. It's ten minutes walk from the site at most. For those staying further out at Cambridgeshire Lakes or Grafham Water, it's a decent reason to head into town for a morning rather than staying put. Budget an hour or so - more if you're lingering over lunch.