The Cambridgeshire border town perfectly situated between London and Cambridge

The town also offers affordable house prices

Since the pandemic, more people are looking to settle down somewhere that is easily accessible for work, while still benefitting from a rural location while off the clock. One town, just across the border from Cambridgeshire, sits perfectly in between London and Cambridge.

Royston is a historic market town, which has the unique feature of a historic cave. It also has excellent transport links to two major cities. Commuters can travel to Cambridge by train in less than 20 minutes or drive to the city in less than 30 minutes (depending on the traffic). To get to the capital, it takes less than an hour to arrive at King’s Cross station.

Even better, house prices in the charming town are more affordable than the average price across North Hertfordshire. According to Office for National Statistics, the average house price in North Hertfordshire was provisionally £423,000 in June 2026. House prices in Royston had an overall average of £394,976 over the last year, according to Rightmove.

Royston’s claim to fame derives from its accidentally discovered cave. It was found while the workmen were erecting a bench in the butter market above in 1742. A millstone was found in the ground which when lifted, uncovered a vertical, well-like shaft.

Toeholds had been cut into the chalk to form steps. A small boy volunteered to make the first descent and found the cave to be filled with earth and debris.

Wishing to find treasure, the shaft was enlarged and the cave was emptied. This uncovered extensive carvings in the lower part of the chamber.

The carvings are mostly Christian in depiction and medieval in style. There are four prominent carvings of saints in the cave. According to Royston Cave, these are: St Christopher, patron saint of travellers; St Katherine, holding a representation of the spiked wheel associated with her martyrdom; St Laurence, holding a depiction of the gridiron on which he was martyred; and a military saint, possibly St George, holding an upturned sword. The sword points to a line of thirteen figures, assumed to be Jesus and his disciples.

Though its existence has been revealed, Royston Cave remains a mystery. There are no records of its age or purpose and its origin has puzzled visitors and historians alike for centuries. The attraction hosts tours for people to visit.

The town almost appears too good to be true with its brilliant location and historical landmarks. Aside from those, the town centre also offers an array of shops such as Card Factory, La Belle Vita, and Ladds.

It is also home to several cafes including Kooky Nohmad, Horsebox Coffee Shop and Moreno’s Cafe. To dine, there are also several pubs including The Chalk Hare, King James Pub, and The Green Man. The Jolly Postie on Baldock Street is also a crowd-pleaser among locals and recently underwent a huge refurb.