[mytailorisrich]

One problem I have with Cambridge is that, IMO, it's a small island in the middle of nowhere, which has to limit its attractiveness at some point.

Sure, there is a fast-ish train link to London but Cambridge itself is quite small and there is close to nothing at all around it.

Edit: Sorry guys! Obviously many people from Cambridge here.

[globular-toast]

I live in (or near) Cambridge and it is rubbish. It's different if you went to Cambridge University, though. A lot more doors are open for you. But it's far too expensive to live in so most people live miles away and do a horrible commute every day involving crawling traffic and general anger and frustration.

[ChuckNorris89]

I don't live in the UK but I know that feeling of living in a small but wealthy European college town. It looks nice in photos but job opportunities are scarce for those who aren't doctorate alumni of the local university and also rents are expensive, there's no subway so everyone is bumper to bumper in cars.

[smallpipe]

Cambridge is small enough, and cycle-friendly enough that nothing is more than 15 minutes away. Bumper-to-bumper is a choice (assuming you live reasonably near the centre)

[globular-toast]

Is it really cycle friendly? Before I moved here I had this idea that it would be like Amsterdam or something. It's not even close. The roads are potholed and badly designed for bicycles. When I used to cycle in from the edge of the city I'd overtake hundreds of cars, as usual, but barely see any other cyclists. Really no different from anywhere else I've lived in the UK except there are, inexplicably, loads of bike chained to railings everywhere.

As for living in the city, you either have to share with someone or pay exorbitant amounts for something tiny. And what are you even getting for the money? In London you get to live in a world-class city with the best public transport in the country. What do you even get in Cambridge? It's only famous for its university, and that is off-limits for plebeians.

[ChuckNorris89]

Well yes, if you're a student or a researcher working at the University and living in Cambridge then yes, you can get everywhere by bike easier, been there done that myself.

The problem is when you get a job at one of the surrounding companies as most of them are outside the city and once you start planning a family you tend to move out of the city as well.

Then your car is your only way to get to work basically as the city and surrounding region is not dense enough to warrant implementing good public transportation.

[TomVDB]

Cambridge used to be very easy to access from mainland Europe with direct flights by Suckling Airways!

Flying low over waves of the North Sea, you were guaranteed to not be bothered by passengers sitting next to you because the noise of those 2 propellor engines made any conversation impossible.

(Funny enough, I took that flight for 30 minute meeting at ARM headquarters. Great trip: the night before was that famous England-Argentina games with David Beckham’s red card. Good times at the local bar!)