What's Huntingdon & surrounds like?

vansboy

Hi All

I've done a forum search, but nothing shows too recently for responses, so any thoughts on the area(s) to buy much appreciated.

VB

System

Google the town and you find out about the history (good ol' Oliver Cromwell), the surrounding area (good walking, albeit flat), the hospital (were there some problems there recently?), next to what was in years past a very good comprehensive school (the historic house on the same site used to be used by the 6th form many years ago, but now is used for conferences etc - but the grounds are beautiful, or used to be).
Into outdoor sports? Nearby is Grafham water, fantastic for water sports, and the A1 is close by (sorry, that's not for sports, I've worded it badly! Seriously, good access from North and South); actually Cambridge isn't that far. I had friends and family in Eaton Socon, just the other side of St Neots (which also has excellent riverside walks) and Brampton, but that was when the RAF were housed there.... I loved it.
OK, now it's your turn to do your own research on the housing stock... so what's available and for how much?

I_have_spoken

It's OK, but a shame the fast East Coast train doesn't stop, you get the slow service down to Kings Cross although there's a limited stop commuter train plus in the last couple of years the number of carriages has been increased to ease overcrowding.

There's been plans for the A14 southern-bypass kicking about for years, so be mindful when buying around Godmanchester. If it goes ahead, the reduction in A14 traffic through Huntingdon itself would allow the town centre to be improved.

As with most towns in the area (Peterborough, Wisbech etc.) there's a great influx of EEs, so schools etc. are struggling

Prices have gone up due to peeps being priced out of Cambridge.

Don't look north to Peterborough, Yaxley, Hamptons etc. they are dumps now

lemontart

Expensive compared to some areas,

househuntingmad

Huntingdon itself isn't that great. I grew up a bit further north near Peterborough (which itself is mostly a dump as said above). But it depends what you want it for - it has A1 access, direct trains to London (though on slow line sadly) and lots of people who work in Cambridge. The A14 to Cambridge is often heavy with traffic.

Godmanchester, next door to Huntingdon, is pretty nice but also quite expensive. Similar with some of the nicer villages about heading towards Cambridge.

WHere will you be working / needing access to mostly?