Oundle, Northamptonshire

I did think this too ahahaha. No one I know, even those who live in Oundle, care about Prince G going there at all nor the security detail.

I find it quite fascinating that you are apparently moving halfway across the country and this is your main concern about your new location

Is it just an attempt to start a rumour?

Agree with this, villages and Stamford are stunning. The towns aren't horrendous but more practical. Cambridge if you want a bit of culture and more beauty

Oundle is beautiful and has many lovely nearby villages. Fotheringhay Castle is nearby, just the ruins but interesting. Stamford is equally lovely and the villages between it and Peterborough are charming. Burghley House is amazing.
Peterborough is a bit workaday and has very grotty bits, but the cathedral is stunning. I grew up just outside it and it was fine. Flag Fen archaeology is very interesting (can you tell I teach history?!). Train to London from Peterborough is very swift.
Northampton centre is uninspiring at best but again, the surrounding area is lovely.

There are far, far worse places to settle.

Yes - agree on the walks!!!

There's also Saltburn down the road if you're a movie buff lol

Yes lots of school children (1100 give or take). Some love the bustling nature but it also is, well, very bustling. Not sure the mediæval street design envisaged having to cope with that amount of student but by and large it's ok. No worse than somewhere like Marlborough.

I think it's a gem of a place to live truly - you'll likely find (as has been the trajectory over the last 15 years) it won't be hidden much longer.

It's lovely, but overrun by public school kids during the day. Nice restaurants, good walks.

Oundle is very nice, in my opinion. Stamford is also lovely but more expensive for houses. The surrounding towns aren't particularly nice but they're ok.

Prince George is supposed to be going to Oundle. From what I've read, it's his mother's choice. It's a nice school anyway. My two used to play cricket against them when they were at school.

I'm not sure that him going there is a good or bad thing for someone living there. I would think the security would be quite low key but maybe it will attract a lot of royal watchers.

Yes it's had a facelift but it still isn't enough to attract me to go in sadly. It needs to upturn much much more!

Fraser has moved into John Lewis and the shopping centre has had a facelift. There is now a University so that has brought quite a lot of new places such as restaurants etc. into the town centre.
I’m popping in later to get my nails done. I think, a few years ago, it had hit a bit run down, but I think it’s had an upturn and I quite like it.
For context I’ve lived in other parts of the country e.g. Windsor, which is definitely different to Peterborough, but it’s certainly not awful or scary as some PP have suggested!
I also like Stamford and Cambridge too and there are pretty villages nearby.

Thrapston will be a bit cheaper, as will Kimbolton (bit too small maybe)

To be honest I agree with this and it isn't as horrendous as people think but it wasn't what it was. A real shame John Lewis left and like many high streets being destoryed, it reduced footfall. I use it for the dentist, cinema, waitrose, station and some of the garden centres (and a curry takeaway). But if wanting a stroll, shop and pub, def Oundle or Stamford.

It was spoken about - I have a weird feeling it might actually happen.

Would call Oundle Stamford's smaller neighbor, but definitely not poorer - more and more people are fed up of Stamford's busyness, parking issues and the shopping has gone downhill. It's also becoming a bit touristy for my liking.

In many ways the people of Oundle and community are more dynamic and nicer than Stamford and less geriatric more intellectual thanks to the school.

And generally it's off the tourist trail so not touristy at all - let's keep it that way!

Oundle is lovely lovely lovely I went to Oundle School and parents aren't far away and I love it.

Small but has a lot in it for its size and I find everyone so friendly walking around, people smile and are charming (I once left a phone in a coffee shop and the lady ran after me to return it, it's that sort of place). Thanks to the school you've got amazing amneities, Top quality gyms, olympic pool, art gallery, theatre, hockey clubs, rugby (v good) - it feels like a miniature oxford, very this style with the boarding school.

Not sure what Oundle the others have visited above but the school is not separate to the town it is almost the town very much like a mini Oxford in this regard - probably one of the most integrated schools in its locale in the UK. In regard Prince George, there is zero confirm but the security detail is minimal and very hidden. It was at Eton and Marlborough for Will, Harry and Eugenie. It will have zero bearing on your life if it comes to pass. The towns around are pretty awful. We use Cambridge if we want a bit of culture NOT PETERBOROUGH. But mostly just London as its a quick 47 minute zip into the capital and frequent trains.

It's also younger crowd than you'd expect thanks to the school and the teacher population so I find it more sort of liberal in a way not just a town full of retirees which I think Stamford can be a bit.

All in all you've got a great place. Personally I have come to prefer it to Stamford, but Stamford is lovely. Oakham I think is a step down (the development has been poorly managed), Uppingham is nice but think Oundle nicer; the villages around them are beautiful and the drive between Oundle and Uppingham through the valleys and undulating countryside is one of England's best - recommend for walks.

Good luck.

Peterborough is a shithole. Pretty sure George is going to Eton.

Peterborough is fine, as others have said, probably safer than many other cities. It just isn’t a very wealthy place, lost its John Lewis, lots of shops gone to retail parks, so city centre feels like it has less than 10 years ago.
There is no way you would end up accidentally living in a less nice area, and there are plenty of good areas where normal working people live and bring up kids with no problem at all. It has a lot of green spaces, and much less of a traffic problem than other cities I have been to.

It’s a tired city centre, quite rough at times, surrounded by acres of new build housing estates.

Don't write off Peterborough. It has some of the issues that affect other cities, but a historic cathedral with frequent public events, spacious Lido, some good food options and country parks are all in its favour. Oundle itself feels like the Cotswolds - sedate and charming, but without the coachloads of tourists.

I thought George would be going to Eton or Marlborough College, never heard of him possibly going to Oundle...

Peterborough is fine! There are (same as any city) some rougher areas, but lots of good ones.