Moving to Cambridge (or surrounding areas)

[freestylemummy]

Hi all,

We are a family of 4, and looking to move from Beccles to Cambridge towards the end of the year.

We visit Cambridge a lot and love it there but I understand that visiting for fun is very different to living there.

We'd consider the surrounding areas too as we are lucky that my hubby works from home and I work for the NHS so can find a job anywhere.

We have one child in primary school and one in secondary school so would need an area which has good schools. We have dogs so a nice area to go for walks nearby would be lovely. The kids are quite into their sports so local clubs would be great.

Could anyone recommend an area?

Thanks

Hi - What is your budget and what sort of property are you looking for? Cambridge is an expensive area and house prices are not dissimilar to London prices.

Our house now is worth around £300k. We have a 3 bed with a converted garage for hubby's office so we're looking for something similar. We have a decent size garden now so hoping we could still have that 🤞🏼

What will your budget be OP? Cambridge can be expensive

Budget will have baring on area

Sorry OP, but there is no way in Hell that 300k would buy you a decent house in Cambridge. It would have to be somewhere on the outskirts, and even then it's pricey. Cambridge prices are very close to London prices.

I just had a look out of interest, and the only thing I can see in that price range in central Cambridge is a flat in a converted pub, on a really busy road.

I used to live in Cambridge and I’m now near St Ives (Cambs not Cornwall) 300k won’t get you much unless you head towards Chatteris or maybe Hartford (Huntingdon)
There are some nice villages around St Ives. My friend lives in Somersham and loves it there. Good amenities, pubs, primary school. She bought a 3 bed house there for 320k.

My brother's family lives in St Neots 20 mins away by car Its an increaaingly popular market down on rhe River Ouse and defintely on the up. You get a decent amount of house for your money

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-93893876.html
3 bed for 300k. in Raton Ford which is popukar as you can walk into school, and one of best primaries nearby (Crosshall)

Eaton Ford.

Would you consider renting? If you can rent your house for a a decent amount then you could rent somewhere nice in Cambridge in return, long term?

Saffron Walden may be worth a look - there's some 3 beds on for 325k to 350k. Excellent schools, good shops, nice community, very safe and think there's a small hospital there.

Cambridge itself is seriously expensive. Some of the villages you might get something with a bit higher amount and most schools in the county are very good. North of Cambridge is often cheaper than south as harder to get into London from.

Cambourne would fit the bill. 4 primary schools and a secondary school (with another in the pipeline). It's a new town so not everyone's cup of tea, but it's fantastic for families and you could get a 4 bed for your budget.

Cambourne or Northstowe are new and popular.
Waterbeach (has a train station)

Further out- Somersham, Chatteris (has a train station)

As PP have said, you would be lucky to get a 1 bed flat for 300k in Cambridge. Maybe try further afield like Bury St Edmunds or Newmarket?

Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate the help. I will look into the areas that have been suggested 😊

I bought a 3 bed house in Cambridge for 290k. It can be done.

You won't get much around here for £300k. Cambridge is over priced. If you don't have to live here, why on earth would you?

Northstowe new builds are expensive. Shocking prices, really, considering their are zero amenities there at the moment.

I would look at Cambourne. It is a great place for families and close enough to Cambridge that you can get to the centre within 20 minutes if it's not rush hour. You should be able to get a 3 bed house in your budget

I would also say Cambourne, great place to live with a family. Still expanding, so if you want a new build there are/will be plenty. Not much good if you want a house more than 20 years old tho. Not sure you'll get what you currently have with 300k. You should get a small 3bed but not necessarily any garage and defo not more than a small single garage. And in Cambridge you might get a 1 bed flat! I would live in Cambridge if we could, but it's just not feasible for many.

Do you want to be in a village or somewhere a bit bigger? You'll find it rough to get anything in Cambridge itself for that price, but there may be some houses in Arbury or in the east of the city (round Ditton Lane/Newmarket Road). Othwrwis, you'll get a lot more for your money elsewhere - either a village (although not the ones right next to Cambridge as they're pricey) or another town nearby.

Have you considered Ely? You'd get a nice 3-house for £300k there.

I thought this would be the other way around. I like Cambridge and studied there but I wouldn't move from Beccles (cheap area) to Cambridge (mega expensive)!

And isn't Camboune just one big housing estate? Norfolk is better... just sayin'!

Cambourne isn't for everyone but it does have good amenities, a nice mix of house styles, decent bus links, a proposed tram/guided bus, great access to M11, A1, A14 for further travel.

And you can, just, get into central Cambridge in 20 mins off peak. Rush hour is a very different story however

@threesecrets

And isn't Camboune just one big housing estate? Norfolk is better... just sayin'!

It is a town of new builds, but there are several country parks with lakes, woods etc