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Original poster

Looming to move to Cambridge

58 replies

Samara26 · 08/01/2022 05:47

I am considering a move to Cambridge, due to its lively bar scene, cheaper housing and well-paid tech jobs.

My only concern is I've heard the city is very congested and parking is difficult. If I was to live in one of the surrounding areas, how would I get in and out of the city, as I've heard it's always busy? I'm not a cyclist and will be too far out to walk (probably up to 5 miles out).

Also is commuting by train to other places very convenient, and are there any areas to avoid?

My budget is 350-370k n for a 3 bed semi.

I'm also considering Bicester and Didcot for their proximity to Oxford.

OP posts:
Llamasally · 09/01/2022 23:52

If you were flexible on more northerly locations it sounds like Didsbury would be ideal for you!

SoftSheen · 09/01/2022 23:55

I'm not after culture, but do like modern housing

Cambridge has buckets of culture, and many small, expensive Victorian houses. It's more expensive than Reading.

Saffron Walden is very nice but is some distance from Cambridge.

Original poster
Samara26 · 09/01/2022 23:56

@lljkk

hahaha... I had a short break in Witney last year & quite liked it! As lively as any place I would want to live.

Other places, not just Cambridge, are in the top 9 for UK Tech Sector cities.

I wonder what OP means by "well paid"

Don't get me wrong it's very pretty and I saw some lovely houses there but it's very congested in rush hour and if I had to go into an office twice a week it might prove very difficult. It has very low crime though, and I quite shocked at how quickly I drive into the Center of Oxford but that was during a partial lockdown.

The article you posted was very helpful. Manchester and Bristol look like definite contenders!

OP posts:
Original poster
Samara26 · 09/01/2022 23:57

@Llamasally

If you were flexible on more northerly locations it sounds like Didsbury would be ideal for you!
I did see some beautiful houses there last year but I expect they're not such a bargain now!
OP posts:
Snog · 20/01/2022 21:26

OP Cambridge is more expensive than Bristol (and Reading) and has way way more students than Bristol.

Property is more expensive than any other city than London.

Congestion is pretty bad and you can count on it taking at least twice as long as usual to get anywhere at peak times. Parking is very expensive.

Public transport is poor. As you plan to live outside of Cambridge by 10 miles or so would you really want to go out in Cambridge in the evening? You're unlikely to be able to get home in the evening by bus. Taxi service in the villages isn't great either. There is a lot of culture in Cambridge but not a lively bar scene. And Milton is Ok if you don't mind traffic noise from the A14 and the stink of the nearby sewerage farm. It's cheaper for a reason.

I think there are a lot of misconceptions in your post. £365k would buy you a 1 or 2 bedroom flat in the city of Cambridge. Maybe that would suit you better than a 3 bed semi in the sticks with rubbish transport connections and nothing much going on. Cambridgeshire is a very rural county.

Original poster
Samara26 · 22/01/2022 21:49

@Snog

OP Cambridge is more expensive than Bristol (and Reading) and has way way more students than Bristol.

Property is more expensive than any other city than London.

Congestion is pretty bad and you can count on it taking at least twice as long as usual to get anywhere at peak times. Parking is very expensive.

Public transport is poor. As you plan to live outside of Cambridge by 10 miles or so would you really want to go out in Cambridge in the evening? You're unlikely to be able to get home in the evening by bus. Taxi service in the villages isn't great either. There is a lot of culture in Cambridge but not a lively bar scene. And Milton is Ok if you don't mind traffic noise from the A14 and the stink of the nearby sewerage farm. It's cheaper for a reason.

I think there are a lot of misconceptions in your post. £365k would buy you a 1 or 2 bedroom flat in the city of Cambridge. Maybe that would suit you better than a 3 bed semi in the sticks with rubbish transport connections and nothing much going on. Cambridgeshire is a very rural county.

Thank you, that's really helpful. You appear to know the South well, is there anywhere else you would suggest, such as areas near Reading like Basingstoke, Camberley, Didcot? Bristol is huge and to be honest, I wouldn't know where to start with good and bad areas.
OP posts:
EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/01/2022 22:31

Cambridge and Basingstoke are the opposite ends of the spectrum!

If you're prepared to look in the Midlands, somewhere like Nottingham might work for you? Good nightlife, cheap housing and good transport links.

Original poster
Samara26 · 03/02/2022 04:24

@EmmaGrundyForPM

Cambridge and Basingstoke are the opposite ends of the spectrum!

If you're prepared to look in the Midlands, somewhere like Nottingham might work for you? Good nightlife, cheap housing and good transport links.

Haha is Basingstoke a dump? I've heard really mixed reviews.. as a commuter town I thought it can't be that bad?
OP posts:
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