Abbots Ripton is situated to the north of Huntingdon in an area of outstanding natural beauty.  The village together with the hamlet of Wennington nearby still contains "the best collection of thatched cottages in Huntingdonshire" according to a 17th Century scribe.  Of architectural note are the church (with its tower rather out of true), the 18th Century Abbots Ripton Hall and an earlier moated house that may have been the Manor House.  Abbots Ripton is set within one of the few remaining areas of substantial woodland in the District and boasts a good collection of elm trees somewhat unique in England since the onset of Dutch Elm disease.  The village has a modern village hall, a thriving school a post office and shop, a garage and pub which is currently being refurbished.  Redundant farm buildings have been tastefully converted into small industrial and scientific units.  Small scale new housing has been built to blend in with the village and its surroundings.  Nearby is the centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Monks Wood.