Cambridgeshire’s ‘fastest-growing’ town less than an hour from London

The town also has regular markets with a wide range of items on offer

It’s not just our university and stunning architecture that we’re known for here in Cambridgeshire, we also have some pretty great places to live. Several Cambridgeshire towns have grown in popularity in recent years as more affordable places for London commuters to live – and let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to live here?

One of these towns is St Neots in the beautiful Huntingdonshire countryside. With the idyllic River Great Ouse running alongside and stretches of breath-taking countryside nearby, the town is attractive to nature lovers as well. These two factors combined make it an ideal place to live.

St Neots Railway Station connects the town to London King’s Cross, Peterborough, Horsham via London Bridge, Redhill, and Gatwick Airport. A train from St Neots to King’s Cross takes under an hour, so it’s the perfect location for commuters who want a slower pace of life.

St Neots is also only a 10-minute drive from Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, which is a beautiful 78-hectare nature area of lakes, meadows and woodland. The reserve has accessible trails that are popular with dog walkers and a visitor centre where you can indulge in a coffee or ice cream after a walk.

You will also find Grafham Water, about 15 minutes from town, which is a reserve known for its incredible views and walks. It is England’s third-largest reservoir and has a nine-mile track where visitors can ride a bike or take a gentle stroll.

According to Huntingdonshire District Council, St Neots is “the county’s fastest growing town”. It has a population of over 30,000 people.

It even has its own market, which has been hosted at St Neots Market Square since the 12th century. There is the Charter Market every Thursday and a farm and craft market on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.

At the farm and craft market, you can find everything from locally reared meat, poultry and game to chutneys, pickles and preserves. There are also plants, flowers, handmade soaps, cards, textiles and wooden crafts on offer.