Living in / around Cambridge
Discussion
In a few weeks time, within a month more than likely, I will be taking a job in Cambridge, based out by the airport.
I'm looking to rent somewhere either in Cambridge, or within a reasonable commute-by-car distance.
Can anyone recommend the places to look and, importantly, avoid please?
Mods: not sure where to stick this, so feel free to move it.
I'm looking to rent somewhere either in Cambridge, or within a reasonable commute-by-car distance.
Can anyone recommend the places to look and, importantly, avoid please?
Mods: not sure where to stick this, so feel free to move it.
The job is with Marshall Aerospace.
Trevor555: yep, found those roadworks when I went for the interview.
Yajeed: there'll just be me, as I'm maintaining my house up north. I'm not really bothered if it's town or country, in all fairness, and I reckon a commute of 30 mins or so would be fine.
Trevor555: yep, found those roadworks when I went for the interview.
Yajeed: there'll just be me, as I'm maintaining my house up north. I'm not really bothered if it's town or country, in all fairness, and I reckon a commute of 30 mins or so would be fine.
Cambridge itself is pretty expensive to live, but obvious closest to amenities and with plenty to occupy your time.
If you don’t mind travelling a bit to work and want to save some money, then there are some nice country villages within 30 mins commute.
Heading out towards Newmarket, or even towards (but not as far as Bury).
I used to live in Reach, which is about 25-30mins to where you’ll be working. Newmarket Rd gets busy at rush hour so if planning to commute and head in from the a14, keep that in mind.
I’d personally avoid red lodge - it’s cheap and well positioned but not the nicest area. That said, it’s hard to go very wrong around Cambridge since it’s all pretty safe.
If you don’t mind travelling a bit to work and want to save some money, then there are some nice country villages within 30 mins commute.
Heading out towards Newmarket, or even towards (but not as far as Bury).
I used to live in Reach, which is about 25-30mins to where you’ll be working. Newmarket Rd gets busy at rush hour so if planning to commute and head in from the a14, keep that in mind.
I’d personally avoid red lodge - it’s cheap and well positioned but not the nicest area. That said, it’s hard to go very wrong around Cambridge since it’s all pretty safe.
My gf lives near Mildenhall, and has many colleagues in Red Lodge. I'm near Huntingdon, so the other end of the A14/A11 roadworks. Since they've extended the 40mph limit to the A11 north of the A14 junction it's a royal pain!
Villages round the airbases have a fair turnover of decent rental accommodation, if it's had a US serviceman in there you can be assured that the rental agreement and property have been reviewed by the military to confirm to their standards. Red Lodge seems a bit variable, but there are a couple of parts of it with lots of US personnel in that are decent, especially since most appear to be officers!
Personally I'd go south of the A14/A11 just to avoid the traffic. Even then the northbound A11 is horrible as the A14 backs up onto it.
Villages round the airbases have a fair turnover of decent rental accommodation, if it's had a US serviceman in there you can be assured that the rental agreement and property have been reviewed by the military to confirm to their standards. Red Lodge seems a bit variable, but there are a couple of parts of it with lots of US personnel in that are decent, especially since most appear to be officers!
Personally I'd go south of the A14/A11 just to avoid the traffic. Even then the northbound A11 is horrible as the A14 backs up onto it.
What age are you? What do you like doing? Are you married / kids? Schools important? Access to London for theatre/shopping/excitement? Lots of parking?
Cambridge is a young and vibrant city with lots going on. If you want to be part of that then it's best to be in the city itself. If you like quiet and countryside, then the villages are lovely. Cambridge is not great for cars - on street parking is the norm and many, many roads are narrow enough to worry about leaving a car parked.
Traffic is a nightmare. The roads are approaching gridlock and the council are allowing thousands of homes to be built with no regard to the infrastructure. Indeed, the airport will soon be covered with housing. Furthermore, the cycling lobby are intent on taking up that road space for more cycle lanes. An 8 mile commute can take an hour in the morning and not far off in the evening. Peak traffic is school drop off / pick up time. Cycling is a better option if that is feasible.
I'm south-west - so the wrong side for Marshalls. You probably want to stay away from my side as it is much more commutable to London so the prices are higher. Likewise stuff close to the station in Cambridge (which is further from your work).
Cambridge is a young and vibrant city with lots going on. If you want to be part of that then it's best to be in the city itself. If you like quiet and countryside, then the villages are lovely. Cambridge is not great for cars - on street parking is the norm and many, many roads are narrow enough to worry about leaving a car parked.
Traffic is a nightmare. The roads are approaching gridlock and the council are allowing thousands of homes to be built with no regard to the infrastructure. Indeed, the airport will soon be covered with housing. Furthermore, the cycling lobby are intent on taking up that road space for more cycle lanes. An 8 mile commute can take an hour in the morning and not far off in the evening. Peak traffic is school drop off / pick up time. Cycling is a better option if that is feasible.
I'm south-west - so the wrong side for Marshalls. You probably want to stay away from my side as it is much more commutable to London so the prices are higher. Likewise stuff close to the station in Cambridge (which is further from your work).
I lived NE Cambs (near Reach) for a good few years, then rented in Fen Ditton, now live SW Cambs.
Given you seem more focussed on getting into work easily I would discount central Cambridge - it can get super expensive, for not much, very quickly and with a difficult commute too. As has been said anything North West, West or South West is a non-starter due to traffic. South / South East is feasible as you can cut up through Fulbourn without too much issue. Personally I would look East/North East particularly if you don't mind village life.
Don't ignore close by though. The airport is not in a particularly expensive area so do look in the immediate vicinity and also Fen Ditton / Teversham / Church End/Cherry Hinton.
Given you seem more focussed on getting into work easily I would discount central Cambridge - it can get super expensive, for not much, very quickly and with a difficult commute too. As has been said anything North West, West or South West is a non-starter due to traffic. South / South East is feasible as you can cut up through Fulbourn without too much issue. Personally I would look East/North East particularly if you don't mind village life.
Don't ignore close by though. The airport is not in a particularly expensive area so do look in the immediate vicinity and also Fen Ditton / Teversham / Church End/Cherry Hinton.
Here you go fella........
https://abnb.me/pVXp85Xp2O
Book this for a week
£35 per night. A couple of miles from the airport
Low risk opportunity to check out the area
https://abnb.me/pVXp85Xp2O
Book this for a week
£35 per night. A couple of miles from the airport
Low risk opportunity to check out the area
Apols for disappearing - with a couple of weeks off between jobs, I've been smashing some DIY out (now, now, don't be rude). Don't think I've sat down much since I started this thread off.
Plus, getting an actual start date has been a chore, but that's all sorted now.
I've got a couple of places to look at in my first week - booked into an Airbnb for then - one in Dry Drayton which make the commute tricky but, as I've always done, I intend to be well and truly at my desk and drinking coffee by the time it all kicks off (hence the question). The other is roughly in Fen Ditton.
There'll be more that crop up and I make book another week in an Airbnb to look further around.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to it. It's a massive step up for me in my role and for a company I'm really excited about working for
Cheers for all the feedback.
Plus, getting an actual start date has been a chore, but that's all sorted now.
I've got a couple of places to look at in my first week - booked into an Airbnb for then - one in Dry Drayton which make the commute tricky but, as I've always done, I intend to be well and truly at my desk and drinking coffee by the time it all kicks off (hence the question). The other is roughly in Fen Ditton.
There'll be more that crop up and I make book another week in an Airbnb to look further around.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to it. It's a massive step up for me in my role and for a company I'm really excited about working for
Cheers for all the feedback.
Dry Drayton is a nice village, if a little sleepy. You'll find you need to head out of the village for pretty much anything. The Black Bull pub used to be nice, think it's now a community owned pub. The downside is that the commute will be a b
h for a while as through town is just not viable, whilst the A14 is being dug up (again) and will be a clusterfk for the best part of the next two years.
Fen Ditton it will depend which part the house is in. Parts of Fen Ditton are the best of both worlds - old village charm, mixed with facilities and nice pubs nearby. The Plough is on the river, and does reasonable food (not much of a drinkers pub). The new estate that backs onto Marshalls is as rough as a granny's lady bits after being left out in the sun for a week, however. Most of the taxi firms round here won't send their drivers in there after dark.
Good luck with the search!
h for a while as through town is just not viable, whilst the A14 is being dug up (again) and will be a clusterfk for the best part of the next two years.Fen Ditton it will depend which part the house is in. Parts of Fen Ditton are the best of both worlds - old village charm, mixed with facilities and nice pubs nearby. The Plough is on the river, and does reasonable food (not much of a drinkers pub). The new estate that backs onto Marshalls is as rough as a granny's lady bits after being left out in the sun for a week, however. Most of the taxi firms round here won't send their drivers in there after dark.
Good luck with the search!
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