Moving from Cambridgeshire to York

The secondary school in chatteris was rated the highest in Cambridgeshire for A levels results last year beating many better known Cambridge schools.

Really? I can't find a comparison article for 2024, but it's not mentioned here for 2023.

Searching using the table on that page gives Cromwell Community College with an average grade of C with 5.6% getting AAB or higher.

This link from CCC's own website currently only has results for 2023. If its results beat all others in Cambridgeshire in 2024 you'd think it would draw attention to them.

Most places have an element of they are what you make of them though. I've lived here for many years, raised my children and now some of my grandchildren live here too. I found the people very friendly, and although it may be quiet, there is plenty to do locally if you look. Beautiful Ely with its amazing cathedral, and street food market is only 20 minutes away, each year they have an apple fair, eel festival, march 10 minutes, last week was the st George day festival, huntingdon, birthplace of Cromwell 15 mins. I don't know how old your children are but theres many local attractions, e.g. johnsons the zoo where prices for a family of 4 are under £20 is less than 10 miles away,, stunning fen walks, wicken fen nature and swan feeding reserve. All of mine went to local squirrels, beavers, cubs gymnastics etc. There are 2 skate parks, football clubs in the school holidays, and things like free bike riding lessons. The secondary school in chatteris was rated the highest in Cambridgeshire for A levels results last year beating many better known Cambridge schools. Maybe you didn't give it a chance.

Just came on to say Heworth if you have the budget

We moved from Southampton to York 9 years ago and love it here, no intention of leaving any time soon!

Take a look at Rawcliffe, you would be able to get somewhere decent with that budget. Good luck!

I grew up in Easingwold, which is halfway between York and Thirsk, and the only thing i didn't like about it was the lack of evening or Sunday buses (i believe there is now a late bus on a Fri night and morning/afternoon buses on a Sun). We were heavily reliant on lifts to go to bowling / to the cinema etc, until one of us could drive and then we would all pile into our friends car, which probably wasn't really the safest. I agree with pp who mentioned places like Wigginton, Haxby, Strensall etc, all of which have public transport into York and so are much easier to get to and from for a social life for teens!

York is lovely. There are lots of surrounding towns and villages all within a short distance of York
there are good transport links and excellent schools.
Dunnington is particularly nice. Pocklington as mentioned above is also lovely

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel @LittleMy77 @Teabelly71 thanks for your replies - I’m amazed it’s so quick! I knew it was just under an hour from Peterborough to Kings X, so was really surprised to think it could be just over 2 hours from Thirsk, so I’ve learnt something new today - thanks! 🥰🙏👍

Yup. It’s really good. You get on at Thirsk, the train stops at York then it’s non stop after that. That’s using Grand Central. I also use SeatFrog to upgrade to first class if there’s space

Yep; when it works it’s great, when it doesn’t (cabling being nicked, broken down trains, people on the line etc) it’s dire. Still has better service than Avanti west coast line tho.

One of the best advantages of York is you can get the 6.00 from York and be at Kings Cross at 7.45. I know quite a few who commute two days a week.

Depending on where you want to live, you’ll struggle to find a 3 bed in a nice area with decent schools for 360k

Housing in York is v expensive; we’re in Heworth, won’t get much change from £380k for a 3 bed semi, 4 bed terrace or semi go for £450k+. However, it’s good schools, decent buses and an approx 20 min walk to the city centre

The fastest trains I have seen are 2 hours 5 minutes. East Coast Mainline is fast.

Can you really be in London from Thirsk by rail in two hours? That seems quite optimistic.

Where’s your support network OP? You seem to be bouncing around to random places in pursuit of the dream - beautiful countryside with lots of life. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist but it sounds like it could be out of your budget and still hard to settle. Your kids have also had a lot of change so whatever step you take next, think hard and visit lots before committing.

For me, being near family is a must, it’s what anchors my family. I get family isn’t for everyone but have a think about what’s going to really make you all happy. It’s usually the people rather than the place in my experience.

Another York villager with teen/tween kids. 👋🏻
it’s a great place for families, lots to do and easy access to town and country. Poppleton has a train into York and Harrogate/leeds, but your budget might be a stretch. The traffic into central York from all villages can be a pain, but public transport in York is better than most other parts of N.Yorks.

Harrogate and Knaresborough also v nice, but very expensive (particularly Harrogate.)

Northallerton in NY is on the east coast main line and is a market town with quite a bit going on. From there, you’ve good train access to York and Durham/Newcastle, and again, lovely countryside.

another option is the Ilkley/Menston/Guiseley area in W.Yorks. They all have train stations into the main with good access to Leeds, but also great countryside and loads to do.

Can't blame you. Fenland life is different.

There are some nice villages near Hull too - Ottringham, Keyingham, Preston.

Absolutely come to Yorkshire OP! If you want lots to do in a naice town look into Harrogate and Knaresborough, both beautiful places and a stones throw away from York

I live in a village close to Helmsley on the edge of the Moors and it’s a great location for families. We have a bus service to York, two pubs and a cafe and a shop/post office and Thirsk and Malton are only half an hour and York is 40 minutes. Helmsley also has lots of good local shops. It’s also only half an hour to the main dual carriage ways that then take you to the motorways so transport links are great. You can be in London from Thirsk on the train in two hours. The secondary schools are great, and the public services are also good. I’m a southerner yet have lived here for years and my kids have also grown up here. The accent thing isn’t really an issue, there’s a broad mix and people speak from really broad local accents to very neutral.
Outdoor pursuits are a big thing round here, it’s very horsey, and there are lots of local sports clubs (rugby, cricket, netball etc).
Good luck!

Bishopthorpe is a great village due to its proximity to York centre, but still feels rural with the surrounding fields, York racecourse, cycle track and next to the river. Catchment to Fulford School (outstanding) and has a lovely primary school. York college a walk away. They have developed the area by the river with the boatyard and Bosuns restaurant. Little cafes (Butfirst) and florists. Green grocer and butchers set up weekly in the village too as a pop up. Negative = house prices are high.

You could go a bit further a field for affordability where you have train links (10-15mins) to places such as Sherburn in Elmet or Selby, which are in the middle with York one way and Leeds the other. Malton and Pocklington are always good shouts too.

I would visit York and have a wonder around the different villages and get a feel as to where you think you would be happy to live.

Good luck on your search and move to North Yorkshire :)

Yeah York isn't really northern! As you will have noticed, there are a lot of mumsnetters that live in York, it's quite a middle class place. The accent will be fine.

One of the reasons I like the area around the Uni is that it's more diverse than other areas of York, you get more folk from allover the place.

£360 should get you something in Fulford area but as above, it won't be very fancy! York isn't cheap unfortunately.

Definitely don't worry about the accents OP, loads of York people don't sound remotely northern. Other bits of Yorkshire don't class it as the proper north! Your kids will fit right in, possibly even be glam for being from near London.

I'd have thought you'd be in budget for a 30s semi or new build on the outskirts - Haxby, Wigginton, Acomb, Huntington all safe bets. Make sure you're on good bus routes. York station gets to Leeds in under half an hour. Huntington School was always good, I think still is.

I wouldn't worry about accent. York is pretty mixed, and kids pick up stuff quickly anyway. My children's school has plenty of people from various places, as well as those whose own parents went to the same school in their time, and it doesn't seem to be a factor. But mine also very quickly started using phrases and intonation that their friends did too.

For your budget you should be fine for a 3 bed but it won't be a grand house! Haxby is also worth looking at - a big village with plenty of shops and amenities, decent public transport and, possibly, at some point a station too.