At the centre of the village is an area known as the village green, although it is completely paved. The centrepiece of the green is a thatched clock tower. Adjacent to the tower is a monumental bust of former village resident
Potto Brown (1797–1871), a miller and nonconformist philanthropist. Also on the green are an old water pump and a traditional
red telephone box. (1797–1871), miller and philanthropist It is possible to walk from Houghton to
Hemingford Abbots across the flood meadows, and to
St Ives along the Thicket Path. There is a nature reserve (Wildlife Trust) along the Thicket Path known as Houghton Meadows ("Far Close") that shows markings of traditional
ridge and furrow farming. In the village centre there is a war memorial hall. On Houghton Hill there is a cemetery. There used to be two veterinary poultry research centres, one on Houghton Hill and the other in "The Elms". There are a number of old houses of interest, particularly in the village green and near the playing field. The playing field is used for
football, tennis and
cricket. On the field there is a
bowling club,
cricket pavilion, tennis courts, football pitch and a scout hut. At the village green is the former home of artist
Charles Whymper (1853–1941). He was a relative of
Edward Whymper who, in 1865, led the
first ascent of the Matterhorn; a model of the
Matterhorn is in the garden and just visible from the green. The disused railway line runs through Houghton near the river. ==Feast week==