Houses on a street. South Cambridgeshire: 7th Best

Best & Worst Places To Live South Cambridgeshire: 7th Best

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Date Published:
02/06/2008
Windmill. South Cambridgeshire: 7th Best

South Cambridgeshire has been a fixture in our top 10 for the past three years, and it's not too hard to see why. As well as being slap bang in the middle of miles of uninterrupted open countryside, it's also a gateway to the centuries of history and culture offered by Cambridge city.

Sold on South Cambridgshire? Discuss with others and rate the area >>

Kirstie and Phil. South Cambridgeshire: 7th Best

Phil And Kirstie's View

This green and pleasant Authority ranks well due to high salaries and employment levels. The downside though is the usual with these posh spots - there's very little to do. We guess they must make their own entertainment, but with birth rates being lower than the national average it's certainly not in the bedroom!

Area Guide: South Cambridgeshire

If it's peace and quiet you're looking for, there are few better choices. South Cambridgeshire's residents tend to be affluent middle class professionals, typically earning around £555 a week, almost 20 per cent higher than the national average. And, crime figures are exceptionally low, with incidents of violence numbering less than half the national average, and vehicle theft and robbery figures similarly low.

Despite a sizeable growth in housing over the last decade, new developments continue to be encouraged to respect the local environment: the area's new administrative centre, Cambourne, which began construction in 1998, is testament to this, with an 'eco park' and a new 80-acre country park as integral to its planning as its business park.

Concern for the environment in an already well-preserved area is commendably high, too. An impressive 100 per cent of homes have kerbside recycling collection.

Travel links aren't bad, either. Stansted Airport is easily accessible, and frequent trains to London run through the larger villages of the area, making a jaunt to the capital a breeze. Even more attractive for an area with so much to offer, the average house cost a very reasonable £260,000 in July 2007.

When surveyed just three years ago, 60 per cent of residents said they were satisfied with the area's arts and cultural facilities, far exceeding the national average of 47 per cent. For an area surrounding a city that has hosted the talents of everyone from Lord Byron to the Monty Python team, this is perhaps one of the less newsworthy facts about an area full of surprises.

Venturing away from the attractions of the university and another weekend punting on the river Cam, there's plenty to explore outside the city borders. Whether it's enjoying a walk in Milton Country Park, taking in one of English Sinfonia's concerts in a medieval church, marveling at Duxford's historical air shows, or simply reveling in the quaint delights of villages like Six Mile Bottom, you'll have no difficulty finding something to keep you amused. And we would be more than happy to continue welcoming this affable borough to our list for many years to come.

More From Phil And Kirstie

<< Go back to the index to read about more Best and Worst places

Have your say by discussing South Cambridgeshire with other users >>

Check out the 6th Best Place to Live >>

Useful Links

Local area info for South Cambridgeshire on upmystreet.com >>

South Cambridgeshire District Council >>

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  1. I live in North Hertfordshire, I have to say that being so close to Cambridge anyway has enabled me to enough of the city and the nearer-to-me parts of county Cambridgeshire for me to have essentially fallen in love with that part of the country. I am a university student at the moment, so although it will probably be another few years before I look to buy property outright, I am already seriously considering moving to Cambridgeshire as it is for me a wonderful part of the country. With such vast diversity between areas of rural and urban living, this a one county in this country which I would argue has something for everyone. What would attract me is, without meaning to offend any Londoners who may read this in future, it gets me even further away from the Capital because I cannot stand London as a city. Cambridge is much nicer as a city, and a relatively big one nonetheless, and going back to my point that I am currently at university the higher employment and average salary levels in Cambridgeshire are very attractive to me thinking about post-graduation. It's no surprise to me that South Cambridgeshire has been a feature of this Top 10 in the 'Best/Worst places to live' survey for the last few years. I wonder where the city of Cambridge itself is ranked currently though..?
    Posted by Phil on 11/07/2009 00:57:45
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  2. I would agree that it is a stunning part of the county with masses of history and culture to soak up, however having spent a year in cambridge a few years back i would have to say that it is not the friendliest place around with the locals seeming to think i was from an alien planet as i have a northern accent {coupled with a degree!!}. I livd in Hull for a year as well and despite the risk of getting my car nicked the locals at least spoke to you without disdain.
    Posted by J B on 13/02/2009 09:02:22
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