Move to Royston - Herts

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Evening all

After spending all my life in London, my husband and I and 8 year old twins are moving to Royston. We do not have a car and I am feeling slightly nervous. Does anyone have any top tips for the area? Good schools? Children's activities?

Thank you so much.

We moved to Royston end of last year with young child and 2nd on the way (now here) and also don’t drive.

Public transport is ok (and still running fine) - the train is regular and quick towards Cambridge and London.

Town itself is small and (oddly) the pandemic may have been good for it as more people seem to be shopping locally and in the small Saturday market.

As Royston (like most of Herts) has a first school, middle school, senior school system the main school to look at is King James Academy as it is the only middle school in Royston.

Activities wise, there are a few clubs in town but most things are outside - depending what they are into. Horse riding and animal park in Shepreth/Foxton, Stevenage for cinema, trampoline centre, Cambridge for wall climbing, science centre.

Just be prepared to use the train - we have a friends and family railcard so trips are cheaper.

When you say that you don't have a car, do either you drive and could you buy a car in future? I don't live in Royston, but I can imagine that after a while not having a car would be quite limiting in a way that it really isn't when you live in London. Towns like Royston have trains and buses, but when your friends invite you and your DC to have a day out at a wildlife park, or Go Ape or some other attraction that's not on a train line you will always have to say 'no' unless you're prepared to take taxis everywhere.

Thank you for your replies. I don't actually drive at all. I should learn, rather late at nearly 40! Just spoilt in central London with no need to drive.

Thank you for the information and yes we will definitely
get a railcard.

It's close to cambridge and London which is a good bonus.

Town centre itself is a bit dull and not very modern but there's a lot of lovely countryside around for walks, bike rides, etc. and cambridge is 15 mins away by train (where there's often plenty of things to do and a nice city centre).