Peterborough- Where to live
Discussion
My nigh-on 6 monthly request for help after a brief but pleasant stay in Ashbourne after recommendations from here (and a last minute diversion from what was supposed to be Brum).
The missus will be working at Perkins Engineering (Cat really), and a 30 min commute is acceptable, which appears to cover an awful lot of the area. I appreciate it has grown a lot in recent years, and if traffic is s
te as result, please let me know.
Important- good schools, primary but soon secondary, and things to do for kids. We’ll rent for a while as we have done for some time, then may sell a house and buy, no rush on that.
By the look of it the expansion means there is no shortgage of soulless cardboard boxes to live in fairly cheaply at first, the city centre is not one that offers much in the way of outstanding reasons to be there, but we’d get through the probation and then sort ourselves out.
First impressions are Rutland and Stamford look nice, and Huntingdon does at least get close to mainstream Cambridge, although I’m not too sure what there is to do there.
Where do you live, where would you live?
TIA.
The missus will be working at Perkins Engineering (Cat really), and a 30 min commute is acceptable, which appears to cover an awful lot of the area. I appreciate it has grown a lot in recent years, and if traffic is s
te as result, please let me know.Important- good schools, primary but soon secondary, and things to do for kids. We’ll rent for a while as we have done for some time, then may sell a house and buy, no rush on that.
By the look of it the expansion means there is no shortgage of soulless cardboard boxes to live in fairly cheaply at first, the city centre is not one that offers much in the way of outstanding reasons to be there, but we’d get through the probation and then sort ourselves out.
First impressions are Rutland and Stamford look nice, and Huntingdon does at least get close to mainstream Cambridge, although I’m not too sure what there is to do there.
Where do you live, where would you live?
TIA.
We live on the Lincs / Cambs border.
Basically draw a line from the Peterborough city centre up the A15 and down the A1. Anything to the west
anything to the right not so much. Massive over simplification, but you get the idea.
As others have said Stamford and Oundle are the best, but prices reflect that. The Deepings and Bourne are nice. Bourne has a Grammar school.
PM in the way.
Basically draw a line from the Peterborough city centre up the A15 and down the A1. Anything to the west
anything to the right not so much. Massive over simplification, but you get the idea.As others have said Stamford and Oundle are the best, but prices reflect that. The Deepings and Bourne are nice. Bourne has a Grammar school.
PM in the way.
Gameface said:
I've got people in the prison. Can ask their opinions if you want?
Encouraging!
As is the Guardian article on it https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/dec/11/p...
Anyway, what’s the closest grammar school LA? If that’s the right terminology. It would be useful to check that out, Lincs I assume, but that seems a long way north (??) Guess it’s also a risk if you’re only just in the grammar school area, and don’t get in, unless there are [affordable-ish] private schools close by, it could go Pete Tong...
Edited by Croutons on Tuesday 11th December 22:06
try the A14 before you commit to a commute along there!
Stamford and Oundle (and the surrounding villages) are very nice. Mum is in Oundle and has a nice life there - no idea what the (free) schools in either are like but both have good private schools.
I always likes Castor and Ailsworth.
Personally I'd try and go more towards the Northamptonshire side than Lincolnshire/Norfolk side if going rural, as the latter always seemed a bit rougher and more popular with the mathematical locksmiths of the area.
Stamford and Oundle (and the surrounding villages) are very nice. Mum is in Oundle and has a nice life there - no idea what the (free) schools in either are like but both have good private schools.
I always likes Castor and Ailsworth.
Personally I'd try and go more towards the Northamptonshire side than Lincolnshire/Norfolk side if going rural, as the latter always seemed a bit rougher and more popular with the mathematical locksmiths of the area.
Croutons said:
My nigh-on 6 monthly request for help after a brief but pleasant stay in Ashbourne after recommendations from here (and a last minute diversion from what was supposed to be Brum).
The missus will be working at Perkins Engineering (Cat really), and a 30 min commute is acceptable, which appears to cover an awful lot of the area. I appreciate it has grown a lot in recent years, and if traffic is ste as result, please let me know.
Important- good schools, primary but soon secondary, and things to do for kids. We’ll rent for a while as we have done for some time, then may sell a house and buy, no rush on that.
By the look of it the expansion means there is no shortgage of soulless cardboard boxes to live in fairly cheaply at first, the city centre is not one that offers much in the way of outstanding reasons to be there, but we’d get through the probation and then sort ourselves out.
First impressions are Rutland and Stamford look nice, and Huntingdon does at least get close to mainstream Cambridge, although I’m not too sure what there is to do there.
Where do you live, where would you live?
TIA.
Peterborian born and bred, what do you want to know The missus will be working at Perkins Engineering (Cat really), and a 30 min commute is acceptable, which appears to cover an awful lot of the area. I appreciate it has grown a lot in recent years, and if traffic is s
te as result, please let me know.Important- good schools, primary but soon secondary, and things to do for kids. We’ll rent for a while as we have done for some time, then may sell a house and buy, no rush on that.
By the look of it the expansion means there is no shortgage of soulless cardboard boxes to live in fairly cheaply at first, the city centre is not one that offers much in the way of outstanding reasons to be there, but we’d get through the probation and then sort ourselves out.
First impressions are Rutland and Stamford look nice, and Huntingdon does at least get close to mainstream Cambridge, although I’m not too sure what there is to do there.
Where do you live, where would you live?
TIA.
Firstly it can take thirty mins to get across Peterborough if you time it wrong, will she be working office hours? If so add a fair bit of time to the commute.
If schools are a priority I'd start in catchment for Amberly Slope in Werrington and overlay that with AMVC in Glinton. They're both very good schools and it's a relatively short commute to Perkins.
You're five minutes from the countryside (or in it in Glinton) and it's very safe if you pick the right area. There are box estates in Werrington as well as the nicer parts, don't judge it by these.
Stamford and Oundle are beautiful, but you pay a hefty premium.
Avoid Hampton, it's congested and gridlocked most of the day. It's only redeeming feature is it's close to the A1 so you can leave it quickly.
Orton village is nice but hard to get out of in the mornings as you have to use Oundle Road. The plus side is you're very near Ferry Meadows.
I probably know Peterborough as well as any man alive, I can save you lots of time looking at non-starters if you want my advice
Megaflow said:
We live on the Lincs / Cambs border.
Basically draw a line from the Peterborough city centre up the A15 and down the A1. Anything to the west anything to the right not so much. Massive over simplification, but you get the idea.
As others have said Stamford and Oundle are the best, but prices reflect that. The Deepings and Bourne are nice. Bourne has a Grammar school.
PM in the way.
Pretty much this. We were looking for a property a bit further north than we are at the moment (near Hitchin). Pretty much had to discount anything east of the A1, and anything around the A1M itself.Basically draw a line from the Peterborough city centre up the A15 and down the A1. Anything to the west
anything to the right not so much. Massive over simplification, but you get the idea.As others have said Stamford and Oundle are the best, but prices reflect that. The Deepings and Bourne are nice. Bourne has a Grammar school.
PM in the way.
Stamford and some of the top tier villages are lovely, but prices match - anything north of Peterborough can look nice on photos but seems very 'fenland' in comparison to villages only about 10 miles west.
We were actually going to buy a 2 acre plot near Kings Cliffe (not a top tier village, but then the plot wasn't in the village either!) and build a lovely house but the locals (mainly the vendors themselves) eventually put us off. We also looked to buy in Easton on the Hill, but eventually settled on buying in (very) central Stamford - except instead of the big plot and major move, we've ended up with a '2nd home' instead. But its such a lovely town, I expect we'll spend a fair amount of time there once the place is finished.
Which reminds me, I must update the renovation thread!
As others have said Stamford, or one of the surrounding villages depending on your outlook between town and village
I grew up between Stamford and Bourne and would move around there, try somewhere like Greatford/Barholm area as the villages have pubs (the one I grew up in didn't) and you can escape out across country to Perkins and don't have to navigate the A47 and through the middle of Peterborough . There are a couple of routes which helps if there is an incident, both are close enough to Stamford for a taxi. Stamford (and Oakham) are excellent for pubs/resturants, Bourne less so but it is on the up.
Stamford school is a price point below Oakham and a couple below Oundle and Uppingham but didn't do me any harm (apart from my S&G and no school can fix that!).
I grew up between Stamford and Bourne and would move around there, try somewhere like Greatford/Barholm area as the villages have pubs (the one I grew up in didn't) and you can escape out across country to Perkins and don't have to navigate the A47 and through the middle of Peterborough . There are a couple of routes which helps if there is an incident, both are close enough to Stamford for a taxi. Stamford (and Oakham) are excellent for pubs/resturants, Bourne less so but it is on the up.
Stamford school is a price point below Oakham and a couple below Oundle and Uppingham but didn't do me any harm (apart from my S&G and no school can fix that!).
What sort of thing are you looking for? If you give us an idea, the locals will probably be able to point you in the right direction. I do know of a lovely, fully renovated house in four acres with stables, manege, garaging with office above that'll be going on the market come spring 
Firstly, thanks all very much for the help, really kind of you, especially those who have also PM’d.
Secondly, schools look a fecking nightmare, secondary is under 2 full school years away, but with few in year spaces it looks like the wife will get a foothold in a catchment first, and I’ll bring the brats in the summer, so that we apply from there.
Question then is, southern tip of Lincs and fingers crossed the Grammar comes off, or duck it and just be close to something good (and/ or with private fallback) elsewhere..?
So unless those 4 acres happen to be close to a good secondary, I’m afraid I might not be that interested!
I appreciate it’s another Guardian link, but, as only TWO pupils go to Oxbridge from Rutland,either there are only two pupils, or I’m going to be snobbish because I want the best for my kids, that’s not on the radar for the schools, and there’s usually a reason for that.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/dec/07/...
Anyway, lots of nice places to check out, all of which are west of Pboro by the sound of it!
Secondly, schools look a fecking nightmare, secondary is under 2 full school years away, but with few in year spaces it looks like the wife will get a foothold in a catchment first, and I’ll bring the brats in the summer, so that we apply from there.
Question then is, southern tip of Lincs and fingers crossed the Grammar comes off, or duck it and just be close to something good (and/ or with private fallback) elsewhere..?
So unless those 4 acres happen to be close to a good secondary, I’m afraid I might not be that interested!
I appreciate it’s another Guardian link, but, as only TWO pupils go to Oxbridge from Rutland,either there are only two pupils, or I’m going to be snobbish because I want the best for my kids, that’s not on the radar for the schools, and there’s usually a reason for that.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/dec/07/...
Anyway, lots of nice places to check out, all of which are west of Pboro by the sound of it!
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