Moving to Cambridge - advice please

[twoterrors]

We are thinking of moving from london to Cambridge. My partner will be working in London so we'd need to be fairly near the station. All advice on schools, what the commute is like, nice places to go/live/things to do with children welcome.

Well, where do I begin ? I?ve lived here for 5 years but been regular inhabitant for 14 and I do like it.

It?s really a very small town ? once you get stuck into social life here you?ll soon find everyone knows each other, particularly if you or your partner work in anything connected with technology or academia. This means quite a nice general atmosphere, you know, a walk into town usually means you meet at least a couple of people you know.

Culturally not bad ? some good galleries, a decent Arts Cinema, couple of theatres plus loads of student theatre if that?s your bag, plus quite a lot of the town centre is stunning to look at. Shopping is OK and getting better but centre of town can get absolutely packed. Plenty of nice pubs and restaurants.

The local economy is good and there?s quite a lot of money around so housing is very expensive but nowhere near London standard yet. Sadly some of the most expensive stuff is right by the station ? big family houses (5-6 beds) starting at 600K. One thing that is noticeable is that there just isn?t that much housing stock, and semi-detached or detached family houses are quite scarce and relatively expensive.

I did commute for 9 months and it?s not too bad when things work ? 50 minutes door to door to King?s Cross with frequent services. But I?m told that line is not very reliable now ? you might want to check that out.

Can?t tell you much about schools (my DS a bit young for that issue yet) but I know there is one of the countries top 6th form colleges here and my general impression is that the standard of schooling across the board is pretty good.

Could ramble on for ages but I won?t ? if you would like to email me direct with any questions I?m sure tech can give you my address

There is a total lack of infrastructure here to cope with the massively bouyant and expanding economy. This means that traffic is probably as bad or worse than most of London. Needs to be experienced to be believed, and if you are considering moving here, try moving around in rush hour first. Public transport is appalling and parking both difficult and expensive!
The private schools are many and excellent, don't really know about the state schools other than there is a first rate sixth form college. Places to live depends on your budget really, and how big a house you need. The south of the city is near the station and the schools and is nice but as Mines said the housing stock is very limited, especially for nice family houses of any size. A 4 bed new townhouse nr station will cost around £350k but will be small with tiny garden. Cambridge is a safe and stimulating city, a good place for kids.

I spent my first 20 years in Caambridge, and attended that top sixth form college. Since I left I have been a frequent visitor.

I totally agree with popparoo's message on the lack of infrastructure. Awful conjestion.If you are not part of the technology or academic crowd you may find less of a community feeling.

When I visited with a baby and young child, I had to look hard for indoor child-friendly things for them to do. The museums and libraries are naturally geared for academia, not the genarl public, with little hands on stuff for children. There are, to the best of my knowledge, no indoor playcentres near the city centre. Playgrounds and outdoor paddling pools are lovely and plentiful, I have fond memeories of Jesus Green, Cherry Hinton and Newnham. However it is difficult to go for a day trip to the seaside. Cambridge is a long way from the coast.

I enjoyed my schooling on the whole and had some fantastic teachers - I think the teaching is of high quality - attracting many university bods of one sort or another. For the same reason, no shortage of private tutors or music teachers etc.

If you make the move, I am sure you'll find plenty of family activities to get involved in. There seem to be no shortage of child-orientated clubs and societies due, perhaps, to the many conscientious and, dare I say it, 'pc' parents.

HTH

Thanks everyone - keep the advice coming....we are very confused. Mines, if the fog lifts, I might well take you up on yoru offer. Thank you.

Hi twoterrors

I don't know how old your terrors are, but this book/website will give you an idea re. activities for children in Cambridge. The book is 'Cambridge for the under 5s' published by Sedgewick Publishing - see
www.sedgwick1.co.uk/updates.htm

My elder dd is nearly 3 and there is no shortage of lovely playgroups in our area through which I have made friends. We're not far from the station so please look me up if you do move - Mumsnet can pass on my email address. HTH.

It's true (sigh) congestion is pretty dreadful. I guess I don't notice so much because I walk/cycle everywhere - all very well if (like me) you only have one kid but not that feasible with two!

There is a Gymboree in the centre of town if your kids are the right age for that sort of thing, but otherwise, yes, organised kids activities have to be sought out.

Best thing I can suggest is a quick websearch - masses of information online as you might expect for a techie city and come and spend a day here - I'm sure Babster or I could give you a cup of coffee and a sit down when you're fed up with walking!

Maybe you could post a list of things you expect to miss about London (maybe we could put your mind at rest on some of them?), and also things you expect to gain by living in Cambridge (you can get comments on how realistic your expectations are)?
Or else consider renting before taking the plunge - there is a lot of nice rental property around. Where abouts in London are you living now?

Thanks - good idea. We live in South London, and have done for ages. We've got two children and I guess we are worried (well me particularly) about feeling isolated (I work part-time from home and, also, don't drive although I will have to get my act together and have another go now sleepless nights are no excuse). My parter will be commuting,so that is another issue (cost and hassle). We want to live somewhere with less crime and grief on the streets, better schools, access to cinema etc, a few more playgrounds, good things to do with kids within a reasonable distance (upt o one hour say) but without giving up on the sort of buzz you get in London on a good day.
I think its uprooting the kids, dragging them away from their friends and school that is most scary though but...long-term...we can't afford the kind of money needed to live in the bits of London that we like, so maybe the sooner we take the plunge the better?

Completely separate rant....hope no estate agents are listening...can't believe thow much they charge now house pries are so high. Its not as if they have to do 20% more work just cos house prices have gone up by that.

Really grateful to people for their thoughts

I work at a "very good" prep school in cambridge, but if truth be known I think all the schools are quite good in cambridge including the state ones. There are also some very good nureries, but very expenisive and over-priced (aren't they all!). Cambridge is very sporty - take up rowing..its a lot of fun! There are good mother and toddler groups and the best toy shop in the world, where most of my salary goes (well what little is left atfer nursery fees). But house prices are very expensive, the best place to live is reallu somewhere near mill road town side of the railway bridge or near the botanical garden, Trumptington road depending if you are rich!

I love Cambridge - its small without being too small, and there is lots of countryside near by, but the driving is the worst thing and the parking!

Hi there

I've been thinking a bit about this. Just picking up on some of the things you say in your email:

'less crime and grief on the streets'. Well, yes (I used to live in the East End and its definitely less threatening here) but it's not entirely peaceful - Cambridge has a very large population of homeless people, which does bother some inhabitants. Still, I think you'll probably feel more secure here.

'access to cinema'. Tick. No problem. One Warner multiscreen, one good Arts Cinema and another multiplex being built near station.

'better schools' I think Tigermoth, Babster and Popperoo have summed it up - my little guy is well under school age so its not on my radar.

'More playgrounds'. Dunno how many you have in mind - I live 10 minutes walk from the station and can think of two good size playgrounds and 2 large parks within 15 minutes walk.

'Commuting' Bit tricky to comment without knowing your planned route. As I mentioned below, I went to the West End every day for 9 months and it's not the worst commute in the world but you're at the mercy of WAGN - do yourself a favour and check out their service record recently.

'feeling isolated' No more a danger here than in London, I would have thought. Can't guarantee instant replacement for kids friends though!

Property prices. Have been going up rapidly for ages and are due to slow down, but who knows? If DH is commuting and you want to be near station that could be interesting - on one side of tracks you have 'nicer' area with larger, more expensive family housing - on other (where I live) smaller terraces which are more affordable - 150-200k -but will be a bit of squeeze with two kids.

Stuff to do. My guess is you might find yourself on the train a bit! London much better for museums and dry days out for small kids.

Sports facilities adequate, not outstanding - off the top of my head I can think of tennis courts, real tennis, climbing wall, three swimming pools plus one outdoor pool and a paddling pool, lots of gyms, several cricket/sportsfields, numerous rowing clubs, squash courts and a model railway club with outdoor track.

The downside of living here is that the surrounding country is really not that exciting for recreation. There's sailing within 30 minutes at Grafham, some easy family walking and cycling with good pubs etc, but if you like hill walking, riding or anything more strenuous then you'll spend a lot of time out of town!

OK I warned you about the rambling but there you go.

Hey Cazzybabs - whats your recommend for toys? DS birthday comes up soon and I'd like to find something that doesn't come from the ELC!

Cazzybabs, I'm dying to know your top toy shop - is it the one in Barton, Rocking Horse?

I have just thought of another v desirable area of town, half hour walk or 10 min cycle to station (3 days to drive probably!!!), Newnham: nice big 3 bed edwardian terrace £350k / £400k, area full of university academics, many foreign academics for variety,(no students here though, too pricey), IMOP the most desirable area of town (and not where I live but maybe one day)!

There is no ice skating rink in Cambridge - I dream about the open air London one...have you been?

What is it about Cambridge that tempts you rather than anywhere else?

The wooden toy shop - I am not sure what it is called (touch of wood?) but its run by a german lady. ITs on mill road (close to the ParKside - swimming pool) by the cambridge wine merchant place and very cool health shop that sells goats milk formula milk and real nappies and lots of other cool and yummy food.

The other good place to go on Mill road after spending money in the toy shop is a little cafe and again for the life of me I can't remember what its called but it does yummy ice-cream and veggie sandwiches - its almost opposite the former maternity hoispital, just before St. Barnaby's church (I am soo helpful)

When I win the lottery I am going to buy all the cool stiff in the wooden top shop because its so much fun. I often go in and pretend to look at toys for dd but really i am just playing!

Thanks everyone, that is all useful stuff. We know Cambridge a little and thought it fitted the bill of somewhere within a commute of central London but with an identity of its own. Where we live at present is a bit of a crime hot-spot, and the nearest (decent) park is a good 15 mins of nasty walk. We had wondered about Newnham so thanks for confirming that Popparoo. Mines, thanks for loads of helpful detail - cinema and pools definitely important. Cazzybabs, good to know I won't be short of ways to spend any money left over from the mortgage if we do this. Next step is to test the commute and visit some schools I guess. I'll be back in touch....

Haven't been to the Somerset House rink - because of incompetence, not lack of desire, and the fact that I'd really like to go without ds or dd and can't admit it!

re lack of an ice skating rink in Cambridge - as a teenager I used to catch the train to go to Queens Ice Rink in London.

re Mill Road - oh I know that wooden toy shop next to Arjuna (sp) the health food shop (It's been there yonks). When I was a child Mill Road and the surrounding streets were not at all fashionable - not a slum but getting near, then in my teens (circa 1970s) squatters and students moved into some of the houses, cue the alternative shops opening on Mill Road.

Not read whole thread, so apologise in advance. Is Barney's still on Mill Road, moved away at 18 but were regularly clothed from there. Also, the pools opposite Jesus Green, one of the saddest places to be waiting for A-level results.

Considered moving back, but been hearing about the crime being nearly like london.

No I don't think there is a Barney's any more? Are you looking for private or state schools? Would suggest putting your name doen for private schools now as some have long waiting lists. My school is of course the best (even if I can't type), but there some other good ones.

Sadly Barney's suffered a big fire about 2 years ago and has now closed, the site has been bought by Subway (sandwich people).

Touch Wood and the Madal Bal Cafe are still going strong, though - might see you in there, sometime Cazzybabs, as ds finds the plinky meditation music they play there very soothing!

We used to live in Trumpington, on the outskirts of Cmabridge, and I used to cycle in to the station to commute to London. Did it for 12 years and were devastated to leave, but work had relocated and I couldn't face commuting for 5hrs plus a day to new site.

I always thought Great Shelford would be a good place to live. Had lots of friends there and they loved it. Its a small town/large village with lots going on, a station of its own, good schools, beautiful place really

Cambridge may be the only place in East Anglia that DH will find a job. VIRGO that I am, I am fretting about many aspects of trying to move to Cambridge. Especially childcare. We currently live in Leicestershire. Maybe some of the Cambridge lasses can answer.

I reckon that it will cost us about £270,000 to buy a "standard" 3-bedr. terrace or maybe a run-down semi in a so-so, more likely dodgy neighbourhood. True? DH won't countenance any more than £260-£280k.

I might persuade DH to buy a bigger house if we took a student lodger; what are students paying for rent in Cambridge right now?

How much are nursery costs in Cambridge? I phoned up a few places, asked for their day rate (I work parttime from home) and got bizarre answers "We only take children 5 days, fulltime, 5 mornings or 5 afternoons" or "We are open 5 hours/day, and don't take children under 2.5 years". When are children eligible for the vouchers?? What do childminders charge? How long a wait is it to get childminders or nursery places??

Is there one intake or two intakes in the school year (state schools)? Do they start 1/2 day, full day, mornings, afternoons?? DS is 4yo in November, and I fret that we will move somewhere, say, in Feburary, where he "should" have started the preceding January, and I don't know what the school system will do with him, then.

Oh, and the other place that we would like to move to, but DH is failing to find a job there, is Norwich, if anyone can give feedback about childcare there.

--FRETTER in Loughborough.

zebra - we are also looking to move to Cambridge, but haven't actually got answers to any of your questions yet. but I do have property websites. (Nice searchable ones)

Tucker Gardner ,
Hockeys ,
Bidwells , and
Redmayne

Zebra - I can answer some of your questions as I live in the county. Nursery vouchers are paid here in the term before child turns 4. State schools only have one entry (September) as far as I am aware. Each primary school seems to have its own policy regarding school starts eg school where ds will go, starts children born before Christmas as full time straightaway, with other younger children having a staggered start.

Thanks prufrock. I kept looking on rightmove, but the houses there were few, looked naff, and didn't seem to be in good areas. The ones on the estate agent web pages you show look a lot better.

Now if only DH gets a job, child care turns out to be affordable, the kids don't scream the place down when placed with new carers, and I manage to not have a nervous breakdown first....

Have you thought of looking outside Cambridge zebra? there are lots of lovely villages within easy reach of the city centre and you get much more for your money. we moved to Cambs from the south and found the villages to offer more options ie large gardens, no parking probs, good schools - however it depends on what you want. There are some excellent nurseries on the outskirts too. Cambridge itself is a lovely city though.
For house hunting try Cheffins estate agents too -they cover Cambridge/Newmarket/Ely and the Cambridge Evening News website has a property search on it too. That covers central Cambridge and the surrounding towns and villages. In fact they will post out their property paper to you every week if you ring them up - but maybe you have done this already...?

Arjuna! Mill Road! Ahh, its all taking me back to my student days...I am feeling very nostalgic now...I went to CCAT and lived on Gwydir Street, Alpha Road and Devonshire Road if those names mean anything to anyone. Loved it.