Moving to Cambridge--Advice on the Villages?

[kilogramlady]

My DH has accepted a job in Cambridge (few minutes walk South from the station). We're so excited to be getting out of London :) Yay Cambridge here we come!

We have two daughters (aged 3 and 1). Both me and DH like to see a bit of green everyday. DH loves messing around in the garden with the girls and going to the park or our local city farm. We like to go to our local pool, or spend a Saturday out at a museum. I often take my eldest to the library.

We'd like to live within walking distance of a decent state primary school. Need childcare for a few days a week, so perhaps near good nursery too (if not, we'll use a childminder). By "decent" I probably think of a fairly small school, not desperate to get kids through exams, not too strict and disciplined, lots of activities and outdoor play, and with caring teachers who consider individual needs of the kids wherever possible. We would very much prefer a NON-religious school--unless you can tell me this doesn't matter?

DH would be very happy if we could get a huge garden, or a house that overlooks farmland. He doesn't much mind about the size of the house. I do need a little space to work from home, at least 3 bedrooms. We find new builds a little soul-destroying (although we don't care that much). We've looking to buy for around 350kperhaps a bit more. We're thinking of moving to a Cambridge villageWaterbeach, Bottisham,...? We'd like it peaceful (even dull!) but a little supermarket, post office, even a cafe or few other services would be good.

DH will be commuting at odd hours (starting work at 7am). He'd cycle to work if he can (he does so now 10 miles into London) or use public transport. With a look to the longer term, I'd like to be able to think that the local state secondary school was okay and that I didn't need to worry if we did want to stay. I'm hoping this will be a long-term move! We'll probably try out a place first by renting.

We don't know very much at all about the villages. So having told you all about me and my family (this is my first MN message :)), can I ask people who live in the villages around Cambridge: what is yours like?

what services are there?

is there a nice park?

does everyone walk to the primary school?
is it easy to get to the city?
can we buy something for our budget?
what secondary school options are there?

I only know a few of the West villages (Hardwick, Comberton and Cambourne - the latter is a new town, made up of three villages and is love it or loathe it - we love it)
Hardwick has a shop, post office, pub, primary school and pre-school. No nursery. A few childminders though. Nice quiet village. The main bit is a 1970s estate with mediocre gardens, but there are some lovely older properties with massive gardens down towards the pub (south of the big estate, heading towards Toft). The GP surgery that serves Hardwick is in Comberton and is far and away the best surgery I've ever had - same day appointments, helpful receptionists and a dispensary on site so no need to go to the chemist with a prescription.

Comberton itself is really nice and has potential for overlooking farmland. Also has a couple of primary schools, shop, post office. There is a sports centre in the popular secondary school. The secondary school is large though, but it does have a 6th form which not many village secondary schools do round here. Mix of older houses and estate houses. Recently Comberton was listed in the top 10 least deprived parishes in the UK.

Cambourne: It's a new town, there are three villages within in (Upper, Lower and Great). Building started in 1998 and is ongoing in Upper Cambourne but finished in Great and Lower. We moved here not long ago because of the facilities. The gardens are not huge, but you would get a big house for £350K. (It's cheaper than Comberton). Facilities include Morrisons, a library, a doctor (long waiting times to get an appointment but the doctors are good when you do get to see them!), a chemist, a few takeaways, a pub and a few other amenities. There is a sports centre that does loads of children's activities all year round and hosts school holiday playscheme care. What we like is that everything is walkable or cycleable, on wide safe cycle routes. There are some lakes and woodlands, and loads of playgrounds. 4 primary schools, one of which will be a satellite of Hardwick Primary from Sept 2012. You should be aware though that there have been problems with not enough primary school places for all the children - I don't know how it is this year, perhaps it has improved. Secondary school children have up to now mainly been bussed to Comberton, with some not getting in because it is full and being sent into the city. A Cambourne secondary school will open for Year 7 intake in 2013 though, which should mean all Cambourne children will be able to go to secondary school in Cambourne from then on (perhaps!)

I commute into Cambridge, just by the station. If I leave home at 7.10, I am in the office by 7.30 (by car). But if you leave after 7.45am or so, expect to add up to half an hour to that commute time. there is a bus which goes from Cambourne to the city centre (approx 10 mins walk from the station) every 20 minutes. It takes about half an hour because it goes through some villages (including Hardwick). At peak times it can be very busy with sixth form college kids but otherwise it is fine.

Hope this helps. Someone else will no doubt be able to tell you about villages north/east/south!

Sorry I forgot to say that there is a nursery in Cambourne, and I think in Comberton too.

frazzled09, thank you so much, that's just the kind of information I'm after. The West villages sound just perfect for us! What do you think the commute back home would be like at about 3PM?

I can suggest a few possible villages to the south of Cambridge. If your DH is just south of the railway station the easiest commute would be from the south. Popular villages which might have properties in your price range would be Linton, Sawston, Stapleford and possibly the Abingtons, Whittlesford and Shelford (though Shelford tends to be rather pricey). All of these have state primaries, secondaries in Linton and Sawston.Most villages have shops, buses into Cambridge and plenty of green space around including recreation grounds with play equipment. Linton, Sawston and Shelford have public libraries.
No shortage of surrounding farmland, though this is the land of the barley barons, so expect plenty of large barley/wheat fields (golden in summer rather than green), sugar beet and potatoes rather than livestock farming!
The secondary schools are good and so are the primaries generally - someone with more recent experience of the schools could help on that.

At 3pm from the station, by car, you could be back to Comberton or Hardwick in about 20 minutes or less, Cambourne 5 minutes extra. It gets busier after 4.30, but once you learn a few back roads it's not so bad, I would always expect to be home within 40 minutes. On the bus it is slower and can be very crowded with sixth form students - any bus between 4 and 5.30 you'd expect to have to fold a buggy.

Fridays are quieter in the mornings for commuting. Traffic during the independent school holidays is a dream - there are a lot of private schools on the western side which clog up the roads a fair bit at 8-9 and 4-5.30.

As well as looking at the southern villages Lilymaid mentions, you could look at Waterbeach or Milton, on the north side. There is a station in Waterbeach so you have the option of commuting into the city by train. That's all I know about Waterbeach though! Milton has a country park, and a Tesco and other shops.

Also on the north there is Histon which is very sought after - good secondary school in nearby Impington, and Histon itself is a lovely village, complete with high street and duck pond.

I just noticed your DH will be cycling or going by public transport. My DH cycles, it takes him about 45mins to cycle from Cambourne, approx 12 miles. Busy traffic would have no effect on that route for cyclists.

But look at Barton and Coton too - with £350K you may find something good there.

Well I know some of the north village - Milton is easily commutable by bike -and its really nice to live in C of E school though -although seems to cope with non-christain -and non believers-- reasonable amount going on and friendly - and country park etc - several nurseries nearby and some good childminder - and an afterschool club that kind of price would be fine - although not for a huge garden - not much on the market - it has the park and ride which helps getting in and out of Cambridge too - do not commute by car in and out of cambridge if you can avoid it - horrid - if cycyling or bus not a problem
Waterbeach non C of E school - and above has the station - have friend sthere that seem to like living there - perhaps more for your money- although potential new development planed when barracks closes - don't know about childcare
both milton and waterbeach kids go to impington for secondary - also other good secondary opitions

histon and impington are is also lovely - quite pricey - also possible to commute into cambridge by bike or also by guided bus - primary school well thought of - loads of nurseries - a very good one in the childcare centre
incidently when does your older DD start school - you would ideally want to have a fixed address at the time for applications to school - Dec/Jan

Thank you everyone for suggestions

Looking up houses in these villages is quite exciting, seems like 350k buys a nice house!

AnOtherName-DD1 starts school Sept 2013, so yes it will be this Dec/Jan time for applications, useful to know thank you.

Linton is my home village, although we now live in Cambridge itslf and I would move back in a hearbeat! The village college has just got an 'outstanding' and it set in the most beautiful grounds you can imagine, there are two primary schools and it is an allround good place . Lots of new houses seem to have sprung up there in the past twenty years but the heart of it is still lovely. the zoo is fabulous and there used to be a soft play area, I'm not sure if it's open now or not.. a selection of houses for you It's about 11 miles or so from the station but quite a busy and fast road.

I'd like the Market Lane one personally!

Linton is lovely, as are all the villages in between Linton Saffron Walden and the A505
. Recommemend Barrington, Foxton, Thriplow, Melbourn, Bassingbourn, Whittlesford, Heydon, Icklington, the Gransdens. Sawston not so much. A14 direction, Fenstanton, Elsworth, Hemmingfords, Houghton...

Ickleton...drool...

Ah, but Sawston is cheaper and has a damn good secondary, Inca!

Have a look at Swavesey (and surrounding villages on the guided bus route).

True, Lancelottie...

This is a subject close to my heart! we have just secured a house in Linton, moving in two months - so so happy and the schools are fantastic. We are moving from Bishops Stortford. Quite a journey to get there though. What I did was get the Cambridgeshire a-z and look at all the villages. We loved the southern villages and my husband works in Essex and Herts so it was important for us to be that side. I then read all the ofstead reports for the schools and looked on streetview (extensive research!). Also, go on cambridgeshire county councils site - they have a list of all the schools in all the villages, it may rule some out for you (for example some villages have church of england and some are just regular schools) - also, very intresting to see which primaries feed into the secondarys but on the southern side all the secondaries are very good (and all the primarys too for that matter...). You can then find out where the nurserys are (children's information services are great at sending lists out to you).
We went to visit the villages we liked and then we found a house in Linton - it just felt right. My dd 6 is starting at Linton infants in september and my 4 year old and 3 year old are starting at the village nursery :). Initially we were drawn to Melbourn, lovely village but it wasn't meant to be for us. I looked at Comberton but we were priced out and I know others say Great Shelford is great - which it is but I also found it quite busy, it's almost a part of Cambridge and doesn't have that village feel that we were after although others love it and it is very close to Cambridge without being in it. Also look at the map and the locations. Linton is not on the train line (nearest station is Whittlesford) but Great Shelford, Foxton, Meldreth ect... are. I think when it boils down to it you just need to go and visit the places and I think you'll soon know what is right.
I never researched the northern villages but in the south for us we liked Stapleford, Hauxton, Hareston and Newton are quite remote, Comberton and Toft, the Eversden's and Foxton, Shepreth, Melbourn and Whittlesford and the Abingtons - and then of course Linton. On the north side I've heard good things about Histon.
What you could do - and this again is what I did is put the village you are intrested in, into the search on here and read all the past posts. I spent hours writing notes on what people had said on Linton and the others and it really helped me gain a picture on the place. I know it's hard but keep going - it's so worth it when it all comes together!

Ooh september, from a purely nosy p o v would love to know which street in Linton If you're happy to tell, do pm, if not I understand

Will do! just working out how to pm - new to the site!

Septembersunshine and Swearytramp--getting a daytrip planned to Linton, sounds just right for us, thanks for help!

we should all meet up on the rec one day

Yeah, we should! would love that... can we arrange for after mid July after I've moved :0

ps - Kilogramlady, remember to post back and let us know how you get on!.. and we should meet up later this year - would be fab for us newbies too :)

I will do!

We live in Abington and love it here. We moved from Cambourne a couple of years ago (hated Cambourne - sorry!!)

Abington has a fab village shop, pub that does great thai food, post office, 2 hairdressers. School is pretty good by all accounts (although ours go to school in town - they were already there when we moved but had we lived here when they started I wouldn't have had a problem with them going to the primary here). As everyone else has said, Linton Village College is highly regarded as a secondary school.

There is also the Village Institute that runs a cafe every so often (Jeremiah's). I popped in this morning and it was doing the most tasty looking breakfasts!

...and cakes!