Situated in the isolated south-west corner of the parish of Wicken, the hamlet of Upware is believed to have existed, and indeed been known by its present name, since at least the 10th century.

[1] Analysis of an earthwork near the river found a brick base surrounded by a 40-foot moat and linked to a former wharf on the Cam.

The present building dates from around 1980 and opened again as a pub in 1995 as the Five Miles from Anywhere Inn, largely serving passing leisure boats.

In the 1860s the pub was the residence of R. R. Fielder, known as the "King of Upware", who occupied himself with drinking and fighting boatworkers.

[1] Upware has a branch of the Cambridgeshire Environmental Education Service housed in the former primary school.