Where to live if working in London/Cambridge

fidaa

Currently work in the north but most of the jobs in my sector are down south (Near Euston, Paddington, Cambridge). Where is it affordable or a central point to live to purchase a detached house in a nice area. In addition, this area should be able to be decent commute into London, Cambridge etc. I have found Buckinghamshire and my research indicates this is a decent place with decent housing and not to far from London etc. I would be looking at detached houses between 375k-475k. Can afford around a 100k deposit.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

jimbog

Bedford?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134681045#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135006221#/?channel=RES_BUY

Tiglet2

Are you driving to London and Cambridge or taking the train?

I'd maybe look at Baldock/Letchworth on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border.  Very close to the A1 for a straightish drive to North London and across country via Royston for Cambridge.  Trains to and from to London Kings Cross to Cambridge Station run through these towns.

The further south you go the more expensive it is.  Buckinghamshire is a lovely county but is very expensive in places and not particularly close to Cambridge.  Milton Keynes would probably give you the most value for money, but Cambridge would most likely be a drive, not a train journey, though it is doable, as it is from Bedford as jimbog states above.

lincroft1710

jimbog said:

Bedford?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134681045#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135006221#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP said nice area! Locals continually moan about the state of the town centre.


Of the 2 houses you mention, Barkers Lane is very busy and Brackley Road is not in a good area of the town.


Bedford does have good rail links to London, but the proposed rail link to Cambridge is still in the planning stage.

fidaa

Tiglet2 said:

Are you driving to London and Cambridge or taking the train?

I'd maybe look at Baldock/Letchworth on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border.  Very close to the A1 for a straightish drive to North London and across country via Royston for Cambridge.  Trains to and from to London Kings Cross to Cambridge Station run through these stations.

The further south you go the more expensive it is.  Buckinghamshire is a lovely county but is very expensive in places and not particularly close to Cambridge.  Milton Keynes would probably give you the most value for money, but Cambridge would most likely be a drive, not a train journey, though it is doable, as it is from Bedford as jimbog states above.

If London, train and then possibly tube. If Cambridge, a drive.

I have heard of baldock and letchworth. Are they nice areas?

Bedford looks run down?

fidaa

jimbog said:

Bedford?

What about Aylesbury?

lincroft1710

fidaa said:

jimbog said:

Bedford?

What about Aylesbury?

Long way from Cambridge, too far west.


The North Hertfordshire towns of Baldock, Bishops Stortford, Hertford, Hitchin and Letchworth are reasonably near Cambridge and have or are near rail links to London. They were all quite nice towns, but not sure how they stand now. But being Hertfordshire they are expensive.

Section62

fidaa said:

Tiglet2 said:

Are you driving to London and Cambridge or taking the train?

I'd maybe look at Baldock/Letchworth on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border.  Very close to the A1 for a straightish drive to North London and across country via Royston for Cambridge.  Trains to and from to London Kings Cross to Cambridge Station run through these stations.

The further south you go the more expensive it is.  Buckinghamshire is a lovely county but is very expensive in places and not particularly close to Cambridge.  Milton Keynes would probably give you the most value for money, but Cambridge would most likely be a drive, not a train journey, though it is doable, as it is from Bedford as jimbog states above.

If London, train and then possibly tube. If Cambridge, a drive.

I have heard of baldock and letchworth. Are they nice areas?

Like most places, some parts good, some not so good.

Also worth looking at Hitchin, possibly Stevenage.  Hitchin is nice and less 'new town' than the others.

Stevenage has the advantage of a range of property prices/quality, plus it is a main stopping point for trains (including some serving the North) so offers some very fast journey times to London.

The drive to Cambridge is do-able, but a bit of a pitb as some parts of the route are still single-carriageway (and probably always will be).  Plus getting into the centre of Cambridge is becoming increasingly difficult.  The train service from Stevenage/Hitchin/Letchworth/Baldock to Cambridge is good and relatively fast... it may be better than driving depending exactly where you are going in Cambridge.

Commuting from these stations is popular, so check the situation with parking before committing to anywhere that would involve driving to the station and parking.

For nearer to Cambridge, Royston is worth considering.

jimbog

Hitchin may be worth looking at or Ely? Train goes to Cambridge from Ely in 16 mins. Could stay on to London
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134288537#/?channel=RES_BUY

fidaa

jimbog said:

Hitchin may be worth looking at or Ely? Train goes to Cambridge from Ely in 16 mins. Could stay on to London
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134288537#/?channel=RES_BUY

Are they nice places? House looks little small

fidaa

Section62 said:

fidaa said:

Tiglet2 said:

Are you driving to London and Cambridge or taking the train?

I'd maybe look at Baldock/Letchworth on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border.  Very close to the A1 for a straightish drive to North London and across country via Royston for Cambridge.  Trains to and from to London Kings Cross to Cambridge Station run through these stations.

The further south you go the more expensive it is.  Buckinghamshire is a lovely county but is very expensive in places and not particularly close to Cambridge.  Milton Keynes would probably give you the most value for money, but Cambridge would most likely be a drive, not a train journey, though it is doable, as it is from Bedford as jimbog states above.

If London, train and then possibly tube. If Cambridge, a drive.

I have heard of baldock and letchworth. Are they nice areas?

Like most places, some parts good, some not so good.

Also worth looking at Hitchin, possibly Stevenage.  Hitchin is nice and less 'new town' than the others.

Stevenage has the advantage of a range of property prices/quality, plus it is a main stopping point for trains (including some serving the North) so offers some very fast journey times to London.

The drive to Cambridge is do-able, but a bit of a pitb as some parts of the route are still single-carriageway (and probably always will be).  Plus getting into the centre of Cambridge is becoming increasingly difficult.  The train service from Stevenage/Hitchin/Letchworth/Baldock to Cambridge is good and relatively fast... it may be better than driving depending exactly where you are going in Cambridge.

Commuting from these stations is popular, so check the situation with parking before committing to anywhere that would involve driving to the station and parking.

For nearer to Cambridge, Royston is worth considering.

Thank you this is helpful. I had heard Stevenage is run down?