Advice on Huntingdon

[MummaHaj]

Hello, I’m looking to relocate to around the Huntingdon area and I was wondering whether anyone had any advice? Both my husband and I will be travelling into Cambridge but not at peak times and not every day so traffic isn’t a big issue. We both work from home when not travelling into Cambridge. We are looking to move from Hertfordshire as we are expecting our first child and cannot afford the property that we want anywhere in Hertfordshire. We have seen a beautiful property that we love in Hartford, but the price seems so cheap that we are wondering whether there might be an issue with Hartford? Or maybe we are just not used to Huntingdon prices 🤣 The property is off Elizabeth Drive, which is off Owl Way (love the bird themed names!). We also like Godmanchester but Hartford seems a little closer to the action without actually being in Huntingdon. What are people’s thoughts on Hartford? How does it compare to say Godmanchester or Huntingdon itself. Thanks for the advice, this is my first post!!

Prices are probably pulled down by you being next to the Oxmoor estate which is prob the grimmest place in Huntingdonshire, although bits of St Neots give it a run for its money.

If you are moving from Hertfordshire, prices will be a lot lower - but then crazy as you get to Cambridge. So it may just be the prices. Have been to some lovely homes in Owl Way and across the main road by the river houses are very very nice.

If you are in Hartford, you are in Huntingdon. I'm not sure there really is any 'action' in Huntingdon.

No idea what it's like for schools etc but it's prob a bit early for that to be an issue for you.

Godmanchester is also nice, convenient for the A14 but mega clogged up with traffic trying to get in and out of Huntingdon over the tiny bridge.

Definitely go for Godmanchester. There is no 'action' to be close to in Huntingdon.

GMCR is lovely, good pubs, schools, parks etc.

Good luck with the move!

Thanks for the quick replies! I guess when I say closer to the action I mean from Hartford is looks as though I can pop to Tesco in 5 minutes at lunch time, or to the cinema, shops etc very easily. We’ve been spoilt where we are currently as our village has a big Co-Op, several bakeries and cafes all walking distance from home, plus the brights lights of Stevenage with all of its amenities are a 5 minute drive away. It looked like I would struggle working from home in Godmanchester to pop out to get my lunch, run errands etc for 5 minutes, but maybe I missed some things! We did have a lovely breakfast in the piano cafe in Godmanchester! Schools wise it’s just primaries for now, I see that both Hartford and Godmanchester have their own schools, do you have any info on them? Would you advise against Hartford then? I was under the impression that it was a village from the address and the village shop etc! Thanks again for the help

St Ives is a nicer town and busway connects you to Cambridge. Godmanchester much nicer than Huntingdon too.

St Peters school in huntingdon does not have good reviews either.

Thanks again all, sounds like it’s a no for Hartford if it’s not a nice area, I guess it would explain the price! The road just looked so beautiful! We looked at St Ives but the two primary schools that were nearest to every house we looked at have both failed Ofsted and also it’s a little further from amenities at Huntingdon and access to the A1 for getting back down to family than we’d like.

Thorndown school in St Ives is amazing. Not failed ofsted at all.
Good luck in your search

Thanks all! The primary schools closest to where we've been looking in St Ives is Wheatfields, with the second closest being Eastfield. I don't mind if a school isn't outstanding, but both of those were ranked 'requires improvement' which does ring alarm bells with me! It's possible that they could change as we do have 4 years, but I'm too scared to risk it! It is a shame as I hear St Ives is absolutely lovely!

Hartford used to be a village but is now just another area of Huntingdon. I think Elizabeth Drive would be fine, yes there is the Oxmoor but the Oxmoor is basically a huge part of Huntingdon so everywhere is near the Oxmoor (except perhaps Stukeley Meadows but there are dodgy areas there too) I think Elizabeth Drive is tucked away enough that you would be fine. I live just on the other side of the Oxmoor and have never had any problems (and I am quite fussy about where I live). There isn't much action or a great High Street in Huntingdon but it does have the advantage of lower house prices which is why I bought here. The road links will soon be much better and personally I think prices might rise after the A14 upgrades, Alconbury Weald development and the new Huntingdon A14 links are completed.
My only concern if my children were young would be schools so my advice would be to think about that (time goes quickly). But Hartford and Elizabeth Drive would be more than fine.

Yes Godmanchester is a nicer village, if you don't need to get into or out of Huntingdon at rush hour.
Good luck!