A guide to living in Newmarket

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Located just a few miles from Cambridge but just inside the Suffolk border, Newmarket is nestled between two of the most famous racecourses in the world - The Rowley Mile and the July Course. There are 2,500 acres of open space which is used predominantly for training the 3,000 racehorses in residence in the town. With its rolling hills and protected landscapes, Newmarket and its necklace villages provide a great lifestyle for those looking for a combination of town and country living. The historic town centre is packed with shops and restaurants and has just enough hustle and bustle whilst also being home to the town’s 70 odd racehorse training yards. Strings of racehorses can be seen snaking their way through the myriad of horsewalks that thread through the town en route to their daily exercise on the world-famous Newmarket Heath.

Newmarket was ‘discovered’ in the 17^th century by King James 1^st and from 1606 to 1610 he built Palace House, a large estate which spread from the High Street to All Saint’s churchyard, covering an acre of land. It was then that Newmarket was established as a royal resort and became a horseracing centre. However, it isn’t all based around horses and racing, Newmarket also offers a great lifestyle for those who aren’t equine enthusiasts, with great schooling, a buzzy town centre, employment across the various science parks around the region, as well as average prices of houses for sale lower than some of the more expensive options throughout East Anglia. Here we look at why you should move to Newmarket.

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What to do in Newmarket

Visit the races! Newmarket racecourses host two of the five British Classic races, as well as the famous July Festival, one of the leading social events in the racing calendar. Palace House, which is home to the National Horse Racing Museum, offers the opportunity to visit retired racehorses, as well as see some of the best British sporting art, including paintings by the likes of Sir Alfred Munnings and George Stubbs. If that isn’t enough, there is a Discover Newmarket tour, which includes visits to training yards and a tour of the National Stud and Tattersalls, the world’s oldest auction house for racehorses. For a bracing walk, head up to Newmarket Heath, which is open to the public from 1pm every day and has panoramic views over the town. The iconic Bedford Lodge Hotel offers a first-rate spa, a popular bar and restaurant and a swimming pool and gym, whilst golf lovers can head to the first-rate courses at The Links and nearby Worlington.

Where to eat in Newmarket

Newmarket is home to a great selection of pubs and restaurants. The Tack Room at Palace House showcases seasonal and local produce and has an outdoor terrace as well as a comprehensive wine and cocktail list. With its café culture there are tons of options in the centre of town, including The Pantry which offers all day dining, whilst Unico is a great Italian pizzeria and Turkoman has a traditional Turkish menu. For the best coffee in town head to Cortado and check out their delicious artisan bakes or enjoy a late brunch or early lunch. Outside of the town, The Packhorse Inn in Moulton, is part of the Chestnut Group and is one of the most popular pubs for miles around, whilst La Hogue Farm Shop offers a butchers, deli and cheese counter, as well as a fantastic café.

Where to shop in Newmarket

Newmarket has a range of high street brands which line the High Street, as well as a number of independent shops. Goldings offers high-end men’s and ladies wear, perfect for finding the right race day outfit. Other great shops include Corney & Barrow wine merchants, Powters Butchers and Tollys Flowers, a florist with more than a touch of elegance. There is also Busy Bee, which stocks fine leather items and offers shoe repairs. Moons, which is East Anglia’s leading toy shop, is tucked away just off the High Street and is a child's dream! Head to the twice weekly market on a Tuesday and Saturday.

Schools in Newmarket

Newmarket offers both independent and state schooling, with primary options at The Paddocks, St Louis and Ditton Lodge and secondary at Newmarket Academy. Fairstead House is an independent co-ed school in Newmarket town centre, taking children from three months to eleven years old. Fairstead House has recently joined forces with King's Ely to provide an all-through education.

For the little ones in Newmarket

There’s plenty of clubs and sports options at Abbeycroft Leisure centre, which has soft play, climbing and swimming lessons. There are also thriving football, rugby and hockey clubs and the Newmarket Tennis Club on Hamilton Road has a great junior section. Wild Tracks, just four miles from the town centre offers go karting and motocross, whilst those who love nature would enjoy a visit to Wicken Fen, Britain’s oldest nature reserve. Horse riding lessons are available at Old Tiger Stables or Barrow Hall Stables.

In the country

Head out of Newmarket to picture-perfect Moulton where you'll find a 15th century packhorse bridge and a bucolic village green. The village has a fabulous pub, an award-winning shop, a village hall and a great village school. Other villages to the east of Newmarket and well worth a visit are Woodditton, Cheveley, Dalham (home to Dalham Stud) and Dullingham. Just seven miles north of Newmarket is Worlington, home to Worlington Hall, a fabulous boutique hotel with restaurant. Also in the village is Worlington Golf Course, which is said to be the greatest 9-hole course in the world, according to The New Yorker and GOLF magazine.

Commuting from Newmarket

Newmarket has its own train station and has services into London Liverpool Street in 1 hour 41 minutes and London Kings Cross in 1 hour 49 minutes – both with a change at Cambridge station. Cambridge is 25 minutes by train. There's also a direct service to Bury St Edmunds which takes under 20 minutes.

Property prices in Newmarket

The average house price in Newmarket is £301,881 according to Rightmove. Some of the largest houses on some of the most sought-after roads such as The Hamiltons, Bury Road and Duchess Drive can reach well into the millions, whilst there are also plenty of pretty Victorian streets which offer detached and semi-detached homes for prices in the region of £500,000. There are also several smart apartments in converted mansions dotted throughout the town, many of which offer stunning views over the racecourses or the gallops and can be picked up for around £300,000.

Rental values currently stand on average at £1,090 per calendar month.

Buying or renting a house in Newmarket

Anyone considering buying or renting in Newmarket should visit the Cheffins team in our office on the High Street for a run through of some of the town’s best places to live as well as comprehensive advice on the surrounding villages. Cheffins sells and lets some of the town’s largest and most expensive properties and also a range of homes including terraces and apartments. Village properties in some of Suffolk’s best countryside can also be bought through Cheffins, as well as new build homes.

For more information on Newmarket, or to view the properties on the market with Cheffins in Newmarket and the surrounding area, click here.

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Our Newmarket estate agent office specialises in property for sale ranging from town centre homes, to individual village properties and new developments.

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