It has many fine features, such as the magnificent Great Hall complete with Elizabethan panelling and a large Tudor fireplace with fireback dated 1571.

The hall is surrounded by almost 60 acres (24 ha) of grounds which includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest protected by Natural England due to the presence of Cambridge Milk Parsley, a rare English native plant.

The Hall was re-built by Sir John and Edmund Huddleston between 1557 and 1584 with the help of a licence granted by Queen Mary to use stone from Cambridge Castle.

This resulted in the construction of a number of priest holes in the building by Nicholas Owen, allowing the Huddleston family to continue their practice of the Catholic faith.

During the Second World War Sawston Hall, still under the ownership of the Huddlestons, was the headquarters of the 66th Fighter Wing, part of the USAAF Eighth Air Force.