Huntingdon, St.Neots, Knebworth - which is best?

[beaglesaresweet]

Hi, still exploring places commutable to London (only a few days a week). I'm on a budget and these are all 'good value' places it seems! More to the point there is actually a CHOICE of houses right now on the market, wher all my other preferred areas have hardly anything, as I'd like to walk to station.

Saw two houses in Huntingdon that I like on rightmove (prefer period, though not a deal breaker). the prices sound a little too good to be true (though even better choice for non-period or further out) - is that because it's a flood area? yes, everywhere seems to flood now, but is the Great Ouze a frequently flooding river? these two are both central and around Hartford avenue - I like the distance to station but the river is a bit close, I think, too.

Also, what's Huntungdon like for shops/cafes? can't see anything on google, which streets to look at? or is it a dull and empty kind of town?

St.Neots, does seem to have an attarctive centre/High street, but the issue there is, hardly any period houses on the market in my budget (or I think generally). There is one on parallel street to Cambridge st - looking closely, the garden is backing to the vast parking space of Lidl (mostly empty on Google view) - I wonder how busy it gets, and is it generally a low crime town or not? Good price again. the garden is enclosed but potentially people could jump over fence from car park (?)

Knebworth, they mention 'excellent facilities', what are they? is it nice, and are the trains going through fast?

Thank you!

No, never noticed plane noise here either, and there are all the usual coffee shops plus a nice independent called Bebo (great sandwiches). It could just do with a few more! I'd love to move to Stamford but not sure the commute would be worth it, do you need to get into London every day? Also the travel expense would be massive!

I grew up in Huntingdon and I don't think I would ever want to go back.

I'm currently in London but hoping to move to either Hitchin or Baldock, both are near the A1, the Hitchin train to London is very fast but Baldock is prettier.

If you do like the Huntingdon area I would go for Brampton. It is on the station side of Huntingdon and so you wouldn't have to deal with the ring road in the mornings like you would with Hartford.

Welwyn village is nice but WGC is horrible.

Ok, seems like all of these are out apart from Knebworth which is still relatively unspoilt. Any other positive feedback on Knebworth? I mean I believe omletta but nice if a few share this.
Why is St.Neots 'rough' in the centre? crime/dirt/dodgy drunks or something?
I haven't even been to Huntingdon area, Opposable, I'm just considering everything commutable. Anbd I hae to be able to walk to station as would have to rely on the car do get anywhere (like with any village without a rail and without extensive high street). I'd love to go to Hitchin based on MN stories, but it's much more expensive, and surely a bit too close to Luton airport?
Mairzy, not every day, about 2-3 days a week, but I need good connections to other places too, as I travel quite often, that's why I'm looking at these areas (to the north, and midlands).
What about Hatfield - is that noisy from planes?

Library why is it so horrid? you mean boring , ir worse than that? others say it's not bad.

Hitchin is lovely and there's no aircraft noise (it isn't on the flight path to/from Luton). There are plans to expand Luton Airport so that could change in the long term, however.

What about Letchworth? You get more house for your money there.

Hatfield isn't that great.

is Letchworth nice-ish? what aerthe facilities and surrounding countryside, MrsJohn?

Huntingdon is dreadful. I grew up there too. The shops are quite dire. There are two secondary schools. One is crap. The other used to be good when I was there but does not have quite such a good reputation any more. If you don't mind a drive to the train station the surrounding villages are nicer. Godmanchester and Brampton are OK,but still, they are next to huntingdon. The St Ives area is nice, and has guided busway into Cambridge. Houghton is a lovely village although populated by lots of NIMBY pensioners like my parentsparents
I haven't been to St neots in years but I would not move there. It used to be a bit rough.

Right if you need to walk to a train station St Ives is no good. There is a good bus service though. I would look at godmanchester if you are considering huntingdon area, there are some nice period properties in the part of the village closest to town. Brampton is a reasonable bet too. You would need to spend a few days visiting the area. Yes,the shops aren't great but you are close to Cambridge and Peterborough if you need shops.

OP I do not get the feeling St Neots is rough in the centre at all. There are a few period roads running behind the high street. Is it Kings Avenue, something regal I think. I can see why you thought there were undesirables in Bedford but I am used to that coming from Tooting! St Neots always feels very safe to me.

I've been shopping I'm St Neots today - first time ever - and I thought I was lovely, much, much nicer than Huntingdon.

St Neots is much nicer than Huntingdon. Huntingdon town centre is dire. But it is a small town, not a city. You would need to go to Cambridge or Bedford for theatre, cinema etc, A cinema is being built in St Neots, and the Priory Centre does (amateur) plays, so it's not all bad news .

Cambridge has a huge amount to offer culturally, but it is a 30 minute drive, and there is no train from St Neots to Cambridge. Personally I would opt for a smaller property on the outskirts of Cambrudge but if that really isn't an option financially then I would choose st Neots over Huntingdon or Bedford.

Although its a longer commute, have you considered Ely? Direct trains to London, much nicer than St Neots or Bedford, and much cheaper than Cambrudge,

thanks again for very useful advice, everyone.

I didn't think personally that St.Neots was rough looking on google at the high st - it looked quite attractive! It's the posters on this thread that said it, so I was asking in what way is it rough. I assume not clean/drunks or something.

Thanks, MrsAMerrick, haven't thought of Ely - I don't mind slightly longer commute, IF the place is nice. I think I did look once on rightmove and Ely was as expensive as Cambridge but will look again. CAn you give me more info on it, what are the shop like etc, any decent parks?
As to the outskirts of Cambridge - I could get something but not especially to my taste (30s house and not a large one), but am concerned about getting from the station when late, as I will be coming back late on the days I'm in london. Are the buses very good? or is it short and cheap trip by a taxi, if the city is small? can you recommend what outskirts are better than others (esp no crime)?Needles to say, can afford anything of decent size in the centre. Btw I'd prefer a good size 2-bed to a tiny(size rooms) 3-bed, and happy with small garden.

I live in a village between Huntingdon, st Neots , Royston and Cambridge.
I use all these towns.
My DH commutes from Royston. It's a town that looks like it's dying on its arse.

St Neots we only use if we specifically need a certain shop, like lidl.
There is a multi storey car park being built just behind it.
It's not somewhere I would live and the schools don't have a good reputation esp secondary.

Huntingdon is grim, has flooding issues in places.
St Ives is lovely but not near a station.

Have a look at the villages around Cambridge, the schools are very good.
Although I do agree it's more expensive.

Ely is lovely, nice town centre, quite a lot going on, 15 mins on the train to Cambridge, lovely river. Surrounding countryside is not as nice as St Neors though.

It is very easy to cycle to the station from almost anywhere in Ely. If you look on Rightmove and plug in your maximum price there is quite a lot on offer, from 4 bed houses on estates to 3 bed quirky houses in the City centre,

I grew up in Offord D'arcy and went to high school in Huntingdon, I'd love to know which of the two high schools you think is crap KatAndKit as I have such rose tinted memories of growing up around there and especially going to high school! (it was a big thing going on a bus and leaving the village each day!)

I left back in '91/92 I think so I don't have any useful comments about what it's like to live there now unfortunately although my Nan lives in St Neots and likes it there.

St peters school was considered rough and results back then weren't great and used to hear a number of tales about behaviour. I went to hinchingbrooke mind you so my opinion not based on first hand knowledge.

Oh that's ok then, I went to Hinchingbrooke too!

bluebump! you can stay with your rose tinted memories!

Mrs, yes had a quick look - surprised that there is something in Ely in budget! I wouldn't say 'a lot' as I'm quite fussy (pet hate low ceilings which rules out most modern houses, or cottages), but presumably there will be even more coming on soon, as it's only the start of the year. How long is the commute to london? Any useful links to midlands?
Camb 15min is really good news.

I'm not even setting foot in Huntingdon - a universally hated place if there was one, it seems !

Huntingdon also has many traffic issues with regard to the A14.
Rush hour between there and cambs is a nightmare.
This may not affect you if you're using the train but if you need to drive its worth knowing.

I don't know how long it would be to commute to London, but I would imagine 1 hr 20 mins or so. You'll need to look at timetables. St Neots is only 45 mins so it's a trade off. Depends what your priorities are.

I dont think your budget would allow you to buy anything in tbe Cambridge outskirts. How do you feel about villages or does itbhave to be a town?

Mrs, yes a town, I'll look at Ely properly, I think I prefer a longer commute but to hjave things on doorstep and a nice town, rather than shorter commute but have to get on the train to get anywhere nice daily. I don't need to be in london daily, it's twice a week on average.
CAn anyone give me more info on Ely please? shops, cafes, a park there?

Thanks, ihate, all info is useful. Where would you recommend?

Mrs, I know I can't afford Cambridge, hence looking at all these towns!

St Neots is a bit of a 'nothing' place and it's a long commute.

Knebworth is better though more expensive - for £250 you'd be looking at a 2 bed terraced house at the most and be lucky to find that for that figure.

Knebworth does not have 'facilities' as such- there's s small high street, and anyone living there would use Stevenage or Welwyn Garden City for major shops ( supermarkets etc)- it's very much a commuter town/village. Knebworth Village ( home of Ken and Barbara Follett) is another kettle of fish altogether and very expensive.

Hitchin is nice and more upmarket than Baldock or Knebworth and the commute is easy. There is no aircraft noise. Has 2 good single sex senior schools. Baldock doesn't have much choice of housing except the large Clophill estate.

Used to live in Hitchin and moved to KNEBWORTH when pregnant. Hitchin lovely and walkable to great facilities. Good schools but if you are fussy you need to look at catchment areas I guess. KNEBWORTH is wonderful itself friendly people good basic shops pottery place opticians and dentist plus doctors , though we went to old welwyn, and I really really wish we hadn't had to move away from the area. Secondary schools are an issue but most people I know got their choice of school either in Hitchin or Hatfield. Every year it's a worry but generally ok. Lots to do locally: private gym is good at tennis club, facilities in Stevenage or old welwyn (good pub little shops) or welwyn garden city. At Albans also for a day out for shopping or roman stuff with calculccios and Jamie's now I think. I really live the ara and would move back in a heartbeat if it were possible!

Fwiw, I also like st Neots!