Huntingdon

[SuperGlumFairy]

I just wondered what Huntingdon itself was like to live in? We had been planning to move to Ely but have not been able to secure a house and now all the primary schools are full so have switched to looking at Huntingdon.

How is it to live there? How are the schools? Any areas of it I should avoid?

Hey Mell I don't mind the hijack..I'm still househunting for St Ives, Godmanchester and Huntingdon but hoping something will come up any day now as I am so ready to live this house and get to UK.
In regards to the schools I think it would depend on the year level you are requiring and whether you are in the catchment area for the school you want. I know that St Ivo for example is full in Yr 9 with 4 on the waiting list but they are all out of area, so if I moved into that catchment area we would actually go to the top of the list.
I just tend to keep checking in with the Admissions Office as places can change all the time with places filling and emptying etc.

Hi

We live in Brampton near Huntingdon. It is lovely - got everything you need, friendly and lots of families. School is nice and Hinchingbrooke catchment. Train station 5 mins in car. Hinchingbrooke Park and Grafham Water really close.

Would recommend if you haven't already ruled out. Best of luck.

have you got somewhere to come to when you arrive from Australia, SuperGlumFairy? Or, are you planning to rent a home from Aus? I'm in Huntingdon - Hinchingbrooke Park and my children are at Cromwell Park and Hinchingbrooke. LauraSmurf said earlier to avoid Cromwell Park school... I have to add my own little defense - the head teacher is disliked by many people. Personally, I don't like her style and the staff turnover has been of a very high number... however it is a beaut little community and the children are (generally) happy there. There are going to be things that you like and don't like about any school. We have made the loveliest friends through our children.
It is an easy walk in to town from Hinchingbrooke, where there is a Sainsbury's supermarket or the bus to Tesco. We moved here from London for the secondary school and the rail link because my dh still commutes back.
Good luck with your plans!

Hi Kiwibella, I am hoping to secure a property before leaving Australia as we have nowhere to go when we get there. We are talking to an Agent at the moment about a house in St Ives which the kids and I are quite excited about so we're hoping we'll get it and finally be able to set a date to travel. It's just hard to commit to a house that we've not seen in person, it's a bit daunting but unfortunately my in-laws are on holidays this week so they can't even go and have a look for us and I am sure my ex won't even I asked. I figure at worst we'll stay in it for 6 months and then find something more permanent as by then the kids will be enrolled in schools and hopefully i will be working so we'll know where works best for us. I do really like the photos we have seen from the agent's site though and it has all we need, it's just a case of having no idea what the room sizes are or what the layout of the house is like.
I am just so afraid of making the wrong decision as I have no one to talk these things over with, the downside of being a single parent I guess. Kids love the house though so that's a good start.

check out this website - not sure how old your kids are but may be of use. www.saveoursanity.org

We have a house!!!

Fantastic news! Is it the one you liked? Hope the move goes smoothly. We ought to have a meet-up once you're settled in.

It's not the St Ives one I was talking about yesterday but it's just up the road from it funnily enough, was slightly better suited to us and much cheaper actually. I am so happy, big love to the amazing agent who has really pulled out all the stops to help us with property hunting the last few weeks.
I can't believe it's real and I am just so in love with St Ives already. Everything we need is nearby and I am happy that two of the 3 primary schools have spaces for my twins as of yesterday.
First thing Monday I am booking removalists, cleaners, cat transporters and more!

A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread and given advice and experiences of the different locations we were looking at. It was such a huge help. I cannot wait to make this move now. I don't think I will stay a SuperGlumFairy anymore!

28 hours until our flight leaves!!

Wow, not long. Best of luck with the move :)

Best of luck with the move, hope it all works out for you.

We are here and loving it! It is so beautiful and I am confident we will be very happy here. House is way smaller than expected but we'll manage for now. Have ventured in town a couple of times, been up to Huntingdon on the bus and yesterday did the guided busway into Cambridge. Anxiety has been super good, didn't even freak out with the plane ride. Kids were magnificent the whole way over. Feel like I am gliding about in a bubble of bliss, now if I could just work out all the damn funny little coins ;)

So glad you're settling in OK :) Let us all know if you need anything or if you fancy a meet-up.