Help me find a lively place to live between Cambridge and MK

[Wanttomove3000]

NCed for this. We currently live in Hitchin suburbia and I am bored to death of it. Every weekend is like Groundhog Day, going to the same coffee and charity shops. Often I just go into London. Hitchin feels like it’s geared more for families and we are a childfree couple, I feel like we’ve “completed” it IYSWIM. We have a good fixed mortgage rate atm but once it’s up I would like to leave.

I would like to move to a bigger town/city, with more going on. I don’t care if it’s ugly, as long as there’s stuff to do and it’s not totally crime-ridden. I work in MK and husband in Cambridge, we both go into office 2x a week so within an hour of both would be nice. Ideally would be within half an hour of Letchworth as husband does a sport there - but not essential.

Current options I’ve thought of are Cambridge, MK, Bedford. London would be amazing but probably a pipe dream out of our budget, plus reverse commuting seems stupid. Anyone live in these towns and can tell me what they’re like? I actually really like the look of MK but don’t know what’s like to live in.

I think, knowing the areas, that Cambridge is the only one of those options that could meet your needs. Realistically, Hitchin is one of the better, more vibrant towns in Herts / Beds / south Cambs, so if you're bored of that, I think you'd get bored of MK and definitely Bedford (which is fairly dire) or any of the other smaller towns pretty fast. I can relate, I'd love to live in a city but can't afford Cambridge so without leaving the area entirely, all you've got to pick from is small to middle sized towns.

As above - Cambridge is the only option in that circle of areas that could offer more. We live near Cambridge however and find it immeasurably dull. Often it’s the simple things… no Toby carvery… no Ikea… even a mooch in the centre of town is a pickle as Cambridge city centre is split in two and invariably you want something from both ends. There’s more missing - we aren’t spoilt for choice with parks or leisure centres or farms and so on either.

the park and ride in and out however is excellent - and the guided bus from st Ives.

you won’t top London though and would only be moving further away (although London is 59mins from Cambs itself).

Yeah I agree. We live near Cambridge, and its great for keeping you interested. There's stuff linked to the uni - the footlights, shows, music, all the time. And there is also good seasonal things in Cambridge and surrounding areas - like summer fairs/winter fairs etc we enjoy all of that. Quite good international food, things on at the museums like evening events and things. It certainly isn't London - by a longshot. But should keep you busy, and easy to get into London when needed for a bit more to do. VERY expensive housing though!!!

Looks like Cambridge is the best bet then! I’ve heard it’s quite expensive, budget would be around 500k - I wouldn’t mind downsizing a bit (atm we have a 3 bed, so 1 study each, but could move to a 2 bed and share a study as we’re both in the office more now) to get a better location. Will research Rightmove…

Cambridge seems nice in that it’s walkable - MK you would have to drive everywhere as it’s so spread out. I like commute-driving but not having to do loads of little drives to go to shops etc. Bedford did seem a bit rough when I’ve been there, but I was hoping it might have become “up and coming” since then 😜

I realise I sounded incredibly ignorant not mentioning any of the culture camps has to offer which between the galleries, the museums and the corn exchange is significant. It’s just we’ve been here 15 years together and 30+ for my husband and have sort of… done it all.

i do value the city though and am proud to have it on our doorstep.

definitely research st ives, it is the most well connected. Alternatively Ely for the train station. The Cambridge burbs are massively inflated so a little further out gets you much more for your money and a lovely countryside lifestyle to boot.

Cambs* clearly

Cambridge.
I love it, although I’m not sure what your budget will get you.

Tbh, the lack of Toby Carvery wouldn’t bother me

Bedford is not rough. It's just really ordinary. Dull and ordinary.

You could do Cambourne/St Ives/Papworth or St Neots and aim to have the majority of your social life in Cambridge.

Which is TBH what most people in the towns and villages around Cambridge do.

I’m not really a “countryside” person, I haven’t been for a single country walk since lockdown ended 😅I just want a bigger town with more culture/diversity, as Hitchin’s very white and yummy mummy and there’s not really much going on. Also the nightlife is terrible lol. We probably won’t get a house in Cambridge town centre for 500k but I’d be very happy with a flat (as long as I can convince husband to give up the garden for an allotment/balcony). We bought our house in peak-Covid and were all like “we need loads of space, location isn’t important!” but in real life that’s not really been the right decision.

You can absolutely get a nice 500K house in Cambridge (but probably not "nice" on MN standard 😁). Just rightmove it...
It won't be the city centre but in the centre there are, like, colleges..Central area around the train station but admittedly houses there would be more than 500K.. My friends are scattered between Arbury and Cherry Hinton (the latter is the nice suburb) and you can certainly find something for that money in these areas.
We are not too far from Cambridge and usually go there on the weekends. It ticks all boxes for me.