Cambridge / London commute - where to live?

[marellocherry25]

We're ready to move to a bigger place so interested in moving further out of London.

DH is about to take a new job in Cambridge next to the main station. I'm most likely going to continue working in central London. We currently live in zone 1, in a small flat which is fine for commuting to both locations. However, we're looking ahead for "good" places to live on the Cambridge - KX line?

Stevenage was the natural location that popped up when we started to Google but I'm now getting the impression it might not be the best choice. Important to us are access to good hospitals and schools.

Look at the train line, lots of options

If hospitals are important to you, there are probably only two full hospitals in between London and Cambridge, the one in Stevenage and one in Harlow. Unfortunately that's the kind of provision available to those outside London. We live half way between the two cities and people in our town often have to travel to Cambridge for hospital stuff if its more specialist.

Are you both going to commute by train? If so, definitely have a look at the stops along the way but dont put too much store on being near a good hospital. You will have to be prepared to travel for hospital appointments.

I'd just live in central Cambridge, close to the station. The fast train to London is only about 45 minutes and then at least one of you has virtually no commute. Addenbrookes and the associated hospitals are the best alternative to the Central London hospitals in that part of the country IMHO.

Thanks for the responses. To be clear, I'm looking for local knowledge on areas - I'm capable of reading a train map :)

I've been central London for so long that I don't even know how hospital catchment areas work - I'm ok travelling for appointments but have a chronic illness so need specialist access.

We'd like to move out of London to get more space so living in central Cambridge wouldn't work for us either as it's so expensive for a small terrace.

Bishop's Stortford 30 mins to London. 40 to Cambridge
Good access to m11/m25/A10

Good schools both primary and high school local A&E Harlow specialist hospitals often London but consultants often do outreach locally .

Downside house prices but not as dear as London or Cambridge

Big enough to be anonymous if is your thing but still friendly

Also consider Stansted/Epping but can't help much on info

Well, which hospitals in Camridgeshire or Hertfordshire/Essex cater for your needs? If you can work that one out then you can at least see if both train routes are viable for you. There are two routes from Cambridge to Central London so that might expand your choices.

There are a lot of places to live in between so you need to narrow it down a bit. If you have a car, you can travel to the hospitals but it's not clear in the post if you are reliant on public transport.
What was it attracted you to Stevenage in the first place and what made you reconsider? That might help us to recommend a suitable destination for you.

Bishop's Stortford Is a lovely town.

I'm assuming that Stevenage was the obvious choice because its halfway between the two.

What is you budget OP and what size of property are you looking for.

Along that train line trains don't always stop at all stops at certain times of the day.. and some are 'fast trains' and some are 'slow trains' into London. So that might be worth look at in advance.

As always there are good and bad areas in a town.. Letchworth, Baldock have some nice areas. WGC is more built up areas but have nice areas on the outskirts.

I would either go for Cambridge (for Addenbrookes) or Bishop’s Stortford (choice of Addenbrookes or Princess Alexandra in Harlow, but excellent schools). This would mean coming into Liverpool Street rather than King’s Cross - would that be difficult?

But, personally, I would go for one of you having a longer commute than both of you having a medium-length commute, from the perspective of cost as well as the convenience of someone being able to get home/to school quickly if needed. So I would relocate to Cambridge.

The Addenbrookes catchment is quite large - depending on the illness, we have patients from all over East Anglia. Royston gets you more for money than Cambridge and is on the Kings Cross line. Schools are a mixed bunch though. Most of the South Cambs primary schools are good.

Bishop’s Stortford/Sawbridgeworth area is lovely - brilliant schools, hospital up the road in Harlow although some choose Addenbrookes, and trains direct to Cambridge and Liverpool St or Tottenham Hale for Victoria Line. Moved here from London 5 years ago, love where we live.

You can actually choose where you're referred for specialist treatment. Obviously in an acute emergency you'd be taken to the closest suitable hospital for treatment. Depending on the condition then in an emergency it might be better to be taken to the same hospital as the one you're receiving outpatient care from.

What’s your budget? Have a look at Hitchin. As convenient as Stevenage but a lot, lot nicer. Good schools. Nice market town. Full of ex Londoners

Royston.

I like Hitchin a lot but thinking Letchworth is also lovely. Maybe have a look at Welwyn Garden City too. You can get to Lister Hospital quite easily from.

From both. Pressed post too soon.

Good choices for you OP.

Bishop's Stortford / Stansted Mountfitchet are on the Liverpool Street line with direct trains to Cambridge & Tottenham Hale to pick up the Victoria line.

Lots of village / rural or new build choices.

Hospitals are Addenbrookes or Harlow PAH.

Broxbourne is another option with some very good schools and is on the fast train route to Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street. Serving Cambridge in the other direction. Nearest large hospital would be Harlow or only a short drive to Hertford which has Hertford County hospital (same trust as Lister in Stevenage or QE2 in Welwyn).

Royston. It doesn't have the best shops etc but it's a nice little town. The main hospitals are lister stevenage or addenbrookes in cambridge for it though. But between cambs and London line.

Old Stevenage is much nicer than the new town parts. What's your budget by the way? That might help with suggestions :)

Fulbourn in Cambridge is lovely and not to bad to drive or even cycle to the station. 300-400k will get you a 3 bed semi.

What about a village? Meldreth has a train station on the Cambridge/Kings Cross Line and Melbourn is the adjoining village. Primary school in each. Secondary school in Melbourn but Royston and Cambridge are within easy reach.

Came on to say Bishops Stortford. Or Stansted mountfitchet-smaller and a bit more villagey.Both lovely. Very commutable to London and Cambridge.
I wouldn't go to Stevenage. It's not great (even the old town isn't that nice) and the Lister is not a great hospital.

Letchworth and Baldock are ok but a bit dull if you are used to living in London I'd say. Not much going on, not a lot of shops.

Welwyn Garden City has more going on in terms of town centre-big John Lewis and a few more shops. The old garden city bits are beautiful but expensive. Rest of it is old council stock (often quite large houses) or new build.

Broxbourne/Cheshunt good train line but always seems a bit drive -through- it places to me.

Harlow-avoid. Actually good shops but it's a bit rough and unlovely-except the old village. Cheap though.

Ware/Hertford-smaller and again not that many shops. Especially Hertford which could have a lovely town centre but half of it is fenced off at the moment having been sold to a developer and then not developed.Trains to London but you'd have to change at Broxbourne for Cambridge. Nice places though-and plenty of bars and restaurants (and hairdressers/barbers for some reason).

I seem to have a few MN nearish neighbours on this thread