WHY? 

We’re not saying this is the poshest address in Cambridgeshire, but what we are saying is that one of the county’s largest towns has got it going on. Perched on the banks of the River Ouse, there’s everything you need from good transport links to pretty parks, plenty of affordable housing (some of it dating back to the 1600s, some of it new build) and enough restaurants, shops and pubs to give it a buzz.

EAT 

It scooped best cafe in the Muddy Awards 2021 so it’s little wonder Bohemia is our local eaterie of dreams, starting the day as a café serving fresh coffee brewed from its own microroastery, through to the evening when it transforms into a restaurant with a world tapas menu (the vegan dishes are particularly delish). Stroll beside the water to The River Mill Pub for mussels marinere, cocktails and wood-fired pizza by the marina, try Il Girasole for belt-busting Italian and don’t miss afternoon tea at Poppy’s Vintage Tearoom. 

SHOP 

You know we love local here at Muddy and St Neots’ handful of independents are something to be celebrated. Pick up an Italian cotton shirt for your hols from Charlottes Web, Country Fayre Florist is blooming marvellous and has been operating for more than 30 years, while The Smiling Grape is a wine merchant with world-wide tipples, a members club and tastings. For top-to-toe beauty treatments there’s Clarity.

A weekly Thursday market and farmer’s market held every second and fourth Saturday of the month are great places to browse and pick up a bargain or two.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS 

Explore the surrounding nature reserves, Paxton Pits is a great spot for a picnic, make a splash at Southlake Aqua Park or hire a boat and cruise along the River Great Ouse. Cambridge is a short taxi ride away, with its colleges, shops, theatres and restaurants.

AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE 

The average house price in St Neots is a reasonable £307,934. Terraced properties ring in at around £252,000, semi-detached fetch around £286,000 while detached properties sell for an average of £424,996. Prices are up 9% year-on-year, so the town’s definitely on the ascent.

HOT PROPERTY

Just outside St Neots (it’s an eight-minute drive to the station!) is this gorgeous £850,000 Grade II-listed property with three bedrooms and an acre of grounds.

SCHOOLS 

Good schools in this area include Middlefield Primary Academy (its last Ofsted was outstanding) and Kimbolton. Cambridge’s excellent schools include King’s College school and over the border in Bedfordshire, Pilgrims Pre-preparatory School for children up to seven years. 

BEST KEPT SECRET 

St Neot’s Museum is a really good snap shot of how life used to be, from writing on slate boards at school to police cells – worth visiting on a rainy afternoon with the kids. Also, the gift shop has way more covetable stuff than you’d imagine, including fossils and stationery. 

COMMUTE 

Just 18 miles west of Cambridge and 55 minutes to London Kings Cross from St Neots Station = commuterville central. 

View the full Top 200 Best Places to Live