LIVING and WORKING in the AREA CONTENTS Introduction
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LIVING AND WORKING IN THE AREA CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................. 3 The City of Cambridge ............................................. 4 Culture ...................................................................... 5 Shopping .................................................................. 6 Café Culture, Restaurants and Bars ......................... 7 Huntingdon .............................................................. 8 Residential Areas ..................................................... 10 Housing ................................................................... 12 Travel ....................................................................... 13 Settling your family into the area ........................... 14 Maps ........................................................................ 16 If you are considering relocating to the area to join CRC at either campus (or both) then you might find this brochure, which gives a snapshot into life nearby as well as some insight into housing and travel, a helpful reference. 3 THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE Cambridge, situated in the East of England, is a beautiful, historic city best known for its academics, university colleges and the River Cam. Cambridge is a popular visitor destination attracting people from across the world. The population of Cambridge sits at approximately 125,000 with almost a fifth made up of students and a significantly high proportion of adult professionals with a higher education qualification, making it a great place to work and live. There is an endless supply of culture, history, entertainment and architecture. As you move out of the city you will find yourself in growing townships and a little further afield, you will find beautiful rural villages; meaning you don’t have to travel too far to find country parks, riverside walks and places of interest. Cambridge is renowned for its progressive approach towards industry, science and research and Cambridge Regional College works with over 1,500 local employers to provide learning and training opportunities for students. Travelling in and around is easy with a guided bus service, a choice of park and ride locations, two train stations with links connecting the city directly to London King’s Cross and Liverpool Street, Ipswich, Ely and Norwich, and the cross-country lines link Cambridge with Stansted Airport and Birmingham. In addition, there are excellent motorway links with the A14, M11 and A1 just a short distance away. The College is located to the North East of the city and is easily accessible from A14. There is free on-campus parking for staff and electric vehicle charging points. 4 CULTURE If you are looking for the cultural experience, Cambridge has a little bit of everything on offer, including museums and gardens, art exhibitions and entertainment. The museums of Cambridge house more than five million works of art, artefacts and specimens and the historical buildings in which they are situated add further to the appeal. In addition, Cambridge offers a choice of art galleries ranging from classic to contemporary. Cambridge is a very green city with plenty of opportunity for the outdoor experience. In the city centre you will find local nature reserves and Cambridge University Botanic Garden, and, in the surrounding area, the wider city provides the ideal setting for a more relaxed lifestyle in the many country parks, nature reserves and green areas on offer. Places of interest: The Fitzwilliam Museum, as notable for its architecture as its exhibits Cambridge University Museums Ruskin Gallery Kettle’s Yard Gallery New Hall Art Collection Cambridge University Botanic Garden Grantchester Meadows Trumpington Meadows Beechwood Nature Reserve 5 SHOPPING While universities, history and architecture may come to mind when you first think of Cambridge, the city has a great selection of places for you to shop, ranging from shopping centres to independent stores and bustling high streets. The Grand Arcade, situated in the heart of the city, is Cambridge’s leading shopping destination with 60 premium retail stores, as well as a choice of places to eat and drink. Also in the city centre, the Lion Yard shopping centre houses a further range of stores, eateries and more. A ten-minute walk from the centre of town takes you to The Grafton shopping centre where you will find more high street and designer retail stores, restaurants, cafes and a cinema. As you explore the vibrant city you will discover a wide range of independent stores, high street retailers and the market, situated in the cobbled market square. Places of interest: The Grand Arcade The Lion Yard shopping centre The Grafton Centre and cinema The City Market, open 7 days a week Cambridge Retail Park Beehive Centre 6 CAFÉ CULTURE, RESTAURANTS AND BARS If you are looking for somewhere to eat or drink, you won’t have to go far as Cambridge offers an extensive range of great places to dine including restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars. On Campus we have a number of subsidised eatery options and in your free time you might like to get out and explore the full range of restaurants offering international cuisines, cafes offering lighter bites, and public houses to enjoy some quality leisure time in. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism- g186225-Cambridge_Cambridgeshire_ England-Vacations.html 7 HUNTINGDON Huntingdon is home to our other CRC campus and is situated 16 miles to the north-west of Cambridge. Huntingdon is a chartered market town with a rich history and this, coupled with its good commuter connections and scenic riverside walks have put Huntingdon on the house-hunting map. Located on the north bank of the River Great Ouse, opposite Godmanchester and close to St Ives, Huntingdon benefits from good transport links including the A14, A1 and M1. The town was Chartered in 1205 by King John as a market town and is well known as the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell – even having its own Cromwell Museum where there are reportedly nearly 700 items - and the home of former Prime Minister John Major, who served as MP in the area. On the bustling streets of Huntingdon, you’ll find a wide range of boutique and high street shops, a twice-weekly market and a range of pubs and cafés. To learn more, you might like to search up Huntingdon online. A number of useful websites, including: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntingdon https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g209939-Activities-Huntingdon_Cambridgeshire_ England.html Plus others! 8 For those with a love of the outdoors, or simply seeking some pleasant dog walking routes, there is the nearby Portholme Meadow, England’s largest lowland meadows; Hinchingbrooke Country Park which covers 170 acres and a nearby nature reserve in St Neots. For those that enjoy the thrill and glamour of race days, Huntingdon Racecourse holds regular race meetings, including family fun days and special events. There are several National Trust properties nearby including Wimpole Hall with its working estate, and Houghton Mill and Waterclose Meadows, where flour is still produced in the 18th-century watermill. In addition, Grafham Water and Rutland Water offer some great walks, water sports, cycling and fishing. With a range of housing options available, good transport links and a wide range of amenities, Huntingdon and its nearby characterful villages and historic towns have a lot to offer to anyone looking to relocate. 9 RESIDENTIAL AREAS Cambridge and Huntingdon are surrounded by a number of bustling towns and pretty villages, all of which are within commutable distance of Cambridge Regional College’s two campuses. To get you started, we have detailed some of the better-known towns, but be sure to explore the area as there are plenty of villages and new developments being built to also consider when looking for somewhere new to call home. Cambourne is a relatively new settlement located seven miles west of Cambridge along the A428 and 12 miles South of Huntingdon, along the A14. The development started in 1988 and is the largest development in South Cambridgeshire; comprising of Great, Lower and Upper. There are apartments and houses from one to six bedrooms, and affordable housing. Amenities include several primary schools, a secondary school; a high street offering shops, cafes and facilities; a fitness and sports centre; a four-star hotel with swimming pool and leisure facilities; as well as pubs and restaurants. Great Cambourne also has its own Eco Park which is home to a number of different species. Ely is approximately 16 miles northeast of Cambridge, along the A10 and 22 miles East of Huntingdon, on the A142. A regular direct train service will get you to Cambridge within 20 minutes. Ely Cathedral dominates the City and houses a stained-glass museum which is of considerable architectural interest, attracting visitors from across the region and beyond. The River Ouse flows through the City with opportunities to take a cruise or hire a rowing boat. There are also a few pubs and restaurants along the riverbank where you can enjoy the views. Shopping in Ely is easy and convenient with a number of well-known chains and a good mix of specialist shops and boutiques. It also offers a busy market on a Thursday, a craft market every Saturday and a Farmers’ market every third Saturday. Royston sits on the border of Hertfordshire along the A10 and is approximately 12 miles and 31 miles southwest of Cambridge and Huntingdon respectively. There are regular direct trains into Cambridge