Time to move out of London

[northlondon1]

I posted not long ago about selling up our London flat, and got some very helpful replies. I mentioned we were considering Cambridge for our next - and hopefully last - move.

Context: we have two young children (not yet primary age), and we are looking for somewhere with great state primary and secondary schools. My husband will need good access to Angel/Old Street (so train to Kings X or Euston?). I will likely need access to the City, but not sure. We will both likely try to work from home 2-3 days a week. Would like the commute to be within 1.5 hours ideally. Budget £1.1m to £1.2m. Finally, ideally somewhere that grandparents can afford a small house within 30 min drive on £400k.

Where should we think about? The pool of possible towns in the Home Counties and beyond seems too vast to whittle down. So far we have considered Cambridge as we have friends there, and Berkhamsted.

Please help us!

How rural do you want to be?

Meldreth is beautiful village with great primary school. Melbourne had a village college secondary and sixth form is in Cambridge. The village has a direct train to kings x / Cambridge. Really great for commuting.

If you want more of a town feel, Huntingdon / godmanchester is a good look. Huntingdon is a busy town with some nice schools. Train line between Peterborough and kings x.

Thank you!
Sorry I should've clarified. A town, with easy access to coffee shops etc.

Defo look at both then. Huntingdon is a large market town. You could also look at st Neots for similar. It's on the same train line as Huntingdon.

Meldreth doesn't have a coffee shop as such but Melbourne (literally other side of the railway) has some places. The trains into Cambridge at regular and it's only a few stops so feels quite easy to get to if you want some big city action.

Might be better to repost with Cambridge in the heading.

Gah, maybe I should repost with a more specific question

South Lincs would be ideal, would look at Bourne it has excellent primary and secondary schools including a grammar .

You could catch the train from Peterborough which is a 15 min drive from Bourne .

Your parents would easily find a house on their budget .

Following! Could have written this post myself :-)

OP we are currently considering village locations rather than towns but Cambridge area and also Essex

Hi hazelnut! We're going around in circles a bit. Which villages in the Cambridge and Essex areas have got considered? Apparently Royston is lovely.

I like the sound of a village, but am too afraid that after over a decade in London I'll find village life too much of a contrast. I'm very keen to have easy and quick access to good coffee - I missed it so much during lockdown 1!

Have a look on the HS1 routes with javelin trains (high speed between St Pancras and Stratford to Ashford then on regular tracks in many directions)

If you like Berkhamsted, you could look around there and towards Milton Keynes or around the Chilterns. Berkhamsted is nice but it is super expensive. There are some other nice small towns like Tring, Wendover, Thame, Leighton Buzzard, Woburn and Amersham etc. Generally although the houses in town are nice, the more grand houses are out in the villages though. And the more you want a bit of a “city” vibe the more money you pay. So I would have a think about what your priorities are- for example big house/ garden/ space, or being able to walk to a coffee shop.

For example I know that Leighton Buzzard has an excellent Icelandic coffee shop but you may have to drive there!

There are really nice parts to Bedford (by the river or Bedford park) with beautiful Victorian houses. and some surprisingly cool coffee shops/ small bars springing up.

@northlondon1 ive messaged you - about one of the places you've expressed interest in - let me know if you don't get it because I think I added capitals into your user name which aren't actually there!

Cambourne is lovely, close to Cambridge with a lovely coffee shop and a Morrisons, lots of parks for kids and VERY good schools but it's quite expensive.

Huntingdon is a larger town, but certain areas aren't that nice, close to there you have Hartford/Houghton which are nice place. Stukely Meadows is a lovely little cul de sac area in Huntingdon about 20 minutes walk from the town which has a good primary school within walking distance and close to A14/A1 routes for work travel.

I would also look at St.Ives or Fenstanton personally too :)

Thanks everybody, so helpful. I'll investigate the places everyone has suggested. I'll check my PM Astuce, I did get a notification.

I think being close to a nice coffee shop, and more importantly within walking distance to the station, is more important than a huge house. We've lived in London for so long now, a cramped 5-bed will seem like a palace I think!

Would also suggest St Ives (I grew up there so super biased) the train station is Huntingdon though so not as great for regular commutes to London.

I think some of these places are too far from London, as lovely as they are I think realistically it needs to be 10 mins walk to a station, and for the station to go straight into a north London station like Kings X or Euston.

Cambridge is lovely but really expensive. There is also Canterbury on the high speed to Kings Cross and close to up and coming coastline for your parents? However, Cambridge probably more genteel. Also, Canterbury is grammar schools, but a good choice. I have lots of family and friends in Cambridge and if you find something you really like, not too far from the station and want a nice, genteel life, go for it. The traffic in Cambridge is pretty awful though...

Just moved to Cambridge from London and we love it. Green space, you’ll be able to afford a lovely house with that budget and short walk into the city. Lovely coffee shops, pools, playgrounds and beautiful houses. We’ll be commuting into London too and although I’m sure it won’t always be easy, the quality of life is already worth it.

Hitchin is halfway between London and Cambridge with fast direct trains to each. It's a popular market town with outstanding schools.

Hi musical, thanks for that. Cambridge is expensive, but compared to north London it's cheaper 😅 feels like you can get a nice 5-bed for £1.1-1.2m, which is fine by us. I like that it'll likely have a more international vibe than some of these other commuter towns, given all the academics, and have more going on in terms of culture. I don't think I know enough around the state schools. We're looking at south Cambridge, within 10-15 min walk to Cambridge station. What are the primaries and secondaries like there, do you know?

Subparban... are you my friend?? Whereabouts in Cambridge are you, and what are the schools like, do you know?

Your budget will get you a nice house within a 10 minute walk of the station in Cambridge.

We live in a village outside Cambridge but lived in the centre when the dc were small. Its a great city for families. The traffic is a nightmare but everyone cycles.

Have you looked in/around Saffron Walden?

Thanks Emma 😊

Bird - I think that's going to be a bit tricky for travelling into London. We're looking for 10 mins walk to a station that directly connects with Kings X or Euston.