Moving to St Neots

[cjm1979]

We're considering moving to St Neots from London for more space. DD is two and a half; DS is nine months. Am especially worried about a lack of things to do with the kids, and also walkability (I don't drive, but DH does). Are there many good local classes and activities for small children? And what's the bus service like if I need to get from one end of town to another?

No way would I pick Sandy over St Neots. Tiny and a dying high street.

I moved out of st Neots, it’s gone down hill over the last few years, schools are really really bad, the town centre is a no go in the evenings, it’s really not good. There’s lots of new estates but the houses are small and the infrastructure not in place.

weve moved to a village near Whittelsey, and we have young family in whittelsey. It’s a lovely town grandchildren doing well at school, it’s just over an hour by train to London

This is a short thread but might be helpful.

Eh? Direct trains take about 45 mins from Cambridge to King's Cross. How is St Neots easier than that? It's probably also a decent commuting option but it's definitely not better - although definitely cheaper to buy property.

Direct trains are only one an hour and more like 55 minutes in the rush hour.

2 an hour. And other stopping trains, and the Thames link, and trains to Liverpool Street.

I mean there's only the one per hour that is anything close to the 45 minutes you quoted. The others are more in the 1hr 20 region - and the Liverpool Street ones even longer than that.

But if you're happy with that, it's fine, that's your choice. I use that line myself regularly. I don't have a vendetta against Cambridge, i'm just trying to help the OP by giving the extra detail on where these other places mentioned don't meet the requirements she listed in the original post.

sorry, you're right - 2 an hour - but it's 3 in the rush hour to St Neots, which is still better IMO. But as I say - that's my opinion and you prefer Cambridge and that's fine.

If I didn't drive, I'd try and live in Cambridge rather than St Neots, even if I had to compromise on house size.

I used to work in Peterborough and there's no way on earth I'd live there.

How about something like this in Meldreth? A few minutes into Royston for the fast London train but also has a station for the stopping train into Cambridge.

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148018178

House looks lovely... I don't know Meldreth at all so would have to take a look at the village.

Meldreth is lovely, but like a PP said, if you don't drive, I would caution against moving anywhere other than Cambridge. The public transport is just too poor and unreliable.

That said, I do cycle most places from a South Cambs village. If you don't mind cycling, Melbourn/Meldreth will get you most things, and there will soon be the final leg of the A10 cycle path that will give you a traffic free route to Royston.

I could never get on a bicycle unfortunately - even more terrifying than driving! Looks like we'll have to stay in London :(

"...economically depressed and druggy"

Over the decades we've lived in several different cities; London, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, Harlow, Colchester, Peterborough. All are different.

Is Peterborough "economically depressed"? No. But there again, are there masses of high paying jobs in Peterborough? Here the answer is also, No.

Peterborough is much more a city of manufacturing and distribution centres rather than high tech industries. According to the ONS, the median pay for a full time worker in Peterborough is about 20% lower than in Cambridge (but there again, house prices are also an awful lot cheaper).

Large employers include the likes of Perkins Engines and also Amazon, Ikea and Lidl amongst others all employ lots of people in local distribution centres.

It has four Aldis but also has the 5th largest Waitrose store in the country (about the same size as the Waitrose near Kings Cross).

Economically depressed? No. A rather different profile to Cambridge? Yes. Peterborough doesn't really have any high-end shops, if that's important then Cambridge is the place to go shopping.

"...and druggy"

No more or less than any other city I've ever lived in. Well, actually, quite a bit less than some of the larger cities we've lived in, in the past.

"I would caution against moving anywhere other than Cambridge. The public transport is just too poor and unreliable."

This is obviously someone who has never lived in Peterborough. Most bus services are every 10 or 15 minutes.

@Another2Cats Perhaps I should give Peterborough another chance. I've not visited for 10 years, and that was just a quick work trip.

'Druggy'

No more druggy than London!

When I moved to Cambs my colleagues tried to tell me it was very deprived. I'd come from Haringey and had a completely different frame of reference.

@AnnaMagnani DH grew up in Plymouth (ugh) and that's a really druggy place, full of people strung out on heroin. I imagine Peterborough is similar. London has always felt safe in comparison.

Having lived in Cambridge and traveled in the county a lot, i would always chose the city itself. St Neots is ok. The houses someone showed in Cambridge (green end road/ Lovell rd) are only 5 minutes from Cambridge north, which is a lovely quiet station. Guaranteed a seat into London. Once you stop at Cambridge central you'll be lucky to get a seat.

@circular2478 Thanks - wasn't even aware of the existence of Cambridge North before yesterday! Looks like a v handy station to be near

You mentioned you're looking in Hertfordshire too.
Have you considered Welwyn Garden City, Hertford?

@justtryingg Both too expensive for us I'm afraid :(

@circular2478 What are the state schools like in Cambridge? Most of them seem to be rated 'good' by Ofsted, but are they likely to be oversubscribed?

Would you prefer to be in a city? If so I would go for Cambridge, which is lovely but of course you wouldn’t get as much for your money as other places.

I prefer to live somewhere a bit smaller, I’ve found it easier to become part of the community. You meet lots of people with kids in the same cohort at baby/ toddler groups, nursery and preschool etc. When you go out you’ll bump into people you know at the playground etc. I know I mentioned it before but Godmanchester is a really lovely village, there is a really nice park and several playgrounds. A swimming pool too and lots of pubs/ cafes, hairdressers, chemist and a Coop. Not far Huntingdon station and walkable to Huntingdon for further shops etc. Brampton is also nice, not quite so many amenities but there are a couple of Coops and other shops, a chemist, a fish and chips place etc. Both might feel very provincial compared to London though, so very much depends what you want! I would go for either of those villages over St Neots personally, but St Neots is nice enough too.

I was in Peterborough last week and was surprised how nice it was! I'd always heard it was really grotty, but it seemed fine - nice spacious town centre, shops aren't all boarded up, we looked round the cathedral and some pretty gardens near a lido. There was obviously some poverty but it was a perfectly pleasant town centre. Obvs don't know what the outskirts are like, we were only there on a day trip, but it didn't feel poor.

Anyway, I was going to suggest Meldreth. I know it well and it's a lovely little village. I also think cycling around Cambridge will be very different to cycling in London. Personally I wouldn't fancy Royston, it's ok but nothing special, there are much nicer places around Cambridge.

Have you thought about Essex? Chelmsford is about 40 minutes into London Liverpool St, loads for children to do, lovely countryside.

I live in Godmanchester (originally moved because of ease of commute to London, had child, then discovered quite quickly that childcare would be impossible with commute) I love it and not planning on leaving. Huntingdon is on the same trainline as St Neots/Peterborough. Its a lovely town which has a village feel. My children were raised here. Cambridge and Peterborough not too far if you want decent shops. I used to take mine to Lammas land in Cambridge all the time when they were little because the play areas are great and large shallow outdoor pool in summer. I did drive there though. There are loads of wet play parks scattered about. Cambridge is lovely but I'm happy just being 'close'.

I work in St Neots and I don't particularly want to live here, and as other folk have said, secondaries are a disaster. On the subject of Peterborough - I wouldn't live there either. I don't like the vibe. I do send my kids to school there though (well one now, the other is at 6th form in Huntingdon) King's is VERY hard to get into. We went to church for years to get our two into the secondary. Or your kids have to be exceptionally bright and get in on the entrance exam. I'm sure there are nice areas in Peterborough like anywhere else - but I don't see them when I'm driving about there!

My best friend lives in Brampton which is also pretty nice but smells bad (not joking - there's an issue with the landfill site) but doesn't really have a 'centre' like Goddy (I mean it does have a high street - but not really a central point - hard to describe)