What is Ely like?

jd1000

Hi all,
now that I've given up on Wisbech, Im giving Ely a serious look.

Does anyone live there? Whats it like?


Thanks,
John

Leaseholder49

Well, it's waaaay better than Wisbech IMO!

My OH used to live there and I used to stay sometimes and go out there. Still have rellies living there. Plus a mate (mid-30s) has quite recently moved there when he needed a bigger house due to starting a family, and he thinks it's 'lovely'.

The cathedral area is really picturesque. High street shopping is a bit limited, but there is a big Tesco and a Waitrose , and there's always Cambridge only 15 mins away on the train.

Qutie a few nice pubs, specially down by the river, and some pretty good restaurants. Not much in the way of nightlife except one pretty dire-looking club as I remember (never went in!).

A bit in the way of 'culture' going on - concerts in the cathedral, events at the Maltings (I think they have a cinema sometimes).

Lots of sports clubs too.

Good train links both south and north (some direct trains to London).

Not sure about house prices now but they were reasonable (in comparison to Cambridge!) when OH sold.

I think its generally a pretty safe and harmonius place (never heard the rellies complain or experience any probs when I've been there), but I'm not really sure on that.

The fen landscape around is pretty dire, but if you're moving anwhere in that region you obviously aren't going there for it's scenic beauty!

jd1000

Hi,
Thanks for the reply!

I've heard a few people comment on the lack of beauty in the landscape, Ive never been to cambridgeshire, planning to head up there in a few weeks to start scoping it out, but whats so bad about it?

Leaseholder49

It's not all of Cambridgeshire, but broadly the area north of Cambridge up to the coast (fenland) is flat flat flat flat flat.

Flat fields punctuated with ditches. Not much in the way of trees. A bit desolate-looking.

Some people really like it - does have it's own 'feel' about it.

Also you can get some really good sunsets - lots of sky!

Doshwaster

Leaseholder49 wrote: »

The cathedral area is really picturesque. High street shopping is a bit limited, but there is a big Tesco and a Waitrose , and there's always Cambridge only 15 mins away on the train.

I work in Cambridge (but cannot afford to live there) and considered buying in Ely when I moved recently. Ely prices are very reasonable when compared to Cambridge (which is one of the most expensive towns in the country) but the one thing which put me off was that the A10 between Cambridge and Ely would make a terrible commute as it's single carriage all the way and you always seem to get stuck behind Farmer Giles and his tractor.

Leaseholder49

Doshwaster wrote: »

the one thing which put me off was that the A10 between Cambridge and Ely would make a terrible commute as it's single carriage all the way and you always seem to get stuck behind Farmer Giles and his tractor.

Was going to edit my post to add the exact same thing...

It's very do-able on the train though, as long as you don't have too much of a trek at the Cambridge end (I used to do it and take a bike on the train).

pixieland

Ely is nice million times better than Wisbech.Like some one else said the A10 is rubbish,can be a nightmare to drive in the middle of winter and really dark nights.

PasturesNew

If you're seriously thinking of moving to the area, I think you'd be best off taking a 2 week holiday in November and touring round. From November to February, in the Fens, you can often get weeks of icy blasts direct from Siberia - it is paralysingly cold!!!

If you want cheaper housing, access to London, look up Sawston/Shelford, just south of Cambridge. Less travelling time.

No idea what they're like now, but they used to be "a bit posh", because people could commute from there.

Leaseholder49

Don't know about Sawston but Shelford is expensive - very 'sought-after'. Pretty sure Sawston doesn't have a station which would make it cheaper.

Spot on re the artcic winds in the fens!

Leaseholder49

OP - what is it you're looking for from this move (other than places where you can afford a bigger property)? Does your work restrict where you can be geographically? Do you need to be within relatively easy reach of London? Is there anything other than house prices that has made north Cambridgeshire/Norfolk appeal?

I've lived in the north west (too wet!), the north east and in Cambridgeshire, and Cambridgeshire isn't somewhere I would choose to live were it not for work. I initially came here cos I was offered a good job, and regretted it pretty soon afterwards! (High property prices, crowded, dull countryside). I've stuck around partly for work and partly cos I've got a big network of friends in the area now, but will be looking to relocate (probably back to the north east) sometime within the next 10 years once the mortgage is done with.

If you can be flexible geographically I think there are more appealing and better value places to be.

jd1000

Basically Im looking to reduce our mortgage, since the house we're in has gone up in value a lot (we're in Surrey). Would like somewhere semi-rural with a nice community feel to it, and good schooling. A nice place to bring up kids.

My job doesnt restrict me at all, but I'd like to be able to pop into London on the train a few times a month (for business reasons). Have family still in London so would need somewhere roughly 1-2 hrs drive away from West London.


Thanks,