Moving to Cambridge in a month!

[marushka82]

Hi everyone, I just found out today that we're moving to Cambridge from London in May.
We're going to start looking for places to rent soon but I wanted to ask your opinion/advice about which areas are family friendly and which bits to avoid!
We've got an 8 mo DD, I'm still on maternity leave and will be commuting to London 3 days a week from mid July. We're going to be renting initially and we're after a 2 bedroom place (probably want to pay up to £1000-1200 pcm - we should be able to find something nice for that price I suppose? :D
We're planning on buying bikes to cycle to work/station.
After a quick search on zoopla it seems like there are a lot of places available either in CB4 or CB5 (the areas that come up very often are Trumpington, Cherry Hinton or Chesterton - what are these areas like?)

TIA!!!

all those areas are nice, chesterton would be nearest to the station I think - I think for a two bed flat should be able to get something

Hi! We moved from London to Cambridge a month ago (I'm 37 weeks pregnant with our first child) and CB5 is fantastic. My husband commutes to London by train weekdays (he drives and it takes 10 minutes to the station, bicycle would also be quite quick in the morning). I could walk into the city centre (probably will once I'm not so pregnant!), but there are buses that take 10-12 minutes (to the city centre, 25 minutes to the train station or 40 at rush hour) every 10 to 15 minutes. There are lots of kids in the area and lots of baby/child and parent activities and support (something on every day)--all within walking distance. Everyone has been so much friendlier/happier than in London and I've already met lots of other people.

Thanks for the tips!
Bellagiulietta congratulations on your pregnancy! Great to know there are a lot of things to do with kids! Once we've moved I'll definitely pop back to the Cambridge board too see where I can meet other mums!

I did some reading and I'm getting confused now. My friend who is born and bred in Cambridge told me to avoid Arbury and Kings Hedges and possibly Cherry Hinton too. Now I read that Chesterton is not that nice either which doesn't really leave me many areas to look in! Help, please!!! :D

There is nowhere in Cambridge that is truly awful and Cherry Hinton and Chesterton both have great bits and less great bits but I guess most places do. That said, I wouldn't choose to live in Arbury or Kings Hedges either so I would agree with your friend there. I live in the Mill Road area and when I was growing up Mill Rd was scabby and a bit weird but now it's all young professionals, families and a few students and almost £400k for a 2 bed mid terrace. Areas change. I think if you stuck with CH or Chesterton you'd be fine. CH feels more villagey and is way too far to walk into town if that matters. Still cycling distance to the station though.

Thanks Oliver! Why wouldn't you live in Arbury or Kings Hedges if you don't mind me asking?
Would it be too far for my husband to cycle to Science Park from CH or Trumpington?
I've been to Cambridge a few times but only saw the centre so have no idea how big/small it feels. I must admit I'm excited about the move as I'm a bit sick of London!

Chesterton very convenient for the Science Park.
In a couple of years should also be a station in Chesterton linking to London.

Me again! I found a few places (we're hoping to view some next Saturday).
One is off Newmarket Road, the other just of Chesterton High Street and another west of Milton Road - could you please tell me whether these areas are safe?

Are you expecting gangsters?!!
All are fine. You have a paper shop, Tesco Express and chippy and Chinese take away on Chesterton High street. Also a barbers nearby [next door to takeaway].
Newmarket Rd and Milton Road quite busy but roads off them likely to be quieter.
Good luck and chill a bit!

why dont you use google earth to look at the houses.
I would love to live in the mill road area. lots of independant shops and restaurants, very close to town and the station.
I wouldnt live in Arbury if i had a choice.
the roads off milton road are nice.
trumpington is lovely but quite expensive.

WilderRose hahah, no :) I guess I'm a bit paranoid because I don't know Cambridge at all and don't want the letting agent take advantage of this fact. I had a look at street view for all these locations and it looks fine (I suspect all these areas are much safer then our London neighbourhood, lol!).
I guess we won't be able to afford anything in the vicinity of Mill Rd but then I'm absolutely fine with cycling to the station as I'd be initially only doing it for 3 days a week, so makes more sense to be closer to DH's work which is Science Park.
What's in Arbury? Everyone I asked so far has said they wouldn't like to live there (council estates?).

Thanks a lot for your help guys!

There seems to be a snobbery against Arbury which is undoubtedly unfair. Places get reputations that go way beyond where they should re vague gossip and historical rumours. All places can suffer from such wild gossip to an extent re slating a place or even bigging it up. Just my opinion!
You are doing the right thing visiting places and making your own mind up.
My knowledge is of Chesterton which is good for the Science Park and also for cycling into town by the river and then onwards to the station.
Happy viewing of all the properties next Saturday.

Arbury just looks grim.
There are many nicer places to live if you have the choice

Chesterton is fantastic, near to town, nice schools, near the river. There are two sides to Chesterton - West and East, West Chesterton is perceived to be naicer, the de Freville estate is one of the loveliest parts of the centre with a price tag to match! But that may not be an issue for you if you're moving form London. East Chesterton is much cheaper but has a good community feel, lots of activities for young families plus you can park a car within a 2 minute walk of your house. Also within cycling distance of station and walking distance of the science park. Plus Chesterton is getting it's own station in 3 years time.

As Wilderrose says, there is a snobbery against Arbury which is historic and unfair. IME, Arbury has quite a lot of academics, drs, nurses, teachers etc living there because it's cheaper than other areas of the city, so the demographic is different to how it was several years ago. There is a little parade of shops in Arbury, called Arbury Court, with a good butcher and a small Budgens. The notice board in Budgens always has lots of community stuff posted on it.

Don't really know Cherry Hinton so can't advise there I'm afraid. It feels less central and more "suburban" that Chesterton and Arbury, but that might be my mis-perception. If you're renting you'll have a chance to get a feel for the area anyway, before you make a decision about where you will finally be living.

Cambridge is a great city, small enough to feel "knowable" , big enough to have lots of cultural stuff going on, and within an hour of London.

View crime by post code www.ukcrimestats.com/Postcode_Districts/

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and comments!
I think the majority of places we will be looking at on Saturday are in Chesterton - could you recommend a baby friendly place for lunch in that area please?

I have to say Chesterton itself could do with a good cafe. Is there one near Bowling Green MrsGrowbag or ChestertonCharlie or have I just made that up! Does St Andrews have a cafe Church in their hall?
You have two pubs The Green Dragon and the Haymakers. The river side garden for Green Dragon bit of a mess as work going on with bridge next to it. Garden at back of pub I think.
Haymakers fine with children but not much of a garden [or is there now?]. That pub changed hands recently. Both pubs do food and serve coffee etc. There is a Costa in Newmarket Road Tesco. [If you move Chesterton way you can walk to that Tesco by the river].

Hopefully you will get more advice soon!

Poor wording above sorry. Has St Andrews Church got a cafe in their hall next door makes more sense...

Walked passed the church today. Cafe only open lunch times Tuesday to Friday. [Community cafe].

The Haymakers does have a small garden at the back (half a dozen pub tables maybe and a petanque pitch), but much more room inside. We think it's a great pub. Good range of beers and pizzas - both available for takeaway! It has been friendly to our two, but you won't find changing facilities.

Hopefully the new station will encourage someone to open up another cafe, and a few more naice shops to give Chesterton a more distinct character. There is a cafe on Chesterton Road down near Mitcham's Corner.

I'd go for the Old Spring on Mitchams corner for somewhere to eat in that area.

Sorry, my knowledge of good cafes in Chesterton is limited as when I go there I usually end up at The Old Spring (pub in West Chesterton) or the Green Dragon (a pub in east Chesterton). In fact, I'm struggling to think of a cafe although there are lots of baby/toddler activities going on in Church Halls etc. during the week judging from the number of prams being pushed down the High Street. There must be a business opportunity for someone to set up a cafe in Chesterton....

Hi ! Does it have to be cambridge or could it be villages nearby?

Fen Ditton has nice pubs too.

You can walk to Fen Ditton from Chesterton by the river.....