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Original poster

March Cambridgeshire

53 replies

kiwibella · 06/10/2008 13:05

short story is we have been looking to move out of London for some time. Dh has come back from March, Cambridgeshire and wants to move - now!! Of course, no decisions will be made that quickly (by me )but is anyone out this way with littlies? Just looking for any advice really. dd1 is 12 and dd2 is 18 months.

OP posts:
Original poster
kiwibella · 06/10/2008 20:48

anyone in cambridgeshire area??

OP posts:
Orinoco · 06/10/2008 20:50

Message withdrawn

Original poster
kiwibella · 06/10/2008 21:21

thanks orinoco! Hubs has to get to London for work (1.5 hours to Kings X) - which is the part I am most concerned about.

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mumwhereareyou · 07/10/2008 07:05

Look at lincs as well, property is cheaper than cambs, train from grantham to kings x is 1.15 hr. In fact several of our friends commute to london, from our village it takes 15 mins to drive to grantham.

or look at Bourne and from there short drive to Peterborough and then to london.

We looked at Ely and then came to Lincs and found we got more for our money up here.

TheBlonde · 07/10/2008 07:59

What about South Cambs instead?

throckenholt · 07/10/2008 08:05

March is nice enough - but I wouldn't want the 1.5 hour commute to London - I would choose somewhere in the Huntingdon or Peterborough area for preference because the commute is shorter.

Original poster
kiwibella · 07/10/2008 15:11

I don't want hubs to endure the commute either - we've done that before. At least this time he has the option to work from home for a couple of days each week. It sounds like Ely is worth a look... I am thinking that Peterborough is a more sensible option.

It is all so unknown... I feel like we should just put our finger on the map and go .

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flowerybeanbag · 07/10/2008 15:21

Not keen on March personally, would also strongly advise against commuting to and from Cambridge, traffic is appalling at the best of times.

We live near Huntingdon, traffic not nearly so bad and train commute much better, 45 mins to Kings X.

flowerybeanbag · 07/10/2008 15:22

Peterborough and Huntingdon are on the same train line btw.

Lilymaid · 07/10/2008 15:25

March is way out in the Fens - a long way from anywhere. South Cambridgeshire is a lot more expensive and nearer London. Ely is a nice town - island in the Fens. The local secondary school has pretty poor GCSE results - Fenland schools are usually not very high attaining in exams.

Original poster
kiwibella · 07/10/2008 17:06

are they "good" schools otherwise, Lilymaid?

We have to balance the moving out of London prices with transport expenses to get it right.

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DaisySteiner · 07/10/2008 17:08

South Cambs has very good schools though and is a very nice place to live

JDBfangirl · 07/10/2008 17:15

I grew up near March. Its ok, quite handy for Peterborough or Cambridge.

I went to school in Chatteris (8ish miles away) and it was ok, nothing to grim to report.

Lilymaid · 07/10/2008 17:19

Kiwibella - look at the website for the local secondary school - Neale-Wade Community College - and check out its statistics. I am also biased (like DaisySteiner) being in South Cambridgeshire where my local village college's GCSE results are very considerably higher. The fact that the bald statistics don't look wonderful doesn't necessarily mean that a school isn't good.

sparklesandnowinefor3weeks · 07/10/2008 17:27

March is quite far out for a good commute, i have been there a number of times and can't say that i like it there tbh (sorry JDBfangirl ), but then i have never lived there i have only been a few times to visit friends who have since moved

if your looking to still commute then i don't think that places like march, chatteris, whittlesey will put you at any advantage, you would be better off looking in the villages surrounding Huntingdon or Peterborough (wouldn't suggest living immediatley in p'boro either) because the commute is very easy on this line

If you move near cambridge or ely the house prices could be quite a bit higher than in the villages

We live in a village near Huntingdon it takes dp 10 mins to bike to the station and about 45 mins to an hour (depending on which train you get) to Kings X, it is lovely around here and we are very happy that we made the move

Original poster
kiwibella · 07/10/2008 17:38

thanks... I don't have ability to CAT but, if you wouldn't mind, could you please email bella at tikitour dot net where you are so I can get a better understanding of the area. It's becoming a blur of place names

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Original poster
kiwibella · 07/10/2008 17:41

the only reason March has come us is because dh was there on the weekend!!

sparkles... does your dh leave his bike at the station? Hubs is going to miss biking to work - and once at Kings X he still has to get to the City... atm he's talking about running it?

Also... how do you work out train prices? Is there an annual / monthly / concession ticket... I'm coming up with single or return fares.

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Eelpie · 07/10/2008 17:50

I vote for Ely over March as it is a better location and a fairly quiet place to bring up DC. Although Witchford just outside Ely has the best secondary school I think.

look forward to seeing you on the local site

Original poster
kiwibella · 07/10/2008 17:52

oooh... how do I find that eelpie?

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MaryBS · 07/10/2008 17:57

Witchford's secondary school is AWFUL! I have a friend who teaches there (she's one of the best things about it!). It used to be good, but lost its way a bit...

We live in a village not far from there.

MaryBS · 07/10/2008 18:00

Witchford's secondary school is AWFUL! I have a friend who teaches there (she's one of the best things about it!). It used to be good, but lost its way a bit...

We live in a village not far from there.

Ely is a nice city.

Someone mentioned Bourne in Lincolnshire. That's worth a look, Bourne Grammar has an excellent reputation.

bythepowerofgreyskull · 07/10/2008 18:02

I live in East Cambs.. I wouldn't personally move to March.
agree with what others have said about finding a slightly different location.

sparklesandnowinefor3weeks · 07/10/2008 18:07

Yes DP does leave his bike at the station

He has an annual ticket, but it's Network Rail i think who's website you would need to look at for prices

my email is [email protected] if you want any other info about the area

Eelpie · 07/10/2008 18:09

MaryBS - we may know the same person Although my friend would tell you it is great! Have not seen the league tables etc though - perhaps the OP better forget that idea

DraculaNeedsArteries · 07/10/2008 18:15

i was going to say simialr top what has already been said (another one that grew up locally but since moved away).

March is pretty rural. You would have to commute to Peterborough or Cambridge (or even Norwich) for a decent shopping centre 45mins each.

Secondary school is not that great.

Agree with others...go for Peterborough or South Lincs. If you go for Peterborough check out teh schools and which catchments you will be in. Some are good. Others no so.