Much of Cottenham parish lies on a lower greensand ridge around 25 feet (8m) above sea level, which until the 17th century draining of the Fens was the only dry land in between Cambridge and the Isle of Ely around 12 miles to the north-east of the village.

The southern side of the parish lies on raised fertile red loam, and the original village settlement is believed to have started as a Roman British island community taking advantage of fertile pasture at the edge of the marshland in between Cambridge and Ely.

The lowest part of the parish lies below 15 feet (4.5m) at Smithey Fen in the north of the village, with the remnants of excavated peat beds still present there.

As part of an extensive fenland region, Cottenham is drained by a system of ditches and lodes which are believed to have been built or at least significantly expanded by the Romans.

River transportation along the River Great Ouse which lies to the north of the parish was extremely important throughout the Middle Ages, establishing Cottenham as a trade route in between Cambridge and the surrounding Fens, resulting in it becoming one of the largest villages in Cambridgeshire from the 11th century onwards.

The size of the village resulted in comparatively early arrival of public services including a resident police constable from 1841, a post office from 1843 and street lamps from 1849.

Proposals were drawn up for a light railway to assist in the export of goods such as fruit, wheat and cheese to Cambridge, but this was never built.

The village's nearest railway stations for goods export were at Histon and Oakington, on the Cambridge and St Ives branch line.

This line has now been converted into the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, a rapid transit bus commuter service into Cambridge which maintains the original railway station stops.

As a relatively large village, Cottenham has numerous amenities including two GP surgeries, a dental surgery, public library, Co-operative store, pharmacy, butcher, bakery, greengrocers, two newsagents (one of which now incorporates the Post Office) a primary school, and a secondary school and adult education centre combined in Cottenham Village College.

Cottenham has four remaining public houses: The Chequers,[3] The Hop Bind,[4] The Jolly Millers (temporarily closed) and The Waggon and Horses.

The Cottenham Community Centre (CCC)[5] and coffee shop is on the High Street on the site of the old Methodist church, opposite the Co-op.

The church is in the decorated gothic and perpendicular styles consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, north and south porches and a 100-foot-tall tower with four pinnacles containing a clock and six bells.

[13] Immigrant to the American colony of New England, John Coolidge, was born in Cottenham and baptised at All Saints' Church in September 1604.