Nice market towns within commuting distance of Cambridge?

[Equiphant]

DH has to work in Cambridge once or twice a week, and i want to be able to visit my family in Cornwall without adding an unnecessary additional hour to the journey, so would prefer not to go to the north or east of Cambridge.

i personally would be happy with very rural, but have to bear in mind kids probably wouldn’t thank me as they move toward teenage years. A market town where they could walk to places would be a good mix.

Are there any market towns anyone would personally recommend, particularly with good secondary schools, within one hour or so’s commute to the west/ south of Cambridge?

If yes, what do you like about your town particularly?

Saffron Walden to the South or Hitchin to the West are both nice with good schools.

Biggleswade is not far from Cambridge and has good A road and motorway links. I'm not sure about schools though.

Hitchin is lovely. Great schools too. Lots of countryside all around but also close to Stevenage, Luton, St Albans if needed.

Bishops stortford.
Ware
Stanstead montfitchet.

Royston
Buntingford.

St. Neots
March

(I manage mental health services and these places are all in my patch so I'm just thinking of the ones I think are nice and putting them down as I go )

Of all of those I would go bishops stortford. Good shops, decent restaurants and bars, nice houses-lots of older ones and some nice new build bits, amazing schools, Great transport links to London and Cambridge, cinema and bowling alley in town for teens, Decent local festival in the summer (standon calling), close to some very nice countryside for walks, and Stansted for holidays.

Oundle or Thrapston. Thrapston very close to the A14 for easy road access.

Ooh, thank you all. Off to do some googling.

those of you who have just named towns - what do you particularly like about them?

What about Cambridge itself? Would save a commute!

Bishop's stortford or hitchin

March and St. Neots are both north of Cambridge. I would look at North Essex. - Saffron Walden has already been mentioned or Halstead. Royston in Hertfordshire would also be good. Even so, you will be a very long way to Cornwall. It is easier to get to Edinburgh, and nearly as far, than Cornwall from North Essex.

Sorry, I’ve just checked and St. Neots is to the west of Cambridge but March is in the north of the county. I think Royston might well be the best place for your needs.

You need Royston, Hitchin, Biggleswade type places really. You'll have to get on the M25 to go to Cornwall to get the M3 or I guess M4, so you need somewhere with good links to the M25. Possibly Bishop's Stortford, I guess. I believe Hitchin is very much liked for families.

I would not recommend Royston. The secondary school isn’t great with Sixth Form or further education provision The High Street is a bit depressing. There is a train but depending where your husband works, he may end up driving and traffic can be terrible. Easier and quicker to get to Paris than Cornwall!

No sixth form that should say

Cambourne or Comberton are nice.

I wouldn't recommend hitchin. Overpriced and over hyped. We lived there for a bit and I was actually pretty glad to move. It's very cliquey and although the market square is fairly pretty the rest of it isn't all that really.

Stortford ticks all your boxes and a bonus is easy access to the M11 and Stansted airport. But there have been thousands of new homes built in the last 5 years and still more phases to go and, apart from 2 new primary schools and a new secondary, not sure how the town will remain a desirable place to live. Nearest A&E is Harlow, roads are at a standstill a lot of the time, parking is a nightmare. Living within walking distance of the town and station would be a must I think!

Saffron Walden, St.Ives, godmanchester or Huntingdon. The last 3 have access to guided bus (A14 is a nightmare to drive on).

Is Stamford too far to travel? Its a lovely little town. Good shops and lots of history

Was going to say Bury St Edmunds but that's to the east! Is a lovely place though and only 25 mins or so away so might be worth the extra journey.

Saffron Walden is gorgeous but the train station is out of town, if that’s a requirement. You’d need to drive to work (or cycle/long walk to station).

March?! Are you on glue?!

And also well to the north of Cambridge. The OP specifically said she did not want north or east of Cambridge.