What is Living in St Neots like? A Guide to St Neots

Last Updated November 2022

St Neots is a town located within the Huntingdonshire District of the county of Cambridgeshire, the largest town within this area. The town sits alongside the River Great Ouse with plentiful walks around the river and countryside as well as lots of pubs, restaurants, and things for the kids to do. As well as that St Neots is ideally located with great access routes in and around the town, being just 49 miles north of London. With that the house prices are much more affordable than London and the city of Cambridge making St Neots a fantastic area to live in or relocate to.

Here is everything you need to know about St Neots, use the list to jump between the relevant sections!

 

As the largest town in Cambridgeshire, there are plenty of things to do here including the 72-acre Riverside Park, bowling alley, cinema complex as well as a whole host of pubs, bars, restaurants and shops! St Neots is perfect for those who are wishing to escape and have more space from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city Cambridge and the capital London but still need to travel for work. You could say that St Neots is the perfect commuter town, with a sense of community and healthy wages as those who work in London are just a short 40-minute train ride into Kings Cross.

 

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The 2011 census reported that there were 30,252 residents living in St Neots. This is up 1.14% from the previous decade when the 2001 census reported that there were 27,480 residents in St Neots. It’s, estimated that in 2021, the population of St Neots would be around 36,110.

As per for the majority of towns and cities females outweigh the population by 50.5% and males to 49.5%. the age of the population in St Neots is most prevalent for those aged between 30 and 60 years old and just over 60% of the population identify as Christian.

 

In 2021, St Neots was ranked the safest town compared to all the other towns and cities in Cambridgeshire County, where it has a 17% lower crime rate than the County’s average. That being said, the worst crime rate has been reported in burglary, followed by violence and sexual offences being the most common in St Neots. Have a look on our Home Security Guide here or find your local locksmith in St Neots here to ensure you are as secure as possible.

 

St Neots area guide, best of st neots

 

The average house price for St Neots in 2021 stood at £340,114.

Detached House- £521,240

Semi-Detached House- £318,701

Terraced House- £259,596

 

Renting in St Neots

The average rent for a property in St Neots currently stands at £1,002 pcm, with the median rent at £850 per calendar month (PCM).

 

St Neots is a bustling market town due to having a weekly market and is very popular with a diverse selection of shops, restaurants, companies, and historical sites. With lots of history related to the town, it is very popular with historical landmarks.

 

There aren’t too many areas you should avoid in St Neots but in particular locals would say to take a look at the reputable areas below:

Eaton Ford, St Neots

Eaton Ford in St Neots is close to the river and the popular Riverside Park, local shops and big super markets including Waitrose and Marks and Spencers as well as a few cafes and pubs that are located along the river. There are a few schools in the area including Crosshall Infant School rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and Eynesbury C of E primary school rated ‘Good’. For an estimate price of £415,000 you can buy a 4 bedroom detached house with 2 receptions or for the lowest price you can buy a 3 bedroom end terrace house for £127,000.

Eaton Socon, St Neots

Neighbouring Eaton Ford to the south it also sits alongside the River Great Ouse and is home to a business park complex which houses many shops including Lidl, Aldi, B&Q, B&M to name just a few as well Xtreme360 Trampoline Park which is popular with the kids. Bushmead Primary School is rate ‘Good’ by Ofsted and there are also a few other nurseries and pre-schools. As this area is so close to Eaton Ford the houses listed on Rightmove are listed as the same location.

Little Paxton, St Neots

Located in the north of the town is Little Paxton. Little Paxton is surrounding by lots of lakes that include sailing, water skiing and water sport activities. There is a village hall and a local pub within the immediate proximity also. Little Paxton Primary School is your local school here. For an estimate price of £605,500 you can get a 5 bedroom detached house in Little Paxton,  with the least expensive option is a £74,000 for a 3 bedroom mid terrace house.

 

neighbourhood and places in st neots

 

Travelling in St Neots

Buses in St Neots

The buses are run by Stagecoach in St Neots, to find routes, times and prices see the bus website! 

Trains in St Neots

St Neots Railway Station is located in the mid east of the town and has trains from Great Northern, Thameslink and LNER. There is a regular train into London which will take you no longer than an hour to reach.

Closest Airport to St Neots

London Luton is the closest airport from St Neots taking just a 40 minute drive to get to and around a 1hr 30 minutes train journey.

 

What are the Schools Like in St Neots?

To begin with, some of the best primary schools in St Neots include Middlefirled Primary Academy and Samuel Pepys School that have an Ofsted rating of “outstanding”. Other options include The Round House Primary Academy and St Mary’s church of England Primary School St Neots that have an Ofsted rating of “good”. Unfortunately, there aren’t many options when it comes to secondary schools in St Neots with the only option is Longsands Academy, which has an inspection rating as “requires improvement”.

 

Closest University to St Neots

The closest universities to St Neots are those in Cambridge and Bedfordshire:

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is one of the most prestigious in the UK, indeed one of the most prestigious in the world. Founded in 1209 it is the fourth oldest in the world and boasts 109 Nobel Prize Laureates, 47 Heads of State and 190 Olympic Medalists among its alumni. There are 30 undergraduate courses on offer here from Anglo Saxon, Norse and Celtic to Veterinary Medicine. Considering who or where you ask the University of Cambridge is either the top in the country or 2nd to Oxford.

Anglia Ruskin University

Anglia Ruskin University has four campuses, one in Cambridge which is the closest to St Neots, Chelmsford, Peterborough and London. Anglia Ruskin University has been awarded the Teaching Excellence Framework Silver Award for its excellent teaching standards. At the Cambridge campus you can study courses from one of the 249 courses including Accounting and Finance, Interior Design and Zoology.

University of Bedfordshire

Classed as a young university, the University of Bedfordshire has won many awards and ranks in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. There are two main campuses, Bedford the closest and Luton. There are 50 courses on offer at the Bedford campus including Acting, Football Studies and Sport and Physical Education.

 

Top 3 Restaurants in St. Neots

1.      The Bell

A country pub with ivy climbing up the yellow brick walls and a children’s play park out back. The pub serves typical English pub grub food and is so highly reviewed for their roast dinner.

2.      Olive Naturally Indian Restaurant

Mood lighting and delicately decorated Indian dishes are served here at the Olive Naturally Indian Restaurant. Some reviewers go as far to say it’s the best Indian in Cambridgeshire!

3.      Poppy’s Vintage Tea room

A sweet little tea room that serves up yummy cream tea scones, cakes and sandwiches which makes for the perfect afternoon to enjoy high tea. Reviewers can’t get enough of the scones and cakes!

 

Top 3 Pubs in St.Neots

1.      The Bridge House St Neots

In St Neots, this is a terrific place to go for the best of local homemade food, good wine, and beers. The Bridge House in St Neots is a lovely 16th century riverside pub and restaurant on the amazing Great Ouse. With a superb collection of popular beers, The Bridge House has become a leading relaxing destination for everybody to enjoy a delicious pub meal due to its cosy lounge decor.

2.      The Barley Mow

In the winter, there’s a log fire, and in the summer, there’s a wide seated area in the garden. This features a children’s play area at the further end of the garden, as well as a television set up surrounding benches to watch live sports while relaxing in the sun. Seasonal celebrations, frequent BBQs in the summer, live bands and DJs throughout the year, and special events can all be provided for.

3.      The Ale Taster

The Ale Taster, which re-opened in February 2017 after closing down as “The Hog & Partridge”, is popular with its wide range of beer selection as well as five real ciders. It is a traditional bar, with background music and regular bar games.

 

Shopping in St Neots

St Neots isn’t renowned for its shopping but there are plenty of shops for your everyday things. There are plenty of shops along the High Street including Clarks, FatFace and the Works. As well as Howard Road Retail Park which is located in Eaton Socon which you’ll remember includes big shops such as B&M, TradePoint and Costa Coffee to name a few.

 

1.      Premier Inn St Neots – Colmworth Park

As with most Premier Inns you will know what you are getting, a basic, clean room and the option for breakfast. It has a unique location near by the riverside town. If you are travelling for business/work purpose, Premier Inn is well known to be a convenient stay.

2.      The Waterfront Hotel Spa & Golf

The hotel offers modern suites with en suite bathrooms and flat-screen TVs in a lovely lakeside setting. The Waterfront Restaurant & Bar, with breathtaking views across the lake, serves delicious meals cooked by professional chefs. It is also a perfect choice if your visit is particularly for relaxing due to facilities such as The Y Spa that features hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam rooms, and other relaxing areas.

3.      The Whitehouse Guesthouse

Offering a luxurious break in St Neots this B&B is a country home away from home with cosy warm beams and Flat-screen TV in the living areas. All units within the accommodation provide a fully equipped kitchen as well as a private bathroom equipped with shower and hairdryer. Guests always vote for its unique location.

When staying at a hotel in St Neots, it is essential to take appropriate precautions to ensure your safety. For the best advice on how to stay safe and secure during your hotel stay, please refer to our detailed Hotel Security Guide.

Top 10 Things to do in St Neots

  1. Little Paxton Pits
  2. St Neots Museum
  3. Riverside Miniature Railway
  4. Xtreme360 Trampoline Park
  5. Southlake Aqua Park
  6. Grafham Water
  7. Sacred Stones Willow Row Barrow
  8. Riverside Park
  9. Hayling Lake
  10. Buckden Towers

 

Need our locksmith services?

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When moving into a new home changing the locks is vital as you never know how many keys are out there and risk the keys falling into the wrong hands. Arrange for a St Neots Locksmith to come and fit a new lock the day you get your keys to provide you with peace of mind. We at Keytek® Locksmiths St Neots provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on site to ensure your home is as secure as can be!

There are many other things you need to consider when moving home so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! Once you’re in, consider improving the security of your home further still by checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!

View our Keytek® Locksmiths St Neots page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 01480 276799! Read more about our St. Neots Local Reviews here.

Jessica Davies
Local Area Expert at Keytek Locksmiths

Jessica brings over six years of specialised expertise to Keytek's comprehensive UK location guides, combining meticulous research with genuine local insight. As the architect behind Keytek’s area profiles, she delivers essential intelligence on house prices, crime statistics, schools, and community character—everything you need to know about the city or town. Armed with a photography degree from the University of Brighton and an exhibited portfolio, Jessica approaches each location asking, "What would it be like to live here?" This perspective transforms dry statistics into lived experience, revealing not just what places cost, but what they truly offer. Since 2019, Jessica has partnered with Keytek®'s security professionals, weaving real-world safety expertise into every guide. Her work addresses practical realities: Is this neighbourhood genuinely safe? What security considerations matter? How does local infrastructure support daily life? From bustling cities to quiet villages, Jessica's field research uncovers authentic local character. Her commitment to accuracy and on-the-ground investigation has established her as a trusted voice—helping people navigate different locations across the UK and home security with complete confidence.

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