Moving US to Cambridgeshire, help?

[NerdMama]

Hello fellow mums! Hoping you will all have some advice for me. I am moving from the US (Denver) to the UK for my husband's work, and we'll need to be somewhat near Huntingdon, but I've heard many mixed feelings on Huntingdon, so I'd love to know where you all would recommend to look for housing! Any surrounding villages would be lovely- we've got two little girls, 1 and 3, so I want to be somewhere safe, quiet, but with the daily necessities close at hand, and hopefully somewhere with some friends for the little ones so they aren't lonesome! Help? I won't be able to make a familiarisation visit before we move, so I will be relying on you all and your advice to help me figure out where to go!

Don't live in this area,but pass through often. The local board may help.
I would agree regarding living in a surrounding village.Godmanchester looks nice when I have passed through.
The great thing about this area is the proximity to Cambridge and 1 hour train to London so easy to access cultural activities whilst not paying the house prices.

Is your DH in the forces? I grew up in this area and went to primary school with many American kids who lived on or near air force bases. Godmanchester has some very nice houses and practical stuff you need but I'm not sure what it's like to live in (haven't always heard good reports). Right next to Huntingdon though. You could look at Brampton (large village with a primary school, small shops etc)? Or further afield you could try Buckden, St.Neots, the Offords or Sawtry, which is more in the direction of Peterborough. I think it depends how rural you'd be happy with. My parents live in a lovely village a few miles from Huntingdon but there's no shop or pub so driving is essential.

I live in that area - if you are looking at Huntingdon itself, I would avoid the Oxmoor estate: it's getting much better, but it's not a great area. Brampton is lovely, large village with pretty much most amenities, but the bus service isn't great if you are restricted car-wise. Godmanchester is lovely also. There are lots of lovely villages near-ish to Huntingdon, depends very much on your budget which ones to go for!