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Original poster

Moving to Cambridge in a month!

64 replies

marushka82 · 10/04/2014 21:04

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!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
marushka82 · 15/04/2014 20:03

Godolphinarms - initially we'd like to live in Cambridge, we'll think of villages once we are ready to buy!

Thank you for cafe/pub suggestions everyone!

OP posts:
jaynebxl · 16/04/2014 08:20

If your dh is working at the science park I'd look at the villages near there so he can cycle to work. Milton, histon and impington are lovely. There's a park and ride between them into town and lots going on im the villages. They have their own identity and village feel while only just being out of Cambridge. I think they're cheaper than places like Mill Road too. And have good schools.

jaynebxl · 16/04/2014 08:21

And if you're going to look at villages once you're ready to buy I'd start with them now sp you can start to make friends and settle in there.

orchardy · 16/04/2014 15:04

If DH has to go to Science Park and you don't mind a cycle to the station, then I think Chesterton will be your best bet. It's absolutely fine - some quite pretty bits, easy access to other parts of town, etc. There are dodgier parts but no worse than anywhere else. Will you always commute to London, or is this a temporary arrangement until you find something local?
A very specific recommendation - rental houses often come up in West Chesterton -Oak Tree Avenue, Hawthorn Way, Chestnut Grove etc. These are ex local authority houses so cheaper to rent than some others but they are good houses, have nice gardens, the community is good, and the location is ideal for getting to town, library, schools, science park etc. If I get a minute I will search and post any links I find!

orchardy · 16/04/2014 15:13

Right, This one would be a 70's box but in a great location
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-45757175.html

And here's one in Hawthorn Way. I know you're not thinking about schools yet but in catchment for a good one!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-29984757.html

And if you wnat character, this is a nice location and very handy for shops/amenities/river etc

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-45121208.html

I could keep going at this so just ask!

Original poster
marushka82 · 16/04/2014 18:08

I will still be commuting to London but it is a temporary thing until I find a job in Cambridge.

Thanks for the links! I saw these, but I'm super picky when it comes to even rental places and didn't like the fact that the second flat had tiles in the living room and the last one had these weird shelves and looks a bit poky.
The ones we're going to see are:

www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/32640911?search_identifier=329a27f3fb0bac72fb50c90bcd68b221

www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/32658845?search_identifier=1c929d62aed3c4c51043f5bcd2054314

www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/27865060?search_identifier=1c929d62aed3c4c51043f5bcd2054314 (makes me wonder why it hasn't gone yet, is this area dodgy or something?)

:D

OP posts:
orchardy · 16/04/2014 19:26

I think the first two are probably better locations. Ditton Walk is OK - nowhere in Cambridge is grim - but the other two are more central. If I was choosing I'd go for Pearl Close, but you'll know if it's right for you.

rebeccamg · 17/04/2014 16:00

Would you consider the villages? They're so lovely!

NewtoCambridge · 17/04/2014 21:36

I'd go for the second one, I'm less keen on the area for the first. Do look at Histon/ Impington/ Girton

Abenethri · 18/04/2014 01:24

I wouldn't live off Newmarket Road, sorry - I did for two years once, never again. It's not a very nice area, especially the closer you get to town/Tesco/the Elizabeth Way underpass. When I lived near there the police were out every weekend it was so rowdy, there was an attempted murder and a riot on another occasion (but there were then a couple of rough pubs and massage shops by the roundabout which have now closed down I think). The newbuilds round there are expensive to buy, but overpriced for the area you're in (though it is convenient for Tesco...)

If you're commuting to London, have you thought about the areas nearer to the station, eg. Romsey? Or even Trumpington - if you're near the Park & Ride the Guided Bus goes to the station in about 15 mins.

Renting in Cambridge is expensive - I've done it for years and it's infuriating! London prices but less on the market to choose from!

jaynebxl · 18/04/2014 07:48

There's going to be a new station built by the science park. Cambridge is so small and accessible compared to London that I would definitely go for one of the northern villages rather than the city because they're cheaper and nice. Girton doesn't have so much there but Histon, impington and Milton are all great.

WilderRose · 18/04/2014 07:53

The new station in Chesterton will be great.
I look forward to walking to it rather than the pain of going across Cambridge city. [Chesterton girl!].
Good luck with your viewing tomorrow and have a nice lunch wherever you decide to go.

orchardy · 18/04/2014 08:28

I think Milton is less nice than Impington and Histon....

jaynebxl · 18/04/2014 09:29

I don't agree orchardy. Milton has the country park and the river and is a lovely village. Plus having talked to friends who have lived in both it is more friendly amd has a lot of community things going on. Plus one school rather than split schools in two separate locations where parents habe to run between the two.

jaynebxl · 18/04/2014 09:30

But that's all a bit irrevelant since the op wants to be in town for now I guess.

Lintonian · 18/04/2014 09:30

Come South Wink

WilderRose · 18/04/2014 09:36

Poor op. We are like completely biased tour guides Grin.
I think renting first op is a good idea and then you can explore the area and make your own mind up before buying.

jaynebxl · 18/04/2014 09:40

Don't know what you mean Wilder Grin. Although if I was going to be a tour guide I'd say forget Cambridge and go live by the sea!

Lintonian · 18/04/2014 10:17

Good idea to rent.

Get an idea for the area
........ and then decide that South is best [hrin]

Original poster
marushka82 · 18/04/2014 11:37

Hahaha, thanks for all the suggestions!

Wow, now you REALLY confused me! :D

We don't want to rent for too long as we're hoping to buy our own place within a year (fingers crossed we get a mortgage approved!) So renting and my commuting to London will be only temporary, therefore for now we want to be in Cambridge and as someone said upthread 'get a feel for the place' and see what we like etc.

Another flat popped up on zoopla today, I like the look of it from pics: www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/32763206?search_identifier=2e78ac90d58c30b6915ac2ed36e9afd5

I guess we'll just have to have a look and see - we'll have lots of time between the viewings tomorrow to just wander around (with DD in tow, that should be interesting!)

Once we find a place to stay the next task will be finding a childminder... ugh, nice stressful end to maternity leave.... :/

OP posts:
orchardy · 18/04/2014 21:59

Personally I think the Pearl Close location is much better than Cam Causeway, but of course you get more space further out of town. Happy viewing. I would second the recommendation to go and get lunch at the Old Spring on Chesterton Road, by the way.

MrsGrowbag · 19/04/2014 08:48

If you are prepared tobconsider nurseries rstherbthan a childminder then there at least two within a 5 minute walk in Chesterton. A friend used to use the nursery next to the Methodust Churchbon Green End Road, and was really pleased with it. The outside play space isn't enormous but big enough, and the childen spend a lot of time outside.

There is another nursery down Church Lane or possibly the road next to Church Lane, I think called Snap Nursery, but I don't know anything about it. I'm sure there will be reviews somewhere.

Hope you have a lovely day looking round Cambridge, it is a wonderful city.

orchardy · 19/04/2014 10:27

And there is I think a Kids Unlimited nursery at the Science Park, although 9 years ago when my kids were babies it was not well regarded - might be loads better now.

orchardy · 21/04/2014 13:54

How did you get on, OP?

Original poster
marushka82 · 21/04/2014 18:13

Hi everyone. We managed to see about 4 places (in the end I cancelled the view of Ditton Walk as we decided it was a bit too far for DH). We liked Pearl Close flat the most so we're thinking of making an offer. DH is not very happy that the landlord won't go for the 12 month contract with the 6 month break clause but the flat is great and it'd be a shame not to take it based only on the contract arrangement.
We saw two flats in Cherry Hinton, one close to the massive Tesco (that would be way too far for us) and one in Mowbray Road which would be great had it not had the bedroom window facing a pretty busy road (we're currently living on the busy road and I vowed never to make the same mistake again!)
We went to The Old Spring for lunch and it was lovely, and the place had such a nice feel to it and it was full of families :)
Overall a very good trip, hopefully we'll get the flat business sorted and we'll come over again to have a chat to a few childminders :)
Once we move I'll definitely reach out here as I'd love to meet some local mums!

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