London to East Anglia, but where?

[BluOcty]

We've been wanting to leave London for a while now, and DH got a job in Cambridge, so we thought we would move there.

But since he accepted the job, the whole office has gone fully remote. He only needs to be in Cambridge for two meetings a month, opening up a much wider area. Which helps with our budget!

Any recommendations for areas for city people with within c1hour of Cambridge? Budget of £400k ish (£450k at a push). 2 kids at primary school that would need to transfer. Would love a garden.

We're leaving an incredibly diverse, busy area of zone 2. We're seeking a quieter life, but it might be a stretch to go straight to a rural location. Also I don't drive might take me a while to learn.

Thanks for any tips, we don't know where to start.

I think you will be very isolated moving to East Anglia and not being able to drive, public transport is generally terrible and everyone learns to drive as soon as possible.

Norwich is an lovely little city. I would visit for a weekend if you haven’t already

Thanks everyone there are some real gems here. 

Many places I've never heard of, and will be checking out this summer 

I'm stunned by those rightmove links @RewildingAmbridge and @Twizbe thanks for posting them. Those houses are so much nicer than what we can afford in London or Cambridge city!

Sounds like I need to get started on my theory test and driving lessons though, eh?

@MarmiteCoriander we're in much the same position as you, 20 years in Z2, but just getting so tired of the noise and congestion. Glad to hear it's worked out apart from the driving.

Bury St Edmunds if you're going to be driving asap. Ely if not.
BSE is the nicer and bigger city, Ely has better rail links.

PP suggesting Ely, can I ask what there is to do for DC? I visit a few times a year and it seems there is very little.

Newmarket. Are the river towns too far, Maldon, Woodbridge & co?

I think you could get away with not driving in st ives. The town is walkable and well served by a town bus service. Easy to get to Huntingdon and Cambridge on the bus, including both the hospitals.

@MinnieMountain what age are your children? There’s the cinema, swimming, parks, loads of sports clubs, festivals etc. If they are sub 11 a little further away at Stow Bardolph, Church Farm is a great day out.

Definitely Ely for the rail links, but... it can still be a little bit Fen and might be a bit of a shock in terms of lack of diversity compared to where you are now! Bury is lovely, more going on but rail links aren't great.

I wouldn't want to live anywhere in EA without driving other than Cambridge though, so definitely get on with the theory test 😀

a little bit Fen

😃

l www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125393786#/?channel=RES_BUY

Another vote for Bury St Edmunds

He’s 8 @Clovacloud . We considered moving there when he was 2 but stayed in Peterborough due to family. I’ve always wondered…

I find Ely creepy as fuck. I don't love east anglia as it is so very very flat.

I would look either at villages around Cambridge, or on the Kings Cross line or Liverpool St line.

Royston is a cool little place.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125349599#/?channel=RES_NEW

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125413475#/?channel=RES_BUY

Even possible to cycle to Cambridge from here in about an hour and commutable into london.

Saffron Walden is ace, but you do get less for your £££ and train isnt actually in the town.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125119082#/?channel=RES_BUY

Bishops Stortford would tick all your boxes, but prices look to have gone uo massively

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124574621#/?channel=RES_BUY

Children with parents who don’t drive are at a disadvantage in anywhere other than a big city. Transport often is not great. Driving is vital in these areas. You really won’t get the advantage of living out of London if you don’t drive. You could also look East into Bedfordshire. Might be cheaper.

Aah! Look West into Bedfordshire!!

Having grown up in the area you are looking to move to with parents who worked long hours - it is an area where if you don't drive it's shit.
Once you are a driver it is fantastic.
I would look to resolve the driving ASAP.
I would choose Bury St Edmunds or Ely. Probably Bury for me I love the market on Thursday and Saturday ( the biggest charter market in the uK) the Christmas market is fabulous.

The Cambridge effect has pushed up prices in north Herts and south Cambs. You will find this area very rural. Cambridge is quite small and the area outside is all farmland and villages. Ely is dinky and is mostly a Cam commuter town now, as is Royston to the south. Huntington/St Ives area also just OK. A lot of people like Bury St Edmunds (30 miles east) but I've always found it drearily old-fashioned and rustic. Personally, unless I could live in Cambridge itself I'd give this area the swerve.

Whereabouts in Cambridge does your husband need to go to, and by train or by car? Cambridge traffic can be very bad so this will affect which side of the city to live.

I like Ely and Saffron Walden.

I would suggest Bury St. Edmunds or Newmarket in Suffolk. They are an easy drive from Cambridge. Either that or somewhere like Sudbury in Suffolk. There is a train line from Sudbury to Marks Tey, where you would change for London. North West Essex is also another possibility - Saffron Waldron and its surrounding areas are very attractive. Cambridge itself is very expensive; similar to London prices. In common with others, I would say it is a very good idea to learn to drive as public transport can be unreliable outside London and the big cities.

@Lonecatwithkitten Bury market is on Wednesdays and Saturdays not Thursdays.

Thanks everyone, I've planned a trip to Ely for the weekend. Also ordered a theory test book 😂!

There are so many new places to investigate- I hadn't thought of looking to Bedfordshire, nor Bishops Stortford, Newmarket etc.

@myrtleberry his job is in the city centre, around 10m walk from the station so should be easy to reach from all sides.

I live outside Newmarket. It has very little appeal to me - betting and coffee shops. Not a useful train line. Bury is prettier. Ely is nice, artic in the cold winds but commuter belt to Cambridge and London without an issue - depending on the time you can still get a seat sometimes

Driving into and parking in the city centre during the week is horrendous unless you are happy to start at 7 or earlier or after 9.30 or the private schools are on holiday. Parking is incredibly expensive unless it comes with work. Park and rides sometimes get full. Traffic awful in the rain. The congestion charge is coming in and will also make things expensive.