Villages around Cambridge - recommendations?

[eviesbluemoon]

Can anyone recommend any good villages around Cambridge? We're looking to buy and can't afford anywhere central. We're wanting somewhere that has a real community feel, close to shops, good schools/nursery, parks etc. we haven't been in Cambridge long and not familiar with the area so any recommendations would be hugely appreciated. Happy to live within 20-25 mins drive into Cambridge. Thanks!

Hi, do you mean 20 minutes drive in rush hour? Because that will seriously limit your options.

We live in Bourn, it's a 20 minute drive into Cambridge mid morning, evenings but NOT in the early morning. It usually takes me 30 minutes to drive to work (Central Cambridge).

I love our village - it's got a great community feel. But so have lots of other villages around. When we moved, being within walking distance of the primary school, park and shop were very important to us, which ruled out a lot of small, pretty villages as they don't have those facilities. Your priorities might be different though.

Good luck with the house hunting.

Thanks ever so much. We'll definitely look at Bourn as an option. Like you, being close to good school, shops etc. is important to us. We expect in heavy traffic that the journey will be longer but we don't want to be more than 15miles from Cambridge. Any other suggestions?

Great Gransden is lovely, but not great schools wise at secondary level.

If your budget is limited, Cambourne is worth considering - you get a lot of house for your money, and a great sense of community with loads going on. My teens spend a lot of time there!

It's worth working out which side of Cambridge you want to be. I don't really know the villages to the East of Cambridge. If you go Southeast, Fulbourn has a lot to offer. Shelford is lovely to the South, but very expensive.

If you go north then there are large villages like Histon and Cottenham, with lots of shops and facilities.

What I like about Bpurn is that, got a small village, there's quite a lot on offer, including a one-class-per-year primary (most small village primaries have two year groups per class), a GP surgery, a shop, a dentist, a butcher-cum-deli and a lovely pub.

I'm sure someone else will come along with more suggestions shortly.

Definitely need to consider what side of Cambridge you need to get to for work - if, for example, work is on the Science Park you wouldn't want to live on the south side of Cambridge; if at Addenbrookes, the northern villages would be out of range. And a 20 minute drive at 7:00 is an hour at 7:45 in school term.

We are in the South Cambridge villages - check out Thriplow, Fowlmere, Meldreth, Duxford and the Shelford's. You definitely need to know which side of Cambridge you need - traffic ia horrific.

Shelford is expensive and posh. Melbourn is the biggest village in Cambridgeshire - has secondary, swimming pool, cafe, shops etc. South Cambridge is all quite well to do so even the less well thought of areas are still pretty good. Most of the village primaries are at least good.

Apologies for errant apostrophe...

I second Bourn and Cambourne. I'm wondering if I know you MrsGrowbag?

But yes it definitely depends which side of Cambridge you are driving to everyday - would make a huge difference.

Also, just to let you know, Great Gransden has just recently changed to Comberton school catchment (and Dry Drayton too).

Ooooh, Sicilian maybe you do.

I hadn't realised that Gransden had changed to Comberton VC catchment. They've been angling for that for years.

Lots of lovely villages in South Cambs for you to consider, OP. I would make a list of your priorities and then decide what side of the city would suit you best. Then come back and we'll try to find you the perfect village!

Hardwick - has predominantly off-road cycle route to city centre.

I'm going to dispute the claim that Melbourn is the largest village in Cambridgeshire, because I've heard that claim made of Sawston. Populations: Melbourn 4,400, Sawston 7000+. Sawston also has a secondary school, swimming pool, shops and cafe!

Well, if we want to be really picky, I think that Sawston used to be the biggest village in South Cambs but has now been over taken by Cambourne. Which has a secondary school, two cafes but no swimming pool. It's also about to get an Iceland and a Home Bargains, but I'm not sure if those are plus points!!

Well, Wikipedia says Cambourne is made up of THREE villages, total population around 8000, so Sawston could maintain its claim, but it's no great deal!