Commuting from London to Cambridge
Discussion
Out of curiosity, why not keep the London house (assuming you own) and rent it out. Find a lovely place North/East of Cambridge and rent/buy and have an easy life of it?
Life is far too short to have a s
t commute when there are far nicer options (if there are options).
Life is far too short to have a s
t commute when there are far nicer options (if there are options).Edited by Mothersruin on Wednesday 11th October 11:31
I've done it for a short while in the past (from N19 and NW3). I'd not want to do it five days a week either by car or by public transport.
I'd avoid driving because of the potential for hold ups getting out of London and then into Cambridge. Although the station is some distance from the centre, the radial routes to the edge of Cambridge are longer still and prone to clogging up.
The train from Kings Cross is OK and, as you would be going counter to the flow, you should not have a problem getting a seat. Getting to KX from NW8 can be painful though, even if a short distance. The trains from Liverpool St will confer no time advantage once you factor in struggling into and out of the City, so I'd assume you would discount that option.
I'd also remind you that Cambridge is effing freezing for six months of the year and it may sap your morale standing on a platform waiting for train home
.
I'd avoid driving because of the potential for hold ups getting out of London and then into Cambridge. Although the station is some distance from the centre, the radial routes to the edge of Cambridge are longer still and prone to clogging up.
The train from Kings Cross is OK and, as you would be going counter to the flow, you should not have a problem getting a seat. Getting to KX from NW8 can be painful though, even if a short distance. The trains from Liverpool St will confer no time advantage once you factor in struggling into and out of the City, so I'd assume you would discount that option.
I'd also remind you that Cambridge is effing freezing for six months of the year and it may sap your morale standing on a platform waiting for train home
. OP,
I live in Cambridge and did the daily commute into London for 4 years. The area around the station is quite a nice place to be now - the area immediately around the station is undergoing a big redevelopment (more on which below), which as well as the new shops etc in the development itself is pulling the rest of the area up. Around the station you now have the everyday "essentials": M&S Food,mini Sainsburys, Wasabi, Caffe Nero, Pret, and a half decent but not cheap pub, nearby you 3 decent pubs - the Flying Pig, the Salisbury Arms and the Live & Let Live, at the end of Station Road there is a good barbecue place, and not too far from Station Road are various sandwich shops and a cracking curry place (Saffron Brasserie).
In terms of your questions:
1. Am I being naive to consider commuting this sort of distance and is the cost (both financially and physically), too high?
Plenty do it, but I certainly don't miss it. A lot will depend on what your journey from home to Kings Cross looks like. These days I'm down in the smoke about once a week on average.
2. Should I drive or take the train?
Train, definitely - see answer to Question 3 below.
3. If I were to drive, is traffic in Cambridge mental in the morning?
Yes it is, especially from J11 of the M11, which I suspect is the junction you're most likely to take. The M11 itself can be pretty toxic in rush hour, and I can't imagine driving out of London in rush hour is going to be a barrel of laughs. I'm assuming where you will be working doesn't have parking? If that is the case, then parking around the station is pretty non-existent - as part of the redevelopment of the station, the car-hating Council seems hellbent on reducing parking at the station as much as possible, and making access to it as awkward as possible. The station car park (£10 a day) fills up quite early; the surrounding streets are unsurprisingly residents only parking. Your next nearest public car park would be Cambridge Leisure (£20 per day, according to Parkopedia).
4. If I were to take the train, would I get a seat?
Based on the trains going the other way, yes you will, notwithstanding Great Northern's masterstroke of introducing newer (Southern Region cast off 2 - 3 years old) trains....with fewer seats on them than the ones they're replacing. All new new trains are due to come in next year, when the Kings Cross - Cambridge route becomes part of Thameslink. Actually, that would be worth investigating, as when that change occurs, some Cambridge trains will go into St Pancras rather than Kings Cross - yes it's only over the road and there is access to all of the Tube lines that converge there, but it might add/subtract a few minutes.
Any other questions, let me know.
I live in Cambridge and did the daily commute into London for 4 years. The area around the station is quite a nice place to be now - the area immediately around the station is undergoing a big redevelopment (more on which below), which as well as the new shops etc in the development itself is pulling the rest of the area up. Around the station you now have the everyday "essentials": M&S Food,mini Sainsburys, Wasabi, Caffe Nero, Pret, and a half decent but not cheap pub, nearby you 3 decent pubs - the Flying Pig, the Salisbury Arms and the Live & Let Live, at the end of Station Road there is a good barbecue place, and not too far from Station Road are various sandwich shops and a cracking curry place (Saffron Brasserie).
In terms of your questions:
1. Am I being naive to consider commuting this sort of distance and is the cost (both financially and physically), too high?
Plenty do it, but I certainly don't miss it. A lot will depend on what your journey from home to Kings Cross looks like. These days I'm down in the smoke about once a week on average.
2. Should I drive or take the train?
Train, definitely - see answer to Question 3 below.
3. If I were to drive, is traffic in Cambridge mental in the morning?
Yes it is, especially from J11 of the M11, which I suspect is the junction you're most likely to take. The M11 itself can be pretty toxic in rush hour, and I can't imagine driving out of London in rush hour is going to be a barrel of laughs. I'm assuming where you will be working doesn't have parking? If that is the case, then parking around the station is pretty non-existent - as part of the redevelopment of the station, the car-hating Council seems hellbent on reducing parking at the station as much as possible, and making access to it as awkward as possible. The station car park (£10 a day) fills up quite early; the surrounding streets are unsurprisingly residents only parking. Your next nearest public car park would be Cambridge Leisure (£20 per day, according to Parkopedia).
4. If I were to take the train, would I get a seat?
Based on the trains going the other way, yes you will, notwithstanding Great Northern's masterstroke of introducing newer (Southern Region cast off 2 - 3 years old) trains....with fewer seats on them than the ones they're replacing. All new new trains are due to come in next year, when the Kings Cross - Cambridge route becomes part of Thameslink. Actually, that would be worth investigating, as when that change occurs, some Cambridge trains will go into St Pancras rather than Kings Cross - yes it's only over the road and there is access to all of the Tube lines that converge there, but it might add/subtract a few minutes.
Any other questions, let me know.
Speed.deman said:
Europa1, thank you very much for a very helpful post! Where could I find some more information on this blend with Thameslink. Would that mean that I might be able to use other stations closer to NW8 perhaps, like West Hampstead, Frognal, etc? Apologies, I am very much a train virgin!
No worries Edited by Speed.deman on Wednesday 11th October 11:59
For info on the Thameslink stuff, I'd just try the Great Northern website. You clearly are a train virgin! - West Hampstead and Frognal are on London Overground, and won't be any use getting to Kings Cross. I think the Cambridge Thameslink trains that go through St Pancras will run on the London Bridge route to Gatwick and Brighton.
Cambridge is stupidly expensive to both park and rent/buy a house (probably not far off London prices)
If your office is by the station but doesn't have parking you are looking at £10 a day (40ish for a week pass) at the station - if you can find a space. Or £16/£20 at the nearest NCP (discount if you buy something from a local shop). The park and rides have a decent service if the timetable works for you.
A decent flat/terrace house is about £1400 a month.
If your office is by the station but doesn't have parking you are looking at £10 a day (40ish for a week pass) at the station - if you can find a space. Or £16/£20 at the nearest NCP (discount if you buy something from a local shop). The park and rides have a decent service if the timetable works for you.
A decent flat/terrace house is about £1400 a month.
Definitely don't drive it. I did that for a couple of years (reverse of your journey and a bit shorter, going into London in the mornings from N Herts). Even against the main flow of traffic, it'll be tiring and boring, it'll wear your car out fast and it will usually be slower than the train. And the Cambridge rush hour is to be avoided.
Do your research on the Kings X-Cambridge train route and do some dry runs before deciding. Great Northern are changing the timetable next year, not all of the changes are for the better. Plus the stopping trains are really really slow. Still better than battling through on the roads though. Its a pretty reliable service but when it goes wrong, it goes spectacularly wrong. Still, I don't regret giving up the drive.
Do your research on the Kings X-Cambridge train route and do some dry runs before deciding. Great Northern are changing the timetable next year, not all of the changes are for the better. Plus the stopping trains are really really slow. Still better than battling through on the roads though. Its a pretty reliable service but when it goes wrong, it goes spectacularly wrong. Still, I don't regret giving up the drive.
magooagain said:
Looks like it's all been covered.
The only thing I can add is if you are doing office hours be prepared for lots of School kids getting on the train. Starting about Sawbridgeworth onwards.
Good luck.
From NW8 I'd have thought the Kings Cross line rather than the Liverpool Street line would be easier, plus the journey time is less if OP gets the fast trains, then he'll only have schoolkids getting on at Royston to worry about (and not too many of those).The only thing I can add is if you are doing office hours be prepared for lots of School kids getting on the train. Starting about Sawbridgeworth onwards.
Good luck.
Spindoctor said:
Europa1 said:
From NW8 I'd have thought the Kings Cross line rather than the Liverpool Street line would be easier, plus the journey time is less if OP gets the fast trains, then he'll only have schoolkids getting on at Royston to worry about (and not too many of those).
Lots of London kids travel to school in Letchworth, on the Kings X-Cambridge line. They're good kids, spirited perhaps...The roads surround whittlesford station are packed with people thinking the same about drive + train so depending on time, you may struggle.
It probably is around 10 mins walk from the station exit to clifton road. There is a bridge but it's just north of the station and using that would probably take longer than using the south route around the station.
It probably is around 10 mins walk from the station exit to clifton road. There is a bridge but it's just north of the station and using that would probably take longer than using the south route around the station.
Speed.deman said:
Thanks again everyone.
Looks like the train is the only real way forward as the office is on Clifton Road which look just across the station. However, Google is suggesting it a 12 minute walk! Surely there's an over-bridge?
Also, thinking out of the box, any point in maybe driving, stopping short of "bad" Cambridge and hopping on a train to Cambridge?
There are 2 bridges just north and just south of the station however the station itself doesn't have access from both sides so it's a bit of a loop 12 min sounds about right depending where you are. Looks like the train is the only real way forward as the office is on Clifton Road which look just across the station. However, Google is suggesting it a 12 minute walk! Surely there's an over-bridge?
Also, thinking out of the box, any point in maybe driving, stopping short of "bad" Cambridge and hopping on a train to Cambridge?
As others have said cambridge is a place which is constantly making decisions to make cars less and less appealing and you'll weekly hear of the latest stupid scheme to make your life as a car owner worse. I live outside and drive to the science park in the north which takes less time than driving out of the city on a weekday morning.
hyphen said:
I would rent a cheap room in a house/flat share and stay there a few nights a week. commuting 2hour each way will be tiring.
Some people don't mind it though, and will depend on what time you start/finish too.
No such thing! I saw a flat in the sSome people don't mind it though, and will depend on what time you start/finish too.
ttiest area of the city for 250k, that was considered "cheap"MDMetal said:
There are 2 bridges just north and just south of the station however the station itself doesn't have access from both sides so it's a bit of a loop 12 min sounds about right depending where you are.
OP, look up the station on Google Maps. You'll see that Clifton Road is the other side of the tracks, and that the station is between a foot and cycle bridge (Carter Bridge) and a road bridge (Hills Road), so annoyingly, as MDMetal implies, you have to walk one way, cross the tracks, then effectively turn 180 degrees to head back on yourself. 12 minutes sounds about right to me. If you're on Clifton Road, the Earl of Derby is your nearest pub, the Taj Tandoori is good for curry (but you have to take your own booze (convenience store nearby), and you have the delights of the Cambridge Leisure Park on your doorstep - Nandos, Frankie & Benny's, a mexican chain, Nusha (bar), The Junction (club), a Tesco Metro and a Sainsburys express, gym, bowling alley and a Five Guys.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff