Duxford is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, about eight miles south of Cambridge city centre as the crow flies. The River Cam, also known as the Granta, forms the eastern boundary of the parish, with Hinxton across the river and Ickleton to the south-east. It also borders Whittlesford, Thriplow and Heathfield, Fowlmere, Heydon and, across the county boundary in Essex, Chrishall, and the railway station that opened in 1845 was built on the boundary between Duxford and Whittlesford.
The 2021 Census recorded about 1,950 people living in the parish. The old village grew up along two streets running west from the main road, each with its own medieval church, and Duxford remained two ecclesiastical parishes until 1874. About a mile west of the village lies Duxford airfield, now IWM Duxford.
Duxford airfield sits immediately west of the M11, next to its junction with the A505, and straddles the parishes of Duxford, Thriplow and Whittlesford. According to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford operated as a military aerodrome from 1918 to 1961. It began as a station for pilot training in the closing days of the First World War and became a fighter station in 1924. The first Spitfire was flown into RAF Duxford in August 1938, the station played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain, and in 1943 it became the headquarters of the US 78th Fighter Group.
The Imperial War Museum began using the disused airfield as a large object store in the early 1970s and took ownership of it in 1976. Today it is open to visitors as IWM Duxford, with aircraft displayed in its hangars and the American Air Museum among its exhibitions.
The airfield has its own conservation area, designated in 2007. The 2007 conservation area appraisal regards Duxford as the finest and best-preserved example in Britain of a fighter base representative of the period up to 1945, with an exceptionally complete group of First World War technical buildings. Building 79 (Hangar 4), one of a group of three aircraft hangars built at RAF Duxford in 1917 to 1918, is listed Grade II*.
Duxford, formerly known as Duxworth, has a long documented history. The Domesday Book of 1086 enumerated 37 people there and recorded three mills in the parish. In early times the village lay between two branches of the Icknield Way.
Unusually, the single village contained two parish churches, each with its own incumbent: St John's midway along the northern street and St Peter's at the eastern end of the southern one. The two benefices were united in 1874, after which St John's church fell out of use.
By Whittlesford Bridge, a hospital founded by William de Colville (who died in 1230) probably provided accommodation for travellers. In the 16th century that role passed to the neighbouring inn, called the White Lion until the 18th century and later the Red Lion.
The parish was mainly arable farmland, cultivated in three open fields until inclosure in 1823. Its population rose from 494 in 1801 to a peak of 881 in 1871, and the presence of the RAF temporarily boosted it to 1,469 in 1951. Extensive building in the mid 20th century added new housing estates, mostly to the north and south of the original village.
The historic core of the village is covered by the Duxford Conservation Area, and the airfield has a separate conservation area of its own. The Victoria County History (1978) noted several older timber-framed, thatched houses in the village, some with overhangs and some refronted in brick.
St Peter's Church on Chapel Street is listed Grade I. Its tower and tower arch date from the 12th century, and its walls are of flint and pebble rubble with Barnack limestone and clunch dressings.
St John's Church on Green Street is also listed Grade I. Its tower, nave and chancel date from the late 12th century. It is now a redundant church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, which highlights its medieval wall paintings.
Duxford Chapel, described by English Heritage as a 14th-century chantry chapel, perhaps originally a hospital, stands beside the car park of Whittlesford Parkway station. Entry is free.
Duxford Church of England Community Primary School is a voluntary controlled school for children aged 4 to 11. Ofsted last inspected the school in May 2024, and the full report is available on the Ofsted website.
Duxford has no secondary school of its own. South Cambridgeshire District Council's Services and Facilities Study (2014) places the village within the catchment area for Sawston Village College. Catchment areas can change, so families should confirm current catchment with Cambridgeshire County Council admissions.
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Duxford's housing ranges from older timber-framed and thatched houses in the historic core to the mid 20th-century estates built mostly to the north and south of the original village.
HM Land Registry recorded 57 standard residential sales in Duxford between October 2024 and July 2026. The median price was £405,000. Of those sales, 22 were detached houses, 19 semi-detached, 15 terraced and 1 a flat or maisonette, with prices ranging from £165,000 to £1,300,000. Because the mix of homes sold varies from year to year, these figures give a general picture rather than a precise valuation.
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Duxford is about eight miles south of Cambridge city centre in a straight line.
Whittlesford Parkway station, less than a mile north of the village centre, was built on the parish boundary with Whittlesford. It is served by Greater Anglia trains between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street.
Yes. The historic core of the village is the Duxford Conservation Area, and Duxford airfield has its own conservation area, designated in 2007.
Duxford Church of England Community Primary School serves children aged 4 to 11. The council's 2014 study places Duxford in the catchment area for Sawston Village College; please confirm current catchment with Cambridgeshire County Council.
