moving to cambridge

[crw1234]

Hi - my DH has got a job in Cambridge - near the town centre - thinking about where to live
of course want - not too expensive, decent state schools, and ideally car- free communte, don't want to live in actual cambridge I think -

thought about Ely - I know there is a ely board but is very quiet -DH could come in by train, but although primary looks ok - and thinking ahead not sure about secondary
Histon would be another option as my parents live there and DH could cycle in
Cottenem another thought -
any ideas/comments?

How about the villages south of Cambridge? Shepreth, Meldreth, Barrington, Harston, Foxton and so on are all worth looking at. Barrington and Harston are the only ones of those without a train station but are only a couple of miles from either Foxton or Shepreth and of course there's the Park and Ride which you can use at Trumpington. These villages are lovely, small, pretty, quiet but still within easy access to the city, all with good primary schools. Comberton is not bad either and has an extremely well regarded secondary.

Otherwise there is Fen Ditton to the north of Cambridge, which is within cycling distance of town (or walking distance if you fancy it) and various villages beyond.

I wouldn't recommend Ely personally... all the down sides to living in a city with none of the advantages which Cambridge has, IMHO. The secondary is not highly thought of either. Although you don't fancy living in Cambridge I must say that there are some excellent primaries there, Park Street and St Paul's being amongst the best.

Thanks very useful - I think its the house prices might be an issue in central cambridge but perhaps I have got this wrong

Ely is generally cheaper than the villages south of Cambridge, and actually I don't think its a bad place to be. I don't actually live in Ely, but in a village not far from there. I'd rather shop in Ely or drive to Peterborough than go shopping in Cambridge!

Having said that about Ely, DD's name is down for a secondary school in Cambridge.

You are not wrong about Cambridge house prices. You will also find quite a difference between Histon (which is practically in Cambridge) and Ely or villages to the north. I have friends in Histon and the schools are fine.

I used to know a couple of families where the dh commuted by train from Ely and they liked living there. Depends how much use you would make of Cambridge amenities vs being more relaxed and rural.

A lot of the villages have good schools - the catchments for good secondaries in Cambridge city can get very expensive (Parkside, for example) and there are some poor schools.

If you would consider park & ride (can also park & cycle) look at villages in easy reach of those, e.g. Tumpington and Barbraham park & ride.

Perhaps look at your budget for house/commute and work from there. Prices vary quite a lot from the city, to southern villages, to northern villages.

I live in Ely and can recommend it as a lovely place to bring up children. The primary schools are good (particularly St John's and the Lantern). However, the secondary school, at the moment is not great. Due to large changes in the social demographics this may change . We find, as a family, that if we want to go to the metropolis we can get the train, and they run quite late for evenings out, otherwise we get everything we need from Ely. Feel free to message me if you want any more information.

Have you thought about Newmarket [biased]? It is 20min drive from the centre of Cambridge (on a good day!) and houses are much cheaper!

Have you thought about Waterbeach (that's where I am), has train in vilage and also park and ride just down the road, DS has just started at Waterbeach Primary which feeds into Cottenham and Impington secondary schools.

Let me know if you want any actual detail :o

Thanks good thought- will consider - any nice toddler groups and also childminders

I live in one of the villages near Huntingdon, about 17 miles from Cambridge. Great schools, reasonable property prices and not the city feel of Cambridge. My personal preferenace is for a village rather than a city. The commute between home and work (Cambridge) is awful though, upto an hour and a half during the rush hour, but it depends on what sort of hours your DH is going to be traveling.

We moved here about 18 months ago and I love it, we have all settled well. I find the people really friendly and interesting.

There's a toddler group every day (two in fact on Tuesdays but the one on Wednesday's is just for under ones) a couple are at the Salvation army and a couple at the parish church and one run by sure start who are in the process of having a purpose built building built!!

There are a few childminders, one I know of is very very good, no idea on the others!!

There are also three playgroups, two are very good, the other one not so much (but they do take kids from 1yo!!)

3 shops, butchers, bakers candlestick makers 3 pubs, chines, two hairdressers.... (There is more of a village feel than that makes it sound)

Have I sold it enough yet :o

Are you thinking of buying or renting??

Renting to start - next step is sorting out if any of the schools will have a place - thanks for everyone's feedback

That is a biggy, the good news in Waterbeach is that there is a steady stream of children in and more importantly out of the school because of the barracks, my DS is in reception but I've got friends with DCs further up the school if you want any inside info :o

:O

Was talking to a friend re: Ely secondary schools - some kids go to Soham Village College from Ely. SVC has a good reputation apparently.

I've lived in both Cambridge and Ely and I have to say I infinitely preferred Ely - you are still close enough to enjoy all the good bits of Cambridge city life, but Ely is quiet and peaceful and relaxing and generally a very joyful and comfortable place to live.

The only reason we moved back to Cambridge was because DH absolutedly hated the commute (A10) and the traffic is always bad at peak times on the A10. He didn't like to get the train (though I always found it fine, nice even, short journey etc).

I don't know about schools though so no help there (we lived there pre DC).

I would move back to Ely in a flash though - it has a nice atmosphere I think.

Impington Village College for secondary gets very good reviews, better than most centrsl Cambridge schools, and it's sixth form is excellent and does the IB. The villages in the IVC catchment north of Cambridge are nice family places generally with good primaries. Only drawback is that you're reliant on the bus for public transport.

The advantage of Ely is the excellent train service and the beautiful town centre - but the schools are awful, esp in comparison with Cambridge. We're thinking of Ely for our next move but would send DS private if we did.

I'm in Milton, which is on the North side of the city before Waterbeach and next to Histon/Impington.

It's a 25/30 min cycle into the city centre from Milton (at my meandering speed). It's a nice village, and there's quite a lot going on at the community centres etc, though there aren't very many attractive period houses. Milton has a pre-school and a primary and in the catchment for Impington VC.

I think Impington/Histon has more of a proper village feel with its high street shops and Little Owls Nursery there looked lovely but in the end Milton was a slightly easiler cycle for me and cheaper for houses.

Stapleford is nice! There's a primary school, toddler group in the Village hall on Monday mornings. The primary school also runs a pre-school for 3-4 year olds. There's a little store, and a busservice into Cambridge. It is attached to Shelford, where there's more (grocery) shops, a health centre, a trainstation (trains into Cambridge and into London Liverpool St), a postoffice. And the Babraham Road P&R (mentioned by Acinonyx) is on the nearby A1307. On this road there's also the world's best farm shop: Magog Hills farm shop. They sell the best cheeses and meats, and Turkeys and Christmas trees at Christmas time .

"On this road there's also the world's best farm shop: Magog Hills farm shop. They sell the best cheeses and meats, and Turkeys and Christmas trees at Christmas time ."
Me too Honeybunny - and don't forget the most enormous fresh free range eggs. DS2 grew to 6 foot largely on a diet of their sausages and eggs!

where abouts are you lilymaid. i am in stapleford, as you could have guessed...

I'm a bit further down the A1307 near a Village College. But the journey to the farm shop is worth it - unfortunately half of Cambridge now seem to have discovered it! I wonder what they will put in the new shed?

Ah yes, the Magog shop. I think I live near the same Village College, Lilymaid. One that has a Farmers' Market every month?