20 Rathbone Crescent – London job, Peterborough life: could this shared ownership home be your best commute? – £265,000 (full value / shared ownership)

14/11/2025 Administrator Estate Agents, Homes for Sale 0

An introduction to the home

Whether you’re a first-time buyer seeking more space than a London flat, a professional couple benefiting from hybrid working in London and commuting only a few times a week, or hospital staff looking for a short hop to work after relocating to Peterborough, this house fits the brief.  The garden, downstairs WC and three bedrooms also make it a practical choice for a young family, while the energy performance and modern heating help keep running costs sensible.

Tucked away on a modern cul-de-sac in West Town, 20 Rathbone Crescent is a bright and contemporary three-bedroom mid-terrace that blends walk-everywhere convenience with calm, comfortable interiors. With EPC B efficiency, a brand-new Navien boiler and a recently refreshed kitchen/diner, it’s a home designed for easy living — moments from the city centre and station.

The layout and décor

Step into a crisp, white hallway and through to a welcoming front lounge in soothing olive tones with dark oak-effect flooring and a handy under-stairs store. The kitchen/diner runs across the back of the house and has the feel of a smart city apartment: matte dark-grey cabinetry, grey marble-effect worktops and splash backs, twin Zanussi ovens set at a comfortable height and an AEG induction hob beneath a statement ceiling-mounted Alika extractor. Everyday life is well catered for with space for an American-style fridge-freezer, a built-in Beko dishwasher, integrated Zanussi washer-dryer, and that new boiler tucked neatly into the units. A breakfast-bar overhang invites coffee and conversation, while a glazed door opens straight onto the patio and lawned garden. A contemporary downstairs cloakroom completes the ground floor.

Upstairs are three well-proportioned bedrooms and a modern family bathroom dressed in sandstone tiling with a slate-grey porcelain feature wall, rainfall shower over the bath and a matt-grey heated towel rail.

The London connection (station, walk time, trains & costs)

From 20 Rathbone Crescent you can walk to Peterborough station in around 15–20 minutes. Fast services to London King’s Cross are frequent: fastest about 47 minutes, average around 54 minutes, with dozens of departures daily (early till late). Thameslink Railway

For costs, Advance singles can start from about £13 if you book ahead; for regular travel, check flexible carnets and season options using the official National Rail season ticket calculator. Trainline+1

At-a-glance: walk to the station → sub-1-hour trains to King’s Cross → options to tailor tickets around hybrid working.

Working from home (broadband that keeps up)

The postcode shows gigabit-capable broadband availability, so streaming, video calls and big uploads aren’t a problem if you split your week between office and home. Always confirm with your chosen provider for package speeds at the address. StreetCheck

 

The location

This is one of West Town’s strongest selling points: you can live a genuinely walkable Peterborough lifestyle here. The city centre is around 18–22 minutes on foot (approx. 0.9–1.1 miles), while Peterborough station is about 15–18 minutes’ walk for fast rail into London. Peterborough City Hospital is 6–8 minutes by car. Weekends are easy too: Thorpe Meadows (rowing lake and sculpture trail) is 4–6 minutes by car, Ferry Meadows at Nene Park 10–12 minutes, and Central Park 8–10 minutes. For road links, the A1(M) J17 is roughly 12 minutes by car via Nene Parkway, with swift connections to the A47 east and west.

 

Shared ownership — how it works here

This property is offered as Shared Ownership with Amplius (formerly Longhurst Group). The share for sale is 80%; Amplius retain 20%. Buyers must complete eligibility and affordability checks and be approved by Amplius before an offer can be accepted. A £250 reservation fee is payable to Amplius on acceptance. Indicative monthly costs for the retained share currently show rent at £183.52 and management/insurance at £38.85 (to be confirmed by Amplius during application). The lease is 990 years from 2015 (house lease). Stair casing to 100% is permitted, with freehold transfer at 100%, subject to the lease and Amplius’ terms. Applicants must meet Shared Ownership criteria (including household income thresholds and not owning another home at completion); MoD priority may apply under Amplius policy.

Why Peterborough makes sense vs London (lifestyle & money)

Peterborough’s appeal is straightforward: space, parks and value. Local headlines help explain it:

That gap translates into lower mortgages, council tax and day-to-day costs, while you keep London earning power. Weekends are easy: the riverside paths at Thorpe Meadows, the vast green space at Ferry Meadows (Nene Park) and the restaurants, gigs and shopping in the city centre are all close by.

 

 

Ticket hacks for hybrid commuters

If you’re in London 2–3 days a week, a full annual season may not be best value. Many post-pandemic commuters mix Advance and Off-Peak tickets; try the National Rail or retailer calculators to model your pattern before you commit. Recent data shows season-ticket usage has fallen as flexible working has grown—so it’s worth running the numbers. National Rail+1

Is the move right for you?

If you want London salaries without London house prices, this address gives you the walk-to-station routine, sub-hour trains, WFH-ready broadband and a family-sized layout you’d struggle to match in the capital. Add the Shared Ownership route and your deposit and monthly outgoings become more manageable—while still giving you a path to owning 100% over time.

The virtual tour

Our virtual tour lets you explore the flow from hallway to lounge and through to the kitchen/diner and garden, then up to the bedrooms and family bathroom. It’s the quickest way to sense the proportions and light before you visit in person — and it pairs perfectly with our photo set and floor plan.

Click here for the virtual tour

Click here for the virtual tour

The home: efficient, easy, and set up for hybrid living

A smart three-bed mid-terrace with a refreshed kitchen/diner, downstairs WC, family bathroom, enclosed rear garden (patio and lawn) and allocated parking, this EPC B home (approx. 882 sq ft, Council Tax Band B) also benefits from a new Navien boiler for lower running costs and comfort.

Bedrooms two and three create an ideal home-office + guest room (or nursery) set-up, and the location is walkable to the city centre and station with quick links to the A1(M) and A47 for road commuters. Sold on an 80% Shared Ownership basis (Amplius retain 20%), with staircasing to 100% permitted and freehold transfer at 100%.

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