St Faiths Cambridge, commute to school.

[Chatter101]

Hi All, we are new to Cambridge and will be looking to rent. Our Dd will be starting StFaiths Reception. We don't cycle ( I know I know it's probably illegal to live in Cambridge and not cycle!! Unfortunately we are unable ). Where in the city would be best to live in regarding traffic for drop off/ pick up time? We can walk/ drive / use public transport.

We are currently in London so used to traffic but really would like to make a sensible decision as to where to rent. I can imagine there are loads of bottlenecks looking at the map and seeing where all the schools are. But because Dd is so young we would like a commute around 15 to 20 mins!! ( or nearabouts)

We are looking to stay in Cambridge not one of the villages around. We thought Trumpington looked OK, esp as it has the park and ride that goes near the school. But looking on line and the reality may be very different. Newnham too looks convenient but pricey.

Any suggestions please ?

I think it might be a bit complicated because all the private schools are located in the same area of town, so I think the houses around there will all be very expensive.

Turmpington is okay as a place. Newnham is nice, but people often buy houses there to get a place in the state school, so it might not be worth your while if you are already signed up for a private school.

Sorry but I'm not sure there is a good answer. Driving is difficult in Cambridge. Long traffic jams are common and people cycle out of necessity. I think there is probably nothing we can tell you much that you can't find from rightmore and the AA roadwatch traffic jam maps.

The north side of town is cheaper but then you'd be driving through heavy traffic to get to school. Cambridge has really wild traffic problems.

We had a big council survey recently about how to fix the transport problems and they got so many responses that they had to apply for levelling up money to hire enough people to read them all.

What's your monthly rent budget and how many bedrooms do you need (garden/parking)?

Moved from London to Cambs - we live in a south Cambs village and the traffic in and out is bloody horrific. TBH we probably would have thought much harder about living in the city had we really understood it. For st faiths (lovely school) ignore the cheaper prices in the north and buy in Trumpington area (not very exciting but your sanity will thank you when you’re not cutting through the horrendous city traffic every day). You need to be cycling distance and then get a cargo bike.

This is right. Basically everybody here has a cargo bike. Is learning to cycle an option?

We walked to school but we went to state schools where we lived in catchment. Many of my neighbours sent their kids to private schools, but they had long cycle rides to get there. Like several miles, at 7.30 in the morning.

State school wasn't great for us and we are now home schooling.

I know you said you can't cycle, but might an electric Cargo trike be an option? They are so easy to ride, even if your balance isn't great - and will reduce your travel time hugely. No getting caught up in the inevitable Cambridge traffic snarls. The School Run Centre will lend you a bike to try, and Outspoken also offer one-to-one cycle lessons.

If you can cycle then you can live in north cambridge and that is a bit cheaper. Everything near to the railway station is very expensive and all the private schools are there too, and the hospital so it all adds up a bit. Trumpington might be your best bet.

What's your budget OP? If you could afford to live in one of the side roads off Trumpington Road, you could walk to school.Or does St Faith's have a school minibus service? Maybe research where it picks up from, if so.
I hadn't dreamed of cycling before I moved to Cambridge, but it is a LOT more efficient. My children have grown up cycling everywhere, and it's a huge benefit once they are teens and can have their independence and you don't have to ferry them everywhere! Start with a cargo bike so you are in control and they are just sitting in safety, but get them cycling ASAP too if you can.
Have you already committed to St Faith's? My other thought is that there's no real need for private schooling in Cambridge (honestly) so you could just choose the house first and then apply to the catchment school, which would mean it could all be done on foot.

I think if there is SEND involved then I would go private. We slogged through the state system for years and it's ruined my son unfortunately. Perhaps there isn't for the OP though?

Never drive to St Faith's! Used to live opposite and the queue of cars each morning was atrocious, they basically turn all the surrounding roads into their own big one-way system and block all the residents in twice a day. The main road along there (Trumpington Road) also gets very congested.

I'd go Trumpington or Newnham and walk, or maybe Cherry Hinton if you're ok with a bus/longer cycle. For reference, when I lived there I often walked to Newnham, Trumpington and the Mill Road area.

If you're ok with a flat, there are some very nice flats right opposite the school btw!

@Chatter101 Have you seen that the school uses a school bus provider that operates 2 routes? It looks as if you could live in Trumpington and have your child picked up by them from the Park and Ride there and delivered right into school.

ridekura.com/st-faiths/

Also possibly moving to st faith’s soon. There’s a lot of advice on the Cambridge Parents Facebook group.