PLEASE help me find the perfect Cambs village to live in!

[ButterScotch00]

Hi,

So after much hanging about and deliberating, we've finally decided to get on the market and move.

We're already in Cambridgeshire, but would like to be closer to Cambridge centre.

I can't seem to find anywhere that ticks most of the boxes within our budget, so wondering if I'm missing some hidden gems.

Budget, we think is around 850k, but probably more comfortable at 800k. We need 4 beds, 2 reception rooms, detached, decent sized garden. Ideally a pretty, characterful village with at least one good pub/restaurant. We don't really want a project, a new build or a thatch - as pretty as they are!

Villages like Madingley, Grantchester and Coton are probably ideal in terms of area, but hardly anything comes on near our budget or actually, at all!

Any suggestions? I'm pretty much living on Rightmove these days and my head's spinning tbh! 🥴

TIA

Do you need schools?

@BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation nope.

Linton. Exactly the right size, has shops and pubs, nice countryside, good bus service to Cambridge.

How about Stapleford, Shelford, Whittlesford? Would Duxford, Ickleton or Hinxton be too far out?

Bourn? Very pretty, good pub, good village shop but a bit further from the centre.
If you want to be closer, how about Waterbeach?

@snurtifier I think we drove through Linton and there was something about it that I didn't take to, but I can't remember why.

@BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation I think the Shelfords are going to be just too expensive unfortunately. Not familiar with Stapleford or Whittlesford, so will check those out - thank you. Yes, I would say those 3 are a bit too far.

@AnnaQuayInTheUk Yes, Bourn is on the list, though would prefer better links into Cambridge. Also a bit concerned about the EWR proposals, but think that's more likely to affect Toft?... Another very pretty village. I don't really know Waterbeach. Will have a look.

Forgot to say, we ideally want to be within 7 miles max of Cambridge

Just giving this a bump 😊

I lived in Granchester for many years. It’s lovely but very little comes onto the market and most housing there would not be big enough for you.

when we wanted a bigger house we were looking for a couple of years and ended up moving to Comberton which is a fair way from Cambridge itself.

have you looked at Barton? Honestly most of the south Cambs villages near Cambridge have very little movement.

Waterbeach was my first thought.

Burwell or Bottisham? Teversham is also nice but might be a bit small. Close to Fulbourn and Cherry Hinton though, right ob the edge of Cambridge.

@Octavia64 Ah, we were looking at Comberton. It had a nice feel to it. How do you find it? Barton is one I have kept my eye on too.

@Latenightreader Burwell was an area I discovered recently and thought it was great! Bigger than we'd ideally like, but it seemed to have so much to offer and still had lots of charm, given it's size. Then I read about First Drove and the previous issues and further developments there and it ruled it out for us. Such a shame. I hadn't heard of Teversham. Will take a look.

I lived in cottenham and then oakington for years, maybe they're too big though?

@overmydeadbody we drove through Cottenham a few months a go and yes, it did feel a bit too big for us. Did you like living there?

@Latenightreader I just looked at Waterbeach. It does tick a lot of boxes actually. Do you know much about it?

Harston, Hauxton, Barrington, Fowlmere, Whittlesford? They would be some of the ones I’d pick.

We liked Comberton - lived there for twelve years.

it is that bit further out though - cycling into Cambridge from Grantchester is easy but from Comberton is a fair way. I had friends who did it by electric bike which seemed a good compromise.

not a massive amount happening. We moved from Grantchester which was very community minded and had lots going on - Comberton much less so.

has shop, dentist, doctors etc in the village which is quite convenient but it’s hard to teens to get about - the buses are pretty infrequent.

both of us drove pretty much every day - ExH to the station for London and me to drop the kids at school and then to work in Cambridge.

there isn’t a restaurant but there is a pub which used to do food.

Barton is nice. I have family there with kids who went to Barton primary school then Comberton VC. Though I see you don’t need schools so not relevant!

Definitely Histon. Lovely pubs, shops, cafes, duck pond. Lots going on and a good community feel right next to guided busway for train station and a quick cycle into town.
after Histon probably great shelford.

Histon is lovely, but you might find it big if you think Cottenham is big.

otherwise what about Horningsea? You can cycle into Cambridge through Fen Ditton and along the river, and has nice pubs.

Foxton (but very over inflated prices) lovely village

Buckden probably ticks a lot of your boxes apart from it’s outside your 7 mile radius.

What about villages like bottisham and lode?
the villages you suggest are so very expensive (even though you have a great budget)!

I live in Waterbeach and it has a really nice community, but isn't one of the prettier villages. Histon is probably closer to what you want, unless you need a train station and/or want to be closer to the river. We do have pubs though!

Thanks for all these! Lots I haven't come across before.

@indoorplantqueen I like the sound of Histon, but it definitely fits into the expensive category and I never see anything within our budget for what we need. Same with the Shelfords actually. I've never been, but they sound perfect!

@tadjennyp Ah, that's interesting. What are the pubs like? It looked to me like a couple had recently closed 😕 After a bit of research, the travel links are definitely the best for us as a family. Might ping you over a pm actually if that's alright?..

Just thought I'd give this another bump...

The pub has reopened tonight. It was really busy!