What is Ely like?

Leaseholder49

Have you considered Oxfordshire or Hampshire at all?

If you're looking for anything bigger than 3-beds in Ely your very likely to end up on one of the many big new build areas on the outskirts (you can get a 4-bed detached there for £250k). Don't know if that bothers you, but I find them pretty soulless places (make me think of the Truman Show...). Not really my idea of a 'community feel'. But I don't know Surrey, so not sure how it would compare.

You'll get a much better idea of whether it suits you when you make your visit. Ely's definitely the only 'reasonably priced' part of Cambridgeshire I'd live in (with the possible exception of the 'right parts' of Peterborough).

datostar

Leaseholder49 wrote: »

Have you considered Oxfordshire or Hampshire at all?
You'll get a much better idea of whether it suits you when you make your visit. Ely's definitely the only 'reasonably priced' part of Cambridgeshire I'd live in (with the possible exception of the 'right parts' of Peterborough).

I always like the look of the villages between Royston and Cambridge; Melbourne, Harston and so on. Royston itself has nice parts.

Leaseholder49

I agree - there are some particularly nice places just over the border into Herts round Therfield way.

But access to good train links into London moves that area out of the 'reasonably priced' bracket IMO!

lincroft1710

jd1000 wrote: »

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,

Try North Essex/Suffolk, may be a bit more than 2 hr drive though.

PasturesNew

I'd hardly call living in/near Ely "popping" into London.

the_geary

The Fens can be amazingly beautiful as well - it depends what sort of landscape you're after. The quality of light is similar to that in the Shetlands.
Try looking here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/cambridgeshire/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/thefensandeastanglia/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/eastanglia/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/73768076@N00/

The sunrises and sunsets are lovely.

the_geary

jd1000 wrote: »

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,

Although the newer builds aren't everyones' thing, there is a lot of choice because of the supply. There are many families, lots of people walking into town to shop. There is a twice weekly market and a farmers' market 3 times a month.
Everyone I've known who's been to Ely has loved it. We moved here a few years ago having previously lived in big cities and haven't regretted it at all.
There are alternative routes into Cambridge which aren't as busy as the A10, and it's very commuteable on the train. London is about 1.25 hrs and there are a number of commuters into London. It is about 1.5-2hrs drive depending on traffic etc.

I think your best bet is to have a look round. Visit Peacocks, the award winning tearooms by the river.

Doshwaster

datostar wrote: »

I always like the look of the villages between Royston and Cambridge; Melbourne, Harston and so on. Royston itself has nice parts.

Some lovely parts around there but they are slap bang in the middle of prime commuterland which means higher prices. Good connections to London (rail, A1, M11), close to airports (STN and LTN), good schools and handy for those working in Cambridge. That's where I would be given the budget, but your money goes so much further north and east of Cambridge.

oramgepekoe

Doshwaster wrote: »

Some lovely parts around there but they are slap bang in the middle of prime commuterland which means higher prices. Good connections to London (rail, A1, M11), close to airports (STN and LTN), good schools and handy for those working in Cambridge. That's where I would be given the budget, but your money goes so much further north and east of Cambridge.

A friend who was looking in that area eventually moved to the Biggleswade/Sandy area of Bedfordshire as it was cheaper but still had trains to London and is on the A1.

LittleMissAspie

Ely is overpriced if you ask me. £150k for a 2-bed with a 10 mile commute that takes over a hour? No thanks. There are places much nearer to Cambridge for similar prices. Ely is nice to visit for a walk around but I wouldn't live there unless it was much cheaper.